The Pet Sitting business is
booming internationally. In the United States
alone there are upwards of 63.2 million
individuals who own a pet, or two. Reports tell
us that in America there are roughly 64 million
dogs and 76 million cats in households. These
numbers support why the Pet Sitting Business is
on an upward swing. It is fast becoming one of
the best small business ventures that an
individual can undertake. The Pet Sitting
business has been ear marked by the U.S. Bureau
of Labor as a small business industry that will
thrive with the coming years, with Pet Sitting
services located throughout the states.
Pet owners world wide are breathing a sigh of
relief that they have this option for their pet
when they travel. In the past when an individual
would travel for business, or a family would
vacation, they would rely on grandparents or
relatives to see to the needs of their pets.
This is no longer an option for many people.
Family’s don’t always remain in the same
community. Statistics show that it is common for
parents and siblings to live hundreds of miles
apart. Once the family option for pet sitting
evaporated, people turned to their neighbors.
This was soon found to be a bad option for both
the neighbor and pet owner. Neighbors felt
used, and the traveller felt as if they were
putting the neighbor out by asking the favor.
Some individuals tried to travel with their
pets. They assumed that it would be best for
their pet to not be separated from them. These
good intentioned pet owners soon realized the
folly of their ideals when they discovered that
drinking water in some areas weren’t up to par,
leash laws were different in each area, and the
chances of finding a lost pet in a strange area
were minimal. Extended car travel is not good
for a pet, either. Animals can quickly become
dehydrated and agitated when left in a locked
car while the family is inside a restaurant, or
mall. The chances that a pet could possibly get
hit by an automobile rise every time a pet is
taken into a public area, such as parking lots
or the city. Pets do not like being kept in a
crate in a hotel. They do not like being
muzzled for barking or for snipping at
strangers. Pets just generally do not like being
away from home.
Air travel is not pleasant for a pet, either.
The cargo holds on airplanes have erratic
temperatures. There is no heat, and there is no
air conditioning. The sounds in these cargo
areas also frighten animals and make them
skittish and nervous. Some pets even require
medication prior to flight. Taking your pet on
a plane should only be considered under extreme
circumstances.
Pet owners soon realized that while they were
comforted by the presence of their pet on a
trip, the pet was out of its comfort zone and
did not behave like its usual self. The route of
kenneling a pet was soon taken and though it
saved the day in a tight pinch, pet owners
tended to know from the start that this was not
a good option for their pet. Their pets were
kept in small quarters. They were only allowed
out a couple of times a day for a few minutes to
do their business. Being crowded in an area with
other barking and whining animals would leave a
pet out of sorts for days after their owner came
home.
Options were limited for a traveling pet owner.
Some people gave up and simply refused to have
an animal if they were going to have to be away
all the time. That was until the Pet Sitting
business made its arrival into the small
business industry.
True animal lovers were the first to recognize
the need for the Petting Sitting business. They
were the ones who took it the hardest when they
were forced to see what their pets went through
when they were forced to travel with their
owners, or how they behaved after being picked
up from a kennel after a week or more away from
home. Truthfully, these individuals could not
enjoy their trips for worry. These were
individuals who hung a stocking for their pet at
Christmas, and made them a birthday cake on the
pets special day each year. These people saw
the need and they stepped out on a limb. They
started a Pet Sitting service. Word spread like
wildfire and pet owners world wide started
seeking these services in their own area.
The rapid growth and success of a Pet Sitting
business come when the business owner realizes
that it is a business. A love for animals is
the foundation, but smart business sense is what
will keep you operating. There is only a
minimal amount of cost in starting up a Pet
Sitting service. That is a major plus for anyone
thinking seriously about going into this animal
care business. A budget should be laid out to
meet the costs of the outgoing business. Do not
ever under estimate these expenses. It is
better to over estimate than to cut yourself
short. Set goals for six months, one year,
three years and five years. Try to stick to
your plan to achieve these goals.
You should research other Pet Sitting services
in your area. Find out what their strengths and
their weaknesses may be. Learn what the going
rate for Pet Sitting is in your area. Be
competitive in your rates. Just because you may
be doing what you love is no reason to do it for
pennies. On the other hand, no one is going to
pay your Pet Sitting business a small fortune,
either.
You have to be a people person. The reason you
get into the Pet Sitting business may stem from
being an animal lover, but if you are not warm
and friendly with people you can forget about
your Pet Sitting business getting off the
ground. Pet owners are particular about whom
they let care for their pets. If they sense
that you are uncomfortable around them, they
will be wary of you. Try to develop your people
skills if you lack self-confidence in that
area. You don’t want your shyness to keep you
from doing what you love. You don’t want to come
off as a phoney, but maintaining eye contact and
being able to carry a conversation with the pet
owner without looking at your shoes will go a
long way.
