SelfServeDogWash.com Message Board

Shampoo Thickners

Hot Dawg! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:12:50 GMT

Does anyone use or know of an ingredient that can be added to diluted shampoo to thicken up the mixture. We just started using EarthBath shampoos and since they are mostly clear people are using more shampoo than they need to wash 2 or 3 dogs. We even added more shampoo so the dilution is closer to 15.1 than the recommended 32.1.

Thanks!

Hotdawgwash.com

Need input/thoughts on this property (pictures provided)!

Mike — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:24:52 GMT

We currently own this property and thinking of making a SSDW. It's on a main well known blvd in southern california. It has a long wide sidewalk with a long curb parking. Here are some pictures, its the orange building 433 on the right side. It's 900 square ft with room for 4-5 tubs on each side of the walls. There's a neighborhood below and above this street. Would this be a smart idea/investment to start a SSDW here?

Album of pictures: http://img5.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=1000093fp.jpg

Wholesalers

Fred — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:09:25 GMT

Anyone know of a good wholesaler, like Petedge dealer services, that is NOT Petedge?

I already use Groomers Choice for some items (and are very happy with them) but they do not have the selection that Petedge does.

SSDW with more than 1 groomer

NinaW — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:27:00 GMT

Does anyone have more than 1 groomer working in their SSDW? If so do you have 2 separate spaces or doing 'cube sharing'?

Tub for Sale

Jan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:26:50 GMT

Groomers Best Tub for Sale

Stainless Steel, 48" long with tub grate, door, ramp.

Downsized my shop and no longer need this tub. Used 2 years.

Tampa Bay area of Florida - must pick up.

Cost $1100.00

Asking $525.00

Investment Cost

Stan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:02:54 GMT

My wife and I are looking to open or Self Serve Dog wash business. My biggest question is what is the typical cost to get the facility ready? Also What is the typical upfront investment?

Also any suggestions on how to go about getting the funds to open this business (ie, Banks, Angel investors, SBA)?

Any information will be a big help.

Thanks

In search of SSDW opened in the past 3 years or less.

Steve — Thur, 15 Oct 2009 22:13:22 GMT

Im researching for SSDW start up as well as retailing ultra premium food and grooming. Hoping to obtain wisdom regarding customer volume. Similar types of questions have been posted but Im attempting to be more specific. To Dave Grass point in previous posts, geographics need to be considered as buying habits and trends vary by region but your response is still VERY valuable.

My belief, by answering this post, youre doing a great service to start ups and giving existing businesses an idea of what can be achieved with regard to volume. If you opened a SSDW in the past 3 years or less, I would GREATLY appreciate knowing the following for providing an educated guess to possible sales in my business plan for my store in Arizona:

From opening day:

Quarter 1 how many washes averaged per day?

Quarter 2 Same question.

Quarter 3 Same question.

Quarter 4 Same question.

If opened for business more than a year how many washes per year in your second and third year? (No need for break down as I can average the months)

Where (city/state) are you located?

How many tubs do you have?

How many square feet is your shop?

Including your web site address would be great as well.

If you prefer to email me direct, please do so. I greatly appreciate ANY input even above beyond what Ive requested. Knowledge is power. Thanks and WASH ON!

Esitimating number of pet washes

John — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:13:53 GMT

I hope to get a SSDW started in 3-4 months. I bought & read Dave's book on the subject and conducted a lot of research. I am trying to estimate how to determine number of pet washes to expect per month for the business plan? I live in Florida and the dog population according to AVMA is 2200 within 1 mile to over 28K within 5 miles of the location we are looking at putting the store.

DRYER

Theresa — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:31:12 GMT

I am looking for a cage dryer and a hand held dryer with heat. Can anyone tell me what they have used and what they feel is worth buying. Dave, if you read this can you tell me what would be the best HEATED dryers that you carry.

Theresa

Halloween

Lucy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:58:08 GMT

Anybody doing a Halloween costume party? I need some fun ideas.

how many tubs

paul — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:06:42 GMT

Still at early stages of planning and trying to balance costs as can't afford to run at loss. So is it better to have 1 or 2 tubs in a smaller premises to keep costs down or 4 or 5 tubs for those few occasions when you are busy ?

Also is it better to open restricted hours i.e 4 till 8 weekdays

and 10 till 6 weekends and keep other job and only pay for a few hours wages ?

Raining- slow day for a Saturday

Fred — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:41:53 GMT

Why don't people wash their dog when it's raining out?

How do you charge?

Erin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:39:55 GMT

I realize you probably can't say exactly how much you charge, but I was wondering if you guys have a base price and then a time slot for that? I was thinking $XX for 30 mins, and then $X for every 10 mins after that.

What about those speed washers? Should I offer a reduced rate for 10 minutes or no cause then everyone will jam their newfies into the 10 min time slot and they'll all go home with flaking skin cause they weren't rinsed properly?

Landlord issues

Patricia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:17:34 GMT

I am looking for advice on a situation that has me really frustrated. I have been in business for a year and a half and I am still struggling. I am in a 3 business plaza and I have a corner location with 2 windows on the side overlooking the parking lot and I planned to use the one closest to the street for advertising and displays as I am also a boutique. Less than a year ago, an ice cream and candy business, that had been located down the street moved in to the middle spot. The owner of this business is a friend of the landlord, who also has a business across the street. The landlord has allowed her to put up tables and chairs in the parking lot outside of MY window, not hers, blocking my window advertising and me as we are on Main St. which I pay more for. He has also allowed her to put up a major sign out front with only her business on it. Besides the fact that I am hidden in the now "candy" plaza, this also encourages small children with ice cream to walk past a dog business to their tables which I do not feel is the brightest idea. On top of all of this, the set up is really trashy looking and people think I put it out there and I have gone to great lengths to make my place appealing. Oh, yes, and her trash can is outside of MY door, not hers, and all that comes with it. I have fought the village over the safety factor but they turn a blind eye. I cannot move and these people are impossible to reason or get a long with.

Any unusual suggestions?

http://www.ohyoudirtydog.com

estimated gallons per wash

Judy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:24:39 GMT

Does anyone know how many gallons get used per dog wash? I'm looking at a location that is on a well and the plumber and I are currently trying to calculate if this well will beable to provide enough water for this facility (4-5 tubes)

Also does anyone know the water usage difference in using a sprayer unit to a Bath System ie Bath Master or Quadrabathe

Any input would be appreciated