Happy Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding

Words in [brackets] are blanks you fill in with your own details when you adopt this sample in Supreme Plan AI.

Executive Summary

Happy Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding is a dog daycare and boarding business in Colorado. Dog owners who work all day bring their dogs to us for supervised play in small groups, overnight boarding when they travel and baths before they go home. Dogs get exercise, attention and a safe, clean place to be. Owners get the peace of mind of knowing their dog is not alone.

Why this fits. Many people in our area work away from home, and a dog left alone for ten hours can get bored, anxious and destructive. Dog owners want a place they trust, with trained attendants, clean rooms, a secure yard and a staff that knows each dog by name. A well-run daycare earns repeat customers who come every week.

Here is what our numbers show. In Year 1 we plan about 5,600 daycare days, 2,100 boarding nights and 700 baths and grooming add-ons, which brings in sales of $340,900. That grows to $769,578 by Year 5 as more families sign up and we add staff. We expect a loss of about $14,800 in Year 1 because the build-out, the lease and the staff are paid before the dogs fill the room, then a profit of about $27,800 in Year 2, a profit of about $66,200 in Year 3 and a profit of about $98,300 by Year 5. Attendant pay and rent are our biggest costs, and the plan counts all of them.

We need $178,000 in total. Of that, $113,000 is startup costs (play yard flooring and fencing, kennels, a washer and dryer, a reception area, the lease deposit, permits, signs and insurance), and the rest is cash to cover the first months. I am putting in $58,000 of my own savings and asking for a $120,000 SBA 7(a) loan.

I am Lena Brooks, the owner and general manager, with seven years of working in a veterinary clinic and a boarding kennel, including three years as a kennel supervisor. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Happy Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding is a small, independently owned dog daycare and boarding business in Colorado, planned as a limited liability company (LLC). We serve dog owners in our city and the neighborhoods around it from a leased building with an indoor play area and a fenced outdoor yard.

Our mission. To give every dog a safe, active and happy day, and every owner honest updates and peace of mind.

What we believe. Dogs are not all the same, and we do not treat them as if they were. Every dog gets a short temperament check before joining a play group. We keep groups small and matched by size and energy, use positive handling only and send owners a quick note and photo each day. If a dog is not a good fit for group play, we say so kindly and do not take the money for a service that will not work.

What we offer:
- Daycare. Full and half days of supervised play, rest breaks and water, in small groups.
- Overnight boarding. Clean kennels or a private suite, evening and morning walks and a camera check at night.
- Baths and grooming add-ons. A bath, brush and nail trim before pick-up.
- Basic manners help. A short daily practice of sit, wait and come, taught gently.

Who we serve. Working families, people who travel, new puppy owners and people who simply want their dog to get out and play.

What we do not do. We do not take dogs without proof of current vaccines, mix large and small dogs in rough play, use shock or choke collars, or leave dogs alone with no staff in the building.

How we are run. I am the owner and general manager and I work on the floor. Three trained attendants join me in Year 1, and more join as we grow. An assistant manager and boarding lead joins in Year 2. A local veterinarian and an accountant advise us.

Where things stand today. We have toured two buildings and have a letter of interest from one landlord, a quote for the flooring and fencing, and a waiting list of about 40 dog owners who said they would sign up. (Replace this with where you really are.)

Problem & Opportunity

Dog owners who work long days have few good choices. A dog left home alone can bark, chew and develop anxiety. Dog walkers help, but they come for a short visit. Many daycare centers are crowded, with one attendant watching too many dogs, and owners worry about fights, injuries and illness. Boarding at some kennels means long hours in a small cage with little exercise.

Dog care is also a business with real risks. A dog fight or a missed sign of illness can hurt a pet, upset an owner and bring a lawsuit. Staff turnover is high in this field, and untrained attendants make mistakes. Cleaning and odor control are constant work, and the building must be built for it: washable floors, good drainage and a way to separate groups of dogs.

