Month: February 2021

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The majority of pet owners in the US choose dogs as their domestic pets. American households consider their pets as part of the family that deserves equal care as their children.

Pet care business developers even came up with technological innovations such as daycare software for pets to give them the best care they deserve. However, the current pandemic greatly affected everyone and everything, including the most sought-after service – the dog daycares. Establishments needed to close and stop operating, and pet owners were left doing the grooming software, training, and walking by themselves during the quarantine.

Now that people are returning to offices and schools, the need for facilities like doggy daycares has increased significantly. But how can there be a safe and efficient business operation in a post-pandemic world? How can dog daycare software and kennel connection software be useful at this time?

If you are one of the business owners planning to reopen your pet business facility in the “new normal,” here are some do’s and don’ts that you should remember.

AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES!

You might get so excited about reopening your facility that you forget about specific protocols and new rules provided by the government and health sectors. In a post-pandemic business operation, avoid common mistakes, such as:

Mistake #1: Resuming Regular Business Hours

Living in the “new normal” world means doing the things you usually do but this time, differently. You have to cut the regular operating hours and develop a shortened business hours.

Implementing daycare software free into your daycare facility allows you to create an updated schedule without affecting your revenue. Having automated daycare scheduling for clients will help them arrange appointments based on your adjusted schedule. Thus, keeping them happy and accommodated.

Mistake #2: Forgetting about the Dissemination

Communication is vital, especially in business. Because you are opening your facility with many changes in the process, be sure to inform the public. Essential matters that they should know include:
• Updated operation/business hours
• New procedures developed and implemented
• Cleaning protocols in the facility
• Payment methods to ensure less contact
• Maximum clients catered in a day

Using kennel software programs help you quickly disseminate this information to your new and repeat clients as they can easily see it in the application. Once they know that preventive measures are on your priorities, they will become comfortable doing transactions with you. It then builds trust and reputation to your business – another way of attracting clients.

Mistake #3: Setting Aside Special Treatments and Appreciation to Loyal Clients

Loyal customers play a significant and essential part in growing every business. Especially for small businesses, they need their dedicated pet owners and recurring business on top of anything. And because they are a significant part of your business growth, a little appreciation would not hurt.

Kennel management programs and systems could help you do this. Through the software, you can create and advertise several advantages and benefits for repeat customers. It can range from giving them priority when scheduling appointments or providing access to your services outside the office hours (e.g., one hour earlier and one hour later).

Giving these benefits and going the extra mile to show your appreciation in return for their loyalty significantly increases reliability and helps build relationships with them.

Mistake #4: Going Too Far on the Discounts

With people reopening their businesses after months of quarantine, you would, of course, want to draw as many clients as you can. To gain back the lost revenue, many believe that enticing clients through discounts are the best option. But remember, the demand is high right after the reopening. Your service is vital to them, and if you are a trusted pet sitter, they will come anyway, whether there is a discount or not. You can offer service and promotional discounts but only to up to an extent.

Mistake #5: Forgetting About Your Employees

As your business operates with new opening hours and many changes in the procedures, your employees will be working harder than ever. You might forget to give them a fair shift schedule and the appropriate rest days for the week. Be sure to consider the possibility of team member burnout and the possible health risks at work. Think about whether they deserve a bonus for any extended and additional task. You may also give them a hazard pay as compensation for making the reopening possible.
The daycare software for pets also allows you to create a balanced, efficient team member scheduling. Ten hours and seven days a week is not possible, so be sure you arrange it properly. Simple steps in taking care of your employees could go a long way in keeping them engaged and happy with their job.

Mistake #6: Overlooking Your Employees’ Health

In addition to the previous point mentioned, one of the primary considerations is your employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health status. You can take some time to assess them for any illness before returning to work and regularly as they continue working. Check on some Covid19 symptoms from time to time and ensure proper action once any sign arises. This is crucial as you don’t want your business to become a hotspot for virus transmission.

Dog daycare software allows you to communicate with your employees easily. It can also send them notifications and alerts to remind them about the protocols for a safe establishment.

REOPENING YOUR PET CARE BUSINESS THE RIGHT WAY!

You have just read these common mistakes in reopening your daycare business after the pandemic. Here are some points to remember on enhancing your business and creating smooth-sailing daycare operations after the pandemic.

