Quick Tips on Starting a Pet-Oriented Business

Are you thinking about going into business for yourself? Do you love animals? Great. Now is the perfect time to open up your own business helping to take care of the furry friends that we all love. Spiritpet Urns provides some tips on how (and why) to start a pet-related business today.

Types Of Pet Business

Are you struggling with ideas to help put you closer to your animal-entrepreneurship goals? You don’t have to. A few of the best pet-based businesses that you can start to include:

• Pet sitting. A pet sitter goes to people’s houses to provide hands-on care for animals when their owners are out of town. This might include changing the litter box or letting the dogs out a few times each day for a bathroom break.

• Dog training. If you’ve never had a problem teaching your own pets to sit, stay, and play dead, you may be able to turn your ability to communicate with canine kind into a profitable training business. You might even market yourself as a niche dog trainer, catering to older animals, something many people mistakenly believe isn’t possible.

• Waste cleanup. People with big backyards know that it becomes an instant bathroom for their furry friends. You can offer your services as a waste cleanup professional. Keep in mind here, however, that animal excrement contains bacteria and pathogens that can be harmful to both humans and animals. Be careful, and make sure to wear gloves.

• Pet photographer. People love their pets almost as much as they love their children. And, they also like to look at pictures of them. To become a professional photographer, the Expert Photography website says that you will need to research, invest in the right gear, and choose a niche (pet photography is an excellent niche).

How To Grow

Once you decide on a business, you’ll have to get your first clients. Then, it’s a game of cat and mouse to continue to grow. How? Start by providing superior service, but don’t forget advertising. Wizard Of Ads explains that your advertising efforts should be memorable. Don’t just hang flyers that show what you do, create an entire identity that makes people say, “I’m going to call them.”

As you grow, there are a few business details that you also want to take care of. One is legalizing your business structure. While you can certainly operate as a sole proprietorship, you might be better off as an LLC as this entity offers tax benefits and shields your assets. Check out instructions for NC LLC formalization requirements through a site like ZenBusiness.

Next, be prepared to hire a few helping hands. This is especially important when you have many employees and twice as many clients. Make sure to keep your team informed by staying organized when scheduling their shifts. The easiest thing to do here is to invest in an online scheduling platform which helps you stay compliant with both your taxes and labor laws.

Why Now?

One of the most positive things to come out of the pandemic was that more people adopted pets than ever before. And, although many will continue to work from home in 2021 and beyond, people are starting to go back to their offices. This means leaving their new beloved family member. Starting a pet business now, especially pet sitting or boarding, will help these animal owners feel less guilty about going back to work and will ensure their pets remain on a predictable schedule.

Working with animals isn’t always easy. It is a labor of love that comes with the added benefit of helping other people be better pet parents. Fortunately, you are not boxed into any particular area. There are lots of different ways you can take control of your finances while getting to cuddle the cutest possible clients.

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