Explore how the right kennel software can help your pet care business. Features like a customizable CRM, scheduling and payment automation streamline operations, bringing organization to your workflow. Choose the best software for your business and enjoy the benefits of stress-free efficiency.

Just a friendly note: If your business is not a kennel or boarding facility but something similar in the pet care field, you would benefit greatly from exploring software designed specifically for your industry. Here are some niche articles on pet sitting software, doggy daycare, dog training software, dog grooming that delve into the unique needs of these sectors.

You can find the list of our top 7 carefully selected dog boarding and kennel management software at the end of this article. Before that, we'll delve into the features that make these products stand out. If you prefer to jump straight to the list, you can click here.

Managing a dog boarding facility or a pet care business comes with its own set of challenges. From scheduling appointments & kennel runs to managing client information, pet vaccinations and ensuring timely payments, there are numerous tasks that require meticulous attention to detail.

However, with the right tools and resources at your disposal, these challenges can be effectively managed, allowing you to focus on providing exceptional care for your furry guests.

One such tool that has revolutionized the pet care industry is kennel software.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of using dog boarding software and provide an overview of the seven best dog boarding software options for 2024. We will discuss what kennel software is and how it can streamline operations in your pet care business. We will also highlight key features to look for when choosing dog boarding software and offer tips on selecting the right software for your business.

Kennel software is a specialized software program designed to streamline operations in pet boarding facilities. By automating tasks such as appointment scheduling, client communication, staff tasks, and billing, the right kennel software can help improve efficiency and organization, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.

It usually comes with specialized features to help you manage your rooms or runs, vaccination tracking and enforcement, and inventory management to name a few. Otherwise, it shares a lot of features with many other solutions that focus on dog grooming salons, doggy daycare, pet sitting (sometimes referred to as dog boarding in a private home), dog training, and other kinds of pet care.

Automating and streamlining means you can make it easy for your business to grow and thrive while reducing human error across your entire process. Automating repetitive tasks, such as availabile room scheduling and client communication is also a key ingredient and is usually something pet owners can do through a proper pet owner portal. It also helps manage important information, such as pet vaccinations and add-on grooming appointments or exit baths, in an organized manner. By centralizing these functions, dog boarding software helps improve efficiency and customer service.

Modern kennel management software is also hybrid web based, which means it can run on any internet enabled device from desktop PC to tablets and mobile. That means management, staff and pet owner clients can access the system from anywhere, any time they need to.

When a pet owner wants to book their pets using a kennel software online, a kennel can give them three options.

Note that for all options described, a pet owner can pre-pay via a deposit or 100% of the bill before the booking is completed:

Option 1: They can choose from a suite of options (e.g., small room, deluxe room). This choice is then submitted as a request (possibly with a paid deposit) that arrives at the management side of the software to be accepted or declined. If accepted, the system suggests the appropriate room to be assigned based on the dog or cat's attributes. Once the appropriate run is assigned, the booking request is accepted, and the client receives a notification response. This is a great solution for kennels that have 50 or more kennel runs to work with.

Option 2: If you are a smaller kennel boarding facility or you only have about 15 or fewer rooms, the system can offer pet owners to book rooms directly (e.g., room#1, room#2, etc.). These rooms have different price points and capacities, which are enforced. Regardless of the options, pet owners must ensure that their pets' vaccinations are in order, agree to various terms, and fill out feeding and medical instructions before or during their bookings.

Additionally, there's a third option,

Option 3: Pet owners can make a communication request, and only the management can start the booking process. Turning off the pet owner booking option is usually something pet business owners start with until they become familiar with their kennel management software and have enough trust and controls in place to give the booking option to their pet owner clients.

Once a booking is made, your staff and pet parents can access their individual portals in the system simultaneously, from as many different devices as they require. Each of them is invited to the system, allowing them to access it whenever they need to:

Having a robust reporting feature in kennel and boarding management software is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it provides essential financial reporting and analysis tools, allowing your boarding facility to track their finances accurately.

The ability to export data to popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Wave, and Sage streamlines the accounting process, saving time and reducing errors.