Offer Memberships and Packages

Although you must not overdo the discounts, presenting membership and package deals is worthwhile in creating a business image. You can offer these promos and packages through daycare software free and kennel connection software where users can quickly check and see available offers and how they can avail of them. It can also keep track of previous, ongoing, and future transactions, which can be a basis for the package deals.

pet care business

Invest in Technology and Scheduling Systems

Businesses in the post-pandemic environment still need to observe and adhere to the protocols set to reduce virus transmission. It is essential to adopt kennel management and kennel software programs in line with the social distancing rule. This will help you regulate the number of clients going in and out of your facility and reduce overcrowding. Additionally, the system’s online and contactless payment makes the process easier and safer.

Start Social Media Campaigns

Because people spend most of their hours on the internet today, having an online presence and advertising your business through social media platforms is an excellent idea. You can start encouraging your clients to post photos of their pets, your facility, or anything about their experience with your service. It will serve as social proof that your clients speak for your business and endorse you to others.

Introduce Referral Programs

Referrals are perhaps the best strategy in gaining more clients. As you reopen your business, consider giving incentives to clients who refer their friends and offer discounts when these friends become new loyal customers. While you help current clients avail a deal for the next transactions, you are also earning new customers and eventually making your business reopening a success.

Offer Video Chat Consultations as Option

Video chat consultations help you, your employees, and your clients save time. You may consider talking to them through video chats before they come to your facility. This proactive measure reduces the required time for consultation and maximizes revenue by discussing their needs before moving in.

You may opt to use daycare software for pets that allows them to book a schedule for a video chat before finalizing kennel appointments. This idea alone is efficient in operating a daycare business after a pandemic.

Add a  Daycare software Covid19-Fee to Your Services

Businesses that have closed for weeks or months haven’t seen their expected revenues. Thus, pulling off their budget. You can add cost to your services as part of reopening and keeping the place extra safe and clean. This fee can be for:
• providing masks and disposable aprons in the facility
• footbaths and sanitizers at the entrance
• wiping down seats and tables between appointments
• other additional services

This extra fee in line with the Covid19 preventive measures is a way of passing the cost to consumers with full transparency. Clients will more likely understand and appreciate this than increasing the cost of your regular services such as haircuts, boarding software, and others. Once the measures are no longer needed, you can remove the additional expense, and the pricing would remain the same.

Hire an Additional Staff to do the Additional Cleaning

The new cleaning requirements in reopening your establishment are vital. Thus, it might be necessary to hire an additional staff who will solely do the cleaning. Through it, the rest of your employees can focus on the core tasks and continue to provide a good quality service.

It might add to your operational costs but will surely gain trust from clients. Having a facility that people can rely on is the key to be on top of the competition and be successful in the industry.

Resuming business after the pandemic can be a great idea. But its success mainly depends on how you strategize and market your service or product. More than the points stated above, it is also essential to:
• get your finances in check
• staff your employees appropriately and carefully
• communicate with clients in an organized, strategic, and consistent manner
• ensure an accessible location for your facility
• create an inventory and report of your monthly sales and activities

Why Should I Reopen My Dog Daycare Business?
If you are still hesitant with reopening your doggy daycare business, here are some points why fur parents significantly consider it:
1. Dog daycares keep dogs from getting lonely
2. They won’t worry about being home late, knowing that their pets are being cared for
3. They don’t have to let anyone into their home while they are gone
4. When dogs arrive home happy and satisfied, they feel it’s worth their money
5. Dogs can exercise all-day!
6. It develops dogs’ socialization and behavior as they make new friends in the facility
7. Dogs can get lots of attention!
8. They can do their work and other matters with peace of mind

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Suppose you’re an aspiring business owner and an avid fan of doggies. We know what you are thinking – yes, a dog grooming business!

Pet grooming businesses, especially those that use pet grooming software, are currently one of the industry’s most profitable pet care businesses.

Why?

The number of American households that adopt pets is tremendously growing over time, and many of them are ready to spend dollars on their pet’s wellbeing. Mostly, they take their pets to a grooming salon for cleaning or want to have a new look once or twice a month. And with thousands of US pet owners, you could imagine how much you could earn in just a couple of months.

