Pet hotels are all the rage for both pet owners and businessmen. Particularly now that basically everyone owns a pet! So if you’re planning to open up your own business and choose to start with pet hotels then you can bet on having customers wherever you are.
A bonus if you’re a pet lover! Running a pet hotel won’t be as pressing plus caring for animals other than your own becomes an instinct. But whether you’re a pet lover or not, be sure your employees are. They’re going to be the ones caring for the pets in the hotel so best to surround your clients with caretakers that love animals.
Starting a pet hotel is a complex business to start with since you have to consider space, shelter, daily cleaning and sanitizing, ventilation and so much more. But knowing everything you need to know beforehand can help you tremendously.
So if you’re ready to open a pet hotel, here are some things you need to know:
What do you need to set up a kennel?
Before opening up a pet hotel business you first need to know everything you’ll be needing. So stack up on these specific items because these are things you’ll be using each day or most of the time:
Shelter
Make sure the shelter where you keep pets is comfortable, ventilated, and protects them from rain, snow and sun. Adding a thin pet bed will also give them a place to snuggle at night. All of the shelters should be either air-conditioned or has a fan installed.
Also make sure to add in vision, putting pets in a fully closed area can make them stressed and anxious. Design each shelter/room differently fit for specific kinds of pets.
Food and water
All rooms must have food and water supply. Although pet owners are responsible for the food, it won’t hurt to have backup pet food in case they run out. This is most convenient when the owner extends the stay.
Consider having a water station in the shelter/room, the waiting area and the open yard. This will ensure all pets are hydrated and healthy.
Extra leashes and harnesses
When a pet gets dropped off, they usually already come with a leash and harness. But for instance, if they don’t or they’re existing leash or harness breaks you’ll have extra. These are essential to have in any pet establishment so always have extra in different sizes.
Toys!
Other essential things to have are toys! Staying in a pet hotel away from their owners can sadden any pet. So to make their stay a bit better, give them something to play with, chew in, scratch and so on. But remember to always wash and sanitize all toys after use.
Open space
All pet hotels need to have an open space where pets can run, play, stretch and interact. If a pet hotel doesn’t have open space, these are only best for short stays. Plus having an open stay can keep pets happy and healthy.
Employees
A pet hotel wouldn’t be possible without employees! When hiring your staff make sure they’re responsible, have a soft spot for pets, have experience and have initiative. Picking out your staff can be crucial since they’re going to be the ones caring for your clients.
On-call vet
Having an on-call vet is a great thing to consider since you never know what might happen. A pet could get injured while playing, get eye trauma, ingest a foreign object and so on. Plus this will save you the worry if a pet seems sick, you’ll have someone to count on to help a pet in need.
Insurance
Last but not least is insurance. A pet hotel is an open pool for lawsuits. This is because it’s a type of business where people rely on and trust you to care for their pets. And even the tiniest slip leads to a lawsuit. Not only that, but you might also suffer from property damage from natural calamities, loss of business income and so much more.
So to protect your business, consider getting business insurance. This will give you a legal and financial safety net when disasters arise. And to get the best coverage for your business consult with an insurance advisor. They can help you grasp and fully understand any insurance coverage you’re getting.
