7 Things to Consider When Starting a Pet Spa Business
Pet spas are a popular type of business in the United States. Owners love to pamper their pets. Unfortunately, not all of them have the time, equipment or experience to do so. As a result, owners often pamper their pets by taking them to a pet spa. You can satisfy owners’ needs by opening your own pet spa business, but there are a few things you should consider before jumping head-first into this venture.
#1) Certification
While certification typically isn’t required, it can help your pet spa business attract and retain clients. You can mention certifications in marketing material, thereby projecting your dog spa business as being credible and trustworthy. International Professional Groomers (IPG) offers two certifications for professional groomers: the International Certified Master Groomer (ICMG) program and the Advanced Professional Groomer Certification (APGC) program. Alternatively, the American Kennel Club (AKC) offers the Safety, Assurance, Fundamentals, Education (S.A.F.E.) Grooming program.
#2) Brick-and-Mortar vs Remote Services
You’ll need to consider the location from which you want to offer pet spa services. Some pet spas operate from a brick-and-mortar location, whereas others operate remotely by driving to their clients’ homes. If you plan on operating from a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll have to find an appropriate building or storefront that’s easy for clients to find and access. If you plan on operating remotely, on the other hand, you’ll have to buy a van to accommodate all of your spa-related equipment and supplies. Keep in mind, you aren’t limited to choosing just one of these locations. You can open a local pet business that offers remote services as well.
#3) Regulations
Depending on the city and state in which you operate your pet spa business, as well as the services you intend to offer, you have to comply with certain regulations. Most places require pet spa businesses to obtain a license. You’ll typically have to pay a small annual fee to maintain licensure. If you’re going to offer boarding services, you may also be required to check for vaccination records. Many cities and states prohibit businesses from boarding animals that aren’t up to date on their vaccinations, specifically their rabies vaccinations. If a client’s pet hasn’t been vaccinated for rabies, the city or state may prevent pet spa businesses — as well as other boarding service businesses — from keeping the pet.
#4) Services Offered
What type of services will you sell at your pet spa business? Most pet spas focus on grooming services, including bathing, nail clipping and ear cleaning. As previously mentioned, some pet spas offer boarding services as well. If you have the appropriate space, you may want to offer boarding as an optional service. You can also offer therapeutic services that are designed to relax pets. Some pet spas use special shampoos and conditioners to relax their clients’ pets. Others offer warm towel wrapping services to calm and relax their clients’ pets. These are just a few of many optional services that you can offer at your pet spa business.
#5) Name
You can’t open a pet spa business without choosing a name. The name, in fact, is one of the most important things to consider when starting a pet spa business. According to data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are over 103,000 pet spa and grooming businesses in the United States. To stand out, your pet spa business needs a unique and memorable name. Don’t just choose a generic name. Instead, choose a name that’s entirely unique from competitors’ dog spa businesses. At the same time, the name should in some way convey that your business offers pet spa services. With the right name, you’ll have an easier time establishing a market presence for your pet spa business.
#6) Financing
How do you plan on financing your pet spa business? Like virtually all types of businesses, pet spas have startup costs. You’ll have to buy equipment and supplies, lease a building (or buy a van), pay licensure fees and potentially even hire employees. You can always use your personal savings to finance your pet spa business, but you may need to obtain a loan. Banks offer a variety of loans to businesses, including Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
#7) Client Acquisition
Client acquisition is a key consideration when starting a pet grooming business. When you first launch your pet spa business, you may struggle to acquire clients. Owners are often loyal to existing pet spas. Therefore, you’ll have to win them over by convincing owners to choose your pet spa business rather than your competitors. A common and effective strategy for acquiring clients is to offer a discount. You can offer a standard service package at 50% off for all new clients, for example. This will bring new clients to your pet spa business, and assuming you provide high-quality services, those clients will likely return to your pet spa business in the future.
