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Five Fabulous Business Ideas For Pet Lovers
by Lynn Powers
There's nothing like getting paid to do something you love. The good news is, as an animal lover, opportunities abound for you to
do just that. If you're looking to start a home-based pet business but aren't sure which doggie path to take, check out these five options.
1. Pooper Scooper. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. And that's the whole point. There are many people who will gladly pay
for this service. Create a flyer that says something like, "Got Poop? I'll Scoop!" Then hand them out to your neighbors, relatives and friends. If they don't
have a dog, chances are they know someone who does and will pass the information along.
Another variation (if the yard doesn't need cleaning up) is offering to clean kitty litter boxes, bird and pocket pet cages, and fish
tanks/bowls/aquariums.
2. Pet Photographer. Why not combine your passion for photography with your love of animals? Practice on your own pets before offering
your services to others. Once you have the techniques down (because getting pets to sit still is definitely a technique!) come up with some creative props
and settings for different types of animals. Then think of something you can offer that's different from other photographers. This idea may take some time
to research and get in place, but the pay-off may be well worth it.
3. Pet Exercise. Are you looking to lose weight? How about getting paid to do it? Get in shape in no time while spending time with the
animals you love. This isn't limited to dog walking. Offer to play fetch in the backyard. Play with the cat. Or sit outside with a rabbit or guinea pig. Many
pet owners desire to do these things with their pets but often just don't have the time and have no problem paying someone to make sure their animals get
proper care and exercise.
4. Pet Items Delivery. Some pet items can conveniently be picked up during weekly grocery shopping. Other items need a special run to the
pet store. Why not contact potential customers and offer to make a weekly or bi-weekly run? Set aside specific days that you will make the necessary trip to
purchase the items that customers need for their pets. Personally deliver each customer's order, along with an itemized receipt. Charge a flat fee for each trip.
If a run to more than one store is necessary, charge a fee per stop. You'll find many people also tip for this service. It may take some time to develop your
customer base, but once you do, the sky is the limit. The only thing you have to worry about is fitting everything in your vehicle!
5. Grooming. This is the only idea listed here that requires some professional training. There are various dog grooming schools, including
some carefully monitored online courses that allow you to learn on your own. You'll need to decide whether you want to handle only the shampooing and hair
grooming or if you'll add things like nail trimming and ear cleaning. Gain sufficient experience by grooming your family pets and take photos to use as samples
when attracting new clients.
There will never be a shortage of people looking for good, quality care for their pets. And because you love animals, you may just be the
one to provide it.
About the Author: Visit WahmZone, the ultimate community for the Wahm and all
Work At Home Moms. Learn how to Work From Home as well.
Editor addendum note: Notice the article did not say "pet sitting"? If you know Robbins Pet Care, you know that we started out in the business of pet
sitting (and still do it for our most cherished customers in our area). If you have a love of animals and think this is something you might like to explore, we
suggest you speak with others in the area about it. It's really a seven-day work week for those serious about it - if you do not have a reliable back-up sitter. (And this does not mean your
significant other... think about all those vacations, day trips, etc that you will be spending alone, with friends only or not doing at all. Think about it - in order to get
enough clients to make a real work day, you will find they often roll into each other not leaving any free time gaps.) Trust me -- the significant other "speaking" here. And just by getting a co-partner (or two -- the more the better), does not guarantee they will be available to help pet sit when you are
wanting to take some time off. What often happens in pet sitting is this: You are either not busy enough to make it worthwhile (unless you are looking at part-time income only); or,
you are too busy -- stressed about how you will make all those pet sitting visits sometimes. Often, clients will want to know who is coming to their home anyway. There is a lot more trust involved with this line of business, than say,
dog walking where you would pick up the client's dog(s) likely when they are home themselves (but just too busy).
Do not be discouraged by these words -- just take them to heart. People's pets are family and not to be taken lightly (like, forgetting to make a visit). Often staff at
veterinarians' offices do moonlighting as pet sitters. Talk to your vet and see if any of them do to get their thoughts. Still thinking about? Okie-dokie, two pet sitting organizations worth looking into are NAPPS (National
Association of Professional Pet Sitters) and PSI (Pet Sitters International).
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Robbins Pet Care. All Rights Reserved. The products sold by Robbins Pet Care are not intended to be the sole source of treatment or to take the place of expert veterinarian care. Please consult with your veterinarian and ask about using a natural and alternative approach for the treatment of your pet.
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