{"id":3420,"date":"2016-06-08T10:54:40","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T08:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.invoiceberry.com\/?p=3420"},"modified":"2024-02-12T15:54:30","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T14:54:30","slug":"how-to-succeed-in-a-dog-care-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/how-to-succeed-in-a-dog-care-business\/","title":{"rendered":"From Dog Lover to Business Owner: How to Succeed in a Dog Care Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you a real pet lover, and are dogs your favorites? Then you&#8217;re probably already in the club with millions of other dog fans!<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.carodog.eu\/statistics-on-cats-and-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CAROdog.eu<\/a>, there are around 223 million owned dogs around the world, with 77.8 million of them living <a href=\"http:\/\/www.americanpetproducts.org\/press_industrytrends.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in the US<\/a>\u00a0alone, and 6.4 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadianveterinarians.net\/documents\/canadian-pet-population-figures-cahi-2014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in Canada<\/a>. That\u2019s a lot of dogs!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/414956\/dog-population-european-union-eu-by-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As for Europe<\/a>, the UK is the #1 dog-loving and owning country with 12 million dogs, followed by Poland with 7.56 million.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"tip_box_top\"><div class=\"tip_box\">There are over 63 million dogs in Europe\u00a0&#8211; a\u00a0huge potential for any budding dog care business<\/div><hr class=\"tip_box_bottom\">\n<p>When I was nine years old, I would\u00a0ask my parents every day to buy me a dog. Nothing stopped me. Neither going for long walks in crappy\u00a0weather, nor sharing my not so large room with a pet.<\/p>\n<p>And what\u2019s not to love about them? Dogs are loyal, they&#8217;re always happy to see you, protect you, help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywell.com\/lose-14-pounds-a-year-walking-your-dog-3436874\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lose weight<\/a>, save your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2008\/06\/27\/how-your-dog-can-save-you_n_109587.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">love life<\/a>\u00a0and are your best friends, be your snuggle buddies, children, and even therapists.<\/p>\n<p>If you enjoy taking care of them, why not consider turning all\u00a0that\u00a0love into a successful business?<\/p>\n<p>By the way, I&#8217;ve heard many times that building your career based on your hobby is half-way to success. If you\u2019re passionate and persistent, you&#8217;ll succeed for sure. Make sure to look through my suggestions when starting your\u00a0dog care business.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3540\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3540\" style=\"width: 4576px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3540\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?resize=690%2C230&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Success while doing what you like - isnt it great?\" width=\"690\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?w=4576&amp;ssl=1 4576w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?resize=600%2C200&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?resize=1024%2C341&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-man-free.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3540\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Success while doing what you like &#8211; isn&#8217;t it great?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The dog care business \u2013 what&#8217;s it about?<\/h2>\n<p>Basically, a dog care business is analogical to childcare: it may contain anything related to taking care of the baby, or the dog at this point. As there are various options for children, they vary for dogs as well, and might include, or mix, the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Dog walking<\/b> \u2013 walking, jogging, playing with the\u00a0dog(s) outside. It&#8217;s probably the most popular option because it\u00a0needs\u00a0the least amount of\u00a0experience and qualifications;<\/li>\n<li><b>Dog boarding<\/b> \u2013 dropping off the dog at the &#8216;sitter\u2018s&#8217; home and letting it socialize with other pets for a couple of days;<\/li>\n<li><b>Dog day care<\/b> \u2013 like kindergarten for children, a day care is something in the middle between walking and boarding (while the owners are away running errands);<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3451\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3451\" style=\"width: 1375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3451 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-very-happy.jpg?resize=690%2C314&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Dog care business - dog happy\" width=\"690\" height=\"314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-very-happy.jpg?w=1375&amp;ssl=1 1375w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-very-happy.jpg?resize=600%2C273&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-very-happy.jpg?resize=1024%2C465&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3451\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dogs should be enjoying their lives even when their owners are away!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Dog sitting<\/b> \u2013 having someone coming over to the owner&#8217;s house to take care of the dog: may include walking, playing, treating;<\/li>\n<li><b>Dog grooming<\/b> \u2013 washing, trimming, brushing, styling the dog\u2018s hair, cutting nails, brushing teeth, etc;<\/li>\n<li><b>Vacation care<\/b> \u2013 usually the \u2018pet hotels\u2019 where one can take care of the dog when the owners are not in town;<\/li>\n<li><b>Organizing of special events <\/b>\u2013 dog playtime, fun events, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some specialists also offer psychological help for the\u00a0correction of the dog&#8217;s behavior, its basic treatment and care.<\/p>\n<h2>The market need: Does anyone need dog care businesses?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes! People need their dogs to be taken care of, because they want the best for their dogs. They feel guilty that their friends are all alone all day long, missing and waiting for them.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3453\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3453\" style=\"width: 3008px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3453 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?resize=690%2C461&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"This doggie definitely waiting for the owner to come back!\" width=\"690\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?w=3008&amp;ssl=1 3008w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?resize=600%2C401&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?resize=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-toy-sleeping.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3453\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This doggie&#8217;s definitely waiting for his owner to come back!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Besides loneliness being harmful to\u00a0the dog\u2019s psychological condition, possibly <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thisismoney.co.uk\/money\/news\/article-3202604\/Is-dog-depressed-Pet-owners-turn-insurance-policies-psychological-help-poorly-pooches.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leading to depression<\/a>\u00a0and even physical complications, it may also cause some damage within the home interior.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to that, the\u00a0owners might not always have the time to bathe and comb their dog\u2018s hair on a regular basis, brush its teeth a couple of times a week, or\u00a0simply keep it active and energized.<\/p>\n<h2>Business opportunity: Can you really make money walking dogs?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, you can definitely\u00a0make money!\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/startups.co.uk\/business-ideas-for-2015-pet-sitting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The dog care business is<\/a>\u00a0on the rise\u00a0and still needs people willing to work part- or full-time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3542\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3542\" style=\"width: 3784px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3542\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Taking care of dogs will help you make money!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?w=3784&amp;ssl=1 3784w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-cute-dog-with-money.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3542\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Taking care of dogs will help you make money!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the UK, professional walkers earn approximately\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-3105155\/Professional-dog-walkers-earn-64-000-year-trust-look-pooch.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a364,000 a year<\/a>, with the hourly rate varying from \u00a310 to \u00a320 in London.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the income depends on the geographical region you live in, but these numbers look impressive!<\/p>\n<h2>Market size of the dog care business industry<\/h2>\n<p>To evaluate your future market size, you have to calculate how much people are spending on their favorite pet in your area.<\/p>\n<p>For example, in the US, basic annual expenses for one dog are around $1,249 excluding food and vitamins, with those numbers growing each year, totaling $5.41 billion in pet services like grooming and boarding alone.<\/p>\n<p>The entire\u00a0amount of expenses <a href=\"http:\/\/www.americanpetproducts.org\/press_industrytrends.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">is expected to reach $62.75 billion in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3543\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3543\" style=\"width: 4288px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3543\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?resize=690%2C458&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Looking into your market is an essential part of planning!\" width=\"690\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?w=4288&amp;ssl=1 4288w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?resize=600%2C399&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-planning.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3543\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking into your market is an essential part of planning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/entry\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-own-dog_us_55d36462e4b07addcb442b62\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huffington Post<\/a>,\u00a0the real expenses of owning a dog are close to $2,858 in the first year, so the total annual expenses are even higher!<\/p>\n<h2>So how do you start a dog care business?<\/h2>\n<p>To start a dog care business, you need to know what to expect and what to be ready for. To begin with, try watching this tutorial from an experienced business owner.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class='youtube-player' width='690' height='389' src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BD9tlbrpDc0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Are you qualified for the dog care business?<\/h3>\n<p>To know, if you are qualified for the dog care business you need to get real first.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is, not everyone can do it <em>(otherwise, all those millions of dog owners would be in this business).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just swooning and kissing all day (only some part of the day maybe though).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3457\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3457\" style=\"width: 5184px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3457 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"But still you can find some tme for hugging!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?w=5184&amp;ssl=1 5184w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-girl.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3457\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">But still you can find some time for hugging!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dog care is hard work, which requires some qualifications. And besides the basics \u2013 loving dogs, being friendly and able to easily connect with dogs and their owners \u2013 you must have a set of skills to fill in this job.<\/p>\n<h3>Skills needed to be a dog care business owner:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Patience<\/li>\n<li>Good concentration, reaction and coordination<\/li>\n<li>No allergies or other health issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">At first, you have to be <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>patient:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201c\u2026<span lang=\"en-GB\">when walking four or more dogs at a time, patience is a must. Don\u2019t even get me started on the \u201caccidents\u201d in the house,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>says <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/lifestyle\/dog-sitter-pet-sitter-career\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wendy Newell<\/a>, an experienced dog walker with background in sales.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3544\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3544\" style=\"width: 5867px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3544\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Loving dogs is the #1 skill for the dog care business!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?w=5867&amp;ssl=1 5867w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-woman-and-dog.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3544\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loving dogs is the #1 skill in the dog care business.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Then, you need to have <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>excellent concentration, reaction and coordination<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> \u2013 managing an active bunch of playful doggies is quite a challenge!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>No dog allergies, or any kind of seasonal allergies<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0\u2013 you<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;ll<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> have to spend a lot of time outside. <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">You should also consider obtaining the necessary shots before working with dogs<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">Checked the list of skills needed to become a dog care business owner? Ticked all boxes?<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">Then start planning and analyzing your customers, market, and what you can do for them. You can do this by asking yourself a few questions.<\/p>\n<h2 lang=\"en-GB\">Planning your dog care business<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Who are\u00a0your customers?<\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">A typical dog care business customer is <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">a busy dog lover who wants a dog to have fun during his or her absence.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3459\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3459\" style=\"width: 5184px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3459 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sometimes your customers wish they could spend all their time with their dogs...\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?w=5184&amp;ssl=1 5184w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-with-a-busy-person.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3459\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sometimes your customers wish they could spend all their time with their dogs&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>2. Who are your competitors?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"lt-LT\">To get to know your competition in the dog care business, you need to find<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> out how many similar businesses are in your area, what they do, how they promote themselves, who their major customers are and who the leaders in this market are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">You might know them if you are a dog owner yourself. Or you might know some people in your neighborhood who use their services.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3545\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3545\" style=\"width: 5200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3545\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?resize=690%2C398&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Knowing you competition is one of the key factors!\" width=\"690\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?w=5200&amp;ssl=1 5200w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?resize=600%2C346&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?resize=1024%2C591&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-competitors.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Knowing you competition is one of the key factors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Also, you might want to look into ads in local groups on Craigslist, Facebook or any other local websites and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/top-35-uk-business-directories-get-small-business-noticed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">directories<\/span><\/a><span lang=\"en-GB\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Not all of your\u00a0competitors might be active online, so you might want to check the near-by parks and dog playgrounds as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. <span lang=\"en-US\">What are the challenges<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"lt-LT\">Being an owner of a\u00a0dog care business is tough.\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">If you want to be successful you can\u2019t offer exactly the same service as\u00a0your competitors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Otherwise, why would a customer choose you if they are already happy with their current service?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">That<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> why, after analyzing your competition, you should come up with something that can\u00a0distinguish you from the rest. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Decide what kind of services you<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;ll<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> offer. <\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">They <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> can range from special walks at 6 am, to hiking and jogging late at night. It\u2019s completely up to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3463\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3463\" style=\"width: 1375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3463 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dogs-in-the-water.jpg?resize=690%2C314&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Get ready to face challenges! Sometimes it means youll get a bit wet though.\" width=\"690\" height=\"314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dogs-in-the-water.jpg?w=1375&amp;ssl=1 1375w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dogs-in-the-water.jpg?resize=600%2C273&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dogs-in-the-water.jpg?resize=1024%2C465&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3463\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Get ready to face challenges! Sometimes it means you&#8217;ll get a bit wet though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">4. What&#8217;s your business plan<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p lang=\"lt-LT\">First, let&#8217;s define what a business plan is.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"ru-RU\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">Your business plan is essentially your answers to a comprehensive list of questions. The most important questions are: where do you want your business to go, and what do you want your business to look like in three, five or 10 years? What level of revenues and profits do you have at that time? How many employees? How many locations? And so on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"ru-RU\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/free-business-plan-templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business plan<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0can really help you understand your industry. It can guide you through the\u00a0steps that are needed to take to build a successful company. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3549\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3549\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3549\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-plan.jpg?resize=690%2C690&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"It will be hard to track your goals and achievements without a proper business plan!\" width=\"690\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-plan.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-plan.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-plan.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3549\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It will be hard to track your goals and achievements without a proper business plan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Also, don&#8217;t forget to come up with a cool name for\u00a0your company. A catchy title is a huge bonus for a business because: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>your dog business will stand out of the crowd<span lang=\"en-GB\">, <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">people will remember it quickly<\/span>,<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-US\">when it comes to taking care of their pets, you&#8217;ll be the first they&#8217;ll recall, <\/span><\/li>\n<li>you can make cool t-shirts with the fun name<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><!-- Doesn\u2019t sound convincing --><\/span>!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">When the initial planning is over, take care of the required paperwork to start your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">5. What is the necessary paperwork for <\/span>a <span lang=\"en-GB\">dog care business?<\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Licenses and permits<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Whether you need a license or\u00a0a\u00a0permit depends on the country, state and region you live in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\"> For example, it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> not necessary in the US to get a license for grooming. <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">It<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> most likely though that you<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;ll<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> need to get a business license if you open a dog care facility. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Americans can check whether they need a license in their state <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/starting-business\/business-licenses-permits\/state-licenses-permits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">here<\/span><\/a><span lang=\"en-GB\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3551\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3551\" style=\"width: 4208px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3551\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?resize=690%2C614&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Customers will trust you more if youre certified!\" width=\"690\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?w=4208&amp;ssl=1 4208w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?resize=600%2C534&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?resize=1024%2C911&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-smart-dog.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3551\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Customers will trust you more if you&#8217;re certified.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4><span lang=\"en-GB\">Certification and training<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Even if <\/span>special <span lang=\"lt-LT\">certification and training are <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">not required legally, getting <\/span>both <span lang=\"en-GB\">is highly appreciated by your clients. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Besides, you<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;ll<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> learn a lot of things about your business, make new contacts and get advice about running a dog care business. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">A lot of companies provide this kind of certification, and as for the dog sitting business, one of the most famous is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petsit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">Pet Sitters International<\/span><\/a><span lang=\"en-GB\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span lang=\"en-GB\">Insurance <\/span>for your dog care businesses<\/h4>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">There a<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">re<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> special insurance offers for dog care businesses. <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">They aren&#8217;t very expensive (from $200 \/ \u00a3120 per year). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">It\u2019s definitely worth getting insured because accidents do happen, and it can be very expensive if you&#8217;re not covered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Just take the example of the Virginia dog owner whose puppy swallowed corn on the cob and needed to get medical attention. Without insurance, it would&#8217;ve cost $3600 just to remove it and fix the puppy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">You can compare plans and prices for the US <a href=\"http:\/\/petsits.com\/petsittinginsuranceusa.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0and for the UK <a href=\"https:\/\/boughtbymany.com\/news\/article\/dog-walking-insurance-review-uk\/#companies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Creating and signing a contract<\/h4>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Besides getting business insurance, it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freelancewritinggigs.com\/2010\/09\/7-reasons-why-you-should-always-have-a-written-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highly recommended <\/a>to <\/span>create<span lang=\"en-GB\"> a contract<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0that protects you and your business in unexpected situations with clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3487\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3487\" style=\"width: 7360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3487 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?resize=690%2C461&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"dog-care-business-signing-papers\" width=\"690\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?w=7360&amp;ssl=1 7360w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-signing-papers.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Insurance may save you and your business from a lot of problems, so you would continue bringing joy running your business.