Animal Ambulance Idea

[Seaxneat]

Hello all, I'd just like to ask some questions about setting up an animal ambulance/taxi/sitting/walking service.

I've done most of my homework but if I may be so cheeky, Id just like to pick some of your brains with some questions Im unsure of

My wife is a vet and so this is a big selling point for the services I will be able to provide as I can ask expert advice whenever it is needed. She and the other staff where she works have all said that in the area we live in we always have people phoning at night with emergancies asking for lifts to the practice which the practice cannot do. Obviously this is clearly proof that there is a market for the ambulance service, but the issue is that is in a weird area.

The area Il be covering will be Harlow (a new town which has high unemployment rates) and Uttlesford, a large rural area where there are high-incomes. The towns and villages in the Uttlesford district are cut-off and isolated so my target clients appear to be both typically less-well off people and high-earners and retired folk living in the sticks. This creates some problems with pricing because I don't want to be too cheap that I do myself out of pocket. From peoples experience is it wise to offer lower rates to people in certain financial situations, or does this just create way too many issues?

I haven't got a great deal of money so Im going to be using my estate car at first until I can be assured that buying a specially brought van is worth it. I will be getting vinyls made up to make it look more professional as well as a proper police-car style dog crate - but Im just wondering what people think about how best to approach taking the plunge from full-time employment to risky self-employed venture?

My financial situation at the moment is fine, I have no real outgoings save for regular credit card payments. I currently work full-time, albeit on minimum wage but by time I've taken out travel money I don't make all that much money. Our home is paid for by my wife's company so I do not have the immediate worry of how we can feed and home ourselves. Given that Im a kept man do people think its wise for me to either A) Quit my dead-end job and really go for this buisness idea with full steam, or B) Play it cautious, obtain all the licences and insurance required and simply offer myself as a late night/weekend animal ambulance service at first and gauge the business from that (but this banks on nurses working at my wife's vet practice passing on my business cards.)

My cautious nature is telling me to do this on a part time basis first but Im also aware that doing it this way means Im going to be unable to put the hours into gaining more customers/marketing and potentially getting sub-contracting from local vet practices.

Also, does anyone know of a way to charge customers whilst on the move? I don't want to be constantly waiting for customers to send me cash or for cheques to clear. I've seen a few cheap methods but some of them seem untrustworthy from a customers point of view (things such as Iphone Apps now exist but Im not sure I'd like to put my details into someones phone.)

 

[S-Marketing]

Its a good idea. I looked into taking a year off and doing something similar myself a while ago. You should be able to make a profit of between 20 and 30 K a year without too many problems.

After i started a thread on this forum about my idea I had a few people contact me to help them with similar businesses. I did some research to find the best and most profitable way to run such a business. If you would like a chat about it, get in touch.

The good news is that every dog walking and related business that i came across whilst researching wasnt doing it right, so there is always an opportunity for a business minded person to do quite well.

 

[Christine Hough]

Sounds an interesting idea, but I am not sure you can do it part time. Don't emergencies happen anytime? Or is it just taking them to pre-arranged appointments and if so perhaps you and your wife could set aside certain times for ambulance requiring appointments.

If you do it do get a good eye catching livery for your car/van as it is a novel idea and people need to know it is there before looking for it.

I think you have to get paid there and then. I am not sure about smartphone payments but you could always have a paypal account they pay into. I suspect there would also be a card charging company somewhere which will work with smart phone. I think I've heard mention of it on this forum. You would not have to give your bank details away.

I cannot think that anyone orders a taxi without having the cash to pay there and then.

 

[Seaxneat]

Its a good idea. I looked into taking a year off and doing something similar myself a while ago. You should be able to make a profit of between 20 and 30 K a year without too many problems.

After i started a thread on this forum about my idea I had a few people contact me to help them with similar businesses. I did some research to find the best and most profitable way to run such a business. If you would like a chat about it, get in touch.

The good news is that every dog walking and related business that i came across whilst researching wasnt doing it right, so there is always an opportunity for a business minded person to do quite well.

Yes that'd be quite handy Stretchy, thanks for the kind offer. I know what you mean about others not doing it the right way. There are a few pet taxi/ambulance buisnesses in my Mums area who seem to do ok, but could do alot better if they just made silly improvements - things like using clip-art as a logo, having bad spelling on websites etc. It doesn't give a whole lot of trust if they look unprofessional.

