When we talk to pet care businesses about adding memberships, it’s easy for the conversation to drift into bells and whistles—tiers, perks, loyalty points, even branded swag. But for most operators, the smartest place to start is actually a lot simpler:
Replace your existing packages with a membership model.
That’s exactly what Andrea at Woodlawn Pet Resort in New Hampshire decided to do. She’s been in the business for over 20 years, and like many of you, she’s offered packages for just as long. But recently, she made the switch—and what she found was a smoother path to predictable revenue and more consistent customer behavior.
Let’s break down why this works and how you might apply it in your own facility.
Why Start with Memberships Instead of Packages?
Most of us already use packages to incentivize repeat visits. They’re a staple for daycare in particular—buy 10 days, get a discount. The problem is, they create spiky revenue. You get a flood of cash when a package is purchased, then nothing until it’s time to refill. It’s hard to plan, and even harder to know where you really stand.
With memberships, you're no longer guessing.
Instead of selling 10 visits at once, you sell access—weekly or monthly—and bill automatically. That means revenue shows up every week, or every month, without waiting on a pet parent to remember (or be asked) to re-up.
Andrea put it best:
“I wanted something that was more consistent—for us, and for the customer. Packages worked, but they weren’t predictable.”
How Andrea Made the Switch
Andrea didn’t reinvent her business overnight. She kept things familiar—same discounts, same benefits—but put them on autopilot. Here's what that looked like:
General Membership
$30/month gives customers 10% off boarding, daycare, grooming, and extras. Simple and easy to understand.
Daycare Memberships
Customers commit to a weekly schedule (e.g. 2 or 3 days/week) and get billed accordingly. No need to count credits.
Rollout Strategy
Andrea allowed customers to use up their existing packages, made memberships optional at first, and emphasized the benefits without pressure.
Seasonal Perks
Andrea adds a little extra perk to her memberships to keep them engaged and feel like they are getting value.
Although this was a big switch, she didn’t reinvent the wheel or create a program that would be too unfamiliar for her long-time clients. Instead, she kept things simple and familiar to facilitate the change.
The Benefits: What She’s Seeing So Far
Each week, she knows what’s coming in and how many dogs are expected.
Parents who used to come “here and there” are showing up regularly—because they’ve committed
There’s no more reminding people to re-purchase packages. Goose handles the billing. Customers stay enrolled until they cancel.
With memberships in place, Andrea can now layer in seasonal perks (like sensory walks or nail trims) without overcomplicating the offer.
Thinking About Making the Switch?
Here’s my take: if you’re already using packages, you’ve got a natural jumping-off point. You don’t need to build a huge loyalty program or reinvent your pricing. Just take what you’re already offering and make it automatic.
That shift—from sporadic to steady—is where the magic happens.
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