Did you know you can turn your love for animals into a profitable pet sitting or dog walking business? That’s right, with nearly seventy percent of Americans owning one or more pets, these services are needed more than ever. In addition, pet sitting and dog walking businesses offer low startup costs, a higher sense of purpose, flexibility, and a healthier lifestyle as many tasks require high physical ability. So, if you have a passion for animals and what it takes to look after them, this may be a profitable business avenue.
To get on the right track to running a profitable pet sitting or dog walking business, follow these tips:
Research Your Market and Competition
Due to just how many people have animals, it is safe to say you are not the only one who will want to work with animals. In other words, be ready to be against some high competition. However, this shouldn’t prevent you from getting started as all competition is healthy. If you have high competition, then there is high demand. Research their strengths and weaknesses to see what potential value you can offer to the market to get ahead of your competition.
Know Your Limits and Price Accordingly
Be sure you understand just how many dogs you can take on a walk at once or animals you can pet sit within one day. Now figure what daily earnings you need and what resources you may need to purchase to accomplish this. Once you determine the cost of your resources, be sure to add them to your final prices. Don’t charge a significantly cheaper fee just to beat out your competition. Time is money, and if you are taking on too many projects for less than what it is worth, you won’t be able to run a profitable business.
Invest in the Essentials
The most important investment to make is purchasing general liability insurance. Unfortunately, accidents can happen while taking care of animals in your home. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect yourself. Next, you need to purchase certain equipment such as extra leashes, small trash bags, brushes, or treats to care for the animals. Remember, the products you buy can upgrade the services and prices you offer to your customers. If they know you will provide treats and/or other value, they will be more willing to pay for your services.
Offer Multiple Services and Grow a Team
This is the best way to grow a profit or increase your potential revenue. In addition, you can offer more skills by hiring more people on your team, and you can provide more services and value to your target audience.
Keep these tips in mind if you want to turn your love for animals into a profitable and highly sustainable business. As long as you have a real love for animals, the right tools, and an understanding of what it takes to take care of them, you have what it takes to run a profitable business within this industry.