A Sample Dog Boarding Business Plan Template
A Sample Dog Boarding Business Plan Template
A Sample Dog Boarding Business Plan Template
Are you about starting a dog boarding company? If YES, here is a complete sample dog boarding
business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a dog boarding business. We also took it
further by analyzing and drafting a sample dog boarding service marketing plan template backed up by
actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for dog boarding businesses. So let’s proceed to the business
planning section.
If you are interested in starting a business of your own and you have what it takes to take proper care of
dogs and other pets, then you should look towards starting a dog care business. It is a business that is
rapidly gaining momentum in the united states and Canada and you can join the party.
Dog boarding business is a business that involves taking care of clients dogs when they are away; it
involves grooming the dogs and at the same time keeping them out of trouble because the owners are
not around.
So if you have made up your mind to start a dog boarding business, then you should ensure that you
carry out thorough feasibility studies and also market survey. This will enable you properly locate the
business in an ideal location and then hit the ground running. Below is a sample dog boarding business
plan template that can help you to successfully write your own with little or no hassle.
1. Industry Overview
Dog boarding business is a business that is a sub set of the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry. In the
United States, this industry has proven over the years to be one of the very few established industries to
publish consistently strong gains over the past decade, virtually doubling in size and growing even in the
midst of recession as consumers purchase a wider array of luxury services for their pets.
The growing pet grooming and boarding industry has benefited greatly from the ever changing
consumer attitudes, which increased demand for a variety of new luxury pet services such as dog
boarding. Going forward, this trend is expected to gain further momentum as pet / dog ownership rises
and owners use their increasing disposable income on services such as dog boarding services for their
dogs whenever they are away from town.
According to the American Pet Product Association (APPA), even though Americans loved pets, those
who owned dogs were at 18.9 percent, third on the pet scale. It gave results that the annual growth for
this industry is at 3.1 percent from 2009 to 2014, bringing in combined revenue – with other dog
services – of $907million as at 2014.
As also as at 2014, there were 22,787 people employed by dog related businesses or as independent
contractors, and there were 18,144 dog service businesses in the United States of America. Dog
boarding services have increased in from 2009 to 2014, and will still increase till 2019 despite the poor
economic outlook. This is due to the fact that customers have more disposable income to spend on their
dogs, and that dogs are considered part of the family.
According to a report, Fetch Pet Care franchises all over barely made above 1.0 percent of the total
industry revenue. This is due to the fact that dog boarding services is tailor made for immediate
localities and neighborhoods, and will have clients seeking to use the services of those who lived around
as they believed that these ones were likely to provide a personalized care to their dogs when they have
to travel out of town or too busy to take care of their dog for the period in time.
The dog boarding services business cum the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry is indeed a thriving
business in the United States of America and Canada. Statistics has it that The Pet grooming and
boarding industry in the United States of America, is worth $7bn, with an estimated growth rate of 6.6
percent.
There are about 106,319 registered and licensed Pet Grooming and Boarding businesses in the United
States and they are responsible for employing about 195,070 people. No company can boast of
dominating the market; every player in the industry can comfortably compete for the available market
in the industry.
Over and above, this is still an industry that is still at its infancy stage, and is projected as a growing
industry with more people thinking of investing in dog cum pet boarding business; especially as existing
dog boarding centers are minute as compared against the population. Due to the growth of the
population of baby boomers, young children, young couples, and the elderly; one can say that this
industry will be on a continuous growth especially as people view a dog as a man’s best friend.
2. Executive Summary
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is a standard and licensed dog boarding care center and one
stop pet company that will be located in the heart of Jefferson City – Missouri in a neatly renovated and
highly secured and ideal housing facility for pets; an organization that will carry out all round services as
it relates to dogs and other pets. We will provide pet care services, such as animal shelters, obedience
training services, guard dog training services, pet boarding and animal grooming services
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is a business that believe in helping pets / dog owners take
care of their pets when they are out of town and in giving dogs and other pets the right treatment they
need to enable them perform their roles as defined by the owner.
We will ensure that any dog or pet under our custody are well taken care of and in the pursuit of
excellence and financial success with uncompromising services and integrity which is why we have
decided to venture into dog boarding business. We are certain that our values will help us drive the
business to enviable heights and also help us attract the numbers of clients that are needed per time to
grow our business.
At Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC, our clients’ overall best interest would always come first,
and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hire
professional dog (pet) handlers / trainers and vet doctors et al that are well experienced and passionate
in taking care and imparting knowledge and skills to dogs at various learning ladder.
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC will at all times demonstrate her commitment to
sustainability, both individually and as a doggie day care services business, by actively participating in
our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.
We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’
needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human,
sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our
clients.
Our overall business goal is to position our dog boarding services business to become the leading dog
boarding services brand in the pet industry in the whole of Jefferson City – Missouri, United States of
America, and also to be amongst the top 5 dog boarding companies in the United States of America
within the first 5 years of operations.
This might look too tall a dream but we are optimistic that this will surely come to pass because we have
done our market research and feasibility studies and we are enthusiastic and confident that Jefferson
City is the right place to launch our dog boarding company and pet related business.
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is owned and managed by Bruno Pearson and his immediate
family members. Bruno Pearson is a renowned and licensed dog handler / trainer. He has well over 10
years of experience as a dog handler/ trainer working for some of the leading pet services companies in
the United States of America.
Away from dog boarding services, Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is going to offer varieties
of pet related services (dog walking and dog training services inclusive) within the scope of the pet
industry in the United States of America.
Our intention of starting our dog boarding services and pet related business is to provide a safe facility
for owners of dogs / pets to keep their pets whenever they are not in town and also to help in
developing our client’s dogs and pets in any skills and knowledge of their choice as it relates to specific
useful competencies they want their dogs or pet to possess.
We want to help our clients develop their pets and dogs capability, capacity, productivity and
performance and of course to also make profits from The Pet Grooming and Boarding industry and we
will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and business goal. Our products and
service offerings are listed below;
Pet grooming
Obedience training
Pet sitting
Pet training
General merchandize of pet related products (pet foods, shampoos, dog tie, dog chains, and pet clothes
et al)
Our vision is to build a highly successful, competitive and effective dog boarding business that will
become the number one choice for both individuals and corporate organizations in Jefferson City –
Missouri.
Our mission is to position Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC to become one of the leading dog
boarding cum pet services brand in the industry in the whole of Jefferson City – Missouri, and also to be
amongst the top 5 dog boarding cum pet services brand in the United States of America within the first
5 years of starting the business.
The fact that we want to become one of the leading dog boarding services business brand in the
industry in the whole of the United States of America makes it highly necessary for our organization to
deliberately build a well – structured business from the onset.
We will work hard to ensure that we only attract people with the right mindset to help us achieve our
business goals and objectives in record time. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and
competent hands to occupy the following positions;
Vet Doctor
Accountant / Bursar
Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e.
leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e.
leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
Vet Doctor:
Gives medical advises and recommendations as it relates to the health and welfare of pets
Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for dog walkers and pet trainers
Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders (clients and member of the organizations’ board) to
review the effectiveness of the organizations’ Policies, Procedures and Processes
Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
Boarding pets
Effectively training dogs and pets in specific skills (hunting skills, security skills, running errands and
circus skills et al)
Evaluates and document the progress of dogs / pets under his or her care
Handles general merchandize of pet related products (pet foods, shampoos, dog tie, dog chains, and pet
clothes et al)
Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the
structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with
clients
Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
Helps to increase sales and growth for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC.
Accountant
Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes
financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast
trends and business conditions.
Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more
properties.
Handles all financial transactions for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC
Serves as internal auditor for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC.
Welcomes / receive clients and their pets by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or
directing inquiries.
Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a
personalized customer service experience of the highest level
Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the
company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the HR and Admin Manager in an effective and timely
manner
Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional
campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make
enquiries
Receives parcels / documents for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC
6. SWOT Analysis
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC engaged the services of a core professional in the area of
business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured dog
boarding services and pet related business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive Pet
Grooming and Boarding industry in the United States and the world at large.
Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization
in conducting a SWOT analysis for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC. Here is a summary from
the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®,
LLC;
Strength:
Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team that are considered
experts in the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience
in dog boarding and pet related services including veterinary medicine.
Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected workforce, Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding
Services®, LLC is well positioned in a community with the right demography; loads of people who own
pets. With that we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for
business.
