How to Start Your Own Home Based Pet Sitting Business

Steps for Starting Your Home-Based Pet Sitting Business

 

Step 1: Plan Your Business

The first step is important because this is where you’ll come up with your plan and put it all together.

Decide What Types of Pets You Will Care For

When you start your pet sitting business, the first thing to decide is what type of pets you’ll take care of. Do you want to care for dogs or cats? Or, do you want to care for both? If you decide on both, make sure you have separate spaces in case they don’t get along.

It’s also a good idea is to start pet sitting from your home instead of your clients’ homes. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and allows you to keep your start-up costs low. 

Decide What Types of Services Will You Offer

Clarify what types of specific services you want to offer and where. If you pet sit in your clients’ homes, will you just offer walks and feedings?

Or, if you pet sit in your home, will you offer walks, feedings, interactive playtime, and overnight stays?

Decide What Types of Services Will You Offer

Clarify what types of specific services you want to offer and where. If you pet sit in your clients’ homes, will you just offer walks and feedings?

Or, if you pet sit in your home, will you offer walks, feedings, interactive playtime, and overnight stays?

Research and Decide on Your Rates

When starting a pet sitting business, you must know what to charge. If you charge too much, clients will go elsewhere. If you undercut the value of your service, clients will not return. 

First, review the rates of local dog walking companies and pet sitting services. Next, determine if your area is higher or lower than average. If it is significantly lower than average, raise your price to be closer to the average. You can do this research by going to Rover.com.

Decide on a Name for Your Business

Choosing the right name for your business is extremely important and can be challenging to decide. The name of your business name will play a significant role in your success and growth. 

For more information about naming your pet sitting business, you can go here. There, you can also find a free business name generator that will help you come up with the perfect name.

Step 2: Form Your Business

In this step, you’ll start opening your business and covering all of the legal requirements.

Decide on Your Desired Type of Business Entity 

The majority of pet sitters operate as sole proprietorships or limited liability companies. A sole proprietorship is a business owned by one person who is liable for all business debts. 

An LLC offers the owner protection because personal and business assets are separate. The owner of an LLC is not personally liable for the debts of the company. Depending on your state, you should be able to contact your state’s Secretary of State for more information on forming an LLC.

Get Your Business License

Depending on your location, some pet sitters are required to have a business license before accepting clients. Make sure to find out what is required in your area by contacting your local city hall.  

Get Insurance

Pet sitters must be insured to protect themselves from potential legal action in the event a pet gets hurt or does damage while under your supervision. A policy will cover this for a few hundred dollars and could save you thousands of dollars down the road. You can contact your local insurance agent for more information.

Register for Taxes

You will need to register for taxes before you can open your business. You will need an EIN (employer identification number), which is easy and free to get. You can go here to register for an EIN number.

Open a Business Bank Account

Your home, car, and other valuables are at risk if you mix your personal and business finances. To protect yourself, open a business bank account and credit card account and use those only for business purposes.

Doing this allows you to separate your personal money from your business finances.

Create a Contract

Pet sitters must have a services agreement in place that outlines their services, pricing, payment options, cancellation policies, damages, visits per day, and any veterinary issues. 

Before you start working with new clients, have a contract ready. A good contract isn’t just something you slap together. You can create your own or hire an attorney to help you. You can also check at a local office supply store because they typically carry generic contracts.

Create a Business Website

Creating a website used to be out of reach for small business owners, but it’s simpler to do these days than ever before. You can get a site up and running in minutes, and you don’t need any coding or design experience to create a website. 

You can go here to sign up for hosting and a website through WordPress. You can have a website for as little as $2.95 per month.

Decide on Accepted Payment Methods

So, now you need to decide on what payment methods you’ll accept from your customer.

You can accept credit and debit cards, and you can also accept PayPal and Venmo. All of these payment processing methods can be used through your website.

And don’t forget, when setting these up, make sure you link them to your business bank account and not your personal bank account. Also, if you decide to accept PayPal and Venmo, you’ll need to apply for those accounts under your business name.

Step 3: Promote Your Business 

Here is where you’ll start promoting your business and getting your clients.

Get Business Cards Made

Business cards are super inexpensive to have made. Any office supply store will make business cards or go to an online supplier like Vistaprint. You’ll need to carry them with you to give out.

Start Promoting Locally

In the beginning, local businesses and households are your best bet for advertising. A great place to start is making fliers containing your contact information and a description of your services and placing them on cars and in mailboxes. Also, leave your business cards at pet bakeries, groomers, and vet offices. 

Open Business Social Media Accounts

The internet is one of the best ways to get new customers. This is why creating and maintaining a business website is essential. Also, you’ll need to create business social media accounts attached to your website. This way, you can share your website through social media platforms.

Retain Customers

Once you have garnered a customer, good customer service is a must. This way, you can build a reputation in the community and further develop your business.

Ready to Start Your Pet Sitting Business?

This business is great for animal lovers who enjoy spending time with pets. It’s ideal for people who prefer to work alone and be their own bosses. And overall, this is a low-cost business with lots of potential.