Introduction
As a 16-year veteran in the pet industry, I’ve had an opportunity to work with thousands of facilities and create great relationships with the vendors that support an amazing industry. My experience provides a unique view into the suite of products pet business owners use to offer unique customer experiences, provide a safe and clean facility, deliver the highest quality of pet care, and provide the best work environment for their employees.
I’m asked 20+ times per month to recommend different products and services so I thought it would be timely to build my own BEST OF version for the Pet Care Professionals that we love and support.
Leading Pet Care Business Insurance Options
Business Insurers of the Carolinas
Every pet care business needs insurance and so I see this question a ton. The coverage that you need will depend on your facility, the services you provide and if your property is also your home or your facility is on the same property as your home. The insurance professionals at Business Insurance of the Carolinas can help you determine exactly what you need and have the most competitive pricing I’ve seen in the market.
Top-Rated Kennel Software Solutions
Kennel Connection Cloud
The pet industry has over 40 software companies that offer software to help you manage, operate, and grow your pet care business. The term “kennel software” includes dog daycare facilities, dog groomers, dog trainers, and boarding facilities. Even though there are a ton of different solutions for your budget in the industry, the product you choose to use can be a determining factor in your profits and the overall brand experience for your customers. I always tell pet care business owners to look for several key factors when selecting software.
- Online Booking Experience for pet parents.
- Customer Service options for staff training, questions, and issues (phone support).
- Texting and VOIP integration to streamline client communication & boost reviews.
- Reporting that allows you to manage your business and know your numbers.
Essential Staff Training Programs for Pet Care Facilities
One of the keys to providing a safe and fun facility is ensuring every staff member understands how to de-escalate situations, work with customers to provide amazing experiences, and be efficient in daily operations. There are many companies that offer solutions, but I have 3 that I recommend day in and day out.
1. ABC Pet Resort Boot Camp
This is a hands-on boot camp where you go to Houston TX to learn everything you can from this top-performing facility. I have had customers who operate million-dollar facilities for the past 10 years go here and give the experience a glowing recommendation. If you are a new business or have been around for a decade, this is where I would spend my time and money to improve every aspect of my business. The only downside is the limited availability.
2. PackPro
This is a MUST-have for every team member who joins your business. It is affordable, constantly evolving and updating as the industry changes, and has fantastic engagement for staff members who will be tested on what they are learning.
3. Dog Handler Academy
I love this training program because of the depth of experience that Eve brings to the industry. This program has a comprehensive platform that includes Culture and Marketing courses as well as guides for new businesses about to start on the journey of building their own business.
Advanced Cleaning and Maintenance Products for Pet Care Facilities
Animal Health Technologies
The team and products offered by Health Technologies are the best in the industry. They have amazing pricing and will educate you on every product and the best use depending on the surface you are trying to clean to expand the life of the products you purchase. I also love that they have complete systems you can purchase to simplify the operations of daily cleaning tasks that are needed to keep your facility smelling great and looking its best.
Pet Aerapy UV Cleaning
We have had a ton of clients dealing with closures due to outbreaks of canine cough and other pet care facility illnesses. Aerapy Animal Health’s UV achieves a greater than 99.9% kill rate against tested viral and bacterial pathogens including Bordetella bronchiseptica (canine cough), canine influenza, distemper, parvovirus, and feline calicivirus.
Premium Facility Surfaces and Flooring Solutions
K9 Grass
Ken and the team over at K9 Grass have the best product on the market with very few competitors. They are NOT the cheapest, but the thatching and drainage allow you to purchase one time without the worry of having to replace it in a few years. It is also important to note that when you follow their cleaning protocols, the grass indoors or out is NOT going to smell like urine after a few months.
Permatek Flooring
Jeff Adney was the owner of Permatek Coatings for a decade and joined the team at TWC to continue to deliver best-in-class epoxy flooring across the US and Canada. Jeff has a wealth of knowledge and has worked with thousands of pet care facilities to deliver the best flooring available. Epoxy flooring is an investment, but makes cleaning easy, has grit to prevent slippery flooring, and will last 30+ years when installed properly.
High-Quality Kennel and Facility Equipment
Gator Kennels
There are several kennel companies, but I personally love the look of Gator Kennels. They have the fastest turnaround times for getting your new kennels in your facility, they last for decades and they are more cost-effective than Mason Kennels.
Kuranda Beds
I love that this is a family-owned & operated business and Beth (who you will meet at all the tradeshows has been in the business since she was a teen). The elevated beds can last a lifetime and offer simple packs to complete repairs if you don’t want to purchase new beds when they do need servicing. I also love that these can be used to drive revenue as an add-on for luxury bedding upgrades (if you don’t purchase one for every single room).
