For Pet franchisees already in the business, and those looking to invest or expand services, the fundamentals of doggie day care systems are important to know.

Doggie day care may be an interesting proposal but not one entrepreneur should not rush into without doing research. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique details the opportunity out for people seeking to bring love for animals into a new business adventure, and why it may be more economically efficient to invest in Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique.

Why a Pet Franchise?

No matter what industry you’re thinking of investing in, franchises offer safer investment contingency and more stability than a start-up. If you decide to go with the franchise, then you have all the resources that the franchise provides like name-brand recognition and access to wholesale distributors willing to inventory your store. In terms of doggie daycare, this is very important. Pet owners are naturally suspicious of anywhere they will be leaving their pet (for good reasons). Clients who are familiar with the brand are often less apprehensive about choosing a franchise, over a business they know nothing about.
Going with a franchise is like using a template. The business model is already in place, and it will be much easier to structure your own business around. If you are ever researching a franchise as a possible franchisee or investor, and you find the company inaccessible, or unwilling to answer questions, pick another company! Franchises need to be diligent and open to future business owners on the methodology of company business practices. A good company won’t leave you hanging.

Types of Insurance Pet Franchisees Should Purchase

The good news is, the doggie day care industry is growing and is a lucrative pet franchise to get involved with. The bad news is, like all emerging business, there is a great deal of work that needs to happen before you can own a successful business. Since pets are involved, it is wise to purchase business insurance. In the unfortunate event that a pet was to bite another animal or employee, it is crucial to have insurance to help protect your business against claims and other liabilities. According to Paws, startups business insurance for doggie day cares can run from $500 to $800, with $650 emerging as the average.

Pet Franchisees should also be concerned with property insurance. With all businesses, this is again a good idea but is even more important in the pet industry. Dogs have the tendency to chew. Cats have the tendency to scratch. Natural wear and tear will accumulate over the years, but if there is any major unforeseen property damage your storefront will be covered. Average property insurance runs at $600 a month but can dip as low as $200 and can be as high as $1,000. Depending upon the premises of the building, varying insurance packages will all need to be considered before purchasing. Do your homework and weigh out all options!

What Make a great location?

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique puts scrupulous time into finding our premises which are typically 1000 to 1200 sq. ft which is considerably less than what you would need for a doggy day care facility. When you begin touring possible commercial facilities, imagine that place with a room full of dogs. Does this place provide ample resource space both as a business and a place where animals can roam? Is there any previous existing damage? Is there additional costs to a security deposit if animals occupy the space? If you are successful and want to expand can you do so in the same facility? Does it have access to an outside area that is fenced-in? All of these questions and much more are the ones you should be asking yourself. These questions are less relevant when considering a Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique because you only need space for grooming, not over all care. A balance between smaller spaces with lower rent and larger spaces with corresponding rent fees must be found. Also, important to keep in mind is the amount of traffic the store-front receives. If clients have a hard time finding the place, parking, or no one drives by the location, it may not be the most suitable property. The warehouse with all the utilities seems less tempting when it’s in the middle of nowhere. One last note about the search, is to take pictures, and lots of them. Pictures of the premises will help you stay organized, and address issues beforehand. Leases are very situational but averagely run around $4,000, but can be more than $10,000 in a metropolis area.

What Kind of Permits Will I need?

Depending upon the legislation in your state and county, permits will be handled differently but in most cases within the pet-industry, and doggie day care you will need to purchase and renew permits to operate a business for animal care. Depending on your local ordinance there are several types of permits you will need for a doggie day care. Most counties enforce obtaining a kennel license when keeping dogs overnight. Contact your local county or city administration to find out your specific costs. Paws suggest that permits and licensing costs run around $1,000. The permits needed for operating a Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique are substantially less involved since grooming is intrinsically easier than doggy day care. There are no overnight stays, so you will not need a kennel license, and grooming facilities are less complicated than what doggy day care spaces need concerning licensing and permits.

Grooming Vs. Doggy Day Care

There are several strategic pros to beginning a Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique over a doggy day care. The first is overhead. Doggy day care is more expensive than grooming because more retail space and equipment is needed. Doggy day care storefronts need around 100 sq. ft per dog and if you want to make a profit, this means more dogs. If you want to host 10 dogs this means at least 1,000 sq. ft for dog space alone, not including retail and office space. Averagely, doggy day care businesses take on 20 to 30 dogs making the number look more like 3,000 sq. ft, according to The Other End of the Leash.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique spaces average 1,000 to 1,200 sq. ft. which covers all the needs for grooming, retail, and office. There are also other extraneous costs like employee payroll. A good doggy day care place has a ratio of 1 person to every 15 dogs who need to be highly educated and sometimes even certified for pet care. This drives up operating costs. If you wanted to expand you would need to hire more staff to accommodate the amount of dogs on site. Permits and licensing are also harder to obtain and more detailed because of overnight stays and the amount of animals occupying one space. Generally the more animals coming in and out of a storefront, the more possible property damage that can happen–will happen. These are all things to keep in mind when researching options for investment within the pet franchise.