Paws for Thought Cattery opened for business twenty-five years ago this month. We’ve been thinking about what it must have been like to go from the idea of owning a cattery to setting one up from scratch, and it must have been very scary at times.
Starting a new business isn’t a simple process. It takes bravery for people to give up their job or career and commit time and effort to that uncertain new future. There’s always a long list of tasks to be completed before that new business can open its doors to customers.
Market Research
First and most important of all, market research – is there a demand for this kind of business? Will you be competing with already established businesses in your area? If so – is there enough work for all of you? It’s best to cost out all the expenses – for example, insurance, licences, business rates, equipment – and work out whether you can charge a fee that will cover those costs and pay the bills.
Ask Your Neighbours
Next up, what will the neighbours say? That isn’t a joke, by the way. If you’re looking to start a business from your home, talk to your neighbours about what that will involve. Explain what you’re intending to do and what changes they’ll notice. Answer any queries and objections they have. Let them know when the plans will be sent to the local council, and when they can make an official comment. Having your neighbours on your side is the most valuable part of running a business.
Get Permission
Next, you’ll need to apply for permission to convert part of your property to commercial premises. Your landlord or mortgage company need to give consent, as does your local council (planning permission for change of use from residential to commercial, and for any substantial alterations or additions you need to make). You must change your home and motor insurance policies to cover the full extent of your business activities – and you’ll need public liability insurance, too.
Pens, Paperwork and Professionals
It’s wise to get professional help at an early stage. An accountant you trust, to draw up your accounts and advise on tax returns and whether you need to register for VAT. Perhaps an architect or a builder, depending on how extensive your plans are. Read up on what you must or should have in your premises – fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, first aid kits. Make sure you can use those fire extinguishers quickly (we’ve never needed to use them, but the right time to be reading the instructions is long before you’re watching a fire take hold!)
You’ll need to build the pens and make sure they are escape-proof – all those doors in our cattery are there to make sure any cat going for a wander along the corridor during cleaning time can’t get outside. Reception point, food storage areas, the car park… it’s all expenditure at the start.
Advertise!
When all that preparation is done, you have to let people know that you’re open for business. Invite them to come and have a look around, see whether they want to board their cat with you. There’s an extra level of emotion to animal care businesses; people have to be able to trust you to take care of their cats just as well as they do themselves. The cat can’t tell the humans whether this is a good place for them, the humans have to decide on their behalf. We do our best to make sure that they find their cat relaxed and happy on their return.
Would a cat start a business? Too much like hard work!
Running a business has so many worries hidden under the surface, and setting up a business from scratch has treble that number of worries compressed into a short space of time. Denise and I are very grateful to the people who faced up to those challenges and set up Paws for Thought cattery on 23 April 2000. We’ve been running the cattery since 2010 and we just love it.
We really value your opinion. If your cat enjoyed a holiday with us, would you leave us a review?
