How To Boost Revenue For Your Dog Training Business

I think we can all agree that the one of the best parts of owning your own business is that you get to be your very own boss… Of course, with that said, being an entrepreneur comes with its fair share of challenges. For instance, what if you’re not yet earning the profits you hoped you’d be making? If you’re reading this article, it’s because you’re a professional dog trainer – or an aspiring one, at least – that wants to know how to boost revenue for your dog training business.

This may sound a little blunt, but we’re not going to mince words: if you don’t have some sort of certification or qualification to your name, you are going to be passed over in favor of a dog trainer who does. While this isn’t necessarily the case 100% of the time, of course, we would say it’s the reality about 90% of the time.

(Please note that this number is not a statistical fact. Rather, it’s simply a generalization based on truth.)

The reality is, if you want to be taken seriously as a dog trainer, it’s important that you have the proper credentials to back up your experience. That’s why one of the best ways to boost revenue for your dog training business is by becoming certified through an accredited organization, such as QC Pet Studies.

A dog training business is just like any other type of business out there – in order to make money, you have to first establish a solid brand identity. This means creating a logo, choosing the right color scheme, and coming up with a tagline that accurately represents what your business is all about.

From there, your brand identity should be consistent across all of your marketing materials. Meaning, on your website, your business cards, and all social media accounts. In turn, you’ll be able to develop a strong, recognizable presence in the dog training industry – which is EXACTLY what you need if you want to boost revenue for your business.

In a nutshell, a strong brand identity will make you far more memorable to potential clients. It’ll also help you to stand out from the competition, which is no small feat in today’s day and age.

Okay, this one might sound a bit counterproductive at first glance. After all, the whole point is to make more money… But how can you do this if you’re shaving off a few bucks for clients?

Hear us out, because the answer is two-fold…

This really depends on your target market. However, some popular ideas include:

• A percentage off the client’s first booking
• Free trial lessons for first-time clients
• A complimentary dog training e-book or report
• Referral discounts (when someone a client has referred to you actually makes a booking)
• A loyalty program
• Discounts for repeat clients on additional services and/or products you sell

Basically, get creative and see what you can come up with that will appeal to your target market. Just remember that, at the end of the day, your goal is to increase revenue – so make sure you’re offering deals that are actually going to do that!

This is a big one, so pay close attention…

If you want to boost revenue for your dog training business, you need to have a firm understanding of who your target market is. In other words, who are the types of clients that you’re trying to attract?

Now, this might seem like a no-brainer at first glance. After all, you’re trying to attract dog owners, right?

But it’s not quite that simple.

You see, there are all sorts of different types of dog owners out there. Some might own a small dog that they’ve never trained before, while others might have a large, aggressive breed that they’re struggling to control.

Some dog owners might live in a rural area, while others might live in the heart of the city. And so on and so forth.

• Are there specific types of dogs that you train (e.g. puppies, large breeds, obedience training, competition training, etc.)?
• What types of clients are you trying to attract (e.g. first-time dog owners, experienced dog owners, those with aggressive dogs, etc.)?
• What geographical area are you targeting (e.g. urban, suburban, rural)?
• Are there any specific client needs/wants you’re trying to meet (e.g. flexible scheduling, convenient location, affordable rates, etc.)?
• What types of services do you offer (e.g. group classes, private lessons, board and train, etc.)?
• How can you appeal them (i.e. through your branding, marketing, etc.)?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll be well on your way to knowing who your target market is. From there, you can start creating marketing campaigns that are specifically designed to appeal to them.

This might seem like another obvious one, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. If you want to boost revenue for your dog training business, you need to invest in marketing it!

There are all sorts of different marketing strategies that you can use to promote your business. However, not all of them will be equally effective – so it’s important to choose wisely.

Some popular (and effective) marketing ideas for dog trainers include:

• Creating a website for your business
• Setting up social media accounts and actively using them
• Creating promotional videos or other types of content (e.g. blog posts, infographics, etc.)
• Investing in search engine optimization (SEO) for your website
• Advertising your business online (e.g. paid advertisements such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads) or through other channels (e.g. local newspapers, flyers, etc.)

The key is to find a marketing strategy – or combination of strategies – that’ll work well for your specific business. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Mainly, it’s important to simply experiment and see what works best for you.

Once you’ve invested in marketing your dog training business, you should start to see an uptick in bookings and sales.

