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| So You Want to Start a Pet Sitting Business | |
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| The pro's of pet sitting | |
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| Flexible time | |
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| Low Stress | |
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| You're the boss - you make the decisions | |
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| Good pay for the hours of work and resources needed - How much do you want to make? | |
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| 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 | |
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| The family's take: Is it a Joy or a Pain? Is it really all worth it? | |
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| The con's of pet sitting | |
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| Through wind and sleet and snow....working in all kinds of weather conditions | |
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| Working when others are 'off' - working early mornings, late evenings, minor holidays and of course, major holidays! | |
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| The cyclical nature of the pet sitting business. Consider the slow months and busy months | |
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| Driving...driving...driving! The biggest expense of time and money for pet sitters | |
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| The personality of the successful pet sitter and other questions you should ask yourself | |
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| Do you love pets and people? I have yet to have a dog sign the check! | |
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| And you thought it was just playing with dogs...you as a therapist, grief counselor, pet nutrition expert, accountant, teenage babysitter and more | |
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| 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? | |
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| Physical demands of the job | |
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| What is your personal comfort level with different pets? Are the certain pets you can't imagine caring for? | |
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| Can my kids come with me? Should they? | |
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| Still not sure? Visit a local networking group | |
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| Envisioning the business | |
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| Determine a need in your area - market research of your geographical service area and other similar companies | |
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| Calling all dogs and cats? Will you specialize or encompass all species of pets? Will you fill a niche market and specialize? | |
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| Determine your service area. Radius of travel? Urban/Sub-urban/Rural? | |
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| Will you work part time,or full time? | |
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| Are you interested in starting your own business or buying into a franchise? | |
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| What other services might you offer? Pet Taxi, Behavior Training, Errand Services, etc.. | |
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| Growing your business/Meeting your clients' needs | |
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| Juggling family life when your office is at home | |
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| Handling your pet sitting schedule + your family | |
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| Dollars & cents - How much can I make? Is petsitting really recession proof? | |
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| Choosing your name...and making sure nobody else has! | |
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| Sole Proprietor, LLC or Inc.? What's best for you | |
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| What you need in your home office and mobile office | |
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| Keeping your office a work space. Setting boundaries on family and setting boundaries on business | |
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| The benefits of designating a space for your business from the IRS perspective | |
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| Hours of operation - phone calls at 11pm! | |
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| Your client files - paper and electronic | |
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| Your client keys | |
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| Computer | |
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| Calendar | |
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| Phones (land lines, cell phones and smart phones) | |
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| Tools of the trade - leashes, toys, treats | |
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| Things to have with you - pens, dayplanner, cards | |
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| Writing a business plan | |
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| Why do I need a business plan if I don't need any investment money? | |
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| Solidify your objectives: What, How, When, Where and Who | |
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| Parts of a business plan - Get it done in <20pages. You make the plan - you make the decisions | |
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| Getting started | |
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| Start up costs list | |
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| Should I hire professionals to help me? (Marketing companies, CPA's, attorneys, etc...) | |
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| Choose a name | |
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| Do I need a logo? Can I trademark my logo? | |
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| Write a Mission Statement. What for? I know my mission | |
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| Goals Checklist | |
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| Register your business | |
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| Join a professional organization | |
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| Purchase insurance and a bond policy - yes, they are two different policies! This is a must before your first assignment | |
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| Get your printing done! | |
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| Printed materials - business cards/flyers/brochures/magnets/shirts.. | |
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| Business documents - service contracts, | |
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| Supplies - What's all the junk in the trunk? Things you don't need too! | |
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| Your Presentation Book | |
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| The benefits of education/accreditation - PFA/CPR | |
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| Financial planning | |
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| How much do I need to make? | |
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| How much can I charge? How much should I charge? Remember you are the business owner. You make the decisions on what you will charge | |
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| Publishing your prices - the pros and cons | |
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| How to deal with the "price shopper." | |
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| Setting a monetary value on your time | |
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| Invoicing and payment | |
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| Long term financial planning - no 401K's here...planning for your future | |
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| Financial management | |
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| Your pet sitting business should make you money! How to know if it does | |
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| Running your pet sitting business debt free isn't a dream - it can be a reality | |
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| Taxes and record keeping | |
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| Do I really have to pay taxes? | |
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| When do I pay taxes on my earnings and how do I determine what I owe? | |
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| Monthly income and outgo. A basic balance sheet or P&L | |
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| Keeping track of your biggest expenses - especially mileage | |
