If you love dogs or other animals (and who doesn't?), chances are you've wanted to monetize your passion at some point. After all, why not earn some money while walking Lulu in the sun or cuddling with Fido? It makes me feel happy,” says Daniel Reitman, founder and CEO of Dan’s Pet Care. “Even if it’s something as simple as putting it on your pet’s head or fetching and playing with it, you know that what you’re doing is making their day better. ”
However, some people may be wondering how to start a pet sitting business. On the surface, it sounds pretty simple. Take care of someone's fur baby while they are away. But once you start working on licensing, business planning, and financing, it can quickly become overwhelming. That's where expert advice comes in handy. Read our advice on how to start a pet sitting business and tips and tricks to ensure your pet sitting business is a success.
Things to do before starting a pet sitter job
Before you rush out and start designing business cards and T-shirts, it's worth taking some time to decide what kind of pet sitter you want to be and learn what it takes to run a small business. In addition to resources you can find through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), here are some suggestions from experienced pet sitters.
Understand what your motivations and goals are
How you start a pet sitting business largely depends on what you want to achieve. Are you dreaming of an independent business with multiple employees, or do you just want to make some extra money and do some pet sitting from time to time? For Darissa Taveras, a dog walker in Paterson, New Jersey , she says this is a way to get the dog fixed and the money is just a bonus.
At the other end of the spectrum, Reitman runs a pet-sitting business with more than 70 employees and 3,500 customers, as well as a facility with both indoor and outdoor spaces for dogs to play.
Before you do anything, Reitman advises considering what you want your business to be. He suggests asking yourself the following questions to help develop your plan of action:
- Are you the type of person who likes to manage people?
- Want to start a team?
- Want to run this solo?
- Is this something you do as a side hustle or do you want to turn this into a career? ”
Dig deeper into your customers and competitors
To avoid entering the market unprepared, research your local market to thoroughly understand who your ideal customer is and what your “edge” will be. Please dig into it. Chances are, pet sitters in your area primarily offer services for dogs. If you're a cat lover, tailoring your business to cater exclusively to feline fur babies can give you an advantage over your competitors in the area because you can focus on providing the best care for cats. Smaller demographics.
This spirit applies to Reitman. “We don't like the idea of competing on price or superior service, but rather on the quality of what is delivered to dogs and pet parents,” he says. “Our goal is to raise the bar so that all other companies do the same, and as a result, improve the quality of service for every pet in our care.” You are expected to do so.”
Create a business plan
When Reitman started his pet-sitting business, he had deep, hands-on experience from working at a veterinary clinic, but “zero experience running a business.” It wasn't until a few years later that he created his first business and marketing plan. [him] Please organize things more. ”
Whether you expect pet sitting to become a side hustle or a full-time job, starting with a business plan will help you nail down the specifics and get your business off the ground. You can clarify who your ideal customer is and what kind of customer they are. What services do you offer and how do you intend to market yourself? The SBA's guide to creating a business plan is a great resource. In addition to providing detailed instructions on what information to include, we also provide multiple business plan examples.
decide on a location
Do you provide pet sitting in your home only, or are you open to spending time with the animals in their home? If you plan to provide additional services such as grooming or training, consider a separate space may need to be found. However, if your immediate plans are primarily focused on pet sitting, you may be able to run your business from home like Ellie Schmidt, owner and founder of Your Fairy Dog Mother and Co. MKE .
One of the benefits of starting a pet sitting business is that startup costs can be low. These days, you can get up and running for just over $1,000.
— Daniel Reitman, Founder and CEO of Dan's Pet Care
Think about financing
In addition to being important for setting goals, a business plan may also be needed if you decide you need funding for your new business. But Reitman says one of the benefits of starting a pet-sitting business is the potential for lower start-up costs, noting that these days he can get up and running for just over $1,000. . This amount covers incorporation, website construction, business cards, and insurance.
Three important steps:
- Consider the location of your business (home, client home, and/or rented space).
- If you plan to primarily drive to your clients, don't forget to factor in transportation costs. Consider where and how you will advertise your services (such as Care.com) and associated fees.
- Then decide if those cumulative costs are something you'll cover yourself or if you need to look for other financing options. In that case, Reitman advises contacting your local chamber of commerce and looking for grants or small business loans from the SBA.
Outline the policy
Think about what time you will set aside for business and how you will handle cancellations, additional requests, and your own sick time. Do you have a contract for your customers to sign? Will you provide backup care?
