running a dog boarding business from home from paws to pounds |
Posted: August 21, 2019 |
So, you’re thinking about opening your home to canine clients. Great choice! Now the real work starts, though. You’ll need to understand if this is really an option for you. Is This the Right Business for You? Before plunging feet-first into a doggy day care business, think about whether it’s right for you. • It may require initial investment. You’ll need to get your home up to snuff and pet-safe. That may require maintenance work. You’ll also need to invest in a range of peripherals, insurance policies and other expenses. • It’s a lot of hard work and responsibility. Taking care of dogs sounds easy … until you’re faced with a room full of dogs. Canines rely on you to meet their every need. It’s akin to babysitting a group of toddlers. • You’ll need to do your homework. No two dogs are the same, but different breeds have different needs. Make sure you know how to deal with a range of situations, as and when they may arise. • Dogs can be destructive. If your home is filled with priceless antiques, curious canines may not be the best houseguests. Dogs have an innate ability to get into every nook and cranny of your house. There will be casualties. Skills and Experience Required If you’re going to run a successful dog boarding business, you’ll need the following. • An unconditional love for our four-legged friends – even when they’re being a pain in the proverbials. • Sufficient space in and around your home. • A working knowledge of dog breeds, canine psychology and doggy first aid. • The ability to keep on top of the ever-changing legal landscape. • A flexible schedule that allows for unplanned changes. • Boundless energy and patience, and a sense of humour. How Much Will You Earn? How long is a piece of string? There are so many variables involved in this question, including: • Number of Clients. More clients equals more cash in the bank, right? While that’s true to an extent, it’s not that simple. For as start, you’ll need to maintain… • Happy Clients. Just piling dogs into your house and counting your money isn’t enough. If your human clients don’t feel they’re getting their money’s worth, they’ll take their custom elsewhere. That’s no way to sustain a long-term business model. • Expenses. The more successful your business, the more expenses you’ll incur. If you need help managing your business, you’ll need to pay salaries. You’ll need to pay tax - and if you break £85k in income, you’ll need to VAT-register. That may incur the cost of a professional accountant. Don’t forget, too, your canine clients will need food and toys – and you may need to pay for repairs to your home on occasion. Legal Restrictions on Using your Home as a Business First thing’s first – make sure you’re allowed to run a business from your home. If you’re renting your property, check the feasibility of your plan with your landlord. If your tenancy dictates no pets but you have a dozen dogs running around, you could lose your business and your home after one inspection. You’ll also need to investigate whether you are permitted to run a business from a property. That applies to both rented accommodation and a house that you own, under the jurisdiction of a mortgage. Some mortgage brokers consider this a breach of contract, and could demand full repayment as a consequence. Even if you own our property outright without a mortgage, you may need doggy business in a box to check with the local authority. If your neighbours consider your business to be a nuisance, which actively impacts upon their enjoyment of their home, you could end up in court. Getting Licensed The most important step is obtaining an appropriate license for your business. And to add an extra wrinkle to proceedings, licensing laws differ throughout the UK. England has a different set of requirements to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you’re based in Blighty, take a look at the government’s restrictions under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Including Animals) (England) https://www.washingtonpost.com/newssearch/?query=Dog day Care Franchise Act of 2018. The reason this differs from England’s neighbours is that it has been recently updated. At present, the Animal Boarding Establishments Act of 1963 covers Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The latter applies to home boarding, as well as professional kennels. That can be found here, along with all recent updates. If you’re baffled by the lingo, make an appointment with your local authority. They’ll be able to talk you through the process, and confirm your eligibility. As with all things in life, there will also be a cost implication. This will vary, depending on your circumstances. In summary, six key points of both legislatures are: • You’ll need written permission from all your clients to keep your own dog on the premises, as well as other pets. • If a breed is registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991, they cannot board with you. • Every dog needs to have access to a designated private room for a time out if needed. That means that you’ll need multiple rooms to accommodate multiple dogs. The number of suitable rooms determines the number of dogs for which you can be licensed, so prepare for an inspection ahead of opening. • You cannot take on puppies that are not yet vaccinated. • The dogs need to spend time in the home – no locking them in the garden all day – but they also need easy access to a safe outside space. • You can be fined up to £2,500 or imprisoned for up to 3 months - or both, if you’re particularly unfortunate - if you operate without a licence or don’t follow the outline conditions. Insurance Requirements You’ll need to bone up – no pun intended – on your insurance needs if you plan to open a dog day care or boarding business. Some of the considerations include: • Building and Contents Insurance. If you took out a personal policy to protect your family, that’s one thing. A pack of dogs, however, is quite another. To remain covered, you better inform your insurer of what you’re up to. • Public Liability Insurance. You’re going to need to take these energetic hounds for a walk at some point. Alternatively, heaven forbid, one of them may escape your property. You’re responsible for their actions at this point. Public Liability Insurance means you’ll be covered if there’s a mishap. • Business Insurances. This is a blanket term that covers a range of needs. What protection your business needs depends on a variety of factors. o You may get away with a standard Small Business Insurance policy. o You could also need Employer’s Liability Insurance if you bring in additional staff. o Some kind of Income Protection Insurance is also advisable. If you can’t work, you can’t earn money after all. Seek professional advice on the best insurance package for your business. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Balancing Dog Work with Family Life There is a range of factors to consider when it comes to balancing a dog business with your family life. If you’re running a day care facility, owners may get stuck at work and be late collecting their pet. Can you still squeeze that in around taking the kids to their karate lessons, and collecting your spouse from the train station? In addition, if you have young children, you may need to think carefully about safety. Kids love dogs. Unfortunately, they sometimes love poking them in the eye, or yanking their tail. If you live with under-fives, you’ll have to proceed with caution. Most - if not all - local authorities will not licence you. Franchising Don’t be put off by all this – running a canine home boarding and day care business from your home is a recession-proof and pleasurable way to make a living. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea, why not be guided through the whole process and become a franchise partner with MyWaggyTails? We have years of experience in working with our canine chums, and we have helped countless people just like you live life on their own terms. If you’re unsure or would like an experienced sounding board! Start with a business plan. If you’re unsure or would like advice, MyWaggyTails offers a 1-hour free telephone consultation. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be ready to turn your property into a pooch paradise. If you get stuck at any point, just drop us a line at MyWaggyTails. We’re always happy to share our experience and expertise.
|
||||||||||||||||
|