In our experience, a little over half of the businesspeople who start their own kennel, dog day care, grooming salon, pet sitting or dog training service are technophobes – far more than the national average. There’s something about people who are especially drawn to working with animals that makes the idea of technological solutions seem terrifying or just plain boring.

A guide to paying state and federal taxes for kennels, dog day care, pet spas, pet hotels and the pet boarding industry. Includes helpful links to IRS publications.

Computers are useful for more than just browsing great informational websites about kennels and dog day cares! They help you run your business more efficiently and profitably when it comes to client databases, employee payroll, time clock, tracking vendors, supplies, taxes, accounting, inventory, and much more. But what software will you really need?

No smartly run kennel business ever begins without one. Winging it is not an option. Are all business plans created alike? Not at all. The best ones are time-tested and take into consideration all of the foreseeable vicissitudes of your business. Can you just take an old shoestore business plan you have lying around and search-and-replace the word “shoes” and replace it with “dogs”? We think you can guess the answer…

These decisions are never easy, and always complicated if not downright confusing. We take a look at some of the pros and cons of starting your business as a corporation versus an LLP, as well as considering some of the other possible options.

To keep your kennel or dog day care running smoothly, both office supplies and kennel supplies should be ordered weekly (or bi-weekly, depending on the season).

When it comes to kennels, cleanliness IS godliness – your reputation, revenue, every critical aspect of your company’s existence revolves around an excellent and utterly-adhered-to sanitation plan. Cleanliness is mission critical to every dog day care, kennel, pet hotel and dog boarding facility. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when developing your plan…

When most kennel owners hear “computer security” they think anti-virus software. That’s an important consideration with any computer, but as the owner of a pet service business like a boarding kennel or dog day care, you should have far deeper concerns.

As your insurance agent will be happy to remind you, smart business decisions begin by planning for the worst. Not the inevitable – just the possible – and, no matter where your kennel is located – emergencies are indeed possible. Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, or the more mundane situation of a lost pet all require having a well-thought-out emergency plan in place.

Which makes more sense for dog day care and kennel workers? Contract workers or full-time employees?

Many people don’t at first realize that kenneling is a highly-seasonal business. During the winter holidays you’ll wish you had the extra room to accommodate your waitlist. But during other parts of the year, the voices of your employees may echo through empty halls. The solution is simple: careful planning, amortizing debts and assets, and being 100% prepared.

While the idea of web cams is appealing to many dog day care and kennel owners, the cons of being constantly on display to the public sway many into skipping over this technology. When used correctly, web cams can provide owners with a fun diversion while they are away from their pets, and peace of mind knowing that they can check in on the boarding facility at any time.