Steal my Ideas for Making Money by Caring for Others’ Treasures

Are you a genuine animal lover? Do you have experience caring for them? Then, starting a home pet care business could be just right for you. Pet sitters, or care takers, offer a crucial service to pet owners; they also help to keep the nearly one hundred fifty million pets in this country healthy and safe. In your role as a pet sitter, the service you'll be offering to busy pet owners, who may be on vacation, or who are busy working, is invaluable.

If this seems like the type of business you would like to pursue, getting started is very easy. The one main ingredient, and which requires pure honesty on your part, is whether you really love animals; picking this business merely because you think it is an easy way to make extra money, is not appropriate. It is imperative that you enjoy being with animals and that you have some experience with taking care of them. As you will notice, if you decide on becoming a paid pet sitter, most jobs involve cats and dogs; on occasion, you may be asked to care for rabbits, birds, and even reptiles. Be certain you feel comfortable with these types of pets before accepting jobs that involve them..

Begin your foray into the business by becoming legal and obtaining a business license; the cost is minimal and it will help give you a competitive edge when attracting new clients. By doing so, you'll also be entitled to a host of tax write-off, not the least of which is the cost of traveling to and from your customer's home, along with any necessary business supplies.

On the subject of business supplies for this work at home business, you really only need a supply of business cards and a simple appointment book to keep a record of your assignments. In contrast to other work at home businesses, the start up necessities for pet sitting are on the low end, to be sure.

Without a doubt, you next step is to decide on what services you will be offering, and what your prices will be for them. Contact other similar services to ascertain the going rates for pet sitting services in your area; stay within the same range. If you lower your prices significantly in order to attract more notice. your services will appear less valuable overall to potential new clients. A good idea is to print your rates on the back of your business card; you can also create a simple flyer with this information.

The most difficult part of launching this business will be getting clients. But, as with most things, a little dedication and effort can turn things around for you rather quickly. As we all know, word-of-mouth is the best form of promotion; offering to pet sit for neighbors' pets will help build up your reputation. After doing a good job for them, it's only natural for them to recommend you to their friends; you will be on your way after this.

There are also some low cost, and even free, methods to get the word out about your new business. If the owner allows, you can give out your cards at local pet shops, or if they have one, post a flyer on their bulletin board. Ask a Vet's offices whether they would allow you to leave some of your cards on their reception desk; or, whether they would mind recommending you to pet owners. If you can invest a few dollars, a simple ad in your local newspaper can really deliver results.

Once new clients begin contacting you with assignments, make sure you always provide them with superior customer service. Always be punctual, and arrive with a good attitude. Needless to say, make sure you respect their home and property. By doing your best with each customer, you will increase the chances of having them become a regular customer.