Dog Care Franchise Opportunities: The Done-For-You Dog Grooming Business
You want to set up a dog grooming business, but you’re not sure where to start. There’s a lot to consider, but it can be done. You’ll need to think about the pet services you wish to offer, and the location in which you want to set up your business, and you’ll also need to brush up on your management skills. And that’s just for starters.
Here are ten things you may need to do before starting your own dog grooming business, and how buying a ‘business-in-a-box’ dog grooming franchise differs – differences we think you’ll agree to make the dog care franchise cost worth every cent.
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Understand the certifications you need
You’ll need to learn and understand what licenses and permits you need to run a business, and also whether there are any state and municipal licenses required by pet grooming businesses. You should check with your local county, town, or city clerk’s office, and contact your local business associations.
If you buy a franchise, the franchisor will have extensive experience in licensing. They’ll be able to advise you on what federal license you need and who you must contact. That’s going to cut a lot of the hassle, and make getting the permits you need much easier.
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Create a portfolio to build trust
To get business flowing through your door, you must build trust with potential customers. When you’re starting a business from scratch, you have no portfolio to show off. That makes gaining customers a struggle.
Franchisees trade off the back of the franchise name and reputation. With a recognized brand behind you, the trust of customers is already won ─ which is why franchise businesses are usually profitable faster than startups.
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Build a solid business plan
A clear business plan is critical when starting a business. You’ll need to identify costs, your target market, pricing ranges, and, of course, select a name for your business. You’ll also need to consider hiring a team, salaries, accounting, and marketing.
If you are investing in a dog grooming franchise, you can leverage the experience of the franchisor and existing franchisees. Your franchise consultant can also help you ─ and all the costs will be laid out for you. Most franchisors provide training in business, too, which will help you with staffing, management, etc.
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Make sure it’s a safe canine environment
Before you can open your business, you must ensure that it is a safe environment for dogs. You’ll need to brush up on laws and regulations and make certain that you only buy the right equipment and use the correct materials on your premises.
You guessed it ─ the franchisor’s knowledge and experience in this area are invaluable. They will advise you on equipment ─ and you’ll probably benefit from advantageous pricing through them, too. You’ll be certain that your premises are canine safe and friendly.
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Evaluate what kinds of dogs you can handle
We all know that there are many breeds of dogs in the world. Some breeds of dogs require more attention and care than others. Some breeds are playful and energetic while others are calm and gentle. It is important to know what type of dog you can handle before starting a dog grooming business ─ whether it’s a startup business or a franchise.
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Keep an eye on the competition
As with every business, you’ve always got to stay ahead of the competition. As an independent business, you will need to constantly watch your competitors. You’ll need to know what they are upselling and how they are pricing their services. Then you’ll need to design a strategy to respond to what your competition is doing.
This big-picture work is largely done for you when you own a franchise ─ and you are also likely to benefit from a protected area, in which the franchisor will not admit another franchisee. A huge weight off your shoulders, and much less stress as a business owner.
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Expand your service offering
As you grow your business, you’ll want to add more services to keep fresh and relevant for customers. To do this, you’ll need to invest time and effort into learning what your customers want, and you’ll also need to invest in training for yourself and your employees.
As a franchisee, you’ll benefit from the market knowledge of the franchisor, and its business development opportunities. And you’ll benefit from any ongoing training and support provided by the franchisor to ensure you remain updated with all the latest business practices.
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Create a website
It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, customers expect a business to have a website. You can build your own website, but this is unlikely to land you many leads unless you’re a genius with SEO. A professional website can cost thousands of dollars to build.
A franchisee doesn’t have this issue. You’ll be piggy-backing off your franchisor’s website, and the thousands of hits it receives each day.
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Set up back-office capabilities
It’s crucial to keep your personal and business finances separate. You’ll need to set up a business bank account. You’ll also need to set up a way for customers to pay you online ─ what’s known as a payment gateway. This means you’ll need a merchant account. And you’ll need to link to your accounts system. Confused? You don’t need to be.
As a franchisee, the franchisor can provide help with all this. Payments that are made through its website will be directed to you. And you’ll use their business systems, such as accounts, too. The back office is done for you ─ it couldn’t be simpler.
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Marketing, etc.
Marketing is the oxygen of any business. In print ads. Radio advertising. Business cards. Blogs and social media posts. Marketing is crucial to make pet owners aware that you exist and to attract them to your business. All of this takes time, effort, and money ─ and if you get it wrong, all of this will be wasted. Bad marketing can also damage your business.
Once more, here’s where the franchisor steps up to the plate. It’s in their interests for your business to be successful, and you’ll find that to drive your success you’ll get marketing support ─ locally and nationally, depending upon the franchise.
Dog grooming franchise opportunities ─ your business in a box
As you can see, when you buy a franchise opportunity you get help with all the above. This means you get to spend time on your business rather than in your business. A franchise really is a business in a box. It’s like going bowling for the first time. The franchisor puts the guardrails up for you, so you never run into the gutter.
With so much help, you can work on other crucial elements of your dog grooming business, such as:
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Establishing alliances with a local daycare and veterinary services
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Managing and developing your team
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Being there for the animals
Which is the right dog grooming franchise for you?
For many dog-loving entrepreneurs, buying dog care franchise opportunities makes perfect sense. However, not all franchises are equal. Different franchises are stronger in providing help with distinct aspects of owning a business.
What really matters is figuring out what you want to do as a business owner, and what franchise will help you do the things you don’t want to spend your time on. This is where New Ground Consulting comes in. We take you through a comprehensive assessment process, which helps us match you with the right franchise opportunities. And we all know that buying the right business is crucial to your success and enjoyment.
Schedule a free consultation with New Ground Consulting to learn more.