Picking the Perfect Name for Your Dog Daycare Business

Starting a dog daycare business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but one of the first decisions you will need to make is choosing a name for your business. Don't take this decision lightly, because it's going to follow you around for the rest of your business's life. When I chose the name DoggieDashboard for my pet boarding software company, I thought it was really clever...and it is! However, over the course of the last few years, I've received numerous emails from cat boarders asking me if they could use my software, or if it only worked for dog daycares. Of course the software works for catteries, but when I chose the name, I wasn't thinking about that. Big mistake. Either way, it's okay. The DoggieDashboard brand is here to stay, even if it's used by catteries too. The name you choose can have a significant impact on the success of your business, so it’s important to choose wisely.

Who is Your Audience?

First, consider the audience you are trying to reach. If you want to attract a more professional clientele, a cute or quirky name might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you want to attract a more laid-back crowd, a more lighthearted name might work better. One of my biggest pet peeves with business names is when they are intentionally misspelled. It might be cute to use the word "Dawg" instead of "Dog" but when someone is searching for your business online, they're going to type "Dog" in the search box and there is a chance that your business won't show up, or, a business with the name "Dog Boarding" will show up higher because the keyword relevance of the search is better aligned with their business than yours.

Take Into Account Geographical Location

Second, think about the geographical location of your business. If you’re located in a more rural area, a name that is more reflective of the natural surroundings might be appropriate. If you’re located in a city, a name that reflects the energy and excitement of the urban environment might be a better fit. Given that your dog boarding and daycare business isn't a global enterprise, it might be best to include your city name or region in the name. If you're located in Chicago and you name your business Chicago Dog Boarding & Daycare, that's going to help you a ton in terms of SEO. Every time someone searches for dog boarding in Chicago, your business is going to show up high on the search page and that's great!

Don't Pigeonhole Yourself with a Specific Name

Third, think about the type of services you will be offering. If you’re offering more luxury services, a more upscale name might be appropriate. If you’re offering more basic services, a more straightforward name might be a better fit. Right now, you might only be offering daycare and boarding services. But, there's a chance that in the future you're going to want to offer training services. If your business name is Chicago Dog Daycare, that's not really going to help you in terms of finding training clients in the future. You can rely on website title tags to help solve this issue though. Using something like Muddy Paws | Daycare, Boarding & Training as a title tag on your website will help tell Google that you also provide other services.

Think About your Business Values

Fourth, consider your business’s values and mission. If your business is all about providing a safe and happy environment for dogs, a name that reflects that mission might be a good choice. If your business is focused on providing top-notch training and behavioral services, a name that reflects that focus might be a better fit. Let's imagine you're a 100% training business. Something like Top Notch Dog Training sounds a lot better and more professional than Fluffy Paws Training Center. That's just my opinion, and you might think diferently, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Business Personality

Finally, think about the tone and feel you want your business to have. If you want your business to have a playful and fun atmosphere, a more lighthearted name might be a good choice. If you want your business to have a more serious and professional tone, a more straightforward name might be a better fit. You're also going to want to make sure that the name is easily spreadable via word of mouth. If someone asks their friend where they take their dog for daycare and they have to rattle off Fluffy Paws and Furry Friends Animal Fun Times Retreat Center, it might be a bit of a mouthful. Good Times Doggie Daycare is a bit easier to remember, right?

Once you have a few names in mind, it’s a good idea to run them by friends, family, and potential customers to see what they think. Take their feedback seriously, even if it goes against your preconceived ideas. If 80% of your friends think that your business name doesn't really sound that good, take their advice and move on. You can also do some online research to see if the names are already being used by other businesses. With a little bit of thought and effort, you can choose the perfect name for your dog daycare business. Your name will be the first thing people associate with your business, so choose wisely!

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