Starting a pet boarding business is excitingâbut without a written plan, itâs easy to underestimate costs, overlook regulations, or miss revenue opportunities. This step-by-step guide gives you a lender-ready structure for a pet boarding business plan, with real-world assumptions you can adapt to your market.
Why Plan? Lender & Execution Benefits
Your business plan is more than a formalityâitâs a decision tool. Benefits include:
- Financing readiness: Banks and investors want a structured plan with realistic projections and risks addressed
- Operational clarity: Written policies (vaccination, feeding, cleaning) reduce errors and support staff training
- Faster launch: A prioritised timeline keeps permits, build-out, and hiring on track
- Risk control: Identifying seasonal demand, competition, and health protocols in advance helps you plan contingencies
Executive Summary
Write this lastâbut place it first. In one to two pages, cover:
- Concept: Small/medium dog boarding facility with enrichment-based play, overnight care, and optional daycare add-ons
- Location & capacity: Target number of kennels/suites, play groups, outdoor space
- Market & positioning: Premium safety standards, transparent communication, convenient online booking
- Team: Owner-operator plus experienced supervisor; certified staff for canine behaviour and first aid
- Financial highlights: Startup budget, monthly revenue at target occupancy, breakeven month, cash buffer
- Ask: Amount of funding requested, use of funds, and expected payback horizon
Market Analysis & Demand Sizing
Demonstrate local demand and your path to competitive advantage.
Define Your Service Area
- Primary radius: 10-20 minutesâ drive from the site (commuters and families)
- Pet ownership: Estimate dog-owning households using census/local statistics and apply a conservative percentage likely to use boarding annually
Competitor Scan
- List 5-10 competitors with pricing (nightly rate, add-ons), capacity, hours, and strengths/weaknesses
- Identify gaps: after-hours pickup, small-dog-only play, senior-dog suites, webcam access, training packages
Pricing Benchmarks
- Overnight (dogs): commonly ranges $35-$70 per night depending on region and amenities
- Daycare add-on: $20-$40 per day when paired with boarding
- Extras: enrichment sessions, one-on-one play, baths, nail trims, departure grooms
Licensing & Compliance Plan
Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable and reassures lenders. Include:
- Business structure & registrations: LLC (common for liability), local business license, tax registrations
- Animal boarding permissions: Zoning approval/conditional use; animal control/animal welfare permits per jurisdiction
- Facility standards: Ventilation, drainage, washable surfaces, isolation area, waste management, pest control
- Health protocols: Required vaccines (rabies, DHPP, Bordetella per vet guidance), intake screening, emergency vet partnership
- Insurance: General liability, property, workersâ comp, animal bailee coverage
- Record-keeping: Admissions, vaccinations, incidents, cleaning logsâideally managed in software for audit-readiness
Facility & Operations Plan
Detail how youâll deliver safe, consistent care every day.
Capacity & Layout
Small facility: ~12-24 kennels/suites, 1-2 play areas, reception/retail, laundry, food prep, isolation room
Medium facility: ~30-60 kennels/suites, 3-4 play areas by size/temperament, staff break/training room
Key considerations: Acoustic panels, washable walls/floors, zoned HVAC, daily deep-clean schedule
Staffing & Training
- Ratios: Boarding with group play often targets 1:10-1:15 dogs per trained attendant
- Training: Canine body language, enrichment, safe handling, cleaning & biosecurity, first aid/CPR
- SOPs: Check-in/out, feeding/medication, enrichment notes, incident reporting, closing checks
Technology Stack
- Reservations & CRM: Online bookings, deposits, vaccination tracking, owner portal
- Daycare add-ons: Attendance tracking, package credits, SMS reminders
- Reporting: Occupancy, revenue, customer retention dashboards
Marketing & Sales Strategy
Brand & Positioning
- Safety and transparency first: webcams or daily photo/report cards
- Convenience: online booking, SMS reminders, after-hours pickup windows
- Trust signals: reviews, vet partnerships, certifications
Acquisition Channels
- Local SEO: Google Business Profile, service pages, FAQ schema, neighbourhood landing pages
- Content: Publish guides (packing lists, vaccination FAQs) to attract organic traffic
- Partnerships: Vets, groomers, trainers; referral discounts
- Retention: Multi-night discounts, daycare packages, memberships
Sales Process
- Lead capture (web form/chat) â automated email/SMS
- Tour offer and transparent pricing grid
- Trial daycare day, temperament test, and onboarding pack
Financial Model (Startup Costs, P&L, Cash Flow)
Use conservative assumptions and show sensitivity to occupancy and rate changes.
