How to Make Money at Home Pet Sitting
Caring for beloved pets is often challenging when people travel or need to be away from home. Finding the right caretaker takes time and effort. Developing a home-based pet sitting business allows you to provide loving care for a variety of pets while profiting from this growing industry.
- Obtain a business license and inspection of your home in order to see if your at-home pet sitting business supports local zoning laws. Some residential areas allow for e-commerce businesses, but ban customer traffic in the home. Check with your county clerk of courts to be sure.
- Designate an area for the pets. Decide what the capacity of the space holds and keep to it. Determine how many pets you will be able to care for at one time. Purchase a variety of toys at wholesale to entertain your dogs.
- Determine your rate after conducting a competitive analysis of similar businesses. Offer additional value by providing free toys with the first booking. Book a follow up appointment at the end of the first visit. Consider a daily, weekly or monthly arrangement for future help in order to develop a consistent business level.
- Create a marketing plan. Develop a press release for your business in your local paper and create a partnership with veterinarians and pet shop owners. Offer to promote their businesses if they promote yours. Pass out flyers at parks with people with dogs in order to create awareness for your in home pet sitting business.
- Contact the property managers of many developments and offer free informational seminars relating to pet education and safety to the homeowners. The seminar not only provides additional leads via a signup sheet, but establishes your credibility as an expert in the industry. Leave promotional items with your petting sitting business name and number along with educational pamphlets for your audience to take with them.
- Align yourself with the National Association of Pet Sitters. Professional organizations like this provide additional credibility to your business and offer you additional educational opportunities that help you build your home pet sitting business. Consider obtaining liability insurance through them at a discounted rate.
- Develop a database of existing customers in order to contact them with future mailers. Ask each existing customer for referrals and contact these people in order to expand your pet sitting business. Offer the initial customer a reduced rate for additional referrals.