Do you want to start a dog boarding business and you want to know the cost? If YES, here is an estimated cost breakdown to open a dog boarding facility. Reliable reports have that the “pet service” industry is one of the fastest – growing segments of the United States pet industry, and boarding services represent a key component of this growth.
These boarding businesses are paid a flat amount to house dogs for a set period of time. Dog owners may leave their dogs for anywhere from one night to a month or longer.
How Much Do Dog Boarding Facilities Make
Just like hotels, dog boarding businesses’ rates vary depending on how many amenities they offer to dog owners. Some dog boarding businesses that offer no – frills accommodations for dogs typically charge between $12 and $26 per dog, per day. These boarding businesses often include little more than a cement floor, and fenced – in run or play area.
Some boarding businesses that are a little nicer usually charge $22 to $55 per dog, per day, and a few extremely high – end dog boarding enterprises charge as much as $110 per dog, per day. The fanciest boarding facilities have rugs, actual furniture, fancy food, comfortable beds and even art for the dogs they board.
Also note that it is common to vary rates according to the weight of a dog, with large dogs paying as much as 50 percent more than small dogs. Some dog boarding businesses provide a discount for boarding more than one dog at a time.
According to reports, the earning potential of a dog boarding business in the United States is limited by the rates for boarding dogs in its region and how many dogs it can hold. A low – end dog boarding business that is able to host up to 30 dogs and charges $20 per night can bring in as much as $600 in one night.
Note that the dog boarding business may not always be full, though. On average, it might have 10 dogs every night, thus earning an average of $200 per night. Within a given year, that would add up to $73,000. A fancier dog boarding business could earn much more, possibly several hundred thousand dollars in a year.
In the United States, dog boarding businesses can increase their revenue by providing add – on services. Some common add-ons include baths, premium food, extra play time, special treats and medication administration. Dog boarding businesses can either charge extra for these services, or provide these services as complimentary but increase their per – night rates.
7 Factors That Determine How Much It Cost to Build a Dog Boarding Facility
There are many costs associated with building a dog boarding facility in the United States. Although the two largest costs are usually securing a facility for the business and insurance, below are factors that will influence the cost of building a dog boarding facility in the United States.
1. Location and Facility
Note that it may be necessary to build a facility from scratch if you choose not to buy a franchise. Location can be a key factor, like proximity to an airport or densely populated area will bring a greater volume of business and will also be more expensive. Kennel facilities generally include a mix of cages, runs, and large play areas where the dogs may interact and exercise.
Splash pools and agility courses are becoming popular features. Kennel facilities are expected to be heated and air – conditioned to maintain a comfortable temperature, and enclosures must be continually cleaned. Some high – end boarding facilities offer small “suites” with human beds, televisions, and live streaming webcams so owners can check on their animals while travelling.
2. Size of Commercial Kennel
There are commercial kennels that could house anywhere from 3 to 16 dogs and can be custom – built for even more upon request. A 10 × 16 dog kennels for 4 dogs will cost about $11,900 and one that can contain more dogs can be priced at $61,950 with luxury features and options.
These prices do not include shipping just the kennel and options listed. It’s obvious that the sizing of the dog kennel would affect the price of it. The more materials used, and the more time is put into the building the kennel, the higher the dog kennel cost would be.
3. Business and Legal Considerations
It is important you take into consideration business and legal matters of starting a Dog boarding business, so as to properly analyze the exact startup cost. Note that the first step is to speak with an attorney or accountant about the advantages and disadvantages of forming your business as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or other entity.
It is also advisable you contact the local government to check on zoning regulations and inquire about any permits or licenses that could be necessary to operate the business legally.
4. Dog Kennel Shipping Cost
Shipping cost for kennels, if you’re buying abroad, can vary anywhere from 100$ to 5000$+, it all depends on the size of the building and the distance to the delivery location. Some large commercial buildings require to be delivered in halves, so that will cause the shipping costs to be in the 5000$+ range since it would need two trucks or two trips to deliver.
5. Number of Employees
Note that the number of employees needed in a boarding business will also affect the start up cost and requirements. Most boarding businesses have multiple employees. Larger operations may include a kennel manager, kennel attendants, a receptionist, and possibly additional service providers such as a groomer or a trainer. While smaller dog boarding businesses may have just a few attendants.
In any case, all employees should have experience working with animals, administering medication, and providing general care. Most boarding business offer 24 – hour supervision of the animals, so the facility must be adequately staffed to provide this continual coverage.
6. Cost of Advertisement
In this industry, there are many advertising options, including web pages, social media accounts, phone book ads, newspaper or magazine ads, mass mailings, vehicle decals, local media coverage, and more. It is always smart to leave flyers and business cards at veterinary clinics, pet supply stores, dog parks, office complexes, supermarkets, and other areas where pet owners may congregate. The exact strategy a business uses will also influence the needed capital required to start up this business.
7. Insurance
When looking at insurance policies, prospective owners should note that this will be one of the biggest startup expenses in this business. It is pertinent to pay careful attention to each policy’s exclusions. Many policies will exclude certain dog breeds from their coverage.
In order to accept all types of dogs, dog boarding businesses are expected to have a policy that doesn’t exclude any breeds. A boarding business’ primary ongoing expenses include its insurance premiums, license fees (if any), and the occasional maintenance that’s needed to repair fences or other facilities. Of these, insurance is often the largest cost.
Although other startup expenses include purchasing crates, food bowls, leashes, dog food and similar items, the startup costs for a dog boarding business can run anywhere from $24,000 to $81,000 depending on the factors noted above.
Conclusion
In summary, no matter how much you love animals and how much of a humanitarian you are, you need to be a little bit ruthless when it comes to running a business— or else you won’t be running it for very long. Though it doesn’t mean you have to be a mercenary and charge outrageous rates, but you have to be smart about money, staffing, insurance, expenses, etc.—you have to manage your business like a business and not like a hobby.