How to Open a Luxury Pet Spa

People love to pamper their pets. Cat or dog, purebred or not, they cherish their pets and will do almost anything for them. The wealthy love to send their animals to luxury pet spas to experience the best of the best.

Instructions

1. Decide what services you want to offer. Consider including grooming, boarding, an outdoor pool, on-site vet services, training classes and doggie day care, complete with playtime.

2. Rent or buy a building that's large enough to accommodate as many animals as you can handle, depending on what services you decided on. You'll want a large back yard for dogs (and any other large animals you want to include). Think about getting some acreage in a more remote area; just make sure it's still easily accessible.

3. Figure out how large your rooms will be. The boarding facilities should preferably be spacious; you may want to have different rooms for different levels of luxury, depending on how much your customers want to pay. Get your utilities turned on and hire a contractor to build interior walls to suit your floor plan.

4. Buy fixtures to furnish your pet spa. You need top-of-the-line grooming supplies and tables, comfortable stackable kennels for your overnight guests, dog runs, veterinary equipment, cat trees and perhaps even a pool for dogs to splash around in. A computer system will make scheduling and keeping track of the animals more efficient.

5. Hire your employees. Include at least one receptionist, depending on how busy your pet spa is, a few kennel techs, a veterinarian, vet techs, a couple of groomers and a manager to supervise operations. Train them all accordingly, if necessary. If you want to offer obedience training classes, find a good trainer to come in a few days a week.

6. Stock other supplies, like dog food and treats, cat food and treats, food and water dishes, leashes, bedding, blankets, toys, balls and grooming supplies. Set up your lobby with a reception desk, a few nice couches and any retail products you'd like to sell. Put up any furnishings and decor to add to the luxurious atmosphere you're trying to convey.

7. Start your marketing efforts. You'll want to target the wealthier folks in your area, so putting nice ads in full color local publications is a good idea. You can also send direct mail to upscale neighborhoods. Consider making a TV or radio commercial. Design a website to outline your policies and procedures as well as the services you offer.