The Complete Daycare Business Setup Checklist
Most booking software thinks daycare is counting heads. Ten spots available, ten dogs booked, done.
But you know that's not how it works. You've got a small dog yard and a large dog yard. Indoor play and outdoor space. Morning drop-off chaos and afternoon pickup logistics.
This guide walks you through setting up Petboost step-by-step for daycare operations.
Quick Setup Checklist
Play Areas (Resources) Setup:
- Create "Small Dog Play Area" resource (e.g., capacity 8)
- Create "Large Dog Play Area" resource (e.g., capacity 12)
- Set working hours for each area
- Assign daycare services to appropriate areas
Services Setup:
- Create Full Day Daycare service
- Create Half Day - AM service
- Create Half Day - PM service
- Create Temperament Test as Initial service
- Set "Require Initial Service" on regular daycare
Packages Setup:
- Create 10-Day Daycare Pack
- Create 20-Day Daycare Pack (better discount)
- Enable self-service package purchase
Compliance Setup:
- Enable vaccination requirements on daycare services
- Configure vaccination expiry reminders (30 days, 14 days)
- Set weight limits per service if needed
Automation Setup:
- Enable Pre-Hold Funds
- Enable Auto-Start at scheduled time
- Enable Auto-Complete at end time
- Enable Auto-Pay for packages
Self-Service Setup:
- Enable self-service booking
- Test booking flow as a customer
- Share booking link
1. Per-Area Capacity, Not Daily Limits
The Problem
Daily limits don't capture the complexity of your actual capacity. You say "we take 20 dogs." But you don't have 20 spots. You have 12 in the large dog area and 8 in small dogs. Or 15 indoors and 10 outdoors with some overlap.
How Petboost Solves It
Per-resource capacity limits — 12 large, 8 small, independent tracking.
Real-time capacity view — Dashboard showing current occupancy per area.
Calendar overlap visibility — See who's where at any given time.
Multi-resource booking — Dogs that might move between areas.
Pro tip: Create different capacity for different days. Maybe Mondays are slower with one staff member and 10 dogs. Fridays you've got two staff and can take 20. The capacity flexes with your operation.
The Outcome
Per-area capacity means you never accidentally overbook your small dog yard while your large dog area sits half empty.
Step-by-Step: Create Your Play Areas
Navigate to: Resources → Add New → New Resource
Step 1: Create Small Dog Area
- Resource Name: "Small Dog Play Area"
- Resource Type: Location
- Capacity: 8 (adjust based on your space)
- Working Hours: Your daycare operating hours
Step 2: Create Large Dog Area
- Resource Name: "Large Dog Play Area"
- Resource Type: Location
- Capacity: 12 (adjust based on your space)
Step 3: Assign Services
- Go to Service Eligibility tab
- Select daycare services that can use this area
Example Daycare Resource Setup
Resources:
├── Small Dog Play Area (Capacity: 8)
├── Large Dog Play Area (Capacity: 12)
├── Indoor Play Room (Capacity: 6)
└── Rest Area / Kennels (Capacity: 15)
2. Daycare Packages That Transform Revenue
The Problem
The traditional daycare model: Dogs come, you send invoices, you chase payments, you hope clients come back. Unpredictable cash flow, lumpy months, and constant wondering about what next month looks like.
How Petboost Solves It
10-day, 20-day, monthly packages — Create bundles with volume pricing.
Balance tracking — Real-time remaining days visible to clients.
Auto-deduct at check-in — One day removed per attendance.
Multi-pet families — Shared package credits across dogs.
45% of revenue from packages — Daycare businesses on Petboost report nearly half their income as predictable, upfront cash.
Pro tip: The psychology of packages is interesting. A client with 3 days left on a 10-pack is highly motivated to book before expiry. Packages create their own demand.
The Outcome
Packages mean you're collecting revenue for future work today. Better cash flow, more predictable months, and clients who are literally invested in coming back.
Step-by-Step: Create Daycare Packages
Navigate to: Packages → New Package
10-Day Daycare Pack:
- Package Name: "10-Day Daycare Bundle 🐕"
- Description: "Buy 10 daycare days, save $50!"
- Service: Full Day Daycare
- Redemptions: 10
- Price: $450 (if regular $50/day = save $50)
20-Day Daycare Pack:
- Package Name: "20-Day Daycare Bundle 🐕"
- Description: "Our best value! 20 days, save $150!"
