SarahNukka&Shadow Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 I am looking into opening a dog gym/park as a proper business in my area, a totally secure area with some agility equipment to practise and play on, maybe a water feature and sand digging area, and other facilities. The place would be constanty man'd when open to prevent any antisocial behaviour, either dog or human. So I'm wondering who in the Nottinghamshire area might be interested in having such a facility and from everyone abit of input on how much you think would be a resonable charge? Im thinking a monthly subscription like a proper gym membership. Once its was up and running I would also add to the place with other facilities, starting socialisation and training classes, possibley even day care, maybe a refreshment area with human and dog refreshments and anything else I can think that would really make membership worth while... So guys all and any input welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuskyCouture Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 man, that sounds awesome i might have to come move near you to bring embry there i think a monthly charge is definitely fair since the agility equipment might be a bit pricey but then again not everyone will want to pay monthly so you might want to have the option of paying daily and monthly. great idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosemary Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Sarah, that's a fantastic idea, but have no idea what would be a fair price to charge on a monthly basis. I personally would prefer to pay on a daily basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proximity Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Closest thing I could liken the situation to would be the aggressive pricing plan of various rock gyms I've climbed at. A high one off / daily cost, a 10 trip concession style idea where the saving compared to 10 one off visits is quite noticeable, and then a monthly (or six monthly etc) style plan where it seems like a huge saving over the 10 trips if you were to attend 4+ times a week, but probably works out the same if you attend 2 or less times a week. The key really before you look at an actual dollar(pound!) value is to draw up as accurate a business plan as you can, assess what your expected overheads are, and then you can wiggle the price multiplying it by expected number of customers. This way you get to assess how viable the idea truly is and build the foundations from there. Unfortunately my parents are incapable of all of the above, so I've had to watch exactly how NOT to plan a business time and time again for the past 20 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNukka&Shadow Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Closest thing I could liken the situation to would be the aggressive pricing plan of various rock gyms I've climbed at. A high one off / daily cost, a 10 trip concession style idea where the saving compared to 10 one off visits is quite noticeable, and then a monthly (or six monthly etc) style plan where it seems like a huge saving over the 10 trips if you were to attend 4+ times a week, but probably works out the same if you attend 2 or less times a week. The key really before you look at an actual dollar(pound!) value is to draw up as accurate a business plan as you can, assess what your expected overheads are, and then you can wiggle the price multiplying it by expected number of customers. This way you get to assess how viable the idea truly is and build the foundations from there. Unfortunately my parents are incapable of all of the above, so I've had to watch exactly how NOT to plan a business time and time again for the past 20 years! LOL Thanks Charlie that is helpful and I like the idea of having a whole pricing list depending on what the customer wants I think that would be popular... Im currently looking into pricing everything up... land, equipment, insurance etc... having trouble finding a suitable site but then Iv only just started looking! Thinking of trying to make an appointment with the citzens advise buerow to see if they might be able to help with business plans and such as Im proably going to need quite a large bank loan to get started!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Great idea, things to consider. 1. If manned a reasonable wage for the person/s manning the site. Proper training on Dog psychology / behaviour for them. manned by a responsible person not just some 17 year old oik who's been fight training his staffy for 6 months. 2. Insurance liability cover. 3. the obediance / socialisation classes. you will have to have some form of indoor facility so you don't have to cancel them during bad weather, incurring refunds etc. 4. so then you run into council tax and buildings and contents insurance, and fire safety regulations, and depending on the number of people attending, providing qualified first aiders. I'm sure there are loads more. This is what just "sprung" to mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNukka&Shadow Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Great idea, things to consider. 1. If manned a reasonable wage for the person/s manning the site. Proper training on Dog psychology / behaviour for them. manned by a responsible person not just some 17 year old oik who's been fight training his staffy for 6 months. 2. Insurance liability cover. 3. the obediance / socialisation classes. you will have to have some form of indoor facility so you don't have to cancel them during bad weather, incurring refunds etc. 4. so then you run into council tax and buildings and contents insurance, and fire safety regulations, and depending on the number of people attending, providing qualified first aiders. I'm sure there are loads more. This is what just "sprung" to mind Thanks Andy, 1. Well the person manning the park would be me and I have an animal management diploma from Nottingham Trent uni so resonabley well qualified...till I could actually afford to pay anyone (also till I can actually work out other employer responcilblities, tax etc for employees!!) 2. Insurance Im looking into ones for "Dog clubs" and its looking like it would be quite a large sum so would deff need to include this in my fees! 3. Yeah indoor facilities I was pondering on and I think your right this is going to make finding a suitable site even more tricky! 4. Im looking into all the regulations needed for this sort of facility and Im thinking its going to be very similar to if I was setting up a kennels Im going to need to consider noise, waste disposal, security, health and saftey etc!! All very important! Deffinalty need to speak to a business advisor!! Now just where to find that kind of advise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magical Merlin Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 adding to andys post: 5. waste facilitys for dogs and people - the council often charge extra for removing dog waste, 6.the wonderful world of health and saftey! - risk assessments for everything 7. your own personal insurance if you are going to give behavioural advise and teach training (if something you teach/suggest goes wrong people may try to sue you so you need to be covered) It does sound like a lovely idea. We are in the process of building a enrichment area for the dogs in the resuce kennels. Drainiage for water features has been an issue and if you want to build up you need to look at planning permission. Also, the type of aggility equipment you get is important and where you will store it. Alot of it is now "weather proof" plastic, well, it still warps and chances colour in the sun. Tunnels get ripped if not looked after properly and if a dog wees in there then every dog will wee in there! (had that at aggility this week) Wooden equipment is good and long lasting but you do need to store it somewhere out of the weather. Concreate tunnels are great! We are going to use one of those industrial sized concreate tunnels used underground as it will last a really really long time! Then planning on banking earth over it to make a hill so it will be a bit like the telly tubby hill. A bit like this - http://www.temescalvalley.info/images/places/cal_meadows/friendship_garden_nature_trail/friendship_garden_nature_trail_014_concrete_tube.jpg There is so much you can do and it will be great if you can get it all sorted! Got my fingers xed for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamz Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 amazing idea Sarah wow it will be wkd once its up and running- wish i lived closer to you charging people a membership fee is totally fair, like the others said all the stuff you are going to buy for the park is gunna cost you so it will help cover the cost of running the place etc good luck chick x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 That's a fantastic idea Sarah! My dog trainer has her own business and also has a separate enclosed dog field however it's not husky proof enough for my liking lol so i've never taken my boys. She charges £10 a month for as many visits as you like. Great ideas off others already - added to reps guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 WOW, this sounds amazing!!!!! not sure what to add really.............. But once you have that 1 up and running, please come down to wales and set 1 up here :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 WOW, this sounds amazing!!!!! not sure what to add really.............. But once you have that 1 up and running, please come down to wales and set 1 up here :D OOh, yeah and Oxford, we desperately need something like that here. If Kelly can't find another Job she'll run it here for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Miss Bump Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 WOW that sounds AMAZING!!! i think you should move up here and do your first one in manchester-i bet there are looooooooooads of people that would want one....i mean we have to go all the way to st helens to let ozzy off lead :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNukka&Shadow Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Bumping to catch any one whos come online since this morning! Loads already to think on thanks to everyone whos contributed so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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