Weakness:
As a new dog boarding and pet related services company in Jefferson City – Missouri, it might take some
time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile
clients in the already saturated Pet Grooming and Boarding industry; that is perhaps our major
weakness. Other perceived weakness is that, we may not have the required capital to pump into
publicity and advertisement as we would love to do.
Opportunities:
Beyond every reasonable doubt, the opportunities available in the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry
is massive considering the number of individuals and corporate organizations who own dogs and other
pets who would want to drop them off in dog boarding facility or want them to acquire new skill sets
and to perform excellently well in their jobs or who would want to bring their pets for treatment or to
purchase pet supplies. As a standard dog boarding services and pet related business, we are ready to
take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.
Threat:
Every business faces a threat or challenge at any part of the life cycle of the business. These threats can
be external or internal. This shows the importance of a business plan, because most threats or
challenges are to be anticipated and plans put in place to cushion what effect they might bring to the
business.
Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a dog boarding company and pet related business
operating in the United States of America are unfavorable government policies that might affect
business such as ours, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operations and global economic
downturn which usually affects spending / purchasing power. There is hardly anything we can do as
regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.
7. MARKET ANALYSIS
Market Trends
Over the years, the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry is one of the very few established industries to
publish consistently strong gains over the past decade, virtually doubling in size and growing even in the
midst of recession as consumers purchase a wider array of luxury services for their pets.
The growing industry has benefited from changing consumer attitudes, which increased demand for a
variety of new luxury pet services such as dog boarding services. Going forward, this trend is expected to
gain further momentum as pet ownership rises and owners use their increasing disposable income on
services such as dog boarding for their dogs.
One thing is certain, the trend in the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry is such that if you want to be
ahead of your competitors, you should be able to be highly creative, simplify your processes and you
should be able to have loads of testimonies from your clients. The truth is that, if your clients noticed
tremendous changes in their pets as a result of your input, then they will be compelled to help promote
your organization.
Lastly, in the bid to maximizing profits and staying afloat in this industry, a good number of dog boarding
companies ensure that they add other related services. It is easier to find dog boarding companies also
offering services such as pet grooming, operating pet shelters, operating dog pounds, guard dog
training, obedience training, pet sitting, pet training and general merchandize of pet related products
(pet foods, shampoos, dog tie, dog chains, and pet clothes et al).
Before starting our dog boarding services and pet related business, we are certain that there is a wide
range of both corporate and individual clients who would definitely need our services. We will ensure
that we develop strategic pacts with communities and corporate organizations especially dog owners
who are always out of town. This will give us several options to generate revenue for our company.
In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate
organizations (security agencies) and individual (pet owners) who we know can’t afford to do without
our services. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that our dog
boarding Services Company is well accepted in the market place. Below is a list of the people and
organizations that we have specifically market our products and services to;
Dog breeders
Even though, this is basically a new area of business that doesn’t have stiff major competitors, there are
still competitors all the same. The competition available is most likely those within the same locality, and
anyone looking to stay above competition would have to consider improving and customizing the
services offered to dog owners.
Even so, local dog boarding facilities that are serious with the business can comfortably compete with
franchises that are located in the same neighborhood. We are quite aware that to be highly competitive
in the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry means that you should be able to deliver consistent quality
service and you should be able to meet the expectations of your clients at all times.
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC might be new Jefferson City – Missouri, our competitive
advantage lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team that are considered experts in
the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in dog
walking and pet related services including veterinary medicine.
Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected workforce, Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding
Services®, LLC is well positioned in a community with the right demography; loads of people who own
pets. With that we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for
business.
Lastly, our employees (dog handlers / pet trainers, and vet doctors) will be well taken care of, and their
welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups dog boarding centers and pet
related businesses in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to
build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and
objectives.
Sources of Income
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Pet
Grooming and Boarding industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to
attract clients on a regular basis. We will generate income by offering the following products and
services;
Pet grooming
Obedience training
Pet sitting
Pet training
General merchandize of pet related products (pet foods, shampoos, dog tie, dog chains, and pet clothes
et al)
One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organization and individual / household pet
owners who would need people to take proper care of their dogs or that extra coaching or grooming for
their dogs and other pets. This is the major reason why the services of dog boarding services will always
be needed.