For a new owner, the hard parts are the cost of the building and the build-out before the first dog arrives, finding and keeping good attendants and getting enough dogs to pay for the staff. A daycare full of dogs is profitable, and one that is half empty loses money every month.

We want to be clear about what we know and do not know. Dog daycare is a real, growing service and a good one earns loyal customers. We do not know how fast our room will fill, so our plan assumes a loss in Year 1 and enough cash to cover it. We will use current local numbers on dog ownership and competing centers in our final plan and will not overstate them.

Products & Services

Happy Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding will give dogs a safe, active day and owners clear communication.

How it works, step by step:
1. Meet and greet. The owner visits, we review vaccine records and the dog spends a short, supervised trial period.
2. Temperament check. We place the dog in the right group by size, age and play style.
3. Drop-off. A simple check-in on our tablet records feeding, medicine and any special needs.
4. The day. Dogs play in small groups with rest breaks, fresh water and cleaning every hour. We keep one attendant for about every 12 dogs in play groups.
5. Updates. Owners receive a photo and a short note during the day and a report card at pick-up.
6. Boarding. Overnight dogs get an evening and morning walk, a quiet kennel or suite, camera checks at night and a staff member on site.
7. Bath and go home. A bath and nail trim are available so the dog goes home clean.
8. Follow-up. We track which dogs come regularly, which dogs need a different group and any incidents.

Why this approach is strong. Owners care most about safety and communication. Small groups and trained attendants lower the risk of fights and injuries, and daily photos make owners feel connected and keep them coming back.

Market Analysis

Who we serve: dog owners in our city and the neighborhoods around it, mainly working families, frequent travelers and new puppy owners.

Our primary group is households with one or two dogs where adults work full-time. Our secondary group is people who board while they travel or have guests in the house. We will use the most recent local numbers on households with dogs and competing centers in our final plan.

How we sized our plan. We plan about 5,600 daycare days in Year 1, which is about 22 dogs a day on the days we are open, 2,100 boarding nights and 700 baths and add-ons, growing to 10,800 daycare days, 4,300 boarding nights and 1,650 baths and add-ons by Year 5. Our Year 1 prices are about $35 per daycare day, $55 per boarding night and $42 per bath, rising about 3% a year.

Demand data. A waiting list of about 40 dog owners and early reviews from the trial period cover part of the first months. We do not count on any one family, and dog numbers rise and fall with the seasons.

We do not take every dog. We decline dogs with a history of serious aggression, dogs that are not vaccinated and dogs whose behavior is unsafe for a group.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices for dog owners, and what makes us different.

- Large pet store chains with daycare. They have brand recognition and long hours. We offer smaller groups and daily updates from people who know each dog by name.
- Other independent daycares and kennels. Some are very good. We compete on staff ratios, cleanliness and communication.
- In-home sitters and dog walkers. They are personal and often cheaper. A daycare gives longer play, more dogs to socialize with and a trained staff.
- Veterinary clinic boarding. It is safe for sick pets but often has little play time. We offer exercise and activity.
- Friends, family and neighbors. They are free. Many owners still want a backup they can trust when they travel.

What makes us different.
- Small play groups matched by size and temperament.
- One attendant for about every 12 dogs.
- A daily photo and note for every owner.
- A building built for dogs: washable floors, clean air and a secure, shaded yard.

What we do not claim. We are new. Larger companies have more locations. We plan to earn our reputation one dog at a time.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How we will reach customers.

Veterinarians, groomers and trainers. We will visit local vet clinics, groomers and trainers, offer a free first day for their clients' dogs and ask them to share our flyers.

Neighborhoods and apartment communities. We will meet property managers, post at dog parks and offer move-in discounts to residents of nearby apartments.

Free first day and referrals. Every new dog gets a first-day trial at a lower price, and a current customer who refers a friend gets a free daycare day.