This is something that a lot of dog trainers are hesitant to do, but it’s definitely worth considering if you want to boost revenue for your business.

If you’re currently in this situation, it might be time to increase your prices. How much you should charge depends on a variety of factors – such as your geographical location, the type of services you offer, your experience level, etc.

Alternatively, if you’re not comfortable increasing your prices outright, you can get creative with your rates. For example, you could charge a higher rate for private lessons and a lower rate for group classes.

Or, if you offer board and train services, you could charge a higher rate for longer stays and a lower rate for shorter stays.

The options are really endless! It’s just a matter of finding what works best for you and your business. By increasing your prices and/or getting creative with your rates, you should be able to boost revenue significantly.

If you want to boost revenue for your dog training business, it might be time to start expanding the services you offer. When a business offers a wider range of services, they typically see a significant increase in sales.

The list of things you can do is endless. Obviously, for the sake of time, we won’t list everything – or else you’ll be here all day!

However, here are some suggestions…

Say that you currently only offer private lessons. You could add group classes or board and train services to your business. Alternately, let’s say you already offer a variety of dog training services. In that case, you could start offering complementary pet services, such as:

• Dog grooming
• Dog walking
• Doggy daycare
• Pet boarding
• Pet sitting

Ultimately, just make sure that you’re only expanding your business services if it makes sense for your specific business. For example, if you’re a small dog trainer with a limited amount of space, it might not make sense to start offering boarding services. But if you have the space and the resources to do so, it could be a great way to boost revenue for your dog training business!

For example, one way you could use technology is by investing in online scheduling software. This type of software would allow potential clients to book appointments with you online, 24/7. Not only is this convenient for them, but it’s also a great way to increase sales and boost revenue for your business!

Popular examples of scheduling software include:

Another example of how you can use technology to your advantage is by using social media platforms to market your business. If you’re not already using social media to promote your dog training business, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity!

Social media is a great way to reach new potential clients and market your business. And the best part is, it’s completely free to use! All you need is a little time and effort, and you can be well on your way to boosting revenue for your dog training business.

Currently, the most popular social media platforms you should be getting your dog training business seen on are:

Lastly, another way we recommend utilize tech to your advantage is to invest in business management software (if your budget allows for it). This type of software can help you to automate and streamline your business, which can free up your time to focus on other things – like making sales and boosting revenue!

There are tons of great business management software options out there, so be sure to do your research and find the one that’s right for you and your business. That said, our top business management software recommendations are:

One great way to boost revenue for your dog training business is to find opportunities for passive and/or recurring income. This type of income is great because it allows you to make money without having to put in a lot of work upfront. Plus, in some cases, it can even be recurring – meaning you’ll continue to get paid for it month after month (or year after year)!

So, how can you find opportunities for passive and/or recurring income? Here are a few ideas:

• Sell digital products (e.g. ebooks, courses, etc.)
• Create a membership site
• Offer consulting services
• Rent out space in your facility
• Sell physical products

The beauty of passive and/or recurring income is that it can often be a “set it and forget it” type of situation. Once you’ve created the product or service, you can continue to make money from it for months or even years to come! Meanwhile, you’ve freed up some time in your busy work schedule that you can instead devote to other areas of your business…

Networking is a great way to get your name and your business out there, as well as to build relationships with other dog trainers. You never know when one of these connections might come in handy (or even lead to a partnership or collaboration down the road)!

Here are some handy tips for networking:

Partnering is another great way to boost revenue for your dog training business. When you partner with another business, you can often tap into their customer base and/or reach, which can help you to increase your sales.

Not sure how to find potential partners? Here are a couple ideas:

Collaborating is similar to partnering, except that it’s usually more focused on a one-time project or initiative rather than an ongoing relationship. However, like partnering, collaborating can help you to increase your reach and/or sales.

Examples of collaborations you, as a dog trainer, could get involved with would be:

• Writing blog posts or articles for other pet-related websites or publications.
• Doing guest lectures or webinars for other dog trainers or businesses.
• Being featured in a podcast, interview, or case study.
• Training dogs at your local animal shelter or rescue.

Before we wrap things up, here are a few resources related to boosting revenue for your dog training business that you might find helpful:

There you have it! These are just a few ideas to get you started on boosting revenue for your dog training business. Remember: the best way to increase sales is to get your name and your business out there as much as possible!

Do you have any other tips or advice on how dog trainers can boost their revenue? Share your thoughts in the comments below!