29/03/2026
A local business, please support them if you can. Let's try and keep small businesses open 🙏
*Edit* - this is not a ‘poor me’ post. When I opened the unit I knew exactly what I was getting myself into, and never planned to make any real money from it. This is purely for information/an explanation as to why the price will go up slightly.
Although if you want to book a load of visits because you feel sorry for me, I’ll allow it🤣😍*
I wasn’t sure whether to share this or not… But I am a big believer in transparency 👍
The Business Rates (council tax) for my unit are increasing from 1st April and I can no longer claim ‘small business rates relief’, despite the fact that I am a tiny business which literally makes no money..
What’s more annoying, is that I was told by the Business Rates team last month that they would not be increasing, and that I could claim small business relief (screenshot in comments)..
For £452 per month, the business gets nothing - not even a bin.
I desperately want to keep the price of a visit to the unit affordable. I do not view the unit as a luxury. For many owners, including myself, it is a safe space to ensure your dogs’ needs are met.
For many customers/dog owners, the opening of the unit has had an incredibly positive impact on both theirs and their dogs life:
- owners with mobility issues
- very reactive/aggressive/nervous dogs
- high energy dogs with no recall
- wheelchair users who cannot access wet fields
… and so on
Since opening the unit in October, I have not taken a single penny from it. Despite working 7 days per week, including Christmas Day, to keep it clean, safe and operational.
🌤️🌤️
As the weather improves, business is getting a little quieter each week. A reduction in bookings, paired with massively increasing operating costs is very scary. Like sleepless nights scary.
💰💰
From 1st April, you will see a very small price increase; there will still be offers and discounts available.
I absolutely hate having to pass the cost onto the customer, but I have no other costs to cut instead (no staff wages, no dividends, no fancy kit etc.).
🤎🤎
Please share the unit with everyone you know. I need as many bookings as possible to keep this place going over the Spring & Summer months.
In simple terms, I need approx 150 customers/bookings per month to break even, which averages out at about 6 bookings per day.
😍😍
To everyone who visits, leaves reviews and recommends the unit - THANK YOU!🙏
So many people I chat to tell me that they booked because someone they know told them about it. Word of mouth is the single best bit of advertising any business can have. So please, keep talking & telling people about this space 🐶🐾
