Start a pet sitting business, they said! Play with animals all day, they said! It’ll be great, they said! All joking aside, it is true that there are some perks to starting a pet sitting business, but there are also a lot of things to be considered before you take the plunge. Today, we’re going to talk about five specific questions that you need to answer before starting a pet sitting business.
Why Am I Starting a Pet Sitting Business?
When you start a business without knowing why, it’s like throwing some flour, a couple of eggs, and milk in a bowl and expecting it to turn into a cake. You have to bake with clear purpose and intent, or you will end up wasting your ingredients. Since the components to create a business are a lot more expensive than some flour and eggs, this is not the place to experiment!
If you are looking to start a pet sitting business just because you hate your job, reconsider. That is not the best reason to be starting your own business. Just because it is a low-cost industry, filled with fun animals, does not make it easy. You need to believe in your services 100%! You are there to help people solve a real problem in their life, and it is an impactful responsibility to consider. If there is a need in your community, and starting a pet sitting business will fill it, then your heart is in the right place.
Do I Need Money Immediately?
No business makes money immediately, and a pet sitting company is no exception. It will take time to build up a solid base of clients to make money. So, despite the low starting capital required for a pet sitting business, you won’t be making money right out the gate either. You’ll need to keep a second income stream until your business gets going. Make sure you have all your other needs sorted before you start, or your life will become quite complicated.
Do I Understand the Industry?
You need to know what you are getting into before you start any business. Have you worked as a pet sitter? Have you employed a pet sitter before? Experience can come from many places. For example, if you’ve been working with animals in a veterinarian’s office, then you already have a great foundation. However, you’ll want to consider getting some real pet sitting practice before actually opening a business. Consider talking to a nearby pet sitting business owner about working for them to get a good idea of the industry.
Do you remember that baking analogy we used earlier? Trying to run a pet sitting business without experience is like trying to bake a cake when you’ve only ever made a pie. It’s not even remotely the same thing, and you are going to end up with a sweet pile of mush if you are not prepared. So, it is best to know the full weight of a business before you begin.
Am I Mentally Tough Enough?
Starting a business is not for the faint of heart, even if it’s days are full of time with fluffy kitties and sweet puppies! There are a lot of things you have to do as a business owner. You have to buckle down and learn a lot of skills you have never dreamed of having to do. For instance: accounting, marketing, customer service, and perhaps most intimidating of all, website owner (that alone is intimidating). The learning curve you are facing is quite steep, so be honest with yourself. If you find that new challenges stress you out, and you prefer to avoid them, it’s a sign. A sign that you aren’t quite ready to start a pet sitting business.
There is a difference between creating a job for yourself and starting a business. This article from Entrepreneur explains it quite nicely.
Am I Starting a Pet Sitting Business for Freedom?
People often speak about starting your own business like it is the ultimate in freedom. You do what you want when you want it, and the money shows up in your bank account. It sounds like a dream, right?
That’s because it is. Being a business owner is not a passive income. Once you embark on this journey, you will probably always be concerned about your business. You’ll be worried about it when you wake up, the problems will haunt your dreams, and the uncertainty of the economy will always be there in the back of your head. There are no weekends off from being a business owner- especially when starting a pet sitting business. You may be free of other people calling the shots at work, but the trade-off for that is shouldering that burden yourself. The grass isn’t always greener, but it seems to be lush in different places.
The Harsh Realities of Starting a Pet Sitting Business
We laid out some hefty truths today, but just like medicine, think of it as a necessary bitterness. That’s what PetBrainy is here to do- help interested people like you create a thriving pet sitting business for the good of people and pets everywhere. Trust us! We’re pro-business owners and have been where you are! While we are on that topic, make sure to come back next week to learn the story of our founder, Shelley Beyer!
Now that you have asked yourself all of the questions, do you feel a passionate drive to serve your community? Do you feel like you are prepared financially and mentally for the hard work ahead? If you have decided to take the plunge, then we’d like to welcome you to our furry family! Pet sitters are the heroes of the pet world, and that makes you Nick Fury- but more friendly, of course.
Though, you won’t want to do it alone. After all, why should you stumble blindly in the dark? PetBrainy is here to turn the light on for you. CLICK HERE to sign up for our waitlist to join our community of pet sitters helping each other to thrive and grow.
See you soon!
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