We are well positioned to take on the available market in Jefferson City – Missouri and we are quite
optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six
month of operations and grow our clientele base.
We have been able to critically examine the Pet Grooming and Boarding industry and we have analyzed
our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The
sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar
to similar startups in Jefferson City – Missouri.
Below is the sales projection for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC, it is based on the location
of our dog boarding facility and of course the wide range of pet related services and products that we
will be offering;
We are mindful of the fact that there are stiffer competitions amongst dog boarding services and pet
related businesses in the United States of America; hence we have been able to hire some of the best
marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.
Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they
will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC.
We will also ensure that our clients’ pets are well taken care of and they become experts with the skills
they acquire; we want to build a standard and first – class doggie day care center and pet related
business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients (both individuals and
corporate organizations).
Our goal is to grow Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC to become one of the top 5 dog boarding
facilities in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us
take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in
Jefferson City – Missouri but also in other cities in the United States of America.
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales
strategies to attract clients;
Introduce our dog boarding and pet related business by sending introductory letters alongside our
brochure to corporate organizations, households and key stake holders in pet industry in Jefferson City –
Missouri
Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and
train stations et al.
Use friends and family to spread word about our dog boarding services and pet related business
Post information about our dog boarding services and pet related business on bulletin boards in places
like schools, libraries, and local coffee shops.
Placing a small or classified advertisement in the newspaper, or local publication about our business
We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and
advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to
become the number one choice for both corporate clients and private clients in the whole of Jefferson
City – Missouri which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our
dog boarding services and pet related business.
Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Bruno Pearson Dog
Boarding Services®, LLC;
Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media
platforms
Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube,
Google + et al to promote our brand
Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Jefferson City – Missouri
Contact corporate organizations and households by calling them up and informing them of Bruno
Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC and the services we offer
List our dog boarding services and pet related business on local directories / yellow pages
Advertise our dog boarding services and pet related business in our official website and employ
strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
Ensure that all our dog handlers / pet trainers, vet doctors and staff members wear our branded shirts
and all our vehicles are well branded with our organizations’ logo et al.
Generally for dog boarding services and dog walking services business both per hour billing and flat fees
on a weekly or monthly basis applies. As a result of this, Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC will
charge our clients flat fees except for few occasions where there will be need for us to charge special
clients on hourly basis.
At Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC we will keep our fees below the average market rate for
all of our clients by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will
also offer special discounted rates to all our loyal clients at regular intervals.
We are aware that there are some clients that would need special assistance for their pets, we will offer
flat rate for such services that will be tailored to take care of such clients’ needs.
Payment Options
The payment policy adopted by Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is all inclusive because we
are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the
same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of
America.
Here are the payment options that Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC will make available to her
clients;
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for
farm produces purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made
available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make
online transfer for our services.
In setting up a dog boarding services and pet related business, the amount or cost will depend on the
approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would
need a higher amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care
of, and that your office environment is conducive enough for clients and their pets.
The materials and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference
in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a dog
boarding services and pet related business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their
money.
However, this is what it would cost us to launch Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC in the
United of America;
Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
Acquiring a facility or apartment for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will
cost – $35,000.
Equipping the dog boarding facility (dryers, tables, tubs, floor grills and trays, faucets and often ramps
for pets. Additionally, pet-boarding operators must purchase bowls, bedding and cleaning materials,
computers, printers, dog tie, dog chains, start – up inventories, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and
electronics et al) will cost – $50,000
The cost for Start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of pet foods, shampoos, dog tie, dog chains,
and pet clothes et al) – $5,000
Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of
$200,000 to start a small scale but standard limousine rental services business in the United States of
America.
Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is a family business that will be owned and managed by
Bruno Pearson and his immediate family members. They are the sole financial of the business which is
why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major
sources.
Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).
N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $35,000 and soft loan from family
members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $200,000 from our bank.
All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any
moment from now our account will be credited.
The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and
competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these
factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.
One of our major goals of starting Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC is to build a business that
will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the
business is officially running.
We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our dog
boarding services and pet related business a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and
we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.
Bruno Pearson Dog Boarding Services®, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and
processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate
culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our
workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it
will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more as determined by the board of
the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the
best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our
dreams.
Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
Secure a standard facility for the dog boarding services plus reconstruction of the facility: Completed.
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In
progress
Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress.