So by now you probably know, just printing up some business cards and taking them to a few groomers, vets and pet shops is not going to get you very far.  But where do you start and how can you get this all done without costly mistakes and breaking the bank.  Well you have to have a "Business Plan".

The following is set up in the ORDER you should start.  To save money, do NOT skip a step before going to the next step.

1.  Decide on a Name - Check to see if registered as domain name firstat www.DomainPup.com

2.  Register your name or  fictitious business name as it is called - generally at a County Recorders Office where marriage licenses, birth certificates etc are kept for your.  This is important because it informs others you are using the name and will be helpful in the future if anyone else wants to use it, you will have a date it was first established.

3.  Install business phone line - do not use your residential or cell phone.  Residential and cell phones are not fully deductible on your taxes.  Cell phones become too costly.

4.  Register your domain name www.DomainPup.com and either create or design your web site. Click HERE for a list of web site designers.

5.  Call your Yellow Pages to get an ad placed for the next time book comes out.  Some areas will give you a FREE line of type for your business if you have a business phone line installed, ask.  You may have to call the White Pages seperately to get listed in the White Pages and 411 directory.  Again some places give this to you FREE with a business phone line, again always ask.

6.  Set up business email. If you are using dial up get rid of it and go with DSL at the mininmum but cable connections are best for businesses because you will use it everyday.  Remember you are a business now so you need a fast connection to respond to clients.  Plus it is tax deductible.

7.  Print Business Card - Now that you have your Business Name, Business Phone, Web Site address and email you can create a business card.

8.  Liability Insurance - Join one of the Pet Sitters Association and get at least Liability Insurance to cover you.
www.PetSit.com - Pet Sitters International
www.PetSitters.org - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters
www.PetSitLLC.com - Pet Sitters Associates LLC

10.  Get City business license - If required in your area.

11.  Legal Business Contract and forms - Order or create legal service contracts and veterinary authorization for treatment forms at the bare minimum for your business.  For more information on ordering forms click HERE

12.  Print Forms - Take you SERVICE CONTRACT form to a printing shop and get printed on NCR 2 part paper. All businesses must legally give the pet owner a "copy" of the contract.  The pet sitter will keep the original on file.  All your other forms can be copied on a copier to save money. 

13. Answering Machine- Purchase a separate answering machine from your personal machine.  Do not buy voice mail from your phone company or hire an answering service.  Too expensive, not helpful. (Panasonic machines are good because they will NOT announce your outgoing message each  time a call comes in AND you can tell callers they may  press *key to bypass your message so they can leave their message)

14. Purchase all equipment & supplies needed for your home office AND your car - Keeping your office and car as organized and functional as possible will not only make you appear more professional it will save you valuable time which is MONEY.

The following has just given you information on how to "set up your business".   You should be able to accomplish most of the above for less than less than $1,000.00.

 Your next step is to set up ADVERTISING PLAN.  

Advertising varies widely throughout the Country so we cannot give you an exact step by step plan but here are some tips from the pros.

ADVERTISING TIPS
1.  ALWAYS ADVERTISE, never stop. You need to keep your business name out there in order to keep money coming in.

2.  Keep ads local - Most pet sitters want to decrease they area they serve each year to cut gasoline costs so it can be a real "art form" to try and keep your advertising local.We appreciate all editorial comments about our site. 

If you think we have missed something please email us HERE.    Thank you for taking the time to visit.