How to Start a Pet Care Services Business ~ Grooming Walking Boarding



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Released 11/29/2007

Petcare Services
Pet Care Service
Dog Walking Service
Grooming and Bathing Service
Pet Sitting Service
Pet Boarding Service
Dog and Cat Care Services
Pet Taxi and Emergency Service
Pet Clean Up Service
Barkery Gourmet Food Service
Animal Trainer

Breaking Into and Succeeding in Pet Care Services
Starting A Pet Service Business
Becoming A Professional Pet Care Provider

I love animals, but I’m not a 'trained' animal anything. Can I?

Almost none of the successful professionals we contacted during the writing of this book had ever had any training before they began their business. This is not to say that it is not a good thing to receive proper training before taking the steps of opening your own business, but it does say that it is not a necessity by any means. The greatest training you can have under your belt when you are considering this career is at least some experience with animals.

This experience can come from your own personal pets, volunteer work at shelters, and various jobs in the industry. Probably the one service that requires the most technical knowledge would be an animal trainer, but even many of them have been self-taught through various books and personal experiences.

The most valuable training besides some knowledge of animals will then be any business knowledge that you may have. This is also a business as well as a pleasure you have to remember, so it will help to treat it as one and have the proper software for accounting and have the ability to keep track of clients and invoices on a daily basis.

I love animals, particularly dogs, what service/business I can start that doesn’t require much start-up capital?

Of the services described in the book, the ones that require the least capital would be dog walker, dog sitting (home based), clean-up service, dog grooming (at customer's home), pet trainer, pet gourmet treat maker and, of course, an artist. The dog walker, trainer and sitter has the least amount of materials that will be required, while clean-up, grooming and cook, will involve a few specialized items and equipment right off the bat.

The pet store and pet daycare will need to have a space purchased/rented and set aside for use with the business. Grooming and training may also benefit greatly from a store front space, but it will not be a necessity in the beginning.

Many of these opportunities allow the entrepreneur to build their business slowly along with their available capital. There are opportunities for using your home in a few of these businesses as long as you are not in violation of your local zoning laws. Sometimes it is a good idea to start small and allow the business to grow along with your own experience and wealth. But if you are certain that this is the career for you, allow your confidence and enthusiasm to pull you through.

Taking care of animals, it’s a dirty job, isn’t it?

This is one of those questions that is a definite yes and no. Of course anytime that you are dealing with nature and animals you are risking the possibility of befalling a little dirt here and there, but most people do not see this as getting dirty anymore than an artist would call getting a little paint on his hands as dirty. A few of these career options are certainly more prone to getting dirtier than others and if you have a problem with this, then you might want to consider a slightly different area in the pet service field.

Pet grooming is probably the most dirty of these services as you will be hands on the animals at all time. But at the same time, when you are finished, they will be very clean. Dog walking, training, sitting, daycare and taxi have the possibility of getting dirty in the case of an unexpected accident and the most clean of these will be the pet clean-up, store, artist and gourmet as they will involve very little contact with the actual animals. But in general, the perks of this career far outweigh any possibility of getting the occasional dirt on you. So, unless you have a real phobia for dirt, then this should not be of major concern for you.

Can one really make a living from starting a pet care service business?

Every successful business owner we spoke to had ranged from making either a comfortable living to living well beyond their means. The pet service industry is no different than any other business in that you will get out of it what you put in. Some of business owners we spoke with preferred to keep their business personal and local, and make a good living, while others have more of an entrepreneurial spirit and go national and create a virtual pet empire.

The pet service industry is booming right now as people have taken claim to their pets with as much enthusiasm as their own family members. This is a billion dollar industry today and if animals are a true passion for you, then you will probably not have a problem making a living within the first several months or year. A lot of this will depend on your location and services you are providing, but this will all be addressed in the following sections.

I don’t think I have the start-up capital to start something like a daycare, how about a dog walker?

Yes, a dog walker would be a good choice here, but you also have to remember that many dog care facilities begin from home, or sometimes even in the client’s home. One alternative to the traditional daycare facility is to travel to the client’s home and then feed, water, take outside and play with the pet for a set time. When you are finished, you can then travel to your next destination and do the same thing. This is especially effective with cats, but people who work in the day and do not want the high cost of round the clock daycare will sometimes use this as an alternative.