 

[Christine Hough]

Would you ever need to give nursing/medical/first aid care or is it just a taxi service?

 

[S-Marketing]

Yes that'd be quite handy Stretchy, thanks for the kind offer. I know what you mean about others not doing it the right way. There are a few pet taxi/ambulance buisnesses in my Mums area who seem to do ok, but could do alot better if they just made silly improvements - things like using clip-art as a logo, having bad spelling on websites etc. It doesn't give a whole lot of trust if they look unprofessional.

It goes a lot deeper than rubbish logos and spelling mistakes. Noone im aware of has even got the basic business or marketing strategy right.

If you want me to send you a link to the thread I started on the subject let me know.

 

[Seaxneat]

Sounds an interesting idea, but I am not sure you can do it part time. Don't emergencies happen anytime? Or is it just taking them to pre-arranged appointments and if so perhaps you and your wife could set aside certain times for ambulance requiring appointments.

If you do it do get a good eye catching livery for your car/van as it is a novel idea and people need to know it is there before looking for it.

I think you have to get paid there and then. I am not sure about smartphone payments but you could always have a paypal account they pay into. I suspect there would also be a card charging company somewhere which will work with smart phone. I think I've heard mention of it on this forum. You would not have to give your bank details away.

I cannot think that anyone orders a taxi without having the cash to pay there and then.

Thanks for your suggestions Christine. Im already trying to find suppliers for decent reflective vinyls and some amber lights. Of course having amber lights/reflective panels do nothing towards the business but it is a good advertisement/marketing gimmick.

As for card payments, I think the UK is lagging behind. In the states there are a few free to use card swipping devices but most in this country charge silly rates. I don't mind a 5% charge for card sales but when they want you to pay for the expensive unit too it just adds up. I was just wondering whether anyone had experience of services such as
Adelante. (Would have linked but Im not allowed!)

 

[Seaxneat]

Would you ever need to give nursing/medical/first aid care or is it just a taxi service?

Well aside from the DEFRA licence to transport animals further than 40miles, (which is actually quite easy to get hold of), and obviously the insurance, Il also be getting a microchipping certificate so I can do home visits (I think courses are around £80 and the chips work out pence each) and a animal first aid course. Trouble is finding a course because most of them seem mickey mouse ones. I would have liked to include an oxygen machine but at around a grand its not something I can really afford straight off.

 

[StevensOnln1]

Worldpay do a chip and pin reader that links to your smartphone via bluetooth. Pay as you go pricing, so no monthly rental charges.

https://mobile.worldpay.com/

 

[PDRD]

Why would you need to collect payment there and then?

Surely with your links with the vets you could get them to act as an agent and put your bill into theirs and then pay you? Have an agreement in place that they recommend you if someone calls and vice versa that you only take sick pet to them and not to a rival practice.

Or, discuss with their bosses that you work under their brand in a van written in their logo but as a separate entity which self manages.

Obviously there is nothing then stopping the vets just getting their own van and employing someone if they see you going well.

Just my thought.
PDRD

 

[ScotComp]

Do these "high earners" who live in the sticks not have their own car? Even if they didn't, have they never heard of a taxi? Why would someone less-off and struggling for cash pay extra for your services?

I just don't get it I'm afraid, I can see you getting some business from it but nothing major.

 

[Christine Hough]

If people are asking the surgery for an animal ambulance there is some demand. It would be worth finding out why they want an ambulance rather than using their own car, as it would help you target the right people.

There may also be a service of hiring out carrying cages?

Also the idea of doing small procedure at home would be good. You said implanting a chip, what about vaccination too?

Also there are non medical things such as dog walking and of course washing , clipping.

All together there is quite a lot, but you may decide to focus in just more medical areas if there is enough demand.

 

[Seaxneat]

Do these "high earners" who live in the sticks not have their own car? Even if they didn't, have they never heard of a taxi? Why would someone less-off and struggling for cash pay extra for your services?

I just don't get it I'm afraid, I can see you getting some business from it but nothing major.

Alot of taxi drivers won't allow animals in their cars and they certainly won't have the cage available. Admitedly, at first I will be using an estate car but eventually I will want to scale it up to a Ford Galaxy sized vehicle so I can use some more advanced equipment such as oxygen tents etc to cater for emergancies.

But the customers is the biggest issue I have if Im honest. If I were doing this in the area where I lived up until a year ago this wouldn't even be an issue.

