Boost Your Income Challenge – Day 17

I don’t know about you but I LOVE animals, especially dogs at the moment. I actually can’t wait until we’re in the position to own our own dog. We talk about it so much but life’s just too busy at the moment for us to take on that responsibility.

In actual fact though, lots of pet owners find that they do struggle for time with their animals. And they’re willing to pay somebody to help them out.

There’s a real growing trend of people paying for somebody to walk their dog everyday or look after their pet when they’re on holiday. It’s becoming really big business!

I’ve seen three people in the last week alone asking in our local Facebook group for a pet sitter. And I live in a small town! It’s crazy!

If you have the time, the patience and you love animals, then there’s nothing to stop you cashing in on this demand.

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is pretty self-explanatory. You get paid for looking after other peoples pets. Depending on their requirements, this could actually involve a really wide range of scenarios. You could be asked to visit somebody’s home twice a day to feed the cat, or you could be asked to take an animal into your home whilst the owner goes away. This could be anything from a hamster or guinea big, to a great dane! Consider which animals you’re happy to care for before you start out.

If you’re considering pet sitting in your own home, then you need to consider a few things before you get started.

• Space – have you got the space to offer animals the exercise and fresh air they need whilst still keeping your home safe and clean for your own chidren.
• Time – are you at home all day, or are you prepared to be at home for most of the day whilst you’re pet sitting?
• Insurance – check that your home insurance policy covers you to run a business from your home – some don’t! Also, consider taking out extra insurance to cover any damage to your property AND to cover the pets you’re caring for.
• Garden – is your garden safe? Is it secure enough to prevent animals escaping? Are you 100% sure that any plants are safe for animals?

Dog Walking

Dog walkers have been popular for many years for people who can’t walk their dogs every day themselves. People who work full-time, or people who struggle with mobility will probably be your main customer base. My Grandma used a dog walker for her labrador when she just didn’t have the strength to do it herself any more.

Do some research into how much other people are charging and consider offering discounts for multiple bookings.

Again, you’ll need to think about public liability insurance to cover you and others whilst you’re out working.

It’s also a good idea to have an up-to-date criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This shows people that you take your business seriously, and reassures them if you need to have access to their property when they’re not home.