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Do you want to make a living caring for dogs, cats, and other animal friends?
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Starting your own pet sitting business is one of the most rewarding business ideas for animal lovers. It is relatively inexpensive to get started and you will just need to make sure to get all the necessary business permits and licenses for your area as well as some basic equipment. Plan your business and market your services to get your first clients. Soon you’ll be well on your way to owning a successful pet sitting business!
Things You Should Know
- Obtain any necessary permits for running a pet sitting business and get business liability insurance for your new venture.
- Market your new business with a website and social media channels. To spread the word even more, distribute business cards and flyers.
- Meet with potential clients and their pets ahead of time to make sure that you're a good fit.
- Keep your business in top shape by staying organized and planning ahead. If your business grows enough, hire new employees to help manage the workload.
Steps
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Decide what types of pets you will sit and where to provide the services. The majority of pet sitting businesses focus on dogs and cats, and this is where the majority of your revenue will come from. Decide if you will pet sit out of your home, at the homes of your clients, or both. [1] X Research source- Keep in mind that as a pet sitter you will have irregular hours that include nights and weekends.
- Consider if you will offer to stay at the homes of clients, or just visit at scheduled hours to take care of their pets. Your clients may also want other basic services, such as bringing in the mail and watering plants at their homes while they are out of town.
- You must really love and care about animals if you want to be a successful pet sitter. It is not a business to start just for the money. You will be responsible for taking care of animals that some people consider as their children, so treat the responsibility with care!
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Check licensing requirements in your area and get any necessary permits. Contact your local business licensing offices and inquire about necessary business licenses and permits for a pet sitting business in your area. Complete all the required paperwork and pay the fees to make your business legal.- You can do a quick online search to find local business licensing offices and their contact info. Start by searching for your local Chamber of Commerce; they usually take care of many business licensing needs.
- If you want to offer boarding services for pets at your home, the amount of paperwork you need to complete will be higher.
- You can enlist the help of a business attorney to assist you with all the legal parts of creating a business.
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Buy the correct type of business liability insurance. You’ll definitely want to have liability insurance for yourself, and insurance in case anything happens to animals while they are in your care. Look for an insurance that covers animals’ medical costs if an accident happens, or repair costs if a clients’ home gets damaged in some way due to an incident. [2] X Research source- Search online or in a phonebook to find an insurance company that offers liability and bonding insurance for pet sitters in your area. [3] X Research source
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Decide what payment methods you will accept and create a payment structure. You will need to choose if you will charge by the hour, by day, or by job. [4] X Research source- Prices will vary based on the type of animal, the number of pets you sit, and the amount of time you have to spend with them. Also factor in the amount of time you will spend commuting to your clients’ homes.
- Check out the pricing structures of other pet sitting businesses in your area to get an idea of normal rates and pricing structures.
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Get all the necessary equipment to get started. You will need a reliable car or another form of transportation if you plan on visiting the homes of clients. Buy things like extra leashes, toys, emergency medical supplies, extra food, and treats if you will be boarding animals at your home. [5] X Research source- Clients will usually provide you with everything you need, along with instructions, to care for their pets. However, it is a good idea to have backup supplies just in case the leash breaks, or the food runs out.
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Name your business. Choose something unique that describes your business. Pick a name that will be easily memorable, but avoid cliche names like “Pampered Pets” because there are already tons of pet-related businesses with names like that. You also want a unique name that will stand out from other businesses online when people search for your company.- Do a quick Internet search once you choose a name to make sure it is not already taken for another business, and see if you will be able to use it for a website URL and social media handles.
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Create a basic website that lists your services, rates, and contact info. There are lots of free or inexpensive website building and hosting sites that offer simple site templates. Choose a template, add all the info about your business, and customize it with some images to get started. [6] X Research source- It’s important to have a professional-looking website for a pet sitting business so that potential clients trust that it is a legitimate and reliable business.
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Create a presence on the most popular social media channels. Create pages for your pet sitting business and try to keep the handles and URLs the same so that your Internet presence is consistent and easy to find. Use these pages to share photos and information about your services. [7] X Research source- You can also use social media to look for potential clients by following pet-related pages or groups and interacting with other followers and members.
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Make business cards and flyers. Business cards and flyers are a must to advertise your business offline. Design some flyers that advertise your services and rates and some business cards with your contact info to keep with you at all times. [8] X Research source- Make sure to use high-quality paper and printing services when you print out your flyers and business cards to make your business look credible.
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Network with vets, pet groomers, and pet shops in your area. Ask around at other pet-related businesses to see if they will let you leave flyers and cards to advertise your services. Try to make friends with business owners so that they will help you spread the word about your pet sitting business. [9] X Research source- You can also try advertising in local newspapers or publications, as well as online classifieds.
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Create client contracts that state services, prices, and other agreements. Find a sample client contract online or create your own before you actually get any clients. Both you and your clients will sign the contract before starting your pet sitting services. [10] X Research source- Client contracts are important so that both parties know what to expect. The contract is what you will both refer to in the event of any disagreement.
- You can enlist the help of an attorney who specializes in business contracts if you are not comfortable creating the contract on your own.
