If I wanted to become a $100K dog walker/ pet sitter...

[TheLittleRoo]

how would I get started? Seriously, this is a fair question because I'd like to go back to work but hate to get back into my old job with 30% overnight travel.

I love animals, particularly dogs and cats. We don't have a dog and I am the person who goes up to every dog-owner walking a dog past my yard and pets and loves on their dog(s). I tell my kids we don't have a dog of our own, we just "rent" them.

I have a marketing/ finance double major, and have a better than average sales performance at my old job. I love targeting markets and designing campaigns to reach that market. My problem is, I just don't know how this service is marketed to the end-users. Where do you find your customers, and what are the qualifications they are looking for in you and your service? I would assume that people would want a vet tech or some other animal background person. I would also assume this is a heavy word-of-mouth marketed service, similar to a realtor's situation.

How would you get started in this business? FYI I live in Northern VA if that matters- - if you're a successful pet service provider, please share some of your tips! Or if you've tried it and failed, please share those pitfalls too! Thanks!

 

[Planogirl]

A local place is always looking for pet sitters/dog walkers but they don't pay anywhere close to that. It must depend on where you live.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

A local place is always looking for pet sitters/dog walkers but they don't pay anywhere close to that. It must depend on where you live.

See, that's what I always notice in the postings too. Dog walkers wanted ads. Well, someone is doing well enough to be hiring! I want to be that person.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

We found our petsitter through word-of-mouth from our local SPCA, where I also volunteer every so often.

I know other pet owners will ask for recommendations from their vet, groomer, Petco/Petsmart puppy class instructor, local specialty pet supply store, etc. so those are the places to advertise or get friendly with the owners/staff.

It helps to have some sort of insurance as you'll be taking care of animals that can bite/hurt you while on someone else's property. They'll also be trusting you with a key to their house which can incur some liability. Our pet sitter is bonded and insured and is also a certified animal behaviorist. The last part was a huge selling point for us as I wanted someone who not only loved animals but knew how to read them and understood their thought processes and could help us work with any behavior issues we might have.

I also insisted on someone who focused on positive reinforcement training - none of the old school yanking and jerking with a choke collar or incredibly outdated and dangerous alpha rolls or other nonsense.

Lots of folks will want you to give their pets medications which can include insulin injections, pills, and other potentially unpleasant things. If you've got experience doing these things with dogs or cats who may put up a fuss then you're way ahead of the game.

Pet sitting is a service job and you've got to have the mentality of being able to deal with folks who may be a bit rude - I'm not at all saying the majority of people are but I've seen my fair share of folks who treat those in the service professions as less than equal.

Our sitter sends us a nightly email with an update of how the pups did which is nice and also leaves us a written checklist detailing each visit.

Having a professional website is a great plus as it makes the company seem so much more "believable", if that makes sense.

These are the top selling points I looked for in our pet sitter - I'm presuming your future clients would be looking for similar qualities.

Do a Google search for pet sitters in your area to get a feel for service rates and offerings. If you'd like, I'll PM you our sitter's website as it's very representative of our area of NJ.

 

[princessmom29]

If you find out let the rest of us in on the secret b/c I can't imagine there are more than a couple people in the country that make that much dog walking, and they work for poeple like Madonna!!!!

 

[crisi]

We found our petsitter in the phonebook. But I think your best bet is vets. Plan on several years to build up a business - you won't make $100k starting out. Also recognize that people want full service - which means they want to be able to leave town over Christmas and know that Fluffy gets her walk and gets fed on Christmas day. They want to leave town for the weekend. I'd imagine that until you get to the point that you have true "staff" - its a seven day a week job.

Also, make sure to have a backup. I really don't care if my petsitter is sick, I'm paying him to walk my dog. For him, his dad is his usual backup - if he takes vacation or isn't well, I get his dad.

 

[RobinFabulous]

Look into being bonded, and insured. That way you can put it on your busniess cards!!!

