Main Street to App Store: How a Local Dog Daycare Increased Revenue by 40% with a Custom Booking App
Industry Local Pet Services, Small Business
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$10B+ Client Revenues
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12+ Successful Years
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1000+ IT Ninjas
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5000+ Projects
Client's Testimonial
I'm an expert on dogs, not technology. The team at Developers.dev was incredible. They took the time to understand my business inside and out. The admin panel they built is the heart of my company now; it's so simple to use and has saved me countless hours. Our clients love the booking app, and our walker retention has improved because their scheduling is so much easier. The 40% revenue jump is real.
Marcus Thorne, Owner
Client Introduction
City Sniffs is a popular single-location dog daycare and walking business in Sydney, Australia, owned by Marcus Thorne. While successful, his operations were manual and inefficient, relying on phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets to manage bookings. He wanted to modernize his business, offer a more convenient experience for his clients, and create a platform for future expansion.
Problem
Marcus was hitting a growth ceiling. Administrative overhead was consuming his time, leading to booking errors and missed opportunities. He needed a simple, affordable, and reliable custom app to automate booking, scheduling, and payments for his existing, loyal customer base.
Key Challenges
Extreme Budget Sensitivity
As a small business, the solution had to provide clear ROI without a large upfront investment.
Simplicity is Key
The app and admin panel had to be incredibly intuitive for non-technical staff and clients.
Operational Integration
The software needed to fit into his existing real-world workflow, not force him to change it.
Local Market Focus
The solution needed features relevant to a local service business, like service area definition and local payment methods.
Our Solution
We proposed a T&M (Time & Materials) model using our 'Vertical / App Solution PODs' framework, specifically adapting our 'Booking App Pod' for his needs.
🛠️ Pragmatic Tech Stack
We used React Native for the mobile app to keep costs down, and a straightforward PHP/Laravel backend for the admin panel, focusing on reliability and ease of maintenance.
🗺️ Admin-First Approach
We started by designing the admin panel, working closely with Marcus to map out his exact daily workflow. This ensured the tool would solve his biggest operational pains.
🔄 Iterative Development
Using the T&M model, we built the app in phases, allowing Marcus to test and provide feedback at each stage. This flexibility ensured the final product was a perfect fit for his business.
🎯 Core Feature Focus
We built only what was necessary: a client app for booking/payment, a simple interface for his walkers to see their schedule, and the powerful admin panel for Marcus to manage everything.
Implementation and Execution
Month 1
Deep dive into the current business process and co-design of the admin panel workflow.
Month 2
Development and delivery of the core admin panel. Marcus began managing his business on it immediately.
Month 3
Development of the client-facing React Native app for booking and scheduling.
Month 4
Integration of a local Australian payment gateway and final testing with a group of his top customers.
Month 5
Launch of the app to his customer base and onboarding of his staff.
Ongoing
A small, ongoing support retainer for maintenance and updates.
Positive Outcome
📈 40% Revenue Increase
Within 6 months of launch, automated bookings and easier repeat scheduling led to a 40% increase in monthly revenue.
⏰ Reduced Admin Time
Marcus saved over 10 hours per week on administrative tasks, allowing him to focus on customer service and business growth.
💖 Improved Customer Loyalty
Clients loved the convenience of the app, leading to a 25% increase in booking frequency from existing customers.
🏗️ Foundation for Expansion
The platform provided the operational backbone needed for Marcus to plan and open a second location.
Why Choose Us
🤝 Ecosystem of Experts
We provided the right-sized team for a small business budget.
✅ Verifiable Process Maturity
Even on a small project, our process prevented errors and delays.
🔒 Full IP Ownership
Marcus owns the custom software that now runs his business.
🤖 AI-Augmented Delivery
Not applicable here; we chose a pragmatic, cost-effective approach.
👁️ Radical Transparency
The T&M model provided full visibility into costs and progress.
🚀 Built to Scale
The platform was built to handle multiple locations in the future.
🛡️ Zero-Risk Talent
He got an expert team without the risk of hiring locally.
💼 Business-First Approach
We solved his business problem: operational inefficiency.
⭐ Proven Track Record
Our experience with booking systems allowed us to build efficiently.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates that custom software development is not just for startups and enterprises. By taking a pragmatic, business-first approach, Developers.dev empowered a local small business to leverage technology, dramatically improve efficiency, and achieve significant, measurable growth.