Last Updated on Mar 11, 2020 by James W
Despite the doom and gloom of the economy, there are a number of enterprises that many people get involved with that are recession-proof. Dog kennel businesses are an example of a service that people will always use, regardless of how good or bad their country’s economy is doing.
If you are looking to quit your day job and start a business doing something you enjoy, one of the best things you could ever do is set up your own dog kennel business! Although it can be hard work to set one up (what business isn’t?), the results are worth it and you will find it very rewarding.
Does this sound like an attractive proposition to you? If so, this handy guide will tell you all you need to know in order to set up your own dog kennel.
Have you got what it takes?
The thing about dogs is that not everyone has the patience and work ethic to put into caring for them, especially if they are other people’s pets! Some dogs such as greyhounds are pretty lazy and spend most of their time asleep, whereas other breeds such as Jack Russell Terriers can be quite challenging to say the least!
In my personal experience, a lot of dog kennel owners are either just businesspeople or dog lovers, but it can sometimes be difficult to find owners that have both traits! If you are only “one or the other”, you should consider setting up your new business with someone that offers the skills that you lack.
For example, the dog kennels that I often use for my dogs is great with animals and treats every single dog that stays at his kennels as if they are his own dogs.
He is a former civil servant that has gone into business with an entrepreneur; his business partner takes care of the financial side of things, and he manages the day-to-day running of the kennels.
Bespoke kennel buildings
Unless you are taking over the running of an existing kennel business, you will doubtless need to have some bespoke kennel buildings designed for you.
For example, appropriate kennel flooring needs to be installed as dogs can’t obviously use toilets in the same way that humans can, so the flooring has to be suitable for being washed out with water and detergent on a daily basis.
Most kennels have an outdoor section for the dogs to walk around in, with rails or doors to stop them from escaping!
Insurance
As with any service a business provides, people will only use your dog kennel services if you can prove that you have the appropriate insurance cover in place!
Professional indemnity insurance will cover you if a client decides to sue you for whatever reason (hopefully this will never happen), and public liability insurance will provide cover in case any clients get injured whilst visiting your kennels.
You will also need employee liability insurance if you take on employees, and in many countries such as the United Kingdom, this is a mandatory, legal requirement.
