Starting a Pet Boarding Business: 7 Essential Things You Need
If you love animals and are good with them, becoming a pet boarder can be the ideal career choice. It is a business you can start with even minimal space, but if you want to make a good living, you’ll need enough space for multiple pets and staff to help you take care of them.
You will need an understanding of animals and their behaviours, the right tools and equipment, and business and financial understanding to make your business a success. If this is your first step on your journey toward being a pet boarder, then you can start by using your home rather than renting or buying a facility.
Ensure You Have Space
It is a good idea to ensure you have adequate space for the animals you’ll care for. Ideally, this would mean a large house that you own yourself, with a big, secure garden. The more animals you care for at a time, the more space you’ll need.
While it is not impossible to offer boarding services in a smaller house or flat, it will be harder. If this is the case for you, it may be best to provide your services to pet owners with cats and smaller dogs, as a flat is not always a suitable environment for a big dog. Once you have built up some expertise and experience, you could consider taking on more than one animal at a time.
Work As A Pet Sitter First
Before launching your business, it is a good idea to ensure it is something you will enjoy and that you’re cut out to do. Pet sitting can be an ideal introduction to the world of pet boarding. The premise is essentially the same, but you will be going to other peoples’ homes to care for their pets rather than having them in your home.
This means it is harder to take on multiple pets at the same time, which limits your earning power. However, it can be a great way to learn more about how to care for other peoples’ pets and ensure you’re making a sound decision for your business.
Find Suitable Funding For Equipment
There is not a huge amount of equipment you’ll need for your business if you’re setting it up in your own home. There are the pet care basics, many of which you may already have if you have pets of your own. You’ll need spare pet beds, plenty of food and treats, toys, leads and harnesses and cleaning supplies. It is best to invest in multiple of each that are cleaned after each pet.
You can finance your equipment purchases in many ways, but one of the fastest and simplest options is a short-term loan. This can be ideal for anyone who wants to quickly get their business off the ground without jumping through hoops for lenders. You can read more on short term loans from the experts over at Sunny.
Get Formal Training In Animal Care
While owning a pet can offer you a lot of experience with animals, it can still be advantageous to get formal training in animal care. This is particularly crucial if you plan to offer specialised services like pet grooming or obedience lessons.
It is best to choose training providers accredited with a recognised body that offer all the skills you might need as a new pet boarder. There are also tailored training options for new animal business owners that will give you the tools to understand how to run your business while caring for animals.
Consider How You Will Price Your Services
You will need to price your services competitively to build up a client base. You’ll also need to ensure that your pricing covers all the costs associated with your business and still leave you with a profit. It is a good idea to research what other pet boarders in your area charge and consider the differences in location and services offered. You may need to tweak your fees over time to get the right balance.
Get The Right Insurance And Licence
You will need a licence to provide pet boarding services, whether in your own home or business facilities. You will need to prove to your local council that you have suitable accommodation and the ability to care for the pets you board.
You should also look for insurance to protect you should something go wrong. Your insurance should include liability insurance that protects your business, animal insurance and property insurance. It is best to shop around to find the right level of cover to give you and the pet owners you work with peace of mind.
Decide On The Services You’ll Offer
The next step should be to decide which services you’ll offer your customers. This could be daily boarding, overnight stays, extended boarding, grooming and obedience lessons. The more you offer, the more attractive you will be to potential customers. You should ensure that you have the skills and expertise to provide your services to a professional standard.
