Where Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun!

Boarding, Day Care, Grooming, Training and more…

Original Idea

The dreams of a child:

What do you want to do when you grow up?

From 3rd and 4th grade journals: “When I grow up I want to have a dog farm with

two of every kind of dog.”

To All the Dogs We’ve Loved Before

• Beowulf• Perky• Mellow• Hilda• Wooster• Vichyssoise• Consommé• Fudge

The “Real World” Idea

• How to generate an income that would support the dream

• How to match our values to our dream– “Don’t breed or buy while others die.”– Educate the public on the advantages of

spaying and neutering– Issues of Inbreeding and Overpopulation

Refining the Dream• To create an environment where

dogs can be as comfortable and as cared for as they are at home.

• To build a place where dogs and their needs come first.

• To provide a safe, secure, sanitary space.

• To create a place “where dogs just wanna have fun.”

It’s Party Time!

Every Day is a Party at Dog Party USA.

Research

•Reading•Visiting other facilities

–High standards–Medium standards–Low standard

We learned that to achieve our goal we need to:

Balance features that appeal to humans vs. features that appeal to dogs.

Consider how pricing for services affects the treatment of dogs, i.e. “resort pricing” vs. “nickel and dime.”

Factors to ConsiderFeasibility Study

• Location, location, location– Zoning– Growth patterns and population– Accessibility to XNA– Visibility

• Costs• Hidden costs

– Air circulation– Drainage, Septic– Flooring

Business Plan• Seek advice• Attend Small Business Development

Center Seminar• Look at examples• Write• Revise

This process forced us to look at issues such as aspects of overhead that we may not have

considered.

Financial

• Research financial institutions that offer SBA loans

• Use personal resources• Talk to financial officers• Complete financial reports• Examine credit reports

Components of

Financing

How much do we have?

How much do we need?

How much can we borrow?

Personal Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

• Tenacity of a Bull Dog

Personal Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

• Tenacity of a Bull Dog• Comfort with Chaos

Personal Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

• Tenacity of a Bull Dog• Comfort with Chaos• Creativity Balanced by Practicality

Personal Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

• Tenacity of a Bull Dog• Comfort with Chaos• Creativity Balanced by Practicality• Self Confidence

Personal Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

• Tenacity of a Bull Dog• Comfort with Chaos• Creativity Balanced by Practicality• Self Confidence• Customer Service Mentality –Treat

them as you want to be treated.

Ethics

• Always do the right thing no matter what it costs.• Learn from your mistakes.• Always behave as if you are being video taped

or recorded.• Be fair.• Make decisions based on your original goals,

philosophy and mission statement.