Do you think you'd like to take care of pets?
We're HIRING!

We occasionally have openings. Pet Sitting is great for the retired
person (like me) who loves animals.

The hours are quite flexible, and the work rewarding and relaxing! You have your choice of assignments: if you only want to do mid-day dog walking, that's fine, and if you are unable to mid-days because of work scheduling. That's okay too. There aren't many businesses that are that flexible! If you are interested in becoming a pet-sitter, READ ON.

We are looking for "a few good sitters." Both to EXPAND the service, AND to MAKE VACATIONS POSSIBLE. Pet-sitters really need to have a backup! If you break a leg or your car breaks down, you'd better have someone you can call on to rescue YOU and your CLIENTS. Pet-sitters rely on one-another, even if they are competitors. Our mutual-aid advances the art and supports the industry in the whole.

There are things you need to think about before deciding to become a professional pet-sitter. Some people THRIVE and LOVE IT, and others..aren't cut out for it.

One of the first things a prospective pet-sitter asks is "How much can I make?" Let me be up front with you- "If you have to ask, just get a job at a fast-food franchise. They'll give you a free meal every working day." Pet sitters do this because they love animals , not because of the money they'll make. YOU WILL MAKE MONEY ON TIPS, not from the actual pet-sitting. In that regard, you will really do EARN your money. People who tip well are people that you do "extra" for (naturally) and people you do the extra for, tip better. Just like wait staff in a restaurant. We have clients that never tip, and others that tip very well.

Pet-sitters are INDEPENDENT BUISNESSPEOPLE. We are all "contractors" That means you have to pay DOUBLE SOCIAL SECURITY and you have to set aside money during the year to pay your income tax and DOUBLE Social Security - it is not withheld. You need to keep very detailed records, or you'll lose any income you've earned during the year when you file your taxes.

Almost all pet-sitters "work for a service" and have their own personal clients as well. When you work for a service, you fall under the insurance and bonding of that service. Insurance and bonding is expensive! Next to gasoline it is the highest cost of doing business! The service also probably has advertising costs- not cheap either. Also, the service needs to have a little income as a reward for doing the advertising, insurance and bonding. For bringing YOU the business!

I do pet sitting because I like the lifestyle and I love animals. You get to have furry friends (and their owners become friends as well) all over town. LOTS of friends! You are also YOUR OWN BOSS and get to run your business your own way- within reason. You PLAN YOUR OWN DAY and don't have anyone breathing down your neck. You'll have 1-3 hours of "morning rounds", the same for noon, and for evening. In between, your time is your own. As you learn to manage time, you increase your efficiencies!

For a retired person, this is a GREAT lifestyle. As long as you don't have to depend on pet-sitting to put food on the table, it gives you a FUN activity that pays for itself and leaves a little left over for splurging every so often.

People who hire pet-sitters are people who care enough about their pets to have them cared for in the familiar surroundings of their own home. They are GREAT, caring clients! Over time, you become "one of the family" with your regulars, and some leave treats to brighten your day.

Building your business isn't something that just happens. You really have to hustle to get known. At the beginning, you don't have any clients. By advertising and "word of mouth" you slowly build a client base. As clients tell other people about your services, you reach a "critical mass" where your business will practically build itself. Word Of Mouth is the bread and butter of pet-sitting! Of course, you have to "prime the pump" with advertising initially.

After your business is going nicely, you'll find that you have some accounts worth more than others. Some may just be too far away, and you lose money every time you got there. When you arrive at this conclusion, it is time to learn how to TARGET your MARKET. It doesn't pay to drive 10 miles north and 10 miles south. Ten miles is more than just gas, it is TIME. You won't realize just how important TIME is until your fully-booked holiday week! Then you'll start thinking HARD about targeting your market to a specific geographic area to cut down on the drive-time. I've had to tell clients "I'm sorry, but I've found that you are too far outside my coverage area. Here, I've made a list of pet-sitters that are closer to you." Be gentle. Don't give in to the temptation to tell them that you are dropping them because they don't tip.

If I haven't scared you off..if you still are interested in pet sitting, send me an e-mail and we can talk more about it.