How To Start A Pet Sitting Business

Do you love animals and enjoy spending time with them? Start a pet sitting business and you can work with animals, be your own boss, and make money! There’s very little overhead and it’s easy to get started.

But before you start, you have to make decisions on the following:

1. What services are you going to provide?Some services are simple feedings and walkings while others may involve giving medications and light brushing.

2. How much are you going to charge?
Check out a few pet sitting services in your area so you can get an idea of what rates will be competitive. The price that you charge will have to cover your transportation costs to and from visits.

3. What areas are you going to cover?
These are the places you will target for business. You may choose those within a certain distance from your home or wherever you’ll be working from.

4. Which animals would you like to work with?
You can limit yourself to just cats or just dogs, but you’ll make more money if you service both. Consider whether or not you’re comfortable working with all breeds and whether you’ll work with birds, rabbits, reptiles and other animals.

Now that you have made your decision, how do you get started?

1. Get a business license. It will give you a professional edge and makes you more trustworthy to your clients. You’ll also be able to take advantage of many tax write-offs.

2. Become bonded and insured. This is very important for you and your clients’ protection. Insurance will cover you against any damage caused to a client’s home, injury to their pets, and loss of client keys. Bonding will cover you against theft of articles from a client’s home by anyone working with your business.

3. Print business cards. Choose a cheery layout with an animal picture on it, and include your company name, email address, phone number and state that you are bonded and insured. Put your rates at the back.

4. Create flyers with your prices listed on them.

5. Get an appointment book to keep track of your assignments.

Ready to get clients? Begin to advertise and market your business.

1. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Build a good reputation by pet sitting for neighbors and friends.

2. Visit local veterinary offices and pet stores and ask if you can leave a batch of business cards and flyers with them.
3. Post flyers at bulletin boards in supermarkets or other high-traffic places you feel pet owners would visit.
4. Place a small ad in your local paper for a fairly reasonable price. You can also post ads in free community papers/ magazines.

5. Create a website to help promote your business online. Give detailed information about you, your policies, procedures and pricing.

6. Distribute business cards at the local dog park. Network with people while socializing with their pets.

Once you have clients, provide excellent quality service to keep them. Make sure you are punctual and are always giving them and their pets the very best service. Provide their pets with lots of tender loving care. Remember, customer service is everything.