Klimb Training Tables
David is the owner of Blue9, the maker of the Klimb training table. I never thought that someone would be able to take the concept of a table, patent it, and turn it into an amazing suite of products that can be utilized across thousands of pet care facilities. This versatile table can be configured into pyramids for daycare playrooms, it’s an amazing tool to work on a variety of training with the pets and they are built to last. But don’t just look at the Klimb table, they have an entire suite of products that strengthen the bond between dogs and the people who are playing and caring for them.
Puppy Playground
Gary over at Puppy Playground is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. When you are building your play areas, having equipment that is fun for the dogs is key and Puppy Playground is perfect. I’ve seen some companies buy old childcare equipment and make it work, but Puppy Playground equipment will look the same on day 1 and year 15 and it’s designed specifically for dog daycare and dog boarding facilities.
Kinn Bowls
Rarely do you find a product that is good for the environment, improves the health of the dogs in your facility, and has an amazing ROI. All of those are true about the Kinn bowls as they reduce labor and your water bill. They promote more water consumption for the dogs playing at your facility and they are 100% sustainable (made from sugar cane).
iDogCam
I can’t say enough great things about the camera systems provided by iDog Cam. Being a tech geek, I love the security and support of the equipment, the ease of installation, and the control business owners have to distribute access to various cameras throughout the facility. Aron and his team offer a great camera solution and provide amazing support to small businesses and large franchisors in the pet care industry.
Expert Pet Care Facility Construction and Design Services
Turnkey Builders
Al Locker is someone that I met over 15 years ago and is the best in the business. Having built dozens of million-dollar pet resorts and vet clinics; he understands not just materials for building a facility, but he understands efficiency in operations and how location and demographics will influence your proforma to get loan approval.
Streamlined Staff Planning and Scheduling Tools
There are two leading products to build staff schedules, optimize your labor, and ensure you have the appropriate coverage based on the dogs and services you need to provide. Both are best-in-class solutions with schedule management and shift changes and offer integrations with a variety of payroll companies.
- Homebase – Starts at $79/month
- When I Work – Pricing is based upon a per-user license. For smaller companies, this may be a more cost-effective option (depending on what features you use).
Comprehensive Exit Planning for Pet Care Business Owners
PetVet Sales & Advisory
If you are fortunate enough to have had a great career in the pet care space and see yourself wanting to slow down and take care of yourself for a change, then I think there is a clear winner when it comes to exit planning and getting the most out of the blood sweat and tears you have put into building your dream business. Teija is the owner and operator of PetVet Sales and should be your first call when you start planning your exit (and a HUGE tip is to start planning at least 24 months before you actually want to sell the business). With a success rate of over 95% and someone who can give you very actionable advice to position your business to get top dollar, I can’t recommend this company enough.
Key Pet Care Industry Trade Shows and Networking Opportunities
The best way to get better at what you do is to meet with like-minded people and there is no better place to do that than by attending one of the many trade and education events. I think there are two clear winners here for business owners who offer boarding and daycare services, and each has its pros and cons.
Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo West
Las Vegas, Nevada
This is a fantastic show to take your team to. You can focus on teambuilding and education for 4 days and spend time going through the tradeshow floor to talk to vendors (most listed above). This show is a great opportunity to focus on building a great company culture The other benefit is that by bringing team members with you, you won’t miss out on any seminars that you want to attend (because the schedule does overlap with some amazing topics).
Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo East
Hershey, Pennsylvania
The education part of this tradeshow is nearly identical to the Vegas show, but where this show really shines is the opportunity to network with other professionals. Hershey is a sleepy town and the benefit is that after the tradeshow floor closes you can find 75+ pet care professionals hanging out at the Hershey bar.
IBPSA
Orlando, Florida
As an attendee, I think that Carmen at IBSPA does a wonderful job of creating a great pet care pro experience.These shows are typically in resort-style hotels that include meals, breakout sessions, and plenty of time for networking by the pool. They have a tradeshow floor but typically have fewer vendors than you will see at the Pet Boarding and Daycare (PB&D) shows because of the smaller number of attendees. I would also note that the educational portion of these shows is quite different than what you are going to see at a PB&D show so if you have the time and money it would be worth checking out both IBPSA and one of the PB&D shows in the same year.
If you have read to the bottom and you have questions about a product or service you are considering, feel free to reach out by sending me a quick text (415-283-7082). I’ll give you my best advice and opinion to help you make an educated decision on what products and services can help you elevate your business to the next level.