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Hold interviews with potential clients and their pets. It’s important to meet both the owners and their pets before you agree to a job to make sure that it is a good fit. You will be caring for someone’s dearly loved animals, so they need to feel comfortable and have confidence in you as well. Make a list of relevant questions that will help you care for their pet to ask during the meet-and-greet.- Ask the pet owner what their pet's typical schedule is so you know when they're used to getting fed, walked, and so on. Follow that schedule to create consistency and reduce anxiety for the pet.
- Also, find out which veterinarian the pet sees and if they're taking any medications or have any medical conditions, allergies, or special needs.
- Inquire about the owner's preferences in terms of things like giving treats and going to dog parks or other places. Find out what they and their pet prefer and are comfortable with.
- Keep a list of past and potential clients and stay in touch with them. You could consider sending out a monthly newsletter, or something as simple as a birthday card for their pet to help you build loyal clients. [11] X Research source
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Stay organized and keep up with all the administrative work. This is the least exciting part of running your new pet sitting business, but it’s important to stay on top of scheduling and bookkeeping. As you grow your business, you will need to dedicate more time to this. [12] X Research source- Consider setting up a home office dedicated to your business. Keep an organized filing system and all of your paperwork where you will be able to easily keep track of it.
- Create a detailed schedule to plan out all your pet sitting. Don’t forget to set aside time for the administrative staff. You can use a paper planner, calendar software, or apps. Use whatever suits your personal style best and helps you stay most organized.
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Be reliable and prepared with backup plans. Make sure you always show up for your scheduled pet sitting duties on time, and that you have a stand-in person available if you cannot make it for some reason. Always check with clients before you make any changes to scheduled services. [13] X Research source- Word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow your pet sitting business. When clients trust you and are happy with your services, they are much more likely to recommend you to friends or family.
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Hire employees when your schedule is too full to take on more clients. Keep growing your business once you have a full schedule of pet sitting gigs. Find other animal lovers who can work at least part-time and contract out pet sitting jobs to them. [14] X Research source- Make sure to hold thorough interviews with potential employees to verify that they have sufficient experience caring for animals and will be reliable employees. Anyone you hire is another face representing your business. It’s important that they can all perform the job duties and meet the high standards of service that got your business this far!
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat information do I need to include on a pet sitting ad?Community AnswerList your experience with animals, specific services you are offering, your name and phone number, and the city/neighborhoods where you are willing to work.
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QuestionDo I need a license to set up a pet sitting business?Community AnswerYou only need a license if you intend on making it an official, public, large-scale business. If you just want to start a small pet sitting service in your neighborhood, you don't need a license.
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QuestionDo I need liability insurance for a pet sitting business?Community AnswerYes, it is very important to have liability insurance. There are many different companies you can choose from for your pet sitting insurance so you can compare them and see which one is right for you.
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Tips
- Make sure you have all of the appropriate paperwork, licenses, and permits required in your area.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- To impress the pet owner (and the pet!) provide a special chew toy or treat—just make sure to ask the owner if they're okay with you giving their pet a treat first, and make sure it doesn't contain anything the animal is allergic to or doesn't tolerate well.
- Ask if the animal has special needs, allergies, or if there is anything else you should know before you take care of them.
- See what other pet sitters in the area are charging, and then make your price slightly lower to edge out the competition.
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References
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://smartycents.com/articles/pet-sitting-services/
- ↑ https://www.petsit.com/pet-sitter-insurance
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://theworkathomewife.com/start-pet-sitting-business/
- ↑ https://theworkathomewife.com/start-pet-sitting-business/
- ↑ https://theworkathomewife.com/start-pet-sitting-business/
- ↑ https://theworkathomewife.com/start-pet-sitting-business/
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/how-to-start-a-pet-sitting-business.html
- ↑ https://www.dog-care-knowledge.com/pet-sitter-business.html
- ↑ https://www.dog-care-knowledge.com/pet-sitter-business.html
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To start a pet sitting business, start by researching your local licensing requirements since you may need a license or permit to watch other people's pets. You'll also need to get liability and bonding insurance in case anything happens to you or an animal while you're on the job. Then, you can start marketing your new business online through social media or your own website. You'll also want to establish your rates and decide whether you want to stay overnight at clients' homes or just check in during scheduled hours. For tips on how to attract pet-sitting clients, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I am a 13-year-old girl preparing to start a pet sitting and dog walking service in my town. This helped me heaps, considering I didn't know where to start and I didn't even know you needed insurance! This article is really helpful and to all teen girls out there: If you have a passion, follow your dream!" ..." more
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"I am a 13-year-old girl preparing to start a pet sitting and dog walking service in my town. This helped me heaps, considering I didn't know where to start and I didn't even know you needed insurance! This article is really helpful and to all teen girls out there: If you have a passion, follow your dream!"
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"This was a great article,I was able to take useful notes and everything! My favorite part is how helpful even the question section was. The author genuinely took time pulling out useful resources for the readers and gave real solutions to every question. Thank you so much for taking your time out to help people like me! "
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"This is not a success story, but I am about to go into the pet day spa business, I love pets, especially dogs and cats. I've worked for a veterinarian for 10 years, so I have experience with different situations with pets, wish me luck! Thank you."
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"My 3rd grade daughter has to do an inquiry project about starting a business. She and her "business partner" decided on a pet service business, and this article with illustrations is the perfect document to help them with their research."
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"The paperwork/forms and the license caught me. I may do the first one, although license isn't required. This helped a bit. I'm starting a pet sitting business in my neighborhood. I already have 1 client!"
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