Online. A website with online booking, a Google business listing, reviews and a social media account with daily photos (with the owner's permission).

Pricing. About $35 per daycare day, $55 per boarding night and $42 per bath in Year 1, with package discounts for regular customers.

Operations Plan

How the business will run.

Setup (the 3 to 4 months before opening). We will form the LLC, sign the lease, get the city and state permits and inspections required for a dog care facility, build out the play rooms and yard, install flooring and cameras and hire and train attendants. We will confirm which licenses and insurance our state and city require before we take our first dog.

The building. A leased building with about 4,000 square feet inside and a fenced yard, with washable floors and good drainage. Rent is $45,000 a year in Year 1.

Staffing. In Year 1: I serve as owner and general manager and work the floor. Three attendants join me, paid $29,000 a year each, and the number grows to four in Year 2 and seven by Year 5. An assistant manager and boarding lead joins in Year 2 at $36,000 a year. Every attendant is trained in dog body language and pet first aid.

Costs. Direct costs are about $9 per daycare day, $14 per boarding night and $11 per bath in Year 1, which covers cleaning supplies, laundry, treats and shampoo. Utilities, water and waste are about $14,400 a year, insurance about $9,000, booking software about $3,600 and marketing about $10,000.

Safety. We require proof of vaccines, keep groups small, use cameras throughout and keep a written incident log. A local veterinarian is our emergency contact.

Payments. Most customers prepay for a package or pay by card at pick-up. A few corporate accounts pay in about 30 days.

Insurance. We carry general liability, care, custody and control coverage for the dogs, property and workers' compensation.

Management & Organization

The people who will run Happy Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding.

Lena Brooks, owner and general manager. Seven years of working in a veterinary clinic and a boarding kennel, including three years as a kennel supervisor who trained new staff and handled owner questions. She leads operations, staffing, safety and finance. (Replace this paragraph with your own background.)

Dog attendants (from Year 1). Trained in dog body language and pet first aid, they lead the play groups and keep the building clean.

Assistant manager and boarding lead (from Year 2). Runs overnight boarding and the check-in desk.

Outside advisors. A local veterinarian, a professional dog trainer, an attorney, an accountant, an insurance broker and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center.

Staff pay in this plan is a full year per person: owner and general manager $46,000, dog attendant $29,000 and assistant manager and boarding lead $36,000. Replace them with the pay you can offer where you live.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.
- Before opening (3 to 4 months ahead): sign at least 25 families to a waiting list, sign the lease, get the city and state permits and inspections, build the play rooms and yard, hire and train attendants and test the check-in system.
- Year 1: about 22 dogs a day and a growing boarding business; $340,900 in sales and a loss of about $14,800.
- Year 2: about 31 dogs a day, an assistant manager and a fourth attendant; $503,773 in sales and a profit of about $27,800.
- Year 3: about 37 dogs a day and a fifth attendant; $617,010 in sales and a profit of about $66,200.
- Year 4: about 40 dogs a day and a sixth attendant; $699,385 in sales and a profit of about $86,100.
- Year 5: about 42 dogs a day and a seventh attendant; $769,578 in sales and a profit of about $98,300.
Growth depends on winning and keeping customers, so treat the later years as goals, not promises.

What we check every week: dogs per day, boarding nights, new customers, incidents or injuries, attendant hours, cleaning checks and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total we are raising: $178,000.

