Pet Sitting for Profit

by ;
Edition: 3rd
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2006-05-09
Publisher(s): Howell Book House
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Summary

It's estimated that professional pet sitters serve a million clients annually, and demand for their services is growing rapidly. Updated and expanded for today's entrepreneurs, Pet Sitting for Profit, Third Edition covers all the fundamentals of starting and operating a pet-sitting business. It addresses new challenges and concerns faced by novice and experienced pet sitters alike, as well as the issues fundamental to the field. With information on everything from office procedures and personnel to advertising and business forms, this book is invaluable to entrepreneurs interested in starting a pet-sitting business or making an existing business more profitable. It's laced with real-life stories from professional pet sitters-stories that show how to handle unexpected situations with furry, feathered, or finny pets or their owners.

Author Biography

PATTI J. MORAN developed pet sitting as a profession after starting her own pet-sitting business in North Carolina in 1983. After word of her business spread to other parts of the United States, Moran was prompted to put her how-to advice on paper; the premier reference, Pet Sitting for Profit, was published in 1987. Shortly thereafter, requests for her pet-sitting business forms led to the start of Patti Moran's Products for Professional Pet Sitters. As others joined her in the profession, Moran began the National Association of Pet Sitters in 1989 and also founded Pet Sitters International in 1994. With more than 7,500 members, PSI is the largest association of professional pet sitters in the world.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1(10)
Chapter 1: The Concept of Pet Sitting 11(10)
What Makes Pet Sitting a Great Career
12(2)
Alternatives to Pet Sitting
14(2)
The Advantages of Operating a Pet-Sitting Service
16(1)
The Need Is Everywhere
17(1)
How Much Can You Earn?
17(1)
What You Need to Start
18(3)
Chapter 2: Getting Started 21(24)
Research and Resources
21(4)
Pet Sitters International
25(2)
A Market Survey
27(2)
Naming Your Business
29(2)
Your Business Logo
31(1)
Business License
31(1)
Your Office Location
32(1)
Basic Office Supplies and Furnishings
33(3)
Business Telephone
36(2)
Structuring Your Business
38(1)
Finding an Accountant
38(1)
Selecting a Bank
39(1)
Insurance
40(2)
Dishonesty Bond
42(3)
Chapter 3: Office Procedures 45(34)
Using a Computer
45(4)
Customer Card System
49(3)
Policies and Procedures
52(3)
Credit Cards
55(1)
Telephone Techniques
55(5)
Cell Phones
60(1)
Answering E-mail
61(1)
Determining Service Areas
61(1)
Setting Prices
62(4)
Compensating Sitters
66(1)
"Always Ready" Service
67(1)
Planning for Disasters
68(2)
Initial Client Interviews
70(2)
Handling Customer Complaints
72(1)
Handling Delinquent Accounts
73(6)
Chapter 4: Personnel Choices 79(30)
Finding Qualified Pet Sitters
80(4)
Applicant Interviews
84(1)
Sitter Orientation
85(11)
Survival Bag
96(1)
Sitter Safety
97(3)
Sitter Nutrition
100(1)
Managing and Motivating Sitters
101(5)
Staff Meetings
106(1)
Employees or Independent Contractors?
106(3)
Chapter 5: Advertising: The Means to the Masses 109(38)
PSI's Web Locator
110(1)
A Brochure and a Business Card
111(3)
A Word About "Licensing"
114(1)
Using Your Brochure and Business Cards
115(14)
Inexpensive Ways to Advertise
129(4)
Do You Need a Web Site?
133(2)
Newspapers
135(4)
Yellow Pages
139(1)
Radio
139(1)
Television
140(1)
"Free" Advertising
141(4)
More Great Advertising Ideas from Readers
145(2)
Chapter 6: Public Relations 147(12)
A Newsletter or E-zine
148(3)
News Releases
151(3)
Public Speaking
154(1)
Exhibition Booths
155(2)
Special Events
157(1)
Business Etiquette
157(2)
Chapter 7: Examining the Negatives 159(26)
Just Say No
161(4)
Industry Challenges
165(5)
Don't Do This!
170(5)
How to Avoid or Handle Other Problems
175(8)
The Best from the Best: Tips from the Field
183(2)
Chapter 8: Useful Business Forms 185(12)
Designing a Service Contract
185(6)
Invoices
191(1)
Daily Log
192(1)
Evaluation Form
192(1)
Client Reservation Form
193(1)
Notification Forms
193(1)
Additional Forms
194(1)
Tips from Pet Sitters
195(2)
Chapter 9: Buying, Selling, or Closing a Business 197(4)
How a Business Broker Can Help
198(1)
The P's and Q's of Saying Good-Bye
199(1)
Thinking of Buying?
200(1)
Chapter 10: Tracking Trends 201(4)
Analyzing Your Business Trends
201(1)
Crime Deterrence
202(1)
Overnight Pet and House Sitting
203(1)
Expanded Services
203(1)
Closing Thoughts
204(1)
Appendix 205(8)
Estimated Start-up Costs Checklist
205(2)
Helpful Products for Professional Pet Sitters
207(1)
Pet and Business-Related Organizations
208(2)
PSI Recommendations for Excellence in Pet Sitting
210(1)
Postscript
211(2)
Index 213

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