Take Your Business Idea into Action

Now that you found the perfect business idea, you are ready to go to another step – starting your very own pet grooming salon. However, creating any business is not a walk in a park. There is more to starting a pet grooming business than just registering your venture’s name with the state. There are numerous steps ahead on your way to running a pet grooming business, from processing legal documents and licensing to choosing a business’s name and creating a well-designed logo. Yes, it sure is a lot of work, imagining it’s only an initial stage. So, ensure that pet grooming software is on your essential list when you start your operation. It will take more than half of the time you spend on daily administrative tasks.

To help aspiring pet care business owners like you, we compiled a complete list of requirements to guide you through the process of starting your pet grooming business. It will ensure that your new business will turn out well-planned, appropriately registered, and legally compliant. Let’s take a look.

Creating an Effective Business Plan

Every startup business needs a business plan. A business plan is a complete guide essential to acquire funding and includes important details about your business, such as financial and market analyses and management arrangements.

pet grooming

Choose a Desired Operating Concept

After creating a practical business plan, it is time to derive a decision on where you will place your dog grooming business.
Here are your options:

• Lease space in a building
• Acquire a mobile grooming salon.
• Manage a dog grooming business as the owner and groomer.
• Operate a dog grooming salon and invite other groomers to rent space.
• Manage a dog grooming salon from your home.
• Operate a pet grooming salon and hire staff and groomers.

A grooming business floor plan usually comprises four divisions:
• lobby or the waiting area
• kennel or holding area
• bath and grooming area

So, when you rent or purchase a space for your dog grooming business, the facility’s size, and layout matter.

If you decided to manage it at your home, it might seem to be the most cost-effective. However, factors to consider such as limited growth opportunities as expansion physically and staff size can be challenging. Also, your neighbors may disagree with the noise of your dog clients. Before you decide to manage your dog business at your home, it is highly advisable to consult if you can legally do so.
If you choose to run your grooming business in a mobile van, yes, it provides convenience for pet parents and gives freedom to you as the owner. There are benefits, but there are also disadvantages such as faulty equipment and fuel cost.

Setup a Business Entity

Setting up a business entity is vital to protect your business from liability and save money on taxes. You may consult with a lawyer to determine which option is ideal for your pet grooming business. You may choose from these options:

• Limited liability company (LLC): LLC owners are not personally accountable for their liabilities and debts.
• Corporation: It is a group that acts as a single legal entity.
• Sole proprietorship: It is a business owned and operated by one entrepreneur. There is no legal difference between the owner and the company.
• Partnership: It is a business operated and owned by two or more parties. Sharing or liability and the profit differs depending on their terms.

Purchase Grooming Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
Grooming kits such as dryers, tubs, and grooming tables can be costly as it values around thousands of dollars. But these items are essential to operate a pet grooming business. These are the complete list of tool and equipment you need for your grooming:

1 Table for grooming
2 Fur dryers
3 Washing machines and dryers
4 Bathing tubs
5 Kennels
6 Grooming hose
7 Shower attachments
8 Brushes and combs
9 Grooming Shears
10 De-matters
11 Gloves
12 Grooming clippers
13 Nail clippers
14 Nail grinders
15 Shampoo and conditioner
16 Ear cleaning items
17 Bandanas and bows
18 Face masks
19 Hand sanitizer
20 Cleaning products

Acquire Licenses, Insurance, and Permits.

These legal documents are vital to operating your pet grooming salon legally. But the permits, licenses, insurance, and registration types needed to start a pet grooming business varies depending on your country.

If you manage a salon in a commercial space or on your home, you can obtain general liability insurance to save you from pet parents slipping or a dog bite. If you run a mobile van business, you may need to create a policy to combine with your insurance policy as most mobile groomers don’t add commercial activity.

Gain Skills, Training, and Certifications
Dog groomers are not mandatory to get legal certifications, but having training certifications will show your customers that you are qualified and can do an exceptional service.

Some of the skill you will acquire from the training includes:

• Handling aggressive pets
• Haircuts for any breeds
• Proper nail cutting
• Proper ear cleaning

Many schools offer virtual and in-person training and certification. As a business owner, you might also consider taking training in business management and bookkeeping software.

Set Appropriate Pricing

Before setting up your services’ prices, it is useful to analyze your competitors’ rates. Doing so will help you create your pricing as you will need to set your prices similar to them to make sure your business will be competitive. You may also consider the breed, service type, and how long it takes to accomplish the services when deriving pricing rates.

You may also combine services and offer them special deals and packages, offering first-time promotions and offering punch cards.

