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Start A Pet Business
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Would You Like To Make $250 A Day Pet Sitting??? Click here! |
START-UP COSTS
Start-up costs for pet-sitting business are small. Expenses can
be divided into three categories: marketing, insurance, and
transportation. Initial outlay can be as little as $200 or as
much as $300 if you choose to pay for a visit to an accountant.
That isn't a bad idea. An accountant can explain tax laws and
policies governing this type of business. In some states, for
example, he or she will tell you not to charge sales tax because
you perform a service that is not taxable.
Although most clients will come your way by word of mouth,
invest in a few marketing tools. people need to know you've
started a pet business! Business cards are essential.
Costing anywhere from $25 to $50, business cards can be placed
anywhere pets are found - pet shops and vet clinics. Because
most vet clients have kennel facilities, some may not allow you
to place your card with them. Establish a relationship with a
vet in your area, though, and he or she will begin to recommend
you when the kennel facility is full. Design a flyer and place
copies on community bulletin boards, church bulletin boards, at
the grocery store, and any other place you can think of.
"Welcome-to-the-community" associations may be willing to give
your card to new residents, too. Keep trying to get your
business known. People will be delighted with this service when
they hear that you are a top quality pet-sitter. If you can
afford it, buy an answering machine. Once your business is
booming, you'll need one to take all your business calls.
Clients will ask if you are bonded. This means that an insurance
company finds you trustworthy and is willing to put this in
writing. An insurance policy protects the homes you enter. If
something is broken while you are there, your policy will cover
it. Being bonded, however does not protect against damage to
pets while in your care. With this type of policy, your premium
increases as your business increases. Initially your coverage
cost $100 per year. As you client list increases, you can pay as
much as $500 per year. Being bonded, however, is worth the
expense. Clients are more likely to use your service if they
know you're backed by an insurance company.
Keep a log of miles traveled in your car for your pet business.
Also keep
track of gas and auto expenses. These are all tax deductible.
OPERATIONS
What are the mechanics involved with pet-sitting? When a client
calls, arrange a meeting before his departure. This gives you an
opportunity to see the pet, familiarize yourself with the
routine, and get a key. The client also gets to check you out
and give instructions. Appear professional. Have a printed
instruction sheet ready for the client to complete. Include
space for emergency phone numbers and vet information. Also
include a section on pet preferences. A pet whose routine has no
disruptions is a much happier one when his master returns. The
master will be satisfied and you'll reap the benefits by gaining
a repeat client.
"Suggest that clients limit changes to a pet's routine,"
McDonald advises. The pet will be happier and easier to care
for. Provide references to all clients who ask. When you're just
starting out, ask a neighbor whose cat you've fed once or twice
if she'll be a reference. Most clients won't call references,
but will be wary if you've got no one to vouch for you. An
important note here: ask clients to be specific about when
they'll be returning. Have them call you when they do get home.
Avoid the disaster of one pet-sitter whose client was three days
delayed and whose cat went unfed for that time. When you return
your client's key, you pick up your payment.
WHAT TO CHARGE
Determining a fee is a personal matter. McDonald consulted other
pet-sitters in the area to determine an appropriate charge. Fees
range anywhere from $5 to $10 per visit. Some pet-sitters charge
more for initial visit and less for subsequent visits. The fee
will also depend on the number of pets involved and the amount
of trouble they will be. Obviously the household with three
cats, a turtle, two birds, and a hamster should be charged more
than the one with a single dog. Decide in advance what your
limits are, too. If you don't care to feed, water, and brush a
horse each day be prepared to say no. Once your pet business takes
off, one turned down request won't affect you.
A wide variety of people will use a pet-sitting service.
Certainly vacationers will be a number-one market. Therefore,
holiday times will be extremely busy. Some people own pets but
have little time to spend with them - couples who both work full
time, and singles who travel.
A few words of advice and notes of caution:
Be prepared for a mess. Bored animals are messy little things.
They knock over plants, break vases, and chew furniture.
Although yours is not a house-cleaning service, your clients
will appreciate your efforts to tidy things up.
Follow your client's instructions to the letter. Even if no one
but you knows Fido ate exactly at 6 P.M., do what is asked.
Owners can detect when a pet's routine has gone awry.
Pregnant women should be aware of a condition known as
toxoplasmosis. Caused by a parasitic organism found in cat
feces, toxoplasmosis can cause severe damage to a fetus.
Pregnant women should use extreme caution when disposing
of cat
feces or else wait until after the baby is born to start a
pet business.
Expect a few complainers. Most clients will love you. Some,
however will be annoyed that Fifi's nails grew too long while
she was in your care, or that Bucky seems listless since their
return.
Start a pet business is easy . The only
requirement is a real
love for animals. You will find that
people are quite interested
in your service and are more than
willing to pay for it.
McDonald sums it up this way: "this is a
very time
consuming business. But I really enjoy it and I've
learned from it. You're certainly compensated and it is very
satisfying." To read more about various pet
businesses that
are easy to start go to: How
to Start a Pet Care Business