It’s no secret that working from home is one of the best ways to earn extra cash each month. Thanks to the Internet, you’ve got an almost endless list of possible career or business ideas where you can work in your spare time at home.
If you’re a dog lover, did you know you could create a business working from home as a dog sitter? People will happily pay you money to look after their canine companions for a few hours, days, or weeks while they’re away from home.
The thing is, knowing how to get started might seem like a challenge, so it’s worth checking out the following main points to help you begin:
Check The Legal Requirements
Firstly, it’s a good idea to check with your local authority (council) whether you need special permits or licences to run a dog-sitting business from home.
The last thing you want to do is fall afoul of the law when you run a business, even if it’s a part-time one you do from home, so it’s worth getting confirmation of what you may need to do first before you begin.
Make Your Home Dog-Friendly
It might seem like an obvious point to make, but you must be confident that you have a dog-friendly home. For example, if you have one or more dogs, they must have a friendly temperament and get on okay with other canines.
Also, if your clients ask you to administer any medication to their dogs, it makes sense to invest in a vaccine fridge and not store any medicine in your home fridge-freezer.
Outside your home, any dogs you look after should have access to a safe and enclosed garden free of anything that could harm them.
Get The Right Insurance Cover
Insurance is essential to any business, whether you’re working from home or have dedicated premises elsewhere. That’s why you should ensure you’ve got the right cover for your dog-sitting services.
Public liability cover and professional indemnity insurance are two standard business policies you should consider, but you may find others more tailored to your niche.
Decide Which Services You’ll Offer
Dog-sitting is your core service, but have you considered what other services you might offer your clients? For example, you could provide clients with the following optional services alongside your core dog-sitting services:
- Dog grooming;
- Assistance with trips to the vet;
- Dog transport (for owners moving to a new area, for example).
Market Your New Business
Finally, you must dedicate time and financial resources to marketing your new dog-sitting business. You’ll likely do most of your promotion online, via your website and social media. If you require website maintenance, ensure to seek that as soon as possible so you can ensure your clients can find your business and book a service. But, you can also advertise your services to:
- Local vets;
- Dog groomers;
- Pet stores.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that running a dog-sitting business can be a fun venture and rewarding both financially and psychologically. The above points will help you formulate your plan to get started and become a successful dog sitter in your local area.