Schmidt says having a policy in place not only saves you future headaches, but also helps you protect your boundaries, know when to say no, and prevent burnout.
don't forget taxes
Your tax liability will vary slightly depending on where you live, but you still have to pay it. You can get a head start by using resources through the SBA and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine how best to approach your taxes. And if you make a plan to track your finances now, you'll thank yourself when tax season rolls around.
Tools like Time to Pet can help you track both your revenue and can sync with QuickBooks to streamline everything.
Organize your documents
As a pet sitter, you may have licensing requirements depending on your location and type of business. You may be required to obtain liability insurance, a business license, or comply with other state, county, or city regulations. For Schmidt, who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that meant forming the business as an LLC and getting insurance. To check the requirements for your business, visit your local government licensing website or office.
In addition to the above requirements, you may also consider taking a pet CPR class or certification course through an organization such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) to strengthen your skills in the pet sitting field.
Get your technology in order
In modern times, a business without a website is almost unheard of, considering that most people rely on the Internet to find the services they need. And if someone in your area is searching online for a pet sitter, you want your name to appear first. Reitman's tips for building your online presence:
- Decide on a name for your company, make sure your domain name is available, and secure it.
- Make sure the same social media handles are available through websites like NameCheckerr and secure them across all platforms you want to be on (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.).
- Configure Google Workspace to retrieve email for that domain name.
- Consider a monthly plan to distribute pet-centric content through various channels. If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, use resources like YouTube, ChatGPT, and pet sitting Facebook groups.
In addition to a website and social media presence, pet sitting business software like Time to Pet can give you a professional edge over your competitors. Schmidt's clients can use this to request a service and assign it to a specific handler. It also includes invoicing features to help streamline your business.
Create creative ads
This is an area you can really enjoy and it doesn't have to be expensive. Taveras made business cards and shirts with her information, while Reitman started a small business with neon pink flyers, which he posted at train stations, businesses and anywhere he was allowed.
“That evolved into car magnets, employee branded shirts and hoodies, and local newspaper ads,” he explains. As the business gained momentum, they invested in car wrap advertising for their staff as a way to increase visual awareness of their brand within the community, paying them a monthly fee to maintain the wraps.
“Spending time with dogs, cats, and other animals gives me such a pure and happy feeling. Even if it's something as simple as putting it on my pet's head or fetching it to play with, I know what I’m doing is making their day better.”
— Daniel Reitman
How to run a successful pet sitting business
Understanding the logistics of a pet sitting business is just the beginning. There are many factors to building a profitable small business. Advice from our experts:
don't forget you're still at work
When you're surrounded by cute pets, it's easy to forget that what you're doing is actually work. While that's part of its beauty, “it's important to remember that this isn't just about spending all day with people's pets,” Reitman says. Starting a business may also include “customer service, accounting, management, marketing, advertising, training, and all the complications that come with that,” he added.
With customer service in mind, Taveras adds the importance of respecting people's property and time to maintain good relationships with customers.
find a mentor
One of the unique aspects of the pet sitting industry is the availability of mentors and coaches. But before hiring a pet sitter, Reitman advises checking out a variety of pet-sitting resources, including YouTube and the podcasts Confessions of a Pet Sitter and Poodle to Pitbull Pet Business. Armed with this knowledge, if you have any further questions, he invites you to ask mentors and coaches who “run successful businesses and want to emulate” like Doug Keeling (aka Doug the Dog Guy). he says.
Whether you're jumping into business headfirst or building on an existing structure, it can feel lonely and overwhelming if you don't know anyone in your industry. Reitman suggests looking for pet sitting groups on his Facebook, such as Pet Sitters International (PSI), to build community and share resources.
Additionally, Pet Sitters International (PSI) and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) are excellent sources of educational and business resources for aspiring and current pet sitters. Both offer certification courses as well as memberships that offer additional benefits tailored to the pet sitting community, such as discounts on insurance.
Key points on how to start a pet sitting business
Like any job, starting a pet sitting business has its own unique challenges and rewards, but the low barriers to entry and high flexibility make it a great option for those looking for a change of pace.
In addition to the financial benefits, pet sitting can also be a very rewarding career or side hustle for pet lovers. Schmidt points out that this is a line of work that allows people to connect with fearful pets and enjoy the joy of witnessing their changes. While some animals may bond quickly, she says there's a whole other level of joy in forming a bond with a previously fearful or timid pet. Schmidt concludes: “It's unimaginable to see an animal come out of its shell and start enjoying your presence.”
