Turn Dog Walking into a Profitable Business Professional dog walking is a booming business. Over forty percent of U.S. households include a dog and the number is rising steadily. No wonder, then, that demand for dog walking services also keeps growing. But there’s a huge difference between throwing a leash on a few dogs and charging for it and running a professional dog walking business. To be a successful dog walker, you must be dog savvy and business savvy. Veronica Boutelle has helped thousands of dog walkers set up and run successful enterprises. This book tells you how. Find Out: • What it takes to make a lucrative living walking dogs • How to set up your business for success from the get-go • What you need to know about dog behavior and safety • How to stand out with targeted marketing in a competitive field
Setting up and running a successful dog-related business is an achievement in itself ... but the real test is to build success and growth for the long haul --Publisher's description.
Just fifteen years ago, “pet sitter” meant the kid down the street who helped feed pets when the neighbors traveled. Today, this fledgling field is fast becoming an established profession. Combining the appeal of working with animals, a viable customer base, and truly low start-up costs, it is for many people the ideal home-based business. And yet its “fun” aspects are often overshadowed by the daunting tasks of registering the business, purchasing insurance, and knowing what first steps to take and how to continue from there. With a simple, step-by-step format, How to Start a Home-Based Pet Sitting Business guides aspiring pet sitters from the dreaming stage to the doing stage more clearly and comprehensively than any such book to date.
Veronica Boutelle, the industry’s top consultant, writes for the non-business savvy dog pro, sharing the detailed information you need to start, operate, and prosper in the dog world in clear, easy-to-read language. This second edition, incorporating Veronica’s ten years of experience helping dog pros succeed, included additional advice on packaging services, setting policies, and avoiding burnout, an expanded marketing chapter and resources section, and two entirely new chapters covering online marketing and developing the perfect staff.
"This innovative book shows you how to turn a struggling pet business into a lucrative, stress-free enterprise. You will learn how to create the foundation to build a six-figure pet business, ensure business success from the start, plan your work and work your plan with the one-hour business-plan, removes the roadblocks to let financial abundance flow in, understand your commitment and value in business, easily work with business financials and spreadsheets, market and sell to generate real results, find, work with and keep staff--and the secrets to hiring with ease, set powerful goals to achieve pet business success. -- P. [4] of cover.
Written by a dog-walking pioneer, this book provides all the information anyone would need to start up his or her own dog walking business. Presented in twelve well-defined steps, the author's action model incorporates everything from business basics to the fundamentals of animal psychology. Supported by a strong website and ancillary materials including a training DVD, the book will appeal to those seeking financial freedom at the end of a leash. FROM THE BACK COVER: WARNING: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Known to cause side effects such as happiness and fulfillment According to many experts, dog walking is currently the fastest growing area in the professional pet care industry and it shows no sign of slowing down. More American households have dogs than ever before! Whether you have been dreaming of escaping the 9-5 grind, or just love dogs and want to work with them, this book will help you take this growing industry by the leash and profit from it. This easy to follow step-by-step guide to starting your own dog walking business teaches: * How to assess the number of clients you ll need to meet your financial goals using case studies and formulas that work (page 12) * What services will creatively sell your business and lead the competition (page 16) * How to create a winning web presence that promotes customer confidence and sells your business 24 hours a day * How to create a professional welcome packet step-by-step (page 31) * How on-the-fly photo updates can enrich your service by promoting human interaction and involvement, leading to more referrals and additional income from advertising (page 124) * Professional advertising strategies revealed in detail and highlighted with examples that will quickly turn your business idea into profit-making reality (page 53) FROM THE AUTHOR: A dog walker's job, focus, and service is very different than a pet sitter's, and the hours are much more conducive to stay-at-home parents, students, and retired persons. The bulk of a dog walker's work happens between the hours of 10am and 3pm. However with puppy-care, and a 3x per day schedule, you'll be starting a bit earlier and finishing a bit later. Dog walking is also a great way to supplement a dog training business! Dog walking is a Zen-like business model, provides a steady predictable income, and your customer base is much, much larger. Dog walking is for the most part recession proof. American households with dogs have increased exponentially. According to the APPA pet-related spending in 2008 will likely exceed $10.5 billion. We aren't going to get rid of our pets, and we aren't going to stop working and commuting. Therefore dog walkers will still be needed, even in a down economy.
Starting a new pet sitting or dog walking business is an incredibly exciting time! You've decided to turn your love of pet care into a career, but it can be easy to get lost in the dream of being your own boss, growing your company, and having the financial freedom you've always wanted. This book shows you step by step how to have your own dog sitting and dog walking business. Everything is included that you'll need to start your dog walking or dog sitting business. You'll get detailed information of what to do and what kind of record keeping you'll need. Plus, you'll get samples of every form you'll need.
Starting a new pet sitting or dog walking business is an incredibly exciting time! You've decided to turn your love of pet care into a career, but it can be easy to get lost in the dream of being your own boss, growing your company, and having the financial freedom you've always wanted. This book shows you step by step how to have your own dog sitting and dog walking business. Everything is included that you'll need to start your dog walking or dog sitting business. You'll get detailed information of what to do and what kind of record keeping you'll need. Plus, you'll get samples of every form you'll need.
Whether you're looking to make a little money on the side, or develop a full-time career as a dog walker, this book is filled with helpful information to set you on the right path to success. And it is all taken from someone who is actually living it out, day to day, in his own dog walking business. The potential for developing a thriving dog walking business has never been greater. Suburban Dog Walking will help you if you're just getting started, or if you've been dog walking for a while and really want to see your business thrive. In the back of the book, you'll also find links to downloadable content that will help you manage your income and expenses, keep track of the daily walks, and prepare you to walk into a consultation with a new client looking like a professional. The downloads are worth more than the price of the book, and the book content is great, too!
Have lots of people told you that you have a natural talent when it comes to caring for dogs? It comes naturally. Dogs simply love you. They respond to you. And you, too, are happiest when you're in the presence of your 4-legged friends. Since caring for dogs comes so naturally to you, and since you enjoy it so much, why not create a source of income from it? The idea, in concept, is a good one. But no matter how good you are with dogs, the business side of dogs has nothing to do with the dogs themselves. The time you spend with them is only part of the greater picture of owning and running a successful business. For a business to thrive, you need to start to think like an entrepreneur. Not to worry though; I'm here to help you do exactly that! A successful business has character. It becomes a local household name. To become a local household name, you will need to learn the basics of market research, advertising, record-keeping, and honesty in practice. This book is designed to teach you everything you need to know to start a successful dog walking or pet sitting business. A Glossary of Resources is also available at the end of this book to help you expand your knowledge and extend your reach. This is a helpful list of smart phone applications, certifications, and websites that will make the business of your business a little easier to manage. If you're ready to finally have your dream job while at the same time establishing your business's reputation and your own financial independence, then let's get started!