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| What to do, when - record keeping on a daily basis, monthly, yearly | |
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| When to complete and file your taxes | |
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| Legal and ethical issues | |
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| Pet Neglect? Can I get involved and should I? | |
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| Under promise - Over deliver. Do the job you promised plus more | |
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| The Golden Rule is still alive and well | |
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| Am I on candid camera? Clients and 'nanny-cams.' | |
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| Help! What if I am sued! Answers to insurance and legal questions | |
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| Real-life insurance scenarios you won't believe but are true! | |
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| Marketing your business - Getting your name out there is your #1 goal | |
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| Your niche drives your marketing - are you the Pet Sitter for Everyone, are you the Cat Specialist? Highlight what sets you apart | |
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| The Green pet sitter - riding the eco-friendly wave | |
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| Press Releases | |
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| Visits to vet offices and groomers with food, free speaking engagements, dog parties/events and other 'guerilla' marketing tactics to bring you clients | |
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| Wear your colors! Your wardrobe now consists of a myriad of shirts with your logo and tagline! | |
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| Using your business phone line/email to drive business to you | |
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| The yellow pages - will it work or won't it? How your business makes that decision for you | |
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| Using neighborhood newsletters and small town newspapers to your advantage | |
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| Keeping your current clients and having them provide you with more...word of mouth referrals | |
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| Offering specials - CGC, Shelter, Rescue Group Discounts | |
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| Set up booths at local pet events - contact shelters and rescue groups | |
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| Participate in pet related events like PSI's TYDTWD, Wishbones for Pets | |
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| Stay educated and up to date on pet related topics. Keep learning. Set yourself apart from the competition by being well educated in your field | |
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| Networking! It's not a four letter word | |
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| Have your 30sec, 2min and 5min 'pitch' of your business ready. You never know who will ask you about your shirt logo in an elevator! | |
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| How do you know if your marketing is working? Which parts of your advertising campaign are working for you? The way to know - Ask & Track | |
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| The internet and e-commerce | |
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| Your website - the best use of your business dollars! | |
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| Using the internet for your day to day business - Pet sitter software to run your business | |
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| Social Networking sites - Use them to your advantage - avoiding the pitfalls and mistakes | |
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| How simple email can be your best friend for booking verification | |
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| E-commerce and selling pet supplies on the internet - options for the pet sitter | |
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| A Day in the Life | |
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| The phone rings...now what? A likely script of what you might hear | |
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| A list of questions new clients will ask you and possible answers | |
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| Jump out of bed and stumble to the kitchen! It's time to start the day. An account of a real 'day in the life' of a pet sitter | |
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| The client meeting - the must have information you need from each of your clients | |
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| What you need to do at every visit - a checklist | |
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| Some additions to your standard service that will set you apart (leaving written notes, calling the client, leaving a gift for the pet) | |
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| Some problems and challenges you might run into. The solutions to answer them | |
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| They want you, but do you want them? How to ask the right questions to get the clients you need | |
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| Your day to day safety - How to be safe when working alone | |
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| Safety of the pets in your care. "A good dog walk gone bad." | |
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| I just wish I could have one day off! Using other pet sitting companies and colleagues to help make it happen | |
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| Emergency Preparedness - for the big, the bad and the ugly - weather and other catastrophic events | |
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| What to do if a pet dies in your care | |
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| How to handle the client you can longer or just don't want to work for | |
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| Keeping the clients you want by getting feedback on your service | |
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| Dealing with the death of a pet client. How to help your human clients how to help yourself | |
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| Business endgame | |
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| Stay small or grow big? Pros and cons - dollars and cents of each approach | |
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| Avoiding the B-Word - B*U*R*N*O*U*T | |
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| Setting up your business as a 'process' - think fast food chain! | |
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| Employees or independent contractors? | |
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| Where do I find good people to work in my business? Recruiting 101 | |
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| Interviewing and screening potential employees | |
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| Dealing with people that work for you | |
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| Setting up schedules | |
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| How to pay employees or independent contractors | |
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| Changing with the times - keeping your business strong as times/circumstances change | |
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| Take me to Tahiti - Selling your business | |
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| Training and certification - Setting yourself apart | |
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| Accreditation as a pet sitter - courses available | |
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| Read! The only difference between where you are now and where you will be | |
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| Pet First Aid/CPR | |
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| Conventions and Regional meetings | |
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| Using your local resources - dog trainers and veterinarians | |
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| FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions (10 to 15, intended to be used on website) | |
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| Web Resources | |
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| Organizations | |
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| Trade Shows | |
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| Educational Resources and Training Programs | |
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| Other Useful Information | |
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| Forms: Service Agreements, Pet Sitter Instruction Sheet, etc... | |