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Dog care contracts, sometimes called dog care service agreements, should specify the services to\u00a0be provided, restrictions, dog needs and anything else you think that<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> worth mentioning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">The contract is a legal document; therefore, it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">s important to have one. It even makes sense to get the contract reviewed by a legal advisor to make sure everything is in line with the state and country laws.<\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">When preparing a dog care contract include the following information:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Rules. <\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Indicate the pet owner\u2019s rules if you take care of the dog in your client\u2019s house, or if you need to visit the house in order to pick up the dog.\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">Do not be afraid to mention\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">whether or not you can visit the toilet, which rooms, tools and appliances, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3471\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3471\" style=\"width: 3682px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3471 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?resize=690%2C518&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Some dogs feel more comfortable at home, and not willing to socialize with others at all!\" width=\"690\" height=\"518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?w=3682&amp;ssl=1 3682w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-home.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3471\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Some dogs feel more comfortable at home, and are not willing to socialize with others at all.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Services provided.<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\"> Each service you\u2019ll be providing, whether it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> feeding or playing with a dog, should be included in the contract section.\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">Also, add the frequency of visits and services\u00a0that will be helpful when generating a\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/invoicing-software-for-dog-care-walking-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">quote and\/or invoice<\/span><\/a><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> later.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Dog routine.<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\"> All dogs are different, and you should ask the owner as many questions as possible to get all the necessary information about the dog\u2019s routine: feeding, play, sleep time, favorite toys, personal preferences and so on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Dog medical history.<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\"> You should know about any special condition that a dog has and see the passport and vaccination certificate.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3464\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3464\" style=\"width: 1375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3464 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-on-the-beach.jpg?resize=690%2C314&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The more you know about the dog and its habits, the easier your job would be!\" width=\"690\" height=\"314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-on-the-beach.jpg?w=1375&amp;ssl=1 1375w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-on-the-beach.jpg?resize=600%2C273&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-on-the-beach.jpg?resize=1024%2C465&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3464\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The more you know about the dog and its habits, the easier your job will be!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">Pricing and payment options.<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\"> The rates for your services should be clearly indicated. If you want to receive a deposit, you have to specify it in this section. Note how you want to get paid: cash, bank transfer, or credit card? Specify when the payments have to be made and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/invoicing-software-for-dog-care-walking-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">ign up for online invoicing software<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><span lang=\"en-GB\">to track your clients\u2019 payments and manage your expenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After the paperwork stage, it&#8217;s time to buy a few things and promote your <span lang=\"en-GB\">dog care business!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">6. Get <\/span>the first <span lang=\"en-GB\">supplies <\/span>for your dog care business<\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Once you\u2019re sure that you want to start a dog care business, <\/span>you need to get the first supplies for it. Feel free to <span lang=\"en-GB\">fill up your shelves with dog food, treats, toys, shampoos, brushes and water bowls. You\u2019ll probably need various sizes of soft beds for dogs too.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3552\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3552\" style=\"width: 2592px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3552\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sometimes you cannot predict which supplies you\u2019ll need tomorrow!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?w=2592&amp;ssl=1 2592w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-treats.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3552\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sometimes you can&#8217;t predict which supplies you\u2019re going to need tomorrow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Do not forget to fill in the <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>First Aid Kit<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> &#8211; accidents happen, and you should be ready for them. <\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">Most common dog accidents include bites, broken bones, gastrointestinal problems, ripped toenails and eye problems.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">In order to deal with these emergencies your Dog First Aid Kit should always contain the following items:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>rubber gloves<\/li>\n<li>hand sanitizer and hand wipes<\/li>\n<li>dressings and bandages<\/li>\n<li>tablespoon for measuring<\/li>\n<li>tweezers and scissors<\/li>\n<li>hydrogen peroxide 3%<\/li>\n<li>tasty dog food and corn syrup<\/li>\n<li>triple antibiotic ointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">7.