Simple and effective; that’s all your dog day care business plan needs to be to make money, as you start your dog day care business.
Let’s not make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Essentially, what you want to know is
1. Every thing you can about your competitors
2. What services to offer
3. How to effectively market your services
Recently, I called Traci, from Sparks, Nevada. Her experiences in starting a dog daycare 11-months ago fit right in to the circumstance you may find yourself in now.
Here’s the essence of our interview.
"I live about a half mile from town with my 3 dogs on about 1/2 acre. I guess I started thinking about beginning a dog day care as a result of my participation in our local dog rescue network.
I work part time in a casino. The hours are flexible. I have a large vegetable garden, so that helps a lot.
For a long time I thought about having some kind of dog business. I think I decided on starting a dog daycare because I have available land, I didn’t need to spend a lot of money and, of course, I just love dogs."
"I didn't have much, maybe $230 or so to get started. I was very nervous to say the least."
"Well, yes and no.
I didn’t write a formal plan. I just made notes from my visits to all the dog daycare centers in the greater Las Vegas area. I wanted to find out:
It was no big deal to do this. This took me less than 2-weeks to complete. I learned a lot."
"One of my friends from the rescue dog network suggested I get Kristin Morrison's Pet Sitting Start Up Kit. While I pondered for some time if I should spend what little money I have on this start up business road map, I finally decided to jump and buy it.
Kristin, I found out, is kind of like the Bible guru on
starting and operating successfully, a dog daycare service."
"Obviously, I needed to make money from each service I offered.
In doing my informal dog day care business plan, I saw that only one competitor offered to train their customer’s pet.
I have a neighbor who has a large SUV, which he uses to pick up and deliver ($37) my customer’s pet. He gives me $12. That’s easy money. Besides no one else around does this.
I’m now considering having dog sleepovers ($35) because they are so happy to play with each other."
"In the beginning I relied on my friends to refer customers. Now I have a full-color brochure that I give a couple of high school students to pass out to shoppers in front of places like Petsmart, pet stores, supermarkets, etc.
I also am a speaker at service clubs like Rotary and Kiwanis and leave my stuff with them.
In fact, I attempt to leave a few brochures every place I can like the dry cleaners, restaurants, hardware stores, etc.; really any independent retailer. They like to help."
And, Thank You for visiting Dog Day Care Business Plan.
American Pet Products Association