In order to examine the worst mistake you can make in your horse boarding business, it is necessary to examine the worst headache for this business model. And that’s non-paying customers.
I’ve never met an owner of a horse boarding business who didn’t have (at least) occasional difficulty collecting from his or her customers. It’s a fact of the industry, and it can destroy your horse business with horrifying efficiency.
When your customers don’t pay, you can’t purchase grain, hay, electricity, water, insurance or any of the other necessities. You might have to fire important maintenance workers or cut down on costs in other detrimental ways. Your customer service initiatives take a dive and you’re left with no customers at all.
Bummer, right?
I’m not saying you can eliminate non-paying boarders entirely, but you can decrease them considerably and give your horse boarding business a real shot. You do this by screening your clients before they actually move in.
Think about the last time you rented an apartment or any other dwelling. Before the owners gave you the keys you had to:
- Fill out an application
- Pass a background check
- Provide proof of income
- Submit to a credit check
And that’s just for starters. Many landlords have far more stringent guidelines for renting to tenants, and if you fail to comply with these guidelines or if you don’t pass the background, your application is denied.
There is absolutely no reason why your horse boarding business shouldn’t operate in the same fashion. You are offering a place for a horse to stay, and in return you want documentation to prove that the owner of that horse is capable of satisfying his monthly bill.
The worst mistake you can make in the horse boarding business is failing to screen applicants. This simple safety precaution can save you thousands of dollars, and it might prevent the need to evict horses from your barn.
This preventative measure doesn’t guard against a client losing his job or simply deciding not to pay, but pre-screening customers will definitely decrease the headaches.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. Follow her EquiTips on Twitter.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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I agree. I think that it is especially important because you are dealing with a live animal that cannot be ‘evicted’ as easily as when a person stops paying rent. It’s not the poor horses fault. So it really is much better to complete a thorough screening before accepting any new boarders. Prior farm references would be another valuable tool.
Absolutely Marie. The more research the better, especially since many horse business owners have difficulty with the emotional issue of evicting a horse. And thanks for bring up farm references—I can’t believe I left that out!