How To Start a Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Business in 7 Days

You love animals, that much is clear. Before deciding which services to offer clients, you need to determine what types of pets you would like to care for and the all-important why. This section will help you get clarity on exactly what types of pets you'd like to, and can comfortably care for in your business. This information will prepare you to then choose your services, which is in the next segment.

You may want to provide a particular pet care service but your lifestyle or schedule may not support that. In this section, you'll identify and decide which pet care services to offer by discovering which hours particular pet care services generally require and the necessary equipment that's needed. This segment will also help you choose the right pet services that will compliment your current work and personal life schedule, lifestyle needs and preferences.

Naming your business correctly is so important! In this section, you'll learn common mistakes to avoid when it comes to naming your business and exactly how to pick the right name for your business - one that will stand the test of time for the life of your business.

What you choose for your URL (website domain name), is crucial. You'll discover how to choose the right keyword-rich URL that will work for your business as well as help get you high on the search engines so you can get more clients. You'll also learn the why, where, and how to get a trademark for your pet sitting and dog walking business.

When you watch this section, you'll avoid costly pricing mistakes that many new pet sitters and dog walkers make. If you set prices too low, you may not make a profit; too high and you may struggle to get clients. This section will help you discover the right pricing for your location and help you confidently choose the right price for you, and for your area.

How you classify your business will determine how much you pay in taxes and what paperwork you need to file each year. In this section you'll learn about the three most common business structures (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation) and choose the classification that is most right for you, and for your business.

Accurately tracking your income and expenses is crucial for success - and it doesn't have to be difficult. This section will help you choose a method for financial tracking that works best for you and your business. The process is broken down in a simplified, easy way; perfect for those who are afraid of the "numbers aspect" of running a business! 

Now it's time to officially register your business! In this section you'll learn what licenses you may need for your new business and why, when and how to apply for a tax identification number or EIN.

Get ready for business enlightenment! In this section you'll answer targeted questions that will enable you to tap into the pulse of your area's market and determine your business's unique SWOT: strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T).

Creating a business plan, even a simple one, can to be an important and effective guide when you start and grow your business. Using the business plan template enclosed and armed with the knowledge you learned from the last section, you'll create a short and quick business plan that will take you about 30-60 minutes.

The client interview is when you meet your new human client, their pets and their home. You'll learn: how to best present yourself and your business at the new client meet-and-greet, important forms to have including a contract, and how best to collect and protect client keys.

Ready to get paid? In this segment you'll discover how to take care of your business financials including how and why to separate business from personal finances, invoicing basics, and when and how to best get paid by your clients.

Pet business insurance protects what you're working to create and it's crucial to the well-being of your business. This section will provides an overview of the main types of insurance you should consider for your pet business so you can make the best decision for your business needs.

A logo is a crucial aspect to create your business's "personality". In this section, where and how to get a logo created, ways you can use your logo to promote your business, and how to choose a tagline that fits the spirit of your company.

You'll learn the basics to create your most powerful new client generator: your website. You'll learn what you absolutely must have on your website, why a blog is necessary, and crucial web pages to include on your site.

It's time to get your business online! You'll discover how to gain followers on the top social media sites, how to stay focused and not to go down the "rabbit hole" online, and how to protect your personal privacy online.

Just like financial investing, you also want to diversify when it comes to marketing. You'll determine which marketing streams are currently working best for your business (if you’ve already started it) and how to expand your advertising methods to find and reach as many new clients as possible.

Print marketing and target mailing can be a powerful way to reach local pet owners. You'll learn the most successful forms of print marketing including business cards, flyers and newsletters, and explore direct mailing to attract new clients in neighborhoods and areas you'd like to serve.

Local marketing can reap results. You'll learn important do's and don'ts for car advertising, how and when to track advertising to discover what works and what doesn't, and you'll create a portable marketing kit to save you time and energy.

Client recommendations are one of the most effective ways to get new clients. In this segment you'll learn exactly how to encourage your clients to recommend you (in a non-pushy way) to their friends and neighbors, how and where to find local referral connections, plus how and where to get more client reviews.

Build your referral tribe by networking. You'll discover how and where to find valuable referral sources online and in-person, how networking groups can take you to the next level, and how to find pet sitting and dog walking networking groups.

Get the word out about your pet business. You'll learn how to write a press release like a pro - when using the press release template enclosed, it is likely to generate publicity about your venture, plus where and how to distribute a press release as well as what keywords to include to get good SEO from your press release.

It's time to celebrate how far you've come and the business you've created! Learn how to plan a "launch party" and where to announce your grand opening party for your new business (or a noteworthy business milestone), how to enlist the support of friends and family to spread the word, and so much more!