How we got that number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds up three things:
- Startup costs of $113,000, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section: $38,000 for play yard flooring, fencing, gates and indoor play rooms; $26,000 for boarding kennels, bedding and a commercial dog bathing station; $7,500 for commercial washer, dryer and cleaning equipment; $8,500 for reception desk, cameras, check-in tablet and software setup; $10,500 for lease deposit and first month of rent; $2,200 for business license, kennel or daycare permit and inspections; $3,800 for attorney: lease review, liability waiver and LLC setup; $7,000 for sign, branding and website with online booking; $4,000 for opening supplies: toys, treats, leashes, cleaning products; $5,500 for insurance down payment and staff pet-first-aid training.
- The cash the business uses before it breaks even, about $0. Once the room is open, daily sales pay for the staff and rent, so the cash we need up front goes mostly to the build-out, the deposit and the first months of low enrollment.
- A cash cushion of about $59,300: three months of Year 1 operating costs.
- Together, the cash used before break even and the cushion come to about $59,300, and the three pieces add up to about $172,300, rounded up to the nearest $500: $172,500.
We are raising $5,500 more than that, $178,000 in all, to cover a slower-than-planned first year and the cost of adding staff as dog numbers grow. With this funding, the lowest year-end cash balance is about $93,500, at the end of Year 1.

Where the money comes from:
- My own money: $58,000.
- SBA 7(a) loan: $120,000.

Kind of funding we are looking for. An SBA 7(a) loan from a lender that finances small business startups, backed by my own savings and the equipment and improvements as collateral.

How we will pay it back. We expect a loss of about $14,800 in Year 1, a profit of about $27,800 in Year 2, a profit of about $66,200 in Year 3, a profit of about $86,100 in Year 4 and a profit of about $98,300 in Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank at the end of every year of the plan. Our loan is the SBA 7(a) loan at 12.5% over 10 years, about $1,757 a month. That payment is already included in our cash flow. We chose these as cautious planning rates; ask the lender for the real rates, which may be lower or higher.

What we are offering the lender: the build-out, equipment and my personal guarantee.

A smaller first step, if needed. If we cannot raise the full amount right away, we can start smaller and grow into this plan:
- Phase 1: open with daycare and baths only, with about 15 dogs a day, two attendants and a smaller space, which lowers the lease, build-out and loan.
- Phase 2: once daycare is steady, add overnight boarding and more attendants and follow this plan.
To plan the smaller start, make a copy of this plan (use Duplicate) and lower the numbers to match.

All numbers in this plan are estimates. We will update them as real results come in.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you send this plan:

- Your resume and a personal financial statement (a list of what you own and what you owe; lenders usually provide a form).
- Business registration papers and your EIN (your business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov).
- The lease or a letter of intent from the landlord.
- Quotes for flooring, fencing, kennels and the washer and dryer.
- Your city and state permit applications and proof of insurance quotes.
- Your owner agreement, vaccine policy and incident log.
- Your waiting list or letters of interest from dog owners and veterinarians.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Daycare Days (per dog, per day): about $35 in Year 1, rising to $39.39; about $9 in direct costs, rising to $10.13; about 5,600 in Year 1, growing to 10,800.
- Overnight Boarding (per dog, per night): about $55 in Year 1, rising to $61.90; about $14 in direct costs, rising to $15.76; about 2,100 in Year 1, growing to 4,300.
- Baths and Grooming Add-Ons (per service): about $42 in Year 1, rising to $47.27; about $11 in direct costs, rising to $12.38; about 700 in Year 1, growing to 1,650.
- About 5,600 daycare days in Year 1 is roughly 22 dogs on each of 255 days; boarding averages about 6 dogs a night. Prices rise about 3% a year.
- Equipment and build-out ($80,000 in Year 1) is mostly flooring, fencing and kennels, and later years replace worn flooring, gates and bedding.
- Pay (a full year, per person): owner and general manager $46,000; dog attendant $29,000; assistant manager and boarding lead $36,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: rent $45,000, utilities, water and waste $14,400, insurance $9,000, booking and check-in software $3,600, marketing $10,000, accounting and legal $4,200, payroll taxes and benefits $18,000. These grow between 3% and 12% a year.
- Startup equipment and later purchases ($80,000 in Year 1, then $6,000, $6,000, $8,000 and $8,000) are spread evenly over five years in the plan's books.
- Customers and payers pay about 4 days after service, so at the end of Year 1 about $3,409 is still owed to us. Income tax at 21%.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs