Dog Daycare and Boarding Software
We understand running a dog daycare and boarding business can be chaotic. From employee scheduling to the dogs’ feeding and medication schedules, there’s a lot to keep track of every day. So how can you automate processes to reduce management stress? The answer is a modern dog daycare and boarding software stack.
Not only does software improve daily operations, but by collecting data, it can also show you how to improve your business based on the numbers. Once you start using these powerful tools, you’ll wonder how you could have functioned without them.
…But before you get overwhelmed by all the types of software out there, check out this blog post. We dive into software categories, curated company picks, and more so you can jump to choosing the software that’s right for you.
Reservation Management Software
The most important software is your reservation management software. This software will automatically track your facility’s available occupancy, pet check-ins, check-outs, owner and pet information, available services, and needs such as medication and feeding schedule. If you were only going to invest in one kind of software, Argos recommends selecting reservation management software.
There are a few popular options: PetExec, KennelSoft, Kennel Connection, and Gingr. Gingr is the most popular provider and Argos’s preferred provider. In our experience, Gingr offers the best user interface and customer experience. Gingr also supplies dozens of helpful reporting analyses to answer nearly any question, such as occupancy over time, revenue by date, incident reports, new customer lists, and more.
Gingr also integrates with your facility physically: Gingr allows you to easily print “run cards” that you can place on the outside of each pet’s suite. Run cards outline a guest’s reservation details, including their name, dates of their stay, and feeding and medication schedules (with useful boxes for employees to initial upon completion). And if you’re feeling overwhelmed about setting up Gingr, don’t worry, because their service team will meet with you weekly to ensure the software meets your goals.
Scheduling Software
Scheduling employees can be a major logistical challenge for a dog boarding and daycare business, and scheduling software reduces the headache. Argos uses Homebase, but other options like Deputy, When I Work, and Sling exist. Homebase does more than just help with scheduling; it tracks employee hours, as well. Tracking hours helps recognize when an employee is due for a meal break, holiday pay, or overtime pay. Their software does a great job of ensuring you stay compliant with all the latest labor regulations and guidelines.
Homebase allows you to run analytics as well, so you can track hours by position and see if you’re overspending or underspending on certain roles. This is critical to calculating the profitability of the various business lines that any dog boarding and daycare business has (boarding, daycare, grooming, retail, etc.). Homebase provides users with a library of support articles and videos for setup, and you can schedule time with an assistant if you need extra support. Plus, Homebase seamlessly integrates with the payroll software Gusto, saving you from having to tally hours and calculate paychecks manually. One click, and you’re done!
Payroll Software
As mentioned, payroll software frees you from having to calculate paychecks. Gusto not only connects easily with Homebase, but it also has other convenient features for your staff. With Gusto, employees can choose to sign up for a Gusto bank account or debit card and receive their paycheck two days early.
Gusto also takes care of nearly all employee tax obligations, whether federal, state, or local. All you have to do is input the assigned tax rates each year, and the software does the rest. Forms like W-2s and 1099s are all automated as well, and Gusto offers excellent reporting on labor statistics.
Gusto’s price point makes it the perfect choice for small to medium-sized businesses. If you’re looking for a lower-priced option, Square is another good provider, but they have fewer features than Gusto. If price isn’t an issue and you’re looking for the payroll software that does the most, a third option is Rippling. Rippling comes with more automations and is a popular choice among technology companies.
Transaction Software
This software is used to run customer payments seamlessly. Argos uses Clover, because it integrates well with Gingr and the rest of our tech stack. There are lots of payment software out there, such as Stripe, which also connects easily to Gingr. Clover has clean, crisp-looking terminals, which is another bonus.
Accounting Software
There are different options for accounting software, like Xero, Wave, Zoho Books, and Quickbooks. Quickbooks is the industry standard for small business accounting, and Argos uses Quickbooks. We suggest it for its simple user interface, reasonable pricing, and adaptability. If you have multiple business locations or want to run more sophisticated analyses, Quickbooks offers adjustable setup options.
Review Software
Positive reviews are automatic marketing for your business, so why not give customers easy ways to review your company? In addition to promoting your business, reviews are a great way to keep tabs on your customers’ satisfaction. So how do you receive more reviews?
Google My Business is the most important review software, followed by Yelp and then Facebook reviews. We suggest putting a prompt near the checkout with the Google My Business and/or Yelp logo to encourage customers to leave reviews. It’s also wise to respond to reviews online and maintain a professional tone, regardless of what the reviewer may have said. Remember that feedback is a gift. This is critical market and performance data for your business!
Other Software
For nearly every aspect of your business, there is software that can enhance it and reduce the wear on employees. Security software is a smart idea, such as automatic fire and burglary detection, and cameras to make sure your pets are safe at all times. Canva is easy-to-use online software that allows you to create picturesque flyers, images for social media posts, and more to level up your marketing material. Zapier is a great tool for automating repetitive tasks in your business and connecting disparate pieces of software. Said simply, whatever your need may be, there is likely a piece of software out there to help simplify your operations. Use tools like Capterra and G2 to see reviews, research competitors, and make informed decisions.
Elevate Your Business with Software
Purchasing even a couple pieces of software can reduce management stress and improve your business. The more data you have, the more knowledge you have for how to boost your business’ performance to take things to the next level. Without hard data points, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s helping and what’s hurting your business—especially among the rush of daily operations. Need more help deciding which software is best for you? Argos Partners is an experienced, resourceful business growth partner. Email us at woof@argospartnersholdings.com to start a conversation.