Cathy Vaughan

How to Start a Home-Based Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Business

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

With a simple, step-by-step format, How to Start a Home-Based Pet Sitting Business guides aspiring pet sitters from the dreaming stage to the doing stage more clearly and comprehensively than any such book to date.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Globe Pequot
• Seitenzahl: 194
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. Januar 2011
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 191mm x 11mm
• Gewicht: 374g
• ISBN-13: 9780762760831
• ISBN-10: 0762760834
• Artikelnr.: 29920606

Autorenporträt

By Cathy Vaughan

Inhaltsangabe

Chapter 1: So You Want to Start a Pet Sitting Business.
• The pro's of pet sitting
• Flexible time
• Low Stress
• You're the boss - you make the decisions
• Good pay for the hours of work and resources needed - How much do you
want to make?
• How much will it cost to start my pet sitting business? Can I really work
‘when I want to' and ‘be my own boss?' The truth! The con's of pet sitting
• The family's take: Is it a Joy or a Pain? Is it really all worth it?
•
• The con's of pet sitting
• Through wind and sleet and snow....working in all kinds of weather
conditions.
• Working when others are ‘off' - working early mornings, late evenings,
minor holidays and of course, major holidays!
• The cyclical nature of the pet sitting business. Consider the slow months
and busy months.
• Driving...driving...driving! The biggest expense of time and money for
pet sitters.
•
• The personality of the successful pet sitter and other questions you
should ask yourself
• Do you love pets and people? I have yet to have a dog sign the check!
• And you thought it was just playing with dogs...you as a therapist, grief
counselor, pet nutrition expert, accountant, teenage babysitter and more.
• The buck (or ‘bark') stops with you! Handling people pleasing/customer
satisfaction issues. How comfortable are you with being the person who
handles customer issues and conflict?
• Physical demands of the job.
• What is your personal comfort level with different pets? Are the certain
pets you can't imagine caring for?
• Can my kids come with me? Should they?
• Still not sure? Visit a local networking group.
Chapter 2: Envisioning the business
• Determine a need in your area - market research of your geographical
service area and other similar companies.
• Calling all dogs and cats? Will you specialize or encompass all species
of pets? Will you fill a niche market and specialize?
• Determine your service area. Radius of travel? Urban/Sub-urban/Rural?
• Will you work part time,or full time?
• Are you interested in starting your own business or buying into a
franchise?
• What other services might you offer? Pet Taxi, Behavior Training, Errand
Services, etc...
• Growing your business/Meeting your clients' needs.
• Juggling family life when your office is at home.
• Handling your pet sitting schedule + your family.
• Dollars & cents - How much can I make? Is petsitting really recession
proof?
• Choosing your name...and making sure nobody else has!
• Sole Proprietor, LLC or Inc.? What's best for you.
Chapter 3: What you need in your home office and mobile office.
• Keeping your office a work space. Setting boundaries on family and
setting boundaries on business.
• The benefits of designating a space for your business from the IRS
perspective.
• Hours of operation - phone calls at 11pm!
• Your client files - paper and electronic
• Your client keys
• Computer
• Calendar
• Phones (land lines, cell phones and smart phones)
• Tools of the trade - leashes, toys, treats
• Things to have with you - pens, dayplanner, cards
Chapter 4: Writing a business plan.
• Why do I need a business plan if I don't need any investment money?
• Solidify your objectives: What, How, When, Where and Who.
• Parts of a business plan - Get it done in <20pages. You make the plan -
you make the decisions.
Chapter 5: Getting started.
• Start up costs list.
• Should I hire professionals to help me? (Marketing companies, CPA's,
attorneys, etc...)
• Choose a name.
• Do I need a logo? Can I trademark my logo?
• Write a Mission Statement. What for? I know my mission.
• Goals Checklist
• Register your business.
• Join a professional organization.
• Purchase insurance and a bond policy - yes, they are two different
policies! This is a must before your first assignment.
• Get your printing done!
• Printed materials - business cards/flyers/brochures/magnets/shirts...
• Business documents - service contracts,
• Supplies - What's all the junk in the trunk? Things you don't need too!
• Your Presentation Book
• The benefits of education/accreditation - PFA/CPR
Chapter 6: Financial planning
• How much do I need to make?
• How much can I charge? How much should I charge? Remember you are the
business owner. You make the decisions on what you will charge.
• Publishing your prices - the pros and cons.
• How to deal with the “price shopper.”
• Setting a monetary value on your time.
• Invoicing and payment
• Long term financial planning - no 401K's here...planning for your future.
Chapter 7: Financial management
• Your pet sitting business should make you money! How to know if it does.
• Running your pet sitting business debt free isn't a dream - it can be a
