5 Tips For Running A Dog Daycare Franchise

If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, what better way to embark on this venture than by incorporating everyone’s favourite four-legged friend into the mix? Open the doors to your new dog daycare franchise, and watch the money (and dogs) pour in.

Dog owners need to know their beloved pet is being left in safe hands, so dog daycare franchisees end up playing a huge role in the development of their dog and the dog’s wellbeing. If you’ve got a passion for working with dogs and an interest in starting your own business, look no further than this industry.

Why start a dog daycare franchise?

There’s never been a better time to make a career change with a dog daycare franchise. Dogs have always been dear to humankind, but since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever have been completing their family with a brand new furry addition.

According to Statista, around a third of UK households own at least one dog. With the world slowly opening up once more, dog owners old and new are crying out for reliable dog daycare services that they can trust.

If you’re keen to seize the moment and immerse yourself in all the advantages of running a dog daycare franchise, read on for some top tips on how to ensure your canine-centric business venture is a success.

5 tips for running a dog daycare franchise

Getting yourself clued up on how to start your own dog daycare franchise is step one. Following the tips below will keep your new business thriving once you’re off and running.

1. Dog-proof your daycare and make sure it’s a safe canine environment

Your clients will be trusting you to look after something incredibly precious to them – think of it as running a daycare for furry, four-legged children. And, much like children, dogs like to run around and can – despite your best efforts – get themselves into all kinds of scrapes. Make sure your daycare environment is thoroughly dog-proofed by:

• Removing any large objects that dogs could potentially knock over onto themselves
• Removing any plants that could potentially be poisonous
• Keeping all food (but especially non-dog food) well out of the dogs’ reach
• Store away any exposed electrical cords
• Hide electrical outlets
• Remove any expensive and fragile items (both for your sake, and the dogs’)

2. Establish a relationship with local veterinary services

As emphasised above, the safety and wellbeing of the pets in your care is paramount. So, ensure you have contacts handy at a local veterinary service and know exactly who to turn to in the event of an unexpected medical emergency.

You should also learn some basic dog first aid training yourself, and of course to have a well-stocked pet first-aid kit close to hand at all times.

3. Choose the dog daycare franchise that’s right for you

As a thriving and successful industry, there’s a plethora of fantastic dog daycare franchises to choose from. Fantastic news – but don’t let yourself get bamboozled by all the options on offer.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ in the world of dog daycare. It’s best to do your research, make a list of your skills, and thus choose the dog daycare franchise that’s right for you. Options range from:

• Dog walking services
• Dog grooming services
• Overnight dog boarding services
• Multi-service franchises that do a bit of all the above

4. Set out and follow a clear and feasible business plan

Starting your own business isn’t just about getting stuck in without knowing where it’s going. Every successful franchisee started in the same place, and that place is setting out a concise and thorough business plan and sticking to it like glue.

A formal business plan is necessary to show all interested parties – employees, investors, partners and yourself – that you are committed to building the business. Creating your plan forces you to think through and select the strategies that will propel your growth.
- Dave Lavinksy, Growthink

Your business plan should include some key elements, such as:

• Your location
• Your start-up costs, and how you plan to fund them
• Your hours of operation
• A list of the supplies you’ll need
• A list of the services you’ll provide
• An outline of the rates you will charge
• Any marketing or advertising strategies you intend to use

Be realistic and thorough in your decision-making and you’re sure to come up with a decisive, manageable business plan.

5. Decide what kinds of dogs you can handle

Like people, dogs come in all shapes and sizes – and some are easier to deal with than others. It’s incredibly important for you to be honest with both yourself and your clients about the kinds of dogs your daycare can take on. This is vital to ensure the safety and wellbeing of you, your staff and – of course – the dogs themselves.

You should develop an initial evaluation that needs to be completed before taking on any new dogs. This evaluation should be standard across all your potential clients, and should ask questions that cover the size and nature of the dog, and whether it’s had any bad experiences with daycare in the past (and, very importantly, whether any past daycare staff have had any bad experience with the dog).

You can then proceed with business as usual, safe in the knowledge that any dog that didn’t meet your all-important initial evaluation requirements isn’t in attendance at your daycare.

Become a franchisee in the dog daycare sector today

Armed and ready with the top tips above, all that’s left is for you to select which dog daycare franchise is right for you. You might become everyone’s favourite stay-at-home dog sitter with PetStay, get out and about for walkies with Dogknows, or provide award-winning pet care with Barking Mad.

For all these furry-friend related franchise opportunities and more, check out the UK franchise directory and see what takes your fancy. There’s a franchise out there for everyone – all you have to do is find the right one for you.