Ensure your pricing will cover the total cost, insurance, taxes, and at least a little for your savings. Saving will help you prepare for unusual expenses such as equipment failure or loss. The more, the better off your business will be.

Marketing Your Pet Grooming Business

When you have decided to start your dog grooming business, there may already existing competition in your area. Therefore, you may need to think of a unique marketing plan to boost your startup dog grooming business’s visibility. An excellent marketing strategy will help you put your service at the front of your potential customer’s minds and will make you their top choice when they need a service that you offer. You may promote special offers or incentivize your potential clients to avail of your services. These are some things to do to market your business effectively:
 Create a unique yet memorable business name.
 Layout a catchy logo
 Design a professional website.
 Send or email coupons.
 Create a referral program.
 Distribute business cards and flyers to vet clinics, pet boutiques, dog trainers, animal rescues, and pet daycares.
 Create a social media page and stay active.
 Launch advertising on social media platforms.
 Be engaged in local Facebook groups.
 Offer gift certificates (GC) for a fundraising event.

Employ A Dog Grooming Business Software

A dog grooming software is a set of application programs that helps pet grooming companies automate and manage daily processes. The system secures a record of all appointments made through the system, including confirmed, canceled, and no shows.
It also comes with client and pet management, salaries, commission, tip management, calendar management, payment processing, online reservations, rate management, email reminders, mobile app reservations, reporting, and analytics.

The system keeps track of everything your business needs to operate. It has a load of time-saving features and functions that simplifies daily tasks while improving your team member and client’s experience.

dog grooming software

Using A Dog Grooming Software in Your Business Startup

Like we mentioned earlier, starting a business is not like falling off a log. Being a dog lover is not going to be enough for your business to thrive. Your dog grooming business also needs a thoroughly made business plan, determination, courage, sacrifices, capital, and reliable pet grooming software. Yes, having such software will give you the confidence to run in no time, and here’s how:

Kennel Software Provides Online Appointment Scheduling

Not many dog grooming salons offer online appointment scheduling. Therefore, using grooming appointment software will be a massive advantage for your business. Your customers can book their pets using your website online in just a matter of a minute. They will enjoy the convenience, and you will gain more prospective customers.

 Dog Groomer Software Keeps Records Organized

Even for startups, it is highly advisable to use grooming appointment software to keep their appointment transaction histories such as booking, clients and pet records, etc. The system will maintain the organization of all your business information digitally. This way, you can immediately get the details you need just by searching in the system.

Dog Kennel Software Includes Convenient Payment Options

When you are offering an appointment online, your customers will expect to provide online payment options. Luckily, a grooming appointment software will also cover that for you. Providing hassle-free payment arrangements will improve your relationship with your customers and will lead to long-lasting engagement.

 Dog Grooming Software Team Member’s Salary and Schedule Management Feature

When you decide to employ a groomer or two to work for you, you may need to create a workday schedule and manage salaries now and then. It is easier to handle those tasks with a small team but can be challenging if you need more staff as your business grows. A dog groomer software is your business saver with this challenge. The system will allow you to create a schedule quickly, and because it is digitally made, you and your team members can view it anytime using any device using the mobile app version. That same goes for salary management.

 Kennel Software Can Enhance Your Groomer Management

As your business expands, your team and customer base grow as well. Therefore, keeping your grooming workflows organize and systematic is crucial to be successful. A dog groomer software allows you to limit each groomer on how many breeds they can groom in a day. You can assign the species to the groomer for which they have the expertise, and best of all, your customers can choose their preferred groomer for a day or set it as their default one.

 Dog Kennel Software Avoids No-Shows and Late Payments

No-shows and late payments can be your headaches once you run your dog grooming business. Dog kennel software can minimize or even eliminate this dilemma. The software has an automated, easy-to-use, and customizable mailing system that will let you set a message and the time when you want it to send to a customer. It can be an appointment, pick-up, payment reminder, or thank you notes. You can even use your own or pre-designed templates provided by the system.

K9sky All-in-One Pet Care Business Management Software

K9sky dog kennel software can provide all the features and benefits above-mentioned and many more to let you start accepting grooming appointments confidently. At K9sky, we understand that starting a new chapter in your life as a business owner can be a rough road. But as a dog lover and with K9sky dog kennel software, you can rest assured that you will not get behind the competition. Instead, you can be at the top while enjoying the advantages of being a groomer with your furry canine clients.

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