Start Your Own Pet Sitting Business

by Kimball, Cheryl

• ISBN13: 9781932531060
• ISBN10: 1932531068
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-27
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press

Summary

This comprehensive handbook, part of Entrepreneur magazine's highly successful StartUp series, guides you through the steps of setting up and operating a pet-sitting business, covering both the business fundamentals and the specialized knowledge required for animal care and handling. Start Your Own Pet Sitting Business focuses mainly on dogs and cats, the most popular pets, but also covers barn animals and exotics.

Author Biography

Cheryl Kimball writes and edits books while working toward her veterinary technician license.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Your Customers Are Human	1	(12)
Where to Start?	2	(1)
Is Anybody Home?	3	(1)
Laboratory Research	4	(1)
Cat Fight or Mutual Grooming	5	(1)
The Odd Dog Out	5	(1)
What Do Humans Want?	5	(3)
Trust	6	(1)
Confidence	6	(1)
Professionalism	6	(1)
Reliability	7	(1)
Customer Care	7	(1)
Giving Good Customer Service	8	(1)
Pest Control	9	(2)
Are You Ready?	11	(2)
The Working Parts	13	(14)
Business Setup	14	(1)
McPet Sitter?	14	(2)
Pet Sitting in the Clients' Homes	16	(2)
Pet-Related Things You Need to Think Of	17	(1)
Pet Care in Your Own Home	18	(1)
Pet Sitting as a Side Job	18	(1)
Don't Zone Out	19	(2)
Phoney Stuff	21	(1)
Do You Need a Business Plan?	22	(2)
Summary	23	(1)
Industry Overview	23	(1)
Your Credentials	23	(1)
Operating Overview	23	(1)
Financials	23	(1)
Start-Up Costs	24	(1)
Forms	24	(3)
Client and Pet Profiles	25	(1)
Emergency Care	25	(2)
Basic Services	27	(12)
The Real Goal	28	(1)
Feeding	29	(1)
Details, Details	29	(1)
Multiple Priorities	30	(1)
Water, Water Everywhere	30	(1)
Doing Business	30	(1)
Exercise	31	(2)
Get the Low-Down	32	(1)
Cat Exercise	32	(1)
Laundry Time	33	(1)
Grooming	33	(1)
The Environment	34	(1)
Mail Sitting, Newspaper Sitting, and Other Fundamentals	34	(1)
How Much Is that Doggie in the Window?	35	(1)
How Many Clients Are Enough?	36	(1)
Day Care	36	(1)
Long Weekenders	36	(1)
Business Travelers or Extended Vacations	36	(1)
How Many of Each?	36	(1)
So What Do You Charge?	37	(1)
Your Salary Expectations	37	(1)
The Numbers Can Tell a Lot	38	(1)
Putting Your Best Paw Forward	39	(12)
Marketing Basics	40	(1)
Building a Customer Base	40	(1)
The Chicken or the Egg?	41	(1)
Finding Customers	41	(1)
The Marketing Plan	41	(1)
Printed Marketing Materials	42	(5)
Press Releases	42	(1)
Business Cards	42	(2)
Slogans	44	(1)
Brochures	44	(1)
Fliers	45	(1)
A Web Site	46	(1)
Paid Advertising	47	(1)
Vehicle Sign	47	(1)
Association Memberships/Web Site Links and Searches	48	(1)
Newsletters	49	(1)
Speak!	49	(1)
Try Something Different	50	(1)
Useful Credentials	51	(10)
Firsthand Experience	52	(1)
Licensing	53	(3)
Training	53	(1)
Best in Show	53	(1)
Grooming	54	(1)
Be a Techie	55	(1)
Visit Your Veterinarian	56	(1)
Nutrition	56	(1)
Business Credentials	56	(2)
Chamber of Commerce	57	(1)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	58	(1)
Pet Sitters International	58	(1)
Rounding Out Your Resume	58	(3)
Insurance and Legal Matters	61	(10)
Insurance	62	(3)
Liability Insurance	62	(1)
Bonding	63	(1)
Disability	63	(1)
Health Insurance	63	(1)
Auto Insurance	64	(1)
Legal Issues	65	(1)
Corporate Structure	65	(1)
Service Contracts	65	(1)
Employees	66	(5)
Noncompete and Confidentiality Agreements	66	(1)
Workers' Compensation	67	(1)
IRS Obligations	67	(2)
Independent Contractors	69	(2)
Financial Considerations	71	(12)
Class Act	72	(1)
Cycles of the Financial Moon	72	(1)
Keeping the Books	73	(2)
The Checkbook	73	(1)
The Old-Fashioned Way	74	(1)
Software	74	(1)
Accounting Methods	75	(1)
Making a Statement	75	(1)
Accountants	76	(1)
Taxes	76	(1)
Auto Expenses	77	(1)
Client Invoices and Receipts	78	(1)
Payment Options	79	(1)
Policies	79	(1)
Collections	79	(1)
Paying Yourself	80	(1)
Obtaining Financing	81	(2)
Raining Cats and Dogs	83	(18)
Basic Dog Care	84	(2)
Feeding	84	(1)
Water	85	(1)
Treats	86	(1)
Toys	86	(1)
Exercise	86	(1)
Dog Restraint	86	(1)
Vital Signs	87	(2)
Temperature	87	(1)
Pulse	88	(1)
Respiration	88	(1)
Capillary Refill Time	88	(1)
Basic Cat Care	89	(2)
Cat Restraint	89	(2)
Basic First Aid	91	(1)
Signs of Illness	91	(2)
Wound Care	92	(1)
Client Attitude	93	(8)
Other Common House Pets	101	(8)
No Free Lunch	102	(1)
Saying No	103	(1)
Birds	104	(1)
Rodents	104	(1)
Fish	105	(1)
Ferrets	106	(1)
Rabbits	107	(1)
Reptiles	108	(1)
Barn Animal Care	109	(10)
Livestock Care	110	(1)
Fees	110	(1)
Services	111	(1)
Weight Lifting	112	(1)
Horse Care	113	(1)
Horse Vital Signs	113	(1)
Bad Signs	113	(1)
Horse First Aid	114	(1)
Sheep and Goats	115	(1)
Cows	116	(1)
Other Types of Charges	117	(1)
Llamas and Alpacas	117	(1)
Pigs	117	(1)
The Importance of Gates	118	(1)
A Word about Barn Cats	118	(1)
Jungle Fever	119	(8)
Wild Animals	120	(1)
Chinchillas	120	(1)
Sugar Gliders	121	(1)
Hedgehogs	122	(1)
Potbellied Pigs	122	(1)
Monkeys	123	(1)
Wallabies	124	(1)
Marketing Specialized Knowledge	125	(2)
Expanding Your Business	127	(10)
Some Questions	128	(1)
Expanding Revenue, Not Customers	129	(1)
More Services	129	(1)
Products	129	(1)
Expanding on Site	130	(1)
Some Considerations	130	(1)
Thinking Outside the Box	131	(1)
Office Care	131	(1)
Nightwatch or Off-Hours Feeding	131	(1)
Web Sales	132	(1)
A Bona Fide Kennel	132	(1)
Classes	133	(1)
Training with or without Pet Owner	133	(1)
Rehab	133	(1)
Pet Taxi Service	133	(1)
Other Home-Related Services	133	(1)
Get It in Writing	134	(1)
Extra Services	134	(3)
Mail	134	(1)
Plant Care	135	(1)
Cleaning	135	(1)
Shopping	136	(1)
Being Around for a Home Maintenance Appointment	136	(1)
Appendix Pet-Sitting Business Resources	137	(2)
Glossary	139	(2)
Index	141