đ Crunch your numbers: Use our free Pet Business Revenue Calculator to model your facilityâs income and profit across all your services â with seasonal demand and capacity planning included.
Estimated Startup Budget
| Category | Small Facility | Medium Facility | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposits & legal | $5,000-$12,000 | $10,000-$20,000 | First/last month, attorney, permits |
| Build-out & renovations | $20,000-$60,000 | $50,000-$140,000 | Partitions, drainage, HVAC, acoustics |
| Kennels, gates, flooring | $10,000-$25,000 | $25,000-$45,000 | Suites/kennels, fencing, mats |
| Fixtures & equipment | $4,000-$10,000 | $8,000-$18,000 | Washer/dryer, storage, POS |
| Technology & software | $500-$1,500 | $1,500-$3,000 | Booking, CRM, cameras |
| Insurance & licenses | $2,000-$5,000 | $5,000-$10,000 | General liability, bailee, permits |
| Initial marketing | $2,000-$4,000 | $5,000-$8,000 | Website, signage, launch promos |
| Working capital (3 months) | $15,000-$35,000 | $30,000-$70,000 | Payroll, rent, supplies buffer |
| Estimated total | $58,500-$152,500 | $135,000-$314,000 | Adjust for local costs |
Revenue & Occupancy Assumptions
- Nightly boarding rate: $40-$60 (use your local median)
- Small facility example: 20 kennels Ă 70% average occupancy Ă $50/night â $21,000/month boarding revenue
- Medium facility example: 50 kennels Ă 65% occupancy Ă $55/night â $53,625/month boarding revenue
- Add-ons: Daycare during stay, enrichment, baths can add 10-25% to average order value
Simplified Monthly P&L (Illustrative)
| Line Item | Small (20 kennels) | Medium (50 kennels) |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding revenue | $21,000 | $53,625 |
| Add-ons (15%) | $3,150 | $8,044 |
| Total revenue | $24,150 | $61,669 |
| Payroll (incl. taxes) | $9,000 | $18,500 |
| Rent & utilities | $4,500 | $8,000 |
| Insurance | $600 | $1,200 |
| Supplies & laundry | $800 | $1,600 |
| Marketing & software | $700 | $1,200 |
| Misc./repairs | $400 | $800 |
| Estimated operating profit | $8,150 | $30,369 |
Note: Illustrative onlyâreplace with your quotes and projections. Include a seasonality view (summer/holidays higher occupancy).
12-Month Cash Flow Notes
- Plan for lower occupancy in the first 3-6 months while reviews build
- Front-load expenses (build-out, deposits) and show runway from working capital or credit line
- Show sensitivity: ±10% occupancy and ±$5 rate impact on cash
Risk Planning
- Demand variability: Use daycare memberships to stabilise weekday revenue; promote stay-and-play bundles in off-peak months
- Health outbreaks: Strict vaccine/illness policies, sanitation SOPs, isolation room, and customer comms templates
- Staffing: Cross-train, offer retention bonuses, maintain a PT bench of on-call attendants
- Competition: Differentiate with webcams, enrichment reports, later pickup windows, or transport add-ons
- Regulatory: Keep digital records (vaccines, incidents, cleaning logs) for inspections
Opening Checklist (Quick Reference)
- Choose entity, register, and obtain tax IDs
- Secure site; complete zoning/permits and design layout
- Build-out: partitions, drains, HVAC, acoustics, surfaces
- Order kennels, gates, washers/dryers, cleaning supplies
- Set insurance (liability, bailee), draft SOPs and staff handbook
- Vet partnership; vaccination & illness policy finalised
- Implement booking/CRM, payment processing, SMS reminders
- Hire & train; soft-open with friends/family pets for process testing
- Launch website, Google Business Profile, tour calendar, offers
- Collect reviews; track KPIs (occupancy, AOV, incidents)
Conclusion & Next Steps
Writing a pet boarding business plan isnât just about impressing lendersâitâs about giving yourself a clear, realistic roadmap. By detailing your market, operations, compliance, financials, and risks, youâll know exactly what needs to happen and when.
Next steps:
- Download and customise a business plan template with your local numbers
- Research your local competitors and plug in real pricing
- Meet with your lender, advisor, or mentor to validate your plan
- Set milestone dates for permits, build-out, hiring, and launch
Once your foundation is in place, you can focus on delighting customersâand their pets.
Related reading: How to Start a Dog Kennel Business, How to Start a Dog Daycare Business, Dog Boarding Software Guide