Creativity will be your greatest limit when you are dealing with a limited capital to begin with. There are many ways to start a business with the least amount of money necessary, but it may take a bit of creative thinking to get it off the ground. Remember that a lot of people find more convenience with services coming to their own door and this relieves you as the owner from having a facility to perform the service. Once your business begins to establish itself, then you can consider using your profits to invest more capital in the further growth of your business.

Can I make a living being a dog walker?

From the business owners we have spoke with, this answer is a definite yes. The easiest way to see the possibilities is to think of it this way. An average dog walker will make about $30 to $35 per pet that they take out on a two to three hour walk. Most walkers can handle between six to eight dogs without a problem. They will have a group they take in the morning and then one in the afternoon. If you calculate the earning potential of this scenario you get about $360 to $560 per day.

Of course the world is not always perfect and there will be times when you only have two or three dogs (especially in the beginning), but it is clear to see the potential of such a business. This is truly one of those businesses that you can make as much money as you are willing to work for.

So, you want to become a six-figure dog walker? Not impossible at all. It does, however, take extra perseverance.

If you want to get into the six-figure earnings for a yearly income, that is even possible. All you would need to do is hire several dog walkers and take a percentage of their daily income of dogs walked. In this scenario, it is clear to see how as much as several thousand could be cleared per day if you had enough employees working with you. The possibilities and earning potential are as endless as you want them to be.

Plus, look at these statistics if you still do not see the great potential here:

• There are 75 million pet dogs in the United States and 88 million pet cats.
• This year people will invest $40 billion to keep their furry friends fed, adorned, amused, and healthy.
• By the end of the decade, it is thought we will be spending $50 billion on pet products, according to the APPMA.
• 47% of pet owners consider their pets a full-fledged family member.

I’m afraid of the liabilities concerning the well-being of the animals. Is it expensive to be bonded and insured?

It is actually not as expensive to insure yourself against an accident as you would think. Just a couple hundred dollars will give you full coverage in most cases and leave you with nothing to worry about should anything happen. A lot of people are worried about the possibilities of an unfortunate accident happening and they allow this to get in the way of pursuing their dream.

The best way to think about it, is that you are going into business to save animals from such accidents by running your business well. There are many pet service businesses in the world, but some of them are not as safe or well kept as they should be. By promising yourself to do the best job you possibly can, you have already saved many pets from unfortunate accidents that should have never happened. In actuality, a well-run business will protect the well being of animals more than anything.

Outlook of Animal Care Industry

The animal care business is made up mostly of people most interested in part-time jobs. The fact that many of these people change jobs, often leave an open door for many people to have an opportunity to learn through these positions. Such jobs include vet technicians, zoo helpers and assistants for daycare facilities, grooming shops and animal shelters.

The US Department of Labor claims this occupation to have a greater than average growth rate for the next seven years. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 172,000 workers held jobs in the pet service industry in 2004. Most of these are self employed and work primarily in kennels, grooming shops, veterinary clinics, hospitals, and shelters. Jobs in the zoo will have substantially more competition, due to their popularity with the public.

The demand for pet service caretakers is predicted to grow due to the baby boomer generation growing older and finding themselves unable to care for their pet and require assistance. This, plus the fact that pets are gradually becoming considered a member of families is going to bring a greater need for quality products and care in the pet industry.
Earnings

Earnings will vary in this industry depending on the exact job you have. In general, the average assistant position will earn a median rate of between $7.16 and $10.50 an hour. The top 10% of these assistant positions will earn over $13.66. In general, personal services and sport technicians will earn the most, while organizations pay in the middle and retail stores and science departments pay the lowest. Animal trainers are considered to be in a slightly different bracket and earn a median rate of $8.10 and $15.23 an hour, with $7.07 being the lowest and over $20.62 as the highest.

Do not allow these numbers to discourage you as they represent the very bottom end jobs. In general, the possibility of a higher income comes from entrepreneurship, which is what much of this book will be focusing on. The higher numbers are not covered by the Bureau of Labor's statistics because they represent only the top 10% of workers. You must keep in mind that 70% to 80% of these people are satisfied with their earnings and do not strive to earn more.

The pet service industry is very much in your own hands as a self employed individual, so much of your potential will depend on the personal investment you are willing to give to this career.

The other end of your potential will rely on the strength of the economy and people's willingness to pamper their pets with the same amenities as themselves. At the present moment, the economy is fairly strong and the pet service industry is booming.