- Redemptions: 20
- Price: $850 (if regular $50/day = save $150)
Recommended Package Structure
DAYCARE PACKAGES:
├── 5-Day Pack - $235 (save $15, 6% off)
├── 10-Day Pack - $450 (save $50, 10% off)
├── 20-Day Pack - $850 (save $150, 15% off)
└── Monthly Unlimited - $800/month (for 3+ days/week clients)
3. Morning Check-In Without the Chaos
The Problem
Morning drop-off is chaos. Cars pulling in, dogs barking, owners in a hurry. And you're supposed to confirm booking, check vaccination status, note any special instructions, take payment if needed, all while a Labrador is trying to join the pack early.
How Petboost Solves It
Today's arrivals view — Dashboard showing expected dogs.
One-click check-in — Mark as arrived instantly.
Vaccination status at a glance — Visual indicators for compliance.
Package auto-deduct — Happens at check-in, zero extra steps.
Multi-dog families — Check in multiple dogs at once.
Pro tip: Run check-in from a tablet at the door. Staff don't need to walk back to a computer. One tap, dog's in, move to the next car.
The Outcome
Morning drop-off becomes organised instead of chaotic. One click per dog, everything captured, everyone moving.
4. Vaccination Compliance That Protects Your Pack
The Problem
A dog with expired vaccinations gets into your pack. Something happens. Now you're liable. You had good intentions, you meant to check, but in the morning rush something slipped.
How Petboost Solves It
Booking blocks — Non-compliant pets can't book.
Automated reminders — Emails sent 30 days before expiry, then again at 14 days.
Override options — For legitimate exceptions (with audit trail).
Compliance dashboard — See who's expiring soon.
Pro tip: By the time clients are due for daycare, most have already updated their vaccinations because of the automated reminders. You're not the bad guy; the system is.
The Outcome
Vaccination compliance isn't something you have to remember. It's built in. Non-compliant bookings are blocked automatically.
5. Self-Service Booking Around the Clock
The Problem
When do pet owners think about booking daycare? Often at 9pm planning their week. Or 6am before the morning rush. But you're not answering calls at 9pm. And you're not taking calls at 6am.
How Petboost Solves It
Real-time availability — Based on actual per-area capacity.
Recurring booking patterns — "Every Tuesday and Thursday."
Package balance visibility — Clients see remaining days before booking.
70% of bookings happen outside business hours — Revenue you'd lose if you were phone-only.
Pro tip: There's a beautiful moment when you realise you haven't answered a booking phone call in weeks. Not because clients stopped booking, but because they stopped needing you to book for them.
The Outcome
Self-service booking means your business is open 24/7, even when you're not.
6. Temperament Testing and Service Progression
The Problem
You can't just throw a new dog into group daycare. There's an intro process: temperament assessment, maybe a half-day trial, then regular daycare. But most software can't model that.
How Petboost Solves It
Service eligibility rules — "Must complete X before booking Y."
Automatic progression — Once intro is complete, regular daycare unlocks.
Notes from assessment — Captured and visible in pet profile.
Flags for caution — Visual alerts for dogs needing supervision.
Pro tip: Get creative with progression. Some daycares have "trial day" as a prerequisite for "regular daycare," and "regular daycare" as a prerequisite for "pack hiking."
The Outcome
Temperament gating protects your pack and your business. New dogs can only book what they've earned access to.
Step-by-Step: Set Up Temperament Testing
Create the Initial Service:
- Go to Services → Add New → New Service
- Service Name: "Temperament Assessment"
- Service Type: Initial
- Duration: 2-4 hours (half day trial)
- Price: $30-50
Require It for Regular Daycare:
- Go to your Regular Daycare service → Type & Category tab
- Enable "Require Initial Service"
- Now new dogs must complete assessment first
7. Lifecycle Automation for Daycare
Navigate to: Settings → Pro Automations
✅ Pre-Hold Funds: Required
✅ Auto-Start: Enabled
✅ Auto-Complete: Enabled
✅ Auto-Finalise: Enabled
✅ Auto-Pay: Enabled
8. Enable Self-Service Booking
Navigate to: Services → [Daycare Service] → Booking Settings
- Self-Service Booking: Toggle ON
- Vaccination Certificate: Enable
- Notice Period: 24 hours
Copy your booking link from Settings → Booking Configuration.
Key Stats for Dog Daycares
| Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| Package revenue | 45% of total |
| After-hours bookings | 70%+ |
| No-show reduction | 80% with pre-auth |
| Check-in time | One click |
Your First Week Checklist
Day 1-2: Create play areas, services, temperament testing Day 3-4: Create packages, enable vaccination compliance Day 5-7: Enable self-service, share booking link
What Our Customers Say
"The pricing structure makes sense and they are working very hard to make this the number one pet booking system in Australia. The customer service is out of this world." — Sacha, My Dogs Daycare, QLD
Start Your Free Trial
If what you've read solves problems you're dealing with, start your free trial at business.petboost.com/register. No credit card required, no sales call needed.