 

[tasha99]

To make that kind of money, you hire employees to walk dogs--they get minimum wage, you get the rest of what they're paid. You'd have to advertise (yellow page ads are very expensive--where I work we pay $1000/month for a teenie tiny ad). That's the only way I see you making that kind of money, but it's also not without risk. Probably best to build slowly, starting with just you then adding employees as you get more business than you can handle.

 

[crisi]

Also keep in mind that you are self employed. You might make $100k in revenue once you build up a client base - but you'll pay self employment taxes. There will be wear and tear on your car and gas. You'll want insurance. You'll need to invest in poopy scoop bags and doggie treats. Our dog walker walks the dog through the rain, through the Minnesota winter. But its probably pretty low overhead.

 

[dis-happy]

Where do you live? Anywhere near farmland? Around here the big money makers are those who are willing/able to take care of someone's horses or goats and chickens, plus cats and dogs while the owners are away on vacation. We live in a large city but the country isn't far off on the outskirts.

 

[ticktock]

To make that kind of money, you hire employees to walk dogs--they get minimum wage, you get the rest of what they're paid. You'd have to advertise (yellow page ads are very expensive--where I work we pay $1000/month for a teenie tiny ad). That's the only way I see you making that kind of money, but it's also not without risk. Probably best to build slowly, starting with just you then adding employees as you get more business than you can handle.

And then you'll have to deal with those employees whining that they don't get paid 90% of what you charge. I remember a thread on here a while back from an employee of a pet sitting service complaining that the owner had raised the rates but she hadn't gotten a raise. If running a business was so easy we'd all be independently wealthy, right?

Good luck and know that you have to be willing to put in two to four times the amount of time/effort most people put into their "working for the man" jobs to run a successful business that makes real money.

 

[Clemson Cruiser]

I own my own petsitting business, and have been doing it for three years. There are pros and cons, as with any job, but I will try and let you know mine from experience.

Pros- Your clients are pets and are mostly easy to deal with. After your initial consultation with the "parent" most of your contact with them is through daily notes and an occasional call, etc.

You can be flexible because you are your own boss and if you are working late nights, early mornings or months without a break its because YOU chose to do so, not someone else making you do it!

You meet some awesome people that become like family to you because they are trusting you with a member of their family.

You feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish a job, especially when you win over a difficult animal, etc.

Start up costs aren't too bad...mine were less than $1000. You could probably start for less than $500. Insurance is a must, and runs around $300 for a year.

Now for the cons-

Unless you live in an area that you can charge high rates, you will not get wealthy at this job. I charge $15 per visit (30 minutes) and after you factor in time to and from the job and gas that really cuts into your per hour rate. I started as a stay at home mom and built my business without the pressure of having to replace a salary so that helped.

Long hours...sometimes very long. I have worked 16 hour days only to have to get up the next day and do it again. I have worked an entire month without a day off too.

Working all holidays! Its hard to get up at 4 am on Christmas morning to try and make it home at a reasonable time to watch my kids enjoy Santa presents! Some holidays can be quiet though, ie. I have nothing for the fourth weekend!

there is alot of responsibility involved. Not only are you responsible for the safety of your pets your watching, but the house and property as well.

Pain in the butt clients (Humans and Pets!). I could write a book on some of the unusual requests that people have when it comes to their pets!

Most of the cons of the job can be eliminated by your realizing that you control your job and don't overbook yourself, work too many holidays or pick up too many pain in the butt clients.

The best advice I can give is to join the About Petsitting group on Yahoo...you must contact the moderator and ask permission to join, and answer some questions. You will learn so much from this group, more than you ever wanted or needed to know, such as where to purchase insurance, whether to become an LLC, how to choose a name, etc.


An awesome website is a must, 95% of my business comes from mine, the rest is word of mouth.

Also, the economy has not affected my business at all (knock on wood!), so don't let anyone try to tell you that it might

 

[Floridagal23]

If you are in NoVa, you should try putting cards out in whole foods by clarendon and dupont circle for sure. Maybe some gyms or yoga studios in those areas, too- and there are a bunch of boutique type pet stores. I live in Dupont and always see a dog walker in my building with tons of dogs - business must be pretty good! Lots of young professionals in those areas who can't commute home to walk the dog mid day.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

how would I get started? Seriously, this is a fair question because I'd like to go back to work but hate to get back into my old job with 30% overnight travel.

