Start a Pet Sitting Business
If you have experience working with animals, or are just
an animal lover, then starting a work at home pet sitting business may
be right for you. Pet sitters offer an important role to pet owners and
help keep the one hundred and forty-five million pets in this country
healthy and happy. As a pet sitter, you'll offer a valuable service
to busy pet owners who are on vacation or who need someone to take care
of their pets during the day.
Getting started as a pet sitter is very simple. To begin
with, you'll need to decide if this really is a business that you
want to pursue. First off, ask yourself if you really love animals? If
you are considering pet sitting just because you think it will be an
easy job, then it is not right for you. You must enjoy spending time
with animals and have at least a little experience in being around them.
While most pet sitting jobs involve dogs and cats, you may occasionally
be asked to care for rabbits, birds or reptiles. Make sure you are
comfortable with these pets before accepting assignments involving them.
Start your business by becoming legal. Obtaining a
business license doesn't cost much and will give you a professional edge
when getting new clients. You'll also be able to take advantage of
many tax write-offs, including your costs for mileage to and from your
customer's homes and any necessary business supplies.
Speaking of business supplies, all you"ll really
need are business cards and an appointment book to keep track of your
assignments. Unlike other work at home businesses, the start up
necessities for pet sitting are relatively low.
Next, you'll need to decide on what services you
offer and how much you are going to charge. Play detective and find out
the going rate for pet sitting services in your area. Try to stay in the
same range. Offering lower prices may seem like a way to beat the
competition, but it also makes your services appear less valuable to
potential clients. You can print your rates on the back of your business
cards, or make up a small flyer with prices listed on it.
Getting clients for your pet sitting business may be the
most difficult part of running the business. However, with a little
effort you can build a client list rather quickly. The best way to get
clients and assignments is by word of mouth. Offer to pet sit for
neighbors and friends to help build your reputation. Once you've done a
good job for them, they"ll tell their friends and so on.
You can also use a few free and low cost advertising
methods to get the word out about your business. You can distribute your
cards at local pet shops, or post a flyer on their bulletin boards. Ask
your vet if they would put some of your business cards on their
reception desk, or recommend you to other pet owners. A small ad in your
local paper can really help get the ball rolling for your business.
Once you have clients calling you for pet sitting
appointments, make sure to keep them by treating them with great
customer service. Always arrive on time and prepared to watch their
pets. Respect their home and their property. If they enjoy your service,
they'll be more likely to call you in the future. Read
this article also: Start
a Pet Sitting Service
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