Cyprus-Forum.com

[careylynn]

Hello ! I am trying to come up with a business idea that would make me approx 500 CYP per month. I have experience in dog walking services in America and thought about opening my own dog walking service here in cyprus. I understand that there may not be a need for such a service seeing as how animals are not always cared for here.

My assumption is that this service would not go over well. Out of curiosity would anyone here use such a service or know anyone who would?

Also, any other ideas for small scall business for services that are needed here but arent catered to enough would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your opinions, thoughts and ideas!!

Carey

[Niki]

If you also added looking after dogs at their home when people are away for a day or longer then I would definately use you. So - needs to be more than just walking?

Niki

[Alassa]

I'd love the use of a dog walker sometime - but I'm out in the villages so you'd need to factor in petrol and stuff to get there and if it was too expensive I'd just need to give myself a good kick and get going myself

I'm not sure where you are but I know of a few people who will look after your animals at home based in Limassol - I think it will be quite difficult to make much money if that's the idea?

[devil]

As a dog owner and knowing Cypriot dog owners, it may work only if there were a sufficiently large community of non-Cypriot dog owners in a small area, but I doubt it. Remembering that a lot of foreigners here are retirees with limited incomes, my guess is that £500/month would not be easy. You would have less difficulty finding a job as a help for established kennels, but £500?

[GG]

I dont know about your pricing but you will definitely have clients, many Cypriots are going through a phase now where they have lots of expendable income to throw and lets not forget, having a person come to walk your dog is a real boasting point, something the cypriots love.

Obviously there is always going to be the older fashioned people who will think its silly to pay people to walk a dog, but then they also think its silly to use deodorant on weekdays.

[tessintrnc]

If you are "into" dogs - how about a grooming service? I cut and clip my giant schnauzer myself, but have been asked many times about clipping other peoples dogs. You do need proper clippers though (human ones arent much good) my Whaal dog clippers cost over £30 but I think you would soon re-coup the cost! You may need premises as well as you should include washing and nail clipping (again you need special clippers) But good luck!!
Tess

[joanna]

Id deff go with the offering grooming services thing, yes youll make lots of money with that. V pricy in Limassol. As for dog walking i think you will get more demand for things like that in Nicosia. Deff agree with the boasting thing, sooo greek and they have so much money to throw away on things at the momnet.

[dinos]

You could also diversify into cleaning up after them. This is probably a more useful service as all dogs crap and someone has to pick it up.

The women wouldn't have to dirty their dainty hands and the men wouldn't be less than manly walking around with a dog leash on one hand and a bag of poop in the other.

Your slogan could be amusing too which would help you stand out. A company around here claims to be "Number 1 at removing Number 2."

[Niki]

I'd love the use of a dog walker sometime - but I'm out in the villages so you'd need to factor in petrol and stuff to get there and if it was too expensive I'd just need to give myself a good kick and get going myself

I'm not sure where you are but I know of a few people who will look after your animals at home based in Limassol - I think it will be quite difficult to make much money if that's the idea?

I would like some names of homesitters in Limassol if you have any.

Thanks

Niki

[Pete_D]

I would think that the best way of doing it in the long-term would be similar to people who provide dog walking services in the UK. Get yourself a suitably kitted out van, and come round and pick up a number of dogs from each house and take them on a "mass walk".

This way you can cover a wider area.... I think that any owners who do not have enough time to walk their dogs themselves won't also have time (or ability) to bring them to you either.

Of course, this would only work in towns as it would take too long to drive out into the countryside all over the place to pick up lots of different dogs.

The idea sounds like it has potential, but to start with I would personally not rely on this as being e.g your only source of income. I would think it would take a fair while to build up regular clientele, and to find out if it is going to be profitable. I am sure there are no problems finding plenty of dog owners in or around the towns, for one thing there are plenty of retired brits in parts of cyprus plenty of whom will own dogs I am sure.

Re. your comments dinos, I presume and hope you are just "taking the p!ss".
Most dog owners accept the responsibility of owning a dog and are quite willing to look after their dog properly. But sometimes everyone needs a break, or some people e.g single people can find it difficult to give their dog the amount of exercise it needs, and in this case dog walking services can be a real bonus. For example, someone I know loves her dog but is on her own and works nights a lot and does find it quite difficult, so really welcomes the fact that twice a week she can have a professional dog walker give her dog the exercise he needs. It is of course important that a dog is walked regularly, hence why I think this sounds like it has potential, Carey.

Regards,
Pete