Preface |
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xi | |
Acknowledgments |
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xv | |
Introduction |
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1 | (10) |
Chapter 1: The Concept of Pet Sitting |
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11 | (10) |
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What Makes Pet Sitting a Great Career |
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12 | (2) |
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Alternatives to Pet Sitting |
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14 | (2) |
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The Advantages of Operating a Pet-Sitting Service |
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16 | (1) |
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17 | (1) |
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17 | (1) |
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18 | (3) |
Chapter 2: Getting Started |
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21 | (24) |
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21 | (4) |
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Pet Sitters International |
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25 | (2) |
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27 | (2) |
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29 | (2) |
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31 | (1) |
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31 | (1) |
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32 | (1) |
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Basic Office Supplies and Furnishings |
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33 | (3) |
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36 | (2) |
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Structuring Your Business |
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38 | (1) |
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38 | (1) |
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39 | (1) |
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40 | (2) |
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42 | (3) |
Chapter 3: Office Procedures |
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45 | (34) |
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45 | (4) |
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49 | (3) |
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52 | (3) |
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55 | (1) |
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55 | (5) |
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60 | (1) |
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61 | (1) |
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Determining Service Areas |
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61 | (1) |
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62 | (4) |
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66 | (1) |
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67 | (1) |
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68 | (2) |
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Initial Client Interviews |
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70 | (2) |
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Handling Customer Complaints |
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72 | (1) |
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Handling Delinquent Accounts |
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73 | (6) |
Chapter 4: Personnel Choices |
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79 | (30) |
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Finding Qualified Pet Sitters |
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80 | (4) |
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84 | (1) |
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85 | (11) |
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96 | (1) |
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97 | (3) |
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100 | (1) |
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Managing and Motivating Sitters |
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101 | (5) |
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106 | (1) |
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Employees or Independent Contractors? |
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106 | (3) |
Chapter 5: Advertising: The Means to the Masses |
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109 | (38) |
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110 | (1) |
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A Brochure and a Business Card |
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111 | (3) |
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114 | (1) |
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Using Your Brochure and Business Cards |
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115 | (14) |
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Inexpensive Ways to Advertise |
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129 | (4) |
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133 | (2) |
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135 | (4) |
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139 | (1) |
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139 | (1) |
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140 | (1) |
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141 | (4) |
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More Great Advertising Ideas from Readers |
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145 | (2) |
Chapter 6: Public Relations |
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147 | (12) |
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148 | (3) |
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151 | (3) |
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154 | (1) |
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155 | (2) |
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157 | (1) |
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157 | (2) |
Chapter 7: Examining the Negatives |
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159 | (26) |
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161 | (4) |
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165 | (5) |
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170 | (5) |
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How to Avoid or Handle Other Problems |
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175 | (8) |
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The Best from the Best: Tips from the Field |
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183 | (2) |
Chapter 8: Useful Business Forms |
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185 | (12) |
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Designing a Service Contract |
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185 | (6) |
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191 | (1) |
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192 | (1) |
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192 | (1) |
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193 | (1) |
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193 | (1) |
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194 | (1) |
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195 | (2) |
Chapter 9: Buying, Selling, or Closing a Business |
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197 | (4) |
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How a Business Broker Can Help |
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198 | (1) |
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The P's and Q's of Saying Good-Bye |
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199 | (1) |
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200 | (1) |
Chapter 10: Tracking Trends |
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201 | (4) |
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Analyzing Your Business Trends |
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201 | (1) |
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202 | (1) |
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Overnight Pet and House Sitting |
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203 | (1) |
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203 | (1) |
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204 | (1) |
Appendix |
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205 | (8) |
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Estimated Start-up Costs Checklist |
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205 | (2) |
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Helpful Products for Professional Pet Sitters |
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207 | (1) |
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Pet and Business-Related Organizations |
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208 | (2) |
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PSI Recommendations for Excellence in Pet Sitting |
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210 | (1) |
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211 | (2) |
Index |
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213 | |