How do I judge the staff overnight coverage at a boarding kennel?
Find out who is physically on site overnight, how they check the animals and what they do in an emergency. Ask for the schedule, the written procedures and the pay arrangements, and speak to the staff. Coverage that depends on one tired person, or on someone sleeping nearby, is thin.
Ask the seller to describe a typical night in order: last check, who stays, how often animals are checked and where the person sleeps. Then compare that with the written schedule and what staff say. If the stories differ, you have found something to dig into. Visit after hours if the seller allows it. Seeing the lighting, alarms, temperature controls and the place where the overnight person rests tells you more than a description over a desk.
Look at the people. Is overnight work done by employees, family or the owner? How long have they done it, and what do they say about the workload? A kennel that leans on the owner’s own time is a business whose coverage will change the day you take over.
Read the emergency plan. Who calls the vet? How are fire, power loss and sick animals handled? Are phone numbers posted, and have staff practised? Ask your insurer whether the coverage matches how the kennel operates at night. Finally, think about what you want. If you do not plan to live nearby, you will need to hire. Work out the cost of staffing nights properly and compare it with what the books show, with your accountant’s help.
Key takeaways
- Get a clear account of who is on site and what they check overnight.
- Compare the written plan with what staff actually describe.
- Work out the cost of staffing nights if the owner now covers them.
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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