Boarding Kennels and Dog Day Care Businesses for Sale

Buying and operating a boarding kennel can be a fun and challenging undertaking but it does require the right kind of person. A person in charge of a boarding kennel will be completely responsible for the care of other people’s pets – a serious responsibility. If you’re in charge of a boarding kennel it can also require you to be present and on-call most of the time. So, while your clients are off on holiday, your own vacations may be limited because you will be at the kennel, taking care of cats and dogs.

If you’re okay with these responsibilities, there are some wonderful benefits to buying a boarding kennel.

• Buying a boarding kennel allows you to be self-employed. You are the boss. You will also be doing a fair share of the work, even if you have employees! Even though you are self-employed, you will likely need to set regular business hours for your clients. And, animals usually prefer to be fed at regular times.
• You can work with animals and you’re not tied to a desk. One of the nicest benefits of owning a boarding kennel for many people is the chance to work with animals. You will likely be coming and going all day, attending to various animals in their kennels. Many owners today prefer to bring a dog’s own food when they bring him to a kennel so it can take some work at meal times to prepare individual dishes. If a dog or cat needs medication, you have to keep track of it. You may not be tied to a desk but there is still quite a bit of scheduling and you have to keep track of all of the specific requirements for each animal. Plus, many owners on vacation will call in to check on their pets.
• Boarding kennels are always in demand; this is a very stable and steady business. While many people like to use pet sitters today, boarding kennels have never lacked for clients. Many people going on vacation prefer to use a boarding kennel. People who have multiple dogs often use a boarding kennel to keep a male dog out of the way when a female dog is in heat. You might have some clients who bring their pet for the weekend and others who bring a pet for a two-week vacation. More than likely you will have many repeat clients, especially if you do a good job with their pets and their cats or dogs seem to like you.
• You can usually live on site. This is one of the biggest benefits of owning a boarding kennel. Unlike most businesses where you have to drag yourself in to work downtown, when you own a boarding kennel you can often pull on some comfortable clothes and wander next door. Most boarding kennel properties are sold with an owner’s house on the premises.

Considerations when buying a pet boarding facility or a dog day care

Buying a boarding kennel is usually an expensive proposition since it entails some acreage and/or buildings, and in some cases it could include a home. But it can be a wonderful way to spend time with animals and enjoy yourself if you are responsible and this kind of lifestyle appeals to you.

It is recommendable to do some research about the cost of running this type of business. Common overhead expenses include insurance, property rental, employees, utilities and equipment maintenance.

Always consult a lawyer and an accountant before you buy a business.