The one thing I foresee is people who commute to london not being able to walk/feed their pets whilst they are out so this is always a consideration. Also I imagine with the small villages there will be OAPs and people who do not drive who could benefit from the pet taxi and possibly even a food and medication delivery service.

As for people with no money which is a regular theme at my wifes practice, there isn't much room to maneover around this. Im not going to start under-cutting myself. Im in the process of trying to speak with her boss about subcontracting, and will do the same for other local vet practices so hopefully I won't have to worry about how they will pay the vet as Il be invoicing them on a monthly basis.

There is also Stansted airport close by so with the DEFRA certificate it might be the case that I could get some good work taking animals to their owners from the quarentine, but this is something I need to look into as they may already have this covered by somebody else.

Walking and pet feeding is already something I've considered and will have to do at first regardless.

My Mum (who lives 45 mins away) is into dog breeding and showing, so this is something which could help - and she used to do voluntary homechecks for dog rescues. If I also did this, this could be a good way of meeting new potential clients as well as setting a good company image.

Im also considering free injured wildlife collection (not sure if its the best idea) again, with the idea in mind of simply getting my name out there - plus I like helping animals anyway. And also humane pest control (i.e no chemicals so no licence required.) Troublesome animals like foxes and so on can be trapped in a cage and Il take them and release them in a reserve someplace (at a cost of course.)

Im also a keen photographer so pet photography is also a posibility, especially at dog shows (could also make money from the equipment doing peoples portraits, the odd wedding etc too.)

I know this is a seperate question, but when I start off I was considering doing some form of sponsered event to raise awareness for my business. For arguements sake I could do a 100mile bike ride for an animal charity and try and get mentioned in the local papers. Does this seem a good idea?

 

[Seaxneat]

I think Im just going to go ahead and try this. It should be fairly easy to at least make what Im earning at my current job (which is full-time minimum wage with £60-70 a week going on fuel.) It might take a little while to begin getting repeat business but thats something you expect. I can't stand working for piss takers any longer, its making me feel ill.

 

[Christine Hough]

It is also clear you have a real interest in animals.
Wish you all the best.


Re sponsored event ... try to do something which will appeal to animal lovers/owners.
Perhaps more of a sponsored dog walk.
Or an impromptu sponsored doggy gym in a park (subject to owners permission of course)
If you can do something which would get local editorial coverage it would be best,
or run a competition in the paper ..prize 1 yrs vet insurance?

 

[Seaxneat]

Thank you Christine

 

[BustersDogs]

Don't forget you CANNOT CHARGE TO CARRY PEOPLE. You can ONLY charge to carry the pets, although you can of course charge for your time.

I don't know anyone who makes a living doing animal taxi/ambulances alone because there isn't enough work, although I know a lot of people who do airport runs etc and do well. You will need more than one crate because what suits a German Shepherd will not be suitable to safely transport a small animal or dog, although usually owners of small animals will have their own case which you could secure within your own crates, but the owner of a terrier won't, and a GSD crate would be too big. If you could even get a GSD crate into a car. I'd look into getting fitted crates into your car, as they will make best use of the space.

If you speak to Defra they consider anyone transporting animals as part of a business needs the animal transporter authorisation, although the wording of the licence does sound slightly odd for someone ferrying dogs or small animals around locally. There are no checks at all though, but it's good practice to get these things.

It doesn't matter how much money you have, if you have a sick pet and are on your own, often driving and leaving a sick dog alone in the back of the car is the worst thing in the world. I couldn't drive when I was taking the body of my dog back to the vet.

I am setting up a course for dog walkers and associated careers, still in its infancy, but if you are interested please PM me! I'm in Essex, not far from you. It's slowly being developed over the last year or so, and am now at the stage I can look at accreditation but in the meantime I'm doing it for half price. Although according to some clearly I'm doing everything wrong. I employ and train my own staff, and have had others come and do the course with me.

This is something that can be set up with no money - I started from 2 years caring so not working, had nothing except the van and the crates and equipment I used for my own dogs.

I've never had a problem taking cheques, but also take cash and bank transfer, if you've got an emergency then cash or cheques in the middle of the night, can't see a lot of problem with that for most people. Some don't have chequebooks anymore, but of course cash machines are most places, or if it's a regular you can bill them later.

I've tried to answer a lot of your questions, if you want more detailed advice structured to your business you'll have to come and spend the day with me and our dogs and staff and do the course. You can get info from anyone on this forum, but they can't introduce you up close and personal to 20 dogs in one day.