So you’re thinking about starting a pet daycare. Maybe you’re tired of the corporate world and dream of spending your days surrounded by wagging tails. Maybe you’ve been dog-sitting for friends and realised there’s a real business opportunity here. Or maybe you just know that dog owners in your area are desperate for a safe, fun place for their pups during the workday.
Whatever brought you here, you’re onto something. The pet care industry is booming, and dog daycare is one of the fastest-growing segments. But turning your passion for dogs into a profitable business takes more than just loving animals. Here’s what you need to know.
Before you sign a lease or buy your first bag of treats, do your homework. Who are your potential customers? In most cases, it’s working professionals who may feel guilty leaving their dog home alone all day, active dog owners whose pets need more exercise than they can provide, and people with high-energy breeds that require serious stimulation.
Research your local competition. Visit existing daycares. What are they doing well? Where are there gaps you could fill? What are people complaining about in online reviews? This isn’t about copying what exists—it’s about finding your opportunity to do something better or different.
Every locality and council has different requirements for pet businesses, and you need to understand yours before you go any further. Contact your council to find out what permits you need. You’ll likely need a general business license at minimum, and possibly specific pet care facility permits.
Insurance is non-negotiable. You need comprehensive liability insurance that covers animal injuries, property damage, and customer accidents. Talk to an insurance broker who specialises in pet businesses—they’ll understand your unique risks in ways a general business insurance agent won’t.
Location matters enormously in this business. You need a space that’s accessible to your target customers, has adequate indoor and outdoor areas for dogs to play, and meets all local zoning requirements for animal facilities.
Consider the layout carefully. You’ll need separate spaces for different size dogs or different energy levels. You need easy-to-clean surfaces (concrete floors with drains are your friend). You need good ventilation and climate control. And you need secure fencing that can contain even the most determined escape artist.
Many successful daycares start from home if zoning allows, which dramatically reduces overhead. Others find commercial spaces in pet-friendly business parks. Don’t overlook converted warehouses or industrial spaces—they often have the square footage and durability you need at reasonable prices.
This is where many new daycare owners stumble. You need crystal-clear policies on everything from vaccination requirements to pickup times to what happens if a dog gets injured. Think through scenarios before they happen:
What vaccinations do you require? How do you handle aggressive behavior? What’s your sick dog policy? How do you manage dogs that don’t play well with others? What are your cancellation terms? What’s the ratio of pets to staff?
Document everything. Your policies protect both you and your customers, and they set expectations from day one.
You’ll need the obvious things—toys, beds, bowls, cleaning supplies, first aid kits. But don’t overlook the systems that will actually make your business run smoothly.
From day one, you need a reliable way to manage bookings, track which dogs are coming on which days, communicate with pet parents, and process payments. Many new daycares try to handle this manually or with basic tools, but you’ll quickly find yourself drowning in administrative work. The right management software isn’t a luxury—it’s essential infrastructure that lets you focus on dogs instead of spreadsheets.
Unless you’re running a very small operation, you can’t do this alone. Hire people who genuinely love dogs but who also understand that this is a business. They need to be responsible, observant, and calm under pressure. They also need the ability to communicate well with customers, they’re the ones paying your bills.
Invest in training – whether it’s how to manage pets or how to deal with tricky customers. The quality of your staff will make or break your reputation.
Build a simple website with clear information about your services, pricing, and policies. Create social media accounts and post daily photos and videos of dogs having fun (with owner permission, of course). Happy dogs are your best marketing. Facebook is another great platform to build your business presence on.
Encourage reviews from satisfied customers. Partner with local veterinarians, groomers, and pet stores who can refer clients to you. Consider offering a discounted trial day so hesitant owners can see how their dog does.
Starting a pet daycare is physically demanding, emotionally draining at times, and rarely as profitable in year one as you hope. Dogs will have accidents. Owners will be demanding. You’ll work longer hours than you expected.
But if you do it right, you’ll build a business that makes dogs happy, gives their owners peace of mind, and lets you spend your days doing something you love. That’s worth more than a corner office ever was.
Ready to start planning your pet daycare? We’re building tools to help pet business owners manage their operations more efficiently. Follow us for tips, resources, and updates on software designed specifically for businesses like yours.