I have a marketing/ finance double major, and have a better than average sales performance at my old job. I love targeting markets and designing campaigns to reach that market. My problem is, I just don't know how this service is marketed to the end-users. Where do you find your customers, and what are the qualifications they are looking for in you and your service? I would assume that people would want a vet tech or some other animal background person. I would also assume this is a heavy word-of-mouth marketed service, similar to a realtor's situation.

How would you get started in this business? FYI I live in Northern VA if that matters- - if you're a successful pet service provider, please share some of your tips! Or if you've tried it and failed, please share those pitfalls too! Thanks!

There is HUGE money in dog walking. My friend dog walks at a condo complex - all her clients come from the same building. She gets great referrals, only has to drive to one location.

She spends 20 minutes with a dog or cat. $25 per visit. Currently she has 15 pets she sees M-F. Occasionally she does weekend work for overtime.

I do not think it is particularly hard to start up - for most people with a marketing/finance major it would be a snap.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

There is HUGE money in dog walking. My friend dog walks at a condo complex - all her clients come from the same building. She gets great referrals, only has to drive to one location.

She spends 20 minutes with a dog or cat. $25 per visit. Currently she has 15 pets she sees M-F. Occasionally she does weekend work for overtime.

I do not think it is particularly hard to start up - for most people with a marketing/finance major it would be a snap.

Now that's a GREAT idea! A couple of neighboring condo buildings and a promo introductory price to build a clientele... your friend is making about $97K in revenue @ $25 per visit and 15 pets 5x/week. 20 minutes per pet = 5 hours/ day of actual walking and playing with the animals, which would be so much fun anyway! (with most pets, I know there can be the surly pets/ owners).

I'll definitely look into the Petsitting board today - thanks for the tip!

 

[CarolA]

Key is the location you live in.....and the existing competetion.

New York City, parts of California and other high cost areas it's going to be a lot easier then in low cost areas.

Facts of life... the $100 K dogsitter on the other thread lives in a high cost area.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our pet sitter charges $25 per visit. We just have cats, so we have her come in every other day if we are gone for a week. If we are gone 2 weeks she comes in every day the second week because the cats start to get a little stressed. We currently have a kitten so she will be here daily when we are gone next month. When he gets older we will switch back to every other day.

My friends used to live in a loft downtown, and she cared for LOTS of pets in their building. I would always see her going in and out with the dogs, and that is how I met her. Many of those folks had to travel on business so she had an INCREDIBLE amount of revenue from that single site. She has shifted her focus more to behavior/training, but she does still do pet sitting.

A friend of mine just started a pet sitting business, and I noticed on her website that she requires her clients to have minimum one visit per day. I think she is charging $20 per visit.

 

[PinkRhombus]

People really spend...$500 a month ....having someone let their dog out to pee?

 

[crisi]

People really spend...$500 a month ....having someone let their dog out to pee?

And get exercise. We don't spend that much because we only have him come a few times a week because someone is home the other days (and we stopped for the summer). But our dog is kenneled during the day - it really doesn't seem fair to own a dog to put him in a box for nine hours a day.

 

[donald&daisy]

And get exercise. We don't spend that much because we only have him come a few times a week because someone is home the other days (and we stopped for the summer). But our dog is kenneled during the day - it really doesn't seem fair to own a dog to put him in a box for nine hours a day.

ITA! We take our two dogs to daycare if we are both going to be gone more than 5-6 hours tops. Its $26 a day total for both of them but they love it and get lots of exercise and interaction with other dogs. We just finished law school so before we only took them a couple of days a week, I imagine when we start working (please let me pass the bar) we will take them at least three days a week. It would be 5 but my parents like to keep them on Mondays and Fridays. There's definitely a market for pet care. I would need references, insurance, and a competent acting person.