Business Basics for Dogsitters

Dog sitting for family, friends, and neighbors might be fun and easy. But if you’re going headfirst into forming your own dogsitters business, you need to have a little more than just love for the four legged creatures. Aside from your natural ability to bond with dogs, you’ll need the basic traits of an entrepreneur if you want your business to succeed. Read on to find out the business basics every dog sitter should have.

Take Your Business Seriously

You cannot expect your dogsitters business to be successful until you truly believe in the value of the services you provide. Far too many dogsitters fail to take their own jobs seriously and they end up getting sidetracked or losing their motivation. They also tend to fall prey to others who don’t take what they do seriously just because it’s not a “real job”. But little do these naysayers know that a dogsitters business can be more lucrative than a day job if done right.

Manage Your Money Wisely

The lifeblood of all businesses is cash flow. You will need money to buy supplies, market your business, replace supplies, and pay to yourself to continue to work. All dogsitters should also be wise money managers to make sure that cash keeps coming in and bills get paid on time. Make a record of all your income (the money you receive from pet owners for the services you provide) and expenses (the money you spend on supplies and other items that keep your business alive). Keep your expenses as low as possible.

Obtain a Competitive Advantage

Your dog sitting business should have a unique selling proposition in order to get the attention of prospective clients. You should be able to answer the question, “Why should pet owners do business with me instead of asking the services of a competitor?” What will make your business stand out? Will you provide personalized services, more business hours, low rates, better customer service, or a combination of these?

Get To Know Your (human) Clients

Perhaps the most significant competitive edge a dogsitter has is that he or she can offer personalized attention to the dog owner and the dog. A dogsitter can get to know the client – both human and the pet – provide personalized care, and win repeat clients by doing so. Along with trying to attract new clients, do as much as you can to woo your current ones. Not only will this guarantee repeat business, but making your clients happy will result in word-of-mouth referrals. In the long run, personalized attention will be great for your business.

Build a Good Reputation

A rock-solid reputation is the most marketable asset a dogsitter can have. A good reputation can’t be bought; it is something you earn when you honor your promises. If you promise to appear at your client’s house by 1 pm, be there on time. If you offer to provide extra services like pet grooming, make good on your offer. Whatever it is you offer, be consistent with the delivery. If you cannot come through on your services, your clients will not trust you, and you cannot have a good reputation without trust.