Club Canine, Owner Lynette Walker - Denton Texas

Lynette Walker came to the North Central Texas College/Small Business Development Center in February 1999 with a vision for starting her own business.

Walker is also a professional veterinarian technician so when area kennels found themselves overbooked Walker began “sitting” for pets in her own home. The need for additional boarding services in the area was obvious to Walker. In 1998 she began preparations to open her own kennel.

Walker planned to build a new facility, she knew the key to obtaining financing was a good business plan. Walker says she “was just lost” when it came to understanding what needed to go into the plan and its format requirements. Walker came to the SBDC for assistance preparing an effective business plan.

During their initial meeting, the SBDC counselor gave Walker a simpler business plan guide, one that Walker says “was the best tool anyone had provided for her”. The SBDC counselor worked with Walker on several occasions providing information on registering the business, marketing and advertising, but most important, giving feedback and guidance on the creation of the business plan.

Walker secured an SBA guaranteed - Construction of Club Canine began, and in May of 2000, the facility was open and in operation!

Total square footage of the facility is 3100-sq. ft. Walker has created an area for cats, a grooming room, and a fenced in play area outside the facility. Walker’s break-even point was calculated at averaging 5 dogs per day and during her first month in operation she has averaged 7 dogs per day. Serving the entire metroplex area dog owners have traveled from Fort Worth, Dallas, Plano and other nearby cities to house their pets with Club Canine.

The SBDC counselor had encouraged Walker to capitalize on her good working relationship with area veterinarians and kennels to promote her business. Word of mouth promotion is working well for Walker as customers are very pleased with her services and consider “Club Canine far above the best!”

Lynette Walker saw a need, had a dream, and worked hard both applying her skills and utilizing resources available to her, such as the SBDC, to make that dream come true. Walker has commented to her customers, “I would not be in business had it not been for the SBDC’s help.”