Choosing the Right Location for Your Dog Daycare & Kennel Business

Starting a dog kennel business can be a fulfilling and profitable venture, but choosing the right location is crucial to its success. As they say, location location location. The location of your dog daycare and boarding kennel can impact everything from your business's visibility to the comfort of your furry guests. If you choose the right location, you could be sitting on a gold mine. If you choose the wrong location, you could be sitting on a ticking time bomb. Of course you're going to have to take into consideration how much money you're willing to invest in your location, but it's an investment worth making. Anyways, let's get down to work. Here are a few key considerations that we think you should keep in mind as you search for the perfect spot to set up shop.

Accessibility for Customers and Their Dogs

Consider how easy it will be for your customers and their dogs to reach your location. Factors such as proximity to major roads, availability of public transportation, and parking can impact the accessibility of your kennel. You may also want to consider the safety of the surrounding area, as well as the availability of amenities such as pet stores, groomers, and veterinary clinics. Property is always going to be the cheapest in the industrial part of town. However, if you decide to open your business in the industrial part of town, you're going to force most of your clients to drive extra in order to drop off their pet for the day. If you decide to invest in a location that is more centralized, you're going to have some very happy clients. However, if you live in a city with lots of commuters, it isn't a bad idea to get property right near the interstate on-ramp. This will be convenient for your clients as they can drop off Fido on their morning drive to work and they can pick him up in the evening on their way home. Something to think about.

Local Zoning Regulations

Before you choose a location for your kennel, you need to research local zoning regulations to make sure that your business is allowed in the area. Some locations may have specific regulations for dog kennels, such as restrictions on the number of dogs you can keep, the size of your kennel, or the amount of noise your dogs can make. Zoning can be a confusing concept for new business owners. Why can't I have my business in this neighborhood if THAT business can be in this neighborhood? Just because they allow cafes in one area, doesn't mean they're going to allow dog daycares. You'll want to head to your local city hall and ask for a zoning map so you can see where you're allowed to open your business. It doesn't make any sense search for a location if you're not able to open your business in that spot.

Size and Layout of the Property

The size and layout of your kennel are important considerations, as you need to make sure that you have enough space for your dogs, staff, and customers. You also need to make sure that the layout of the property is functional and efficient, allowing you to easily manage and care for your dogs. The best scenario is that you have an indoor property that has access to an outdoor play area. Most industrial parks have some sort of outdoor area, and more often than not, they are not utilized. You might be able to find a good deal on an indoor property and then convince the owners to let you fence in the outdoor area for a dog run. They might even be willing to pay for the fencing themselves since it might make the other tenants happy having a dog daycare on site. Imagine if you're located next to an Amazon warehouse for example. They have hundreds of pet owning employees. If you open a pet daycare nearby, you're going to make their employees very happy.

Availability of Utilities

Consider the availability of essential utilities such as water, electricity, and waste disposal. You will also want to make sure that your kennel is equipped with adequate heating and cooling systems, as well as backup power sources in case of power outages. Talk with the owner of the property and get everything in writing when it comes to who maintains the property, who pays for utilities, who pays for repairs, etc. The last thing you need is for a storm window to break and you figure out that it's your responsibility to fix it and not the landlord's.

Surrounding Environment

The environment surrounding your kennel can impact both the well-being of your dogs and the success of your business. Consider the noise levels in the area, as well as the presence of any environmental hazards such as toxic chemicals, wild animals, or heavy traffic. Going back to zoning, many cities are going to have rules about where you can and cannot have a dog daycare, since there is going to be a fair amount of barking and animal noise. You don't want angry tenants, so it might be best to locate yourself around other loud businesses, so that you're not the one making all the noise. Once again, an industrial park near the interstate or a few streets back from downtown is probably the best bet.

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