Read more
Informationen zum Autor By Cathy Vaughan Klappentext 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. Zusammenfassung 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis 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, cardsChapter 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 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 ...