reality.
Chapter 8: Taxes and record keeping
• Do I really have to pay taxes?
• When do I pay taxes on my earnings and how do I determine what I owe?
• Monthly income and outgo. A basic balance sheet or P&L.
• Keeping track of your biggest expenses - especially mileage.
• What to do, when - record keeping on a daily basis, monthly, yearly
• When to complete and file your taxes.
Chapter 9: Legal and ethical issues
• Pet Neglect? Can I get involved and should I?
• Under promise - Over deliver. Do the job you promised plus more
• The Golden Rule is still alive and well
• Am I on candid camera? Clients and ‘nanny-cams.'
• Help! What if I am sued! Answers to insurance and legal questions.
• Real-life insurance scenarios you won't believe but are true!
Chapter 10: Marketing your business - Getting your name out there is your
#1 goal
• Your niche drives your marketing - are you the Pet Sitter for Everyone,
are you the Cat Specialist? Highlight what sets you apart
• The Green pet sitter - riding the eco-friendly wave.
• Press Releases
• Visits to vet offices and groomers with food, free speaking engagements,
dog parties/events and other ‘guerilla' marketing tactics to bring you
clients.
• Wear your colors! Your wardrobe now consists of a myriad of shirts with
your logo and tagline!
• Using your business phone line/email to drive business to you.
• The yellow pages - will it work or won't it? How your business makes that
decision for you.
• Using neighborhood newsletters and small town newspapers to your
advantage.
• Keeping your current clients and having them provide you with more...word
of mouth referrals.
• Offering specials - CGC, Shelter, Rescue Group Discounts
• Set up booths at local pet events - contact shelters and rescue groups.
• Participate in pet related events like PSI's TYDTWD, Wishbones for Pets.
• Stay educated and up to date on pet related topics. Keep learning. Set
yourself apart from the competition by being well educated in your field.
• Networking! It's not a four letter word.
• Have your 30sec, 2min and 5min ‘pitch' of your business ready. You never
know who will ask you about your shirt logo in an elevator!
• How do you know if your marketing is working? Which parts of your
advertising campaign are working for you? The way to know - Ask & Track.
Chapter 11: The internet and e-commerce
• Your website - the best use of your business dollars!
• Using the internet for your day to day business - Pet sitter software to
run your business.
• Social Networking sites - Use them to your advantage - avoiding the
pitfalls and mistakes.
• How simple email can be your best friend for booking verification
• E-commerce and selling pet supplies on the internet - options for the pet
sitter
Chapter 12: A Day in the Life
• The phone rings...now what? A likely script of what you might hear.
• A list of questions new clients will ask you and possible answers.
• Jump out of bed and stumble to the kitchen! It's time to start the day.
An account of a real ‘day in the life' of a pet sitter
• The client meeting - the must have information you need from each of your
clients.
• What you need to do at every visit - a checklist
• Some additions to your standard service that will set you apart (leaving
written notes, calling the client, leaving a gift for the pet).
• Some problems and challenges you might run into. The solutions to answer
them.
• They want you, but do you want them? How to ask the right questions to
get the clients you need.
• Your day to day safety - How to be safe when working alone.
• Safety of the pets in your care. “A good dog walk gone bad.”
• I just wish I could have one day off! Using other pet sitting companies
and colleagues to help make it happen.
• Emergency Preparedness - for the big, the bad and the ugly - weather and
other catastrophic events.
• What to do if a pet dies in your care.
• How to handle the client you can longer or just don't want to work for.
• Keeping the clients you want by getting feedback on your service.
• Dealing with the death of a pet client. How to help your human clients
how to help yourself.
Chapter 13: Business endgame
• Stay small or grow big? Pros and cons - dollars and cents of each
approach.
• Avoiding the B-Word - B*U*R*N*O*U*T
• Setting up your business as a ‘process' - think fast food chain!
• Employees or independent contractors?
• Where do I find good people to work in my business? Recruiting 101.
• Interviewing and screening potential employees.
• Dealing with people that work for you.
• Setting up schedules
• How to pay employees or independent contractors.
• Changing with the times - keeping your business strong as
times/circumstances change.
• Take me to Tahiti - Selling your business.
Chapter 14: Training and certification - Setting yourself apart
• Accreditation as a pet sitter - courses available.
• Read! The only difference between where you are now and where you will be
• Pet First Aid/CPR
• Conventions and Regional meetings
• Using your local resources - dog trainers and veterinarians.
Appendix I
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions (10 to 15, intended to be used on
website)
• Web Resources
• Organizations
• Trade Shows
• Educational Resources and Training Programs
• Other Useful Information
Appendix II
• Forms: Service Agreements, Pet Sitter Instruction Sheet, etc...