From time to time, we hear that same old saying which claims that a dog is man’s best friend. Since humans became best friends with dogs several thousands of years ago, we helped each other survive and thrive. However, this friendship requires compassion, patience, and compromise, as any other does. Dog trainers will ensure that a dog can fit in with its new family. Perhaps you want to start a dog training business out of love for our furry mates, or you just want to become a successful entrepreneur in this field. Whatever the reason is, you will need some strong advice about starting and maintaining a dog training business.
Do your research
Regardless of the love you have for the dogs and your training skills, you still have to do thorough research if you want to see your business thrive. One of the first things you need to decide before you start is what kind of services are you going to offer. Do you want to specialize in puppy training and general obedience or perhaps you want to focus on helping dogs to overcome anxiety? Most successful dog trainers usually focus on one or two areas of training. Also, research the local competition and try to stand out by offering something unique. The next important thing you need to determine is whether you are going to do dog training in your backyard or you plan on renting a place. Doing the training at home will help you save money but that maybe won’t be the best idea if you have a small backyard. Lastly, think about reaching out to other dog trainers and asking them to share their experiences with you.
Plan an effective marketing strategy
First things first, you need to choose a catchy name for your business. Keep in mind that a name should be easily pronounced and not too similar to the names of other local trainers. In order to attract the target audience, it’s best that your business name is consistent with your field of dog training too. Avoid using your name in the business title, because it doesn’t tell anything about your business and won’t mean much to future clients. Secondly, people usually search for businesses online so it’s a good idea to create a website. Making a website doesn’t have to cost a fortune, you can easily find tutorials and make it on your own. Another great way to let people know you’re there is via business cards and flyers. Finally, you need to do a weekly assessment to see if your marketing plan is effective.
Get a proper education
Although education and experience should be the most important qualities of any professional, there are no certifications needed to become a dog trainer. This is where trust issues stem from. Love for animals solely is not enough to make you an expert in this field. That’s why the most popular dog trainers have credentials and certifications to show for it. Getting a proper education will make you stand out in this field. First, enrolling in a dog training school is a smart idea. Be careful not to choose a program that teaches traditional, dominance-based, or other obsolete methods. These can be quite harmful to the dog and can leave a negative impact on the relationship between the owner and his dog. Second, try to find a successful dog trainer that is willing to mentor you. This is a great way to gain experience as a beginner. You can even practice some basic training with your own dog.
Pick a right insurance policy
Before you start bringing in your first clients, you need to inform yourself of the legal requirements. Certain licences and permits issued by the local administration are usually needed for starting a business. Additionally, you must register for taxes or your business may be shut down before it even started properly. Furthermore, it is of utter importance to protect yourself legally as much as you can. No matter how careful you are, accidents do happen and some customers do want to take it to the court. A great way to alleviate the pressure on your budget is to get public liability pet insurance. It will cover the costs in case anyone is injured or the customer’s property gets damaged. Sadly, the only part of this business that isn’t regulated by law is the job of a dog trainer itself.
Set up a budget
Along with much-needed dog training skills, you will have to teach yourself some other business-related skills. You will need some basic knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping. As an entrepreneur, you must know how to manage your precious time and money. Costs of renting and supplies will pile up really fast, and if you are not ready, you might go out of business within a year. Approximately 30% of all new dog training businesses share that fate. To avoid that, calculate carefully how much money you need for rent. Hopefully, you chose a perfect location that has a lot of space and is easily accessible to the customers. Next, calculate what equipment you need. You have to be supplied with kennels, bowls, collars, leashes, dog food, and many other things. If you’re not sure how to decide which shop is most suitable for your needs, check out these amazing tips to help you choose your perfect pet supply store. Hiring people for marketing or cleaning can be too expensive, so it’s best you manage that part on your own.
Training dogs can be exhausting and sometimes frustrating. But in the end, it will be a rewarding experience. That is, if you put a lot of effort into it, of course. It is a noble profession that also requires a lot of responsibility and determination. Once you establish a successful dog training business, you won’t have to worry about bankruptcy and failure. Since having a dog continues to be a popular trend, dog trainers will always have something to do. Also, don’t forget that good dog trainer always looks for new ways to expand their knowledge and methods.