Additionally, the reporting feature enables businesses to track their complete transaction history, providing a clear picture of their financial health. It also offers projected revenue estimate based on booked events, because of the deep integration between scheduling and billing. The system can look ahead, helping businesses make informed decisions about future investments and strategies. Furthermore, the in-depth business analytics provided by the reporting feature offer valuable insights into key performance metrics, allowing businesses to identify areas for improvement and growth. The ability to generate revenue or estimated reports by client or service helps businesses tailor their offerings to meet specific customer needs. Overall, the reporting feature is essential for kennel and boarding businesses looking to optimize their operations and drive profitability.

Effective communication is key in the pet care industry, and a comprehensive reporting feature in kennel and boarding management software plays a crucial role. The software's ability to send automated appointment reminders via email and text/SMS helps ensure that clients are informed and prepared for their appointments, reducing the likelihood of missed appointments and last-minute cancellations.

Moreover, customizable notifications, such as those sent at checkout, allow businesses to provide personalized updates and information to clients, enhancing the overall customer experience. The software's picture and media sharing capabilities enable businesses to share photos and updates with clients, fostering a sense of trust and connection.

Additionally, the software's no-show reduction tools help businesses minimize missed appointments by implementing strategies to encourage clients to keep their scheduled appointments. Message templates further streamline communication by providing pre-written messages for common scenarios, ensuring faster and more consistent communication with clients.

Lastly, group messaging features allow businesses to send messages to multiple clients at once, improving efficiency and ensuring that important information reaches all relevant parties.

Now that many pet boarding businesses in the USA have reached this level of sophistication, they are looking to squeeze more out of their software providers.

Of note, there are a couple of new integrated options that can revolutionize the way your kennel business operates and markets to pet owners in your area.

1. Automated Client Testimonials

An automated feature for collecting and publishing client reviews, helping to drive organic business growth. This feature eliminates the need for separate reputation management software, saving you money each month.

2. Website Integration

"All-in-one" in the context of kennel management or dog boarding management means that your scheduling, invoicing, and website are integrated into a single system. This integration allows you to streamline your content and operations management in one place. One significant advantage is that visitors can stay on your website while they browse, make bookings, and process payments for your services, all without leaving your site. If you've used scheduling software before, you may have experienced being redirected to a separate platform to interact with the business online, which can disrupt the user experience.

3. Webstore / Shop
In addition to the features you need at your storefront, some kennel and dog boarding businesses are diversifying their offerings by including an online store to sell products. These products can include merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, apparel, and small baked goods. Some businesses are also selling inventory items online, such as lock boxes for key storage at homes, as part of their key management services.

EasyBusyPets.com supports these additional revenue streams through its integrated platform.

So, what are the best kennel software programs available? 

Easy Busy Pets

Gingr

Kennel Booker
Kennel Connection

KennelSoft Atlantis

Paw Loyalty

RunLoyal

Calendly

DoTimely

Mindbody

MyOwn.Website*

Setmore

Schedulicity SimplyBook.me

Square Appointments Timely

Grade.us

Podium

Reputation.com ReviewPush ReviewTrackers

TrustSpot

Easy Busy Pets

GoDaddy 
Shopify

Squarespace

Weebly

Wix

WordPress

"Just try out a few and pick one that works with the way your brain works".

Six-Figure Pet Business Academy

• Features: Ensure the software offers the features you need, such as the right scheduling and billing.
• Ease of Use: Look for software that is intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Customer Support: Choose a provider that offers reliable customer support.
• Integration: Check if the software integrates with other tools you use, such as accounting software.
• Pricing: Compare pricing plans to find one that fits your budget.

If you're new to the industry and unsure about setting a budget, it's essential to step back and create a comprehensive business plan for your dog boarding venture. While software is a crucial component, it's just one aspect of developing a successful dog boarding business.

Here at EasyBusyPets.com, we are dedicated to delivering the ultimate dog boarding software experience for business owners like you. If you're looking for an easy to use solution to streamline your kennel, boarding, doggy daycare and grooming operations, don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Our team is ready and eager to provide you with more information and help you take your business to the next level. Contact us today!