Dog holiday business
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P700DEE

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

252 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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I run a dog holiday franchise and after the quiet of lockdown I've decided I no longer want to carry on. I need to sell the business but my ideal market; Facebook have closed my ad account because their bots think I sell dogs. ;( Any suggestions on a) how do I get my Facebook ad account reviewed by a real person? b) any suggestions for good places to advertise the sale of a niche business in the per services market? Thanks

condor

8,837 posts

270 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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Could you return your franchise to the franchisor ? or asking the franchisor for advice on how to sell it.

P700DEE

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

252 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
I could just return it but this would let them down and more importantly all my existing customers and their dogs. Whilst I can't get all my investment back it would be nice to get some return too. There are Franchise sale sites but I tried one (free) for a month . Had two enquiries from 600 miles away so I declined the offer to pay £300 to contact them!

mike74

3,687 posts

154 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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What is a dog holiday business?

A boarding kennels?

bristolracer

5,871 posts

171 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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Daltons weekly?

Now called Daltons business

https://www.daltonsbusiness.com/


moorx

4,388 posts

136 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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What about advertising on sites like Gumtree?

There are also magazines on dogs - Dogs Today, Your Dog - not sure whether they take ads.

P700DEE

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

252 months

Saturday 5th June 2021
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mike74 said:
What is a dog holiday business?

A boarding kennels?
Yes, alternative to kennels. Dogs get to stay in a family home with a family. Ideal for dogs who don't like kennels and prefer human company rather than other dogs.

Thankyou4calling

10,850 posts

195 months

Saturday 5th June 2021
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Realistically you aren’t going to sell it.

Are you obligated to continue to pay a franchise fee?

rxe

6,700 posts

125 months

Sunday 6th June 2021
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P700DEE said:
Yes, alternative to kennels. Dogs get to stay in a family home with a family. Ideal for dogs who don't like kennels and prefer human company rather than other dogs.
Sort of like Air bnb for dogs? Or are you looking after them in your place?

If the latter, then the value is you, not the business - people stick their dogs with you because they trust you.

If the former, the the value is your client list - presumably whatever the platform that runs it already belongs to the franchisor? If they own your client list, there is not a lot to sell.

In terms of inconveniencing dog owners, just stop taking new bookings and honour the existing ones. I’d be pissed off if the arrangements for looking after our dogs in 4 weeks time fell apart, but someone saying ‘I’m not doing this next year” is fine.

condor

8,837 posts

270 months

Sunday 6th June 2021
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It sounds like a Barking Mad franchise - where host families are found to look after dogs whilst their owners are on holiday.
I started my own dog walking and pet sitting business back in 2010, This last year no one has been on holiday and working from home meant not as many clients needed their dogs walked during the day. I fully understand that a dog holiday franchise has brought little or no income in and the franchisor expenses still need to be paid. It will be hard to sell, which is why I suggested you ask for help and advice from the franchisor, who is likely to have a few franchisees in the same position as you.


P700DEE

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

252 months

Monday 7th June 2021
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Yep, Barking Mad franchise so value is in the host and client lists. Cost during Covid and currently are just £13.78 a month for email support so it's not like its expensive for the last year. 10% of turnover and £115 a month marketing when we get going properly again. Whilst its not what everyone wants there are plenty it would suit, its just getting the possibility out there. No-one any sugestions for getting ads re-enabled on Facebook? All I see on line is quite a few people have been stopped for no reason.