Do you love animals but can't have your own? Do you hate coming home to an empty house? If you answered yes to both questions, starting a house-sitting business may be perfect for you! But before you start advertising your services, there are a few things you need to do to set yourself up for success. So read on for our top 5 tips on how to start a successful house-sitting business.
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Define Your Services
The first step to starting any business is defining your services. What exactly will you be doing for your clients? Will you feed and walk the dog while they're away, or will you also take care of the plants and collect the mail? The more services you offer, the more attractive your business will be to potential clients. But beware of biting off more than you can chew—if you take on too many responsibilities, you may feel overwhelmed and stressed.
Set Your Rates
Once you've decided what services you'll be offering, it's time to set your rates. This can be tricky, as you don't want to charge too much and scare away potential clients, but you also want to select only a little and end up undervaluing your services. You can constantly adjust your rates as needed once you get a few clients under your belt.
Create a Professional Profile
Now that you know what services you will offer and how much you will charge for them, it's time to start marketing your business! The best way to do this is by creating a professional profile on a site like Rover or Care.com. Be sure to include lots of pictures of yourself with animals and any relevant experience or qualifications (e.g., certifications in pet first aid).
Get the Word Out
In addition to creating a profile on Rover or Care.com, there are plenty of other ways to get the word out about your new business. For example, post flyers in local pet stores. Enhance this effort by implementing a strategic leaflet distribution plan and placing your materials in high-traffic areas that pet owners frequent. This targeted leaflet distribution can significantly increase your business’s visibility and attract clients who value personalized pet care. Or, consider veterinary offices or create social media accounts dedicated to your business (use relevant hashtags so people can find you!). You can even go old-school and hand out business cards wherever pet owners are likely to congregate— dog parks, for example.
Keep Your Clients Happy
Last but not least, keeping your clients happy is essential if you want your business to succeed. This means showing up on time for appointments, being communicative if there are any changes or delays, and, most importantly, taking good care of their pets! You should also consider keeping a list of emergency numbers on hand in case of any last-minute emergencies (for example, MotorCity Plumbing and Drain Cleaning if there's a plumbing emergency). Doing all these things will help ensure your clients are satisfied and return to you for future services.
Starting a house-sitting business is a great way to make extra money while spending time with animals—but it's not as simple as just showing up and collecting a paycheck. You need to do a few things first if you want your business to succeed. Define your services, set competitive prices, create a professional profile, market yourself effectively, and always put the needs of your client's pets first. If you follow these steps, you'll be well on your way to building a successful house-sitting business in no time!
