How to run a doggie day care

Aug 31, 2012 8:07 AM by Sarah Brooks

Posted in Pets & Animals / Dogs

Starting A Successful Doggie Day Care

Running a doggie day care business is a great way for pet-lovers to make extra money, work for themselves and spend time bonding with their beloved fur-babies. It's much easier than running an actual day care, as you don't need special licenses and permits to get started. Dogs really are a man's best friend, so why not consider opening up your home and making some extra cash.

Dog daycare

Step 1: Make a business plan

Sit down and decide exactly what you want to get out of this. Are you looking to do this full time or just make a little extra cash each month? Do you want the dogs to be able to stay overnight and, if so, for how long? Will you provide the dog food or is that the owner's responsibility? Decide on the maximum number of dogs you will allow in your home at once and a fair price to charge.

Step 2: What is a fair price to charge?

On average, $25-$75 per night per dog is what you can expect to make. The amount of attention you plan on giving the dogs, the size of your backyard and your experience with pets will all help determine what's most realistic for you to charge. If you're only planning on dog-sitting during the day and not overnight, $15-$20 is a good amount. Setting prices too high can scare away customers, so you want to make sure you're being fair yet competitive. Of course, as you get more experience and gain regulars, you can adjust your prices as needed.

Step 3: Advertise

Now that you've come up with a specific plan, it's time to start advertising. Make fliers and business cards to get your name out there. Craigslist is a great option as it reaches thousands of people in your area and is free. Leave business cards at vet's offices and in local coffee shops, and put fliers on your neighbors' doors or mailboxes. After you get a good clientele going (which could take years, so don't get discouraged), you'll hopefully be working strictly off of referrals and be busy.

Step 4: Prepare your house

Even if you have dogs of your own, watching others' can be a lot more demanding. Invest in a few baby gates to block off certain rooms, especially rooms with carpet and/or nice furniture. Make sure your yard is securely fenced to prevent any of the dogs from escaping. Lastly, provide an ample amount of toys for the pets to keep them entertained.

Running a doggie day care business will take some time to get used to, but it can be a lot of fun once you start having regulars and earning money. Once you've mastered the day care, consider adding training courses for the dogs that you can do from home. Most of all, have fun and remember, “it's a dog's life!”

More ideas for dog lovers

How to become a foster pet parent
How to foster animals without becoming a hoarder
Need a dog sitter? DogVacay helps find the perfect host

Tags: business dog dog care

Comments

Comments on "How to run a doggie day care"

Running a doggie day care seems like a great way to bring in some extra money. Gail, I would look into the costs of insurance. Do you want it to protect your home from damages? I would say to save the money and just make extra sure your home is dog-friendly and put gates up where you don't want the dogs.

I love the idea of having my own doggie day care. I have looked into it a little bit here and there. The only thing i cant seem to get a good idea of is insurance. Anyone have info?