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If you’re passionate about dogs, you might be interested in starting your own doggy daycare business. There are thousands of doggy daycare businesses across the country. While some of them are large chain establishments, others are small establishments. You can start your own doggy daycare business to enter this thriving market — all while working with dogs on a daily basis.

What Is a Doggy Daycare Business?

A doggy daycare business is a commercial establishment that offers boarding, grooming, companionship and other non-medical services for dogs. They are known as “doggy daycare businesses” because they watch and care for dogs while their owners are unavailable. If an owner is going away on a business trip, for instance, he or she may use a doggy daycare business. The owner can drop off his or her dog at the doggy daycare business. And when the owner returns from the business trip, he or she can pick up Fido.

Benefits of Starting a Doggy Daycare Business

By starting your own doggy daycare business, you can turn your passion for dogs into a career. Working with dogs is both fun and relaxing. Most people, though, don’t have the luxury of working with dogs. Fortunately, there are plenty of careers that involve direct contact with dogs, one of which is a doggy daycare business. It allows you to provide boarding and other non-medical services for dogs, typically while their owners are away.

There’s money to be made in the doggy daycare industry. While doggy daycare businesses typically offer a variety of services, most of their revenue comes from boarding. Owners, of course, spend a lot of money on boarding services. A survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that boarding is the third-highest pet-related expense incurred by pet owners, surpassed only by medical care and food.

Of course, you can offer other services at your doggy daycare business as well. In addition to boarding, many doggy daycare businesses offer grooming services. You can offer to bathe and clip the nails of clients’ dogs for an added fee. Owners who want to pamper their dogs while they are boarded may choose to purchase an optional grooming package.

Create a Business Plan

While typically not a requirement for starting a doggy daycare business, you should create a business plan. It will provide guidance on how to turn your vision of a successful doggy daycare business into a reality. A business plan is a strategic document that, as the name suggests, outlines the plan for your doggy daycare business. You’ll need to evaluate certain aspects of your doggy daycare business to create a business plan for it. With this strategic document, though, you’ll have an easier time getting started.

Essential parts of a doggy daycare business plan include the following:

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Market analysis
• Management
• Product and service offerings
• Expected revenue
• Expected expenses
• Marketing and growth strategy

Choose a Location

You’ll need to choose a location for your doggy daycare business. This is the place where you’ll provide boarding and other non-medical services for dogs. There are some doggy daycare businesses that operate out of the business owner’s home. With that said, most doggy daycare businesses have a commercial location that’s outside and away from the business owner’s home.

The location of your doggy daycare business will affect your ability to attract clients. If you operate in a remote area, you can expect fewer clients. For a more successful doggy daycare business, choose a location with a high population of dog owners and minimal competition. And when searching for a location, make sure it has plenty of open space outdoors so that boarded dogs can run and stretch legs.

Buy Equipment and Supplies

Like with all businesses, there are certain things you’ll need to buy when starting a doggy daycare business. Since boarding is the main service offered in this industry, you’ll need to purchase kennels and crates. Kennels are crates are both used for housing dogs (among other pets). Kennels are simply permanent, whereas cages can be picked up and transported. It’s a good idea to purchase both kennels and cages in a variety of sizes. Some clients may have small dogs, and others may have large dogs. With kennels and cages in a variety of sizes, you’ll be able to board their dogs.

Business License

While you typically don’t need any certifications to start a doggy daycare business, you will need a business license. Most states require businesses to have a license — and doggy daycare businesses are no exception. Fortunately, obtaining a license is a breeze. In most states, you just have to fill a form a form consisting of your business’s information while also paying a small application fee. Assuming your application is approved, you’ll get a license to operate your doggy daycare business.