So, as a pet care business owner, how much you can earn annually?
Disclaimer: these figures are approximately, depending on the scope of business and number of clienteles.

Dog Walker: $30,000+
Pet Clean Up Service: $60,000+
Pet Taxi: $40,000+
Dog Daycare: $200,000+ in big cities
Pet Grooming: $100,000+
Pet Store: $50,000+
Pet Trainer: $80,000+
Gourmet Pet Food: $45,000+

About the Authors

Jennie S. Bev is THE fashion, image and fun careers expert, whose reputation has been acknowledged by prestigious media internationally. She has been profiled and mentioned in Entrepreneur, Teen People, Canadian Business, Home Business, Dong (France), San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Daily Southtown, The Arizona Republic, Chic (UK/Asia), Fit (Asia), Femina (Asia) and Dewi (Asia).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev was named an EPPIE Award finalist in Non-Fiction How To category for excellence in electronic publishing. She has published over 80 books and 1,000 articles in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Southeast Asia. She is also a college professor based in San Francisco Bay Area.

Co-author Eric J. Leech was born into this world without a GI Joe (with a Kung Fu grip) or silver spoon, Eric J. Leech grew up on the streets of the small town of Grand Junction, Colorado. After high school, Eric found his way to Colorado State University where he attained four degrees in Psychology, Social Sciences, English and Theater Arts.

Eric has since put every degree to good use with a variety of career accomplishments. These accomplishments include seven years as an actor/model and Production Assistant for various television and film projects. He also maintained a successful business as the co-owner of an outdoor living structure design company for several years before pursuing his full-time career as a freelance columnist/writer.

Since that decision Eric has been featured on such international magazines as the Circle (India), Urban Male Magazine (Canada), UNO (Philippines) and Coffee House Digest (International).

This 90-page instantly downloadable StyleCareer.com eGuide Breaking Into and Succeeding in Pet Care Services brings you valuable insider tips, advice and suggestions not available elsewhere to help you embark on this highly lucrative career path. It is a great starting point where you would be able to find out where to find additional information required.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Myths, Realities, and Basics
I love animals, but I’m not a 'trained' animal anything. Can I?
I love animals, particularly dogs, what service/business I can start that doesn’t require much start-up capital?
Taking care of animals, it’s a dirty job, isn’t it?
Can one really make a living from starting a pet care service business?
I don’t think I have the start-up capital to start something like a daycare, how about a dog walker?
Can I make a living being a dog walker?
I’m afraid of the liabilities concerning the well-being of the animals. Is it expensive to be bonded and insured?

Pet Care Services in A Nutshell
Statistics of the Industry
Outlook
Earnings
Pet Care Service Options and Specializations to Consider
Dog walking
Pet Clean Up Service
Pet Taxi
Dog Sitting (at Home)
Dog Daycare (Traditional Kennel vs. Cageless)
Pet Grooming (Dogs and Cats)
Pet Store
Pet Trainer
Animal Artist
Gourmet Pet Food

Earning Potential Scenarios
Dog Walker
Pet Clean Up Service
Pet Taxi
Dog Daycare
Pet Grooming
Pet Store
Pet Trainer
Gourmet Pet Food

Getting Trained
In Animal Handling and Behavior
In Dog Handling and Training
Upfitting
Customer Care
Getting Trained in Dog and Cat Grooming

Starting the Business
Why Combining Several Services is Preferable
Keeping up with Trends of Entrepreneurship and Specialization
Purchasing Franchises
Pros and Cons of Purchasing Franchise Businesses
Keeping up with Trends in Franchising
Business Licenses and Zoning

Specialization
Equipments Required
Pricing
Dog Groomer
Pet Clean-up
Dog Walking
Pet Sitting
Pet Taxi
Equipment Wholesalers
Trade and Professional Organizations

Success Profiles

This eGuide literally saves you hundreds of dollars spent on professional workshops and training and hundreds of hours of research. It will help you break into the career of your dream faster without having to repeat the same mistakes that most newcomers do.

You can have this exclusive eGuide right away by instant download for only $26.95, which you will earn many times over with your first paid job. This special low discount price is reserved for today, Friday, September 05, 2008 only. (Regular price: $36.95)

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as in Pet Care Services
90 Pages
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