You should go out to the home and get acquainted
with each pet and design a list of duties that
the client is wanting you to perform while they
are gone. The pet owner will familiarize you as
to the habits, character and personality of each
pet. You should know what they like to play
with and what special nicknames they have. You
should also ask the pet owner for clues about
their pet, or signs you should watch for in case
of illness. Some dogs may lay around and sleep
all day. Others may not settle for a moment.
You should know what to expect from each pet in
the home. If they are not doing their usual
activities that should throw up a red flag to
you. You should make sure that the client gives
you all the information on the pets in the
home. You will need history of illnesses,
vaccination records, veterinary information, as
well as a place to contact the pet owner if
needed. It is important that you are given a key
by the client and that you are not expected to
retrieve it from a hiding place. A possible
thief could be watching the home and may see you
getting it and replacing it. That is a disaster
waiting to happen.
Besides walking the dog, feeding the bird,
tending to the cat, and playing with the pets, a
client sometimes will want a Pet Sitting service
to do other things. The Pet Sitting business can
offer many services for the traveler, besides
pet care. The first one being home security. You
can pick up the mail, newspaper, water the
potted plants, and do a thorough walk through of
the home to make sure that everything is as it
should be for your client. Simply opening the
curtains on one visit and closing them on the
next will give the home a lived in look. These
services are in addition to pet sitting. The
possibilities are endless as to what a Pet
Sitting service can offer the client.
The Pet Sitting business is booming. Everyone is
happy. The small business owner gets to do what
he loves for a living . . . being around
animals. The traveler can enjoy their trip
knowing that all is well on the home front. The
pets get to stay in their own home, around their
own things, eating their own food, and they get
to go out and play like they usually would on
their regular routine.
What About Start-Up Costs &
Time?
COST TO START
AN INDEPENDENT HOME BASED PET CARE BUSINESS: 0-$100
COST TO START A
COMMERCIAL PET SITTING BUSINESS: $200-1000/MONTH
respectively.
General Risk Factors:
What business is right for you?
Time, Cost & Risk
Factors really don't even exist, because you will be able to follow a
step-by-step, proven, industry start-up formula that has been used by
successful Pet Sitting business owners for decades.
The primary
concern that most Pet Sitting business owners have is COST. Well, as
described in our startup guide kit, you must assess your current situation &
decide if you want to open a COMMERCIAL "MULTI-EMPLOYEE" facility or
INDEPENDENT OPERATION.
INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS:
For those who are just
entering into the pet care industry, we highly recommend that our customers
start out with an independent operation which will cost you NOTHING, and
after a few months, you will know for sure if you want to expand your
operations.
Using the resources & startup
formula in our eBook, you will not incur no expenses, except for some pet
cleaning supplies & food. The only responsibility you'll have is to
walk the pet "if applicable" & feed it. That's it!
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS:
Starting a
Commercial Multi-Employee based Pet Sitting business can be very profitable,
however, you will most likely need to rent/lease commercial space to conduct
business. With a few peoples and a full client list, your company
could generate several hundred thousand dollars a year simply caring for
pets.
The
"International Economic Reform Program" makes it possible for any one,
regardless of what country they're from or what language they speak obtain
financing for their business.
Time:
Whether you are
starting a home based Pet Sitting business or setting up a commercial
operation that offer pet care services, you choose when you work and base
your clients around your schedule.
Within our eBook,
we show how to set up your business to maximize your profits, and minimize
your time at the job so you can spend more time with your family, and doing
the things you like.
If you
follow our industry-proven formula to start your own Pet Sitting Business
from A-Z, we guarantee that you will be earning a substantial income within
a 4-8 week time frame or you money back!
Check out our guarantee!
Funding Your COMMERCIAL
Operation "if applicable":
The biggest
concern above all is financing your endeavor. Did you know that nearly
every country's government, especially in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, and states throughout Europe have programs in place to assist new
businesses launch their operations, regardless of industry. That's right!
The government's goal is to improve the economy by adding new jobs, and one
great way to do that is to support LEGITIMATE small business endeavors.
Within our
featured guidebook, we provide you with all government contacts covering
nearly every country in the world where you can apply for Pet Sitting
Industry Business Startup Assistance & Financing. Grants in general do not
have to be paid back if the business fails. However, if the business is a
success, you will have to pay it back or negotiate a lesser amount of the
original funding.
