Start your own pet sitting business: your step-by-step guide to success

Your customers are human

The working parts

Basic services

Putting your best paw forward

Useful credentials

Insurance and legal matters

Financial considerations

Raining cats and dogs

Other common house pets

Barn animal care

Jungle fever

Expanding your business.

Your customers are human. Where to start? ; Is anybody home? ; Laboratory research ; Cat fight or mutual grooming ; The odd dog out ; What do humans want? ; Giving good customer service ; Pest control ; Are you ready?

The working parts. Business setup ; McPet sitter? ; Pet sitting in the clients' homes ; Pet-related things you need to think of ; Pet care in your own home ; Pet sitting as a side job ; Don't zone out ; Phoney stuff ; Do you need a business plan? ; Start-up costs ; Forms

Basic services. The real goal ; Feeding ; Doing business ; Exercise ; Laundry time ; Grooming ; The environment ; Mail sitting, newspaper sitting, and other fundamentals ; How much is that doggie in the window? ; How many clients are enough? ; How many of each? ; So what do you charge? ; Your salary expectations ; The numbers can tell a lot

Putting your best paw forward. Marketing basics ; Building a customer base ; The marketing plan ; Printed marketing materials ; Vehicle sign ; Association memberships/web site links and searches ; Newsletters ; Speak! ; Try something different

Useful credentials. Firsthand experience ; Licensing ; Business credentials ; Rounding out your resume

Insurance and legal matters. Insurance ; Legal issues ; Employees

Financial considerations. Class act ; Cycles of the financial moon ; Keeping the books ; Accounting methods ; Accountants ; Taxes ; Auto expenses ; Client invoices and receipts ; Payment options ; Policies ; Collections ; Paying yourself ; Obtaining financing

Raining cats and dogs. Basic dog care ; Dog restraint ; Vital signs ; Basic cat care ; Basic first aid ; Signs of illness ; Client attitude

Other common house pets. No free lunch ; Saying no ; Birds ; Rodents ; Fish ; Ferrets ; Rabbits ; Reptiles

Barn animal care. Livestock care ; Fees ; Services ; Weight lifting ; Horse care ; Horse vital signs ; Bad signs ; Horse first aid ; Sheep and goats ; Cows ; Other types of charges ; The importance of gates ; A word about barn cats

Jungle fever. Wild animals ; Chinchillas ; Sugar gliders ; Hedgehogs ; Potbellied pigs ; Monkeys ; Wallabies ; Marketing specialized knowledge

Expanding your business. Some questions ; Expanding revenue, not customers ; Expanding on site ; Thinking outside the box ; Web sales ; A bona fide kennel ; Classes ; Rehab ; Pet taxi service ; Other home-related services ; Get it in writing ; Extra services.