\u00a0Promote your <\/span>dog care <span lang=\"en-GB\">business<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Promotion <\/span>of your dog care business <span lang=\"en-GB\">is a huge part of your business that needs to be planned properly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>Word-of-mouth<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> marketing (your clients, friends, family, and neighbors sharing about your business with others) is an essential tool without a\u00a0doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3550\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3550\" style=\"width: 4500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3550\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Use word-of-mouth \u2013 let your family and friends spread a word about you!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?w=4500&amp;ssl=1 4500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-WOM.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Use word-of-mouth \u2013 let your family and friends spread the word about you!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">But to reach more clients, you<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;ll<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> need to become visible online and offline as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to spend millions, of course. You can start with the steps below, and most of them are free or cost very\u00a0little:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">Create pages on\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>social media<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> (whichever are more popular in your area \u2013 Facebook is a good place to start)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">Advertise on <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>local service websites<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">Print and distribute <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>flyers<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> through the mail, at veterinary clinics, or in parks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">Create a <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/top-10-website-builders-create-small-business-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website <\/a>or a blog<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">Invest in <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><b>business cards <\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">to share your contacts and build personal relationships<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">This list is just a suggestion.\u00a0<\/span>There are <span lang=\"en-GB\">endless<\/span> <span lang=\"en-GB\">ways to promote your dog care business! For example, you might know\u00a0a cleaning lady or a lawn mower who you can ask to recommend your business to her customers with dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Growing your dog care business<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Build your reputation<\/h3>\n<p>Building a reputation is vital for any kind of business. <span lang=\"en-GB\">No dog owner will ever let you look after their dogs if you are not trustworthy and have a bad reputation in business.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3547\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3547\" style=\"width: 5616px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3547\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Appreciate loyalty both of the dogs and the dogs\u2019 owners. \" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?w=5616&amp;ssl=1 5616w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-loyalty.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3547\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Appreciate loyalty both from the dogs and the dogs\u2019 owners.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">2. Listen to your client\u00a0feedback<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Listening to feedback always gives you the information from the primary\u00a0source. <span lang=\"en-GB\">Value both the criticism and the good feedback. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">It<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> the best way to come up with new ideas and improve the things you do.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">3. Take care of your clients, especially <\/span>the <span lang=\"en-GB\">loyal ones<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">All of your clients are special and valuable. <\/span>Taking care of them should be your pleasure. <span lang=\"en-GB\">So make them feel <\/span>that way!<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Appreciate those who stay with you, because loyalty is the key to success in this type of business.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3546\" style=\"width: 4500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3546\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?resize=690%2C433&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Take care of your customers and they\u2019ll gladly come back to you again!\" width=\"690\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?w=4500&amp;ssl=1 4500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?resize=600%2C377&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?resize=1024%2C643&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-clients.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Take care of your customers and they\u2019ll gladly come back to you again!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Treat your customers like your family. Your clients will let you in their house, so be responsible not only for the dogs but also for the safety of the house. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">You can apply an example of the <\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wetnosewaggytail.co.uk\/about.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wet Nose Waggy Tail <\/a>pet care business owners:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201c<span lang=\"en-GB\">For the security of your property, and at the request of our customers, none of our vehicles are sign written so people will not know you are away on holiday or out at work.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">4. Give your clients a heads up <\/span>on what&#8217;s going on in the\u00a0neighborhood<\/h3>\n<p>If you<span lang=\"en-GB\"> are an expert in what you do, <\/span>you can share some information and give your customers advice.<\/p>\n<p>As <span lang=\"en-GB\">you spend a lot of time with different dogs, <\/span>it <span lang=\"en-GB\">gives you a better perspective\u00a0and more <\/span>insights <span lang=\"en-GB\">on what&#8217;s going on in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3548\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3548\" style=\"width: 3888px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3548\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Appreciate loyalty both of the dogs and the dogs\u2019 owners.\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?w=3888&amp;ssl=1 3888w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-neighborhood.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3548\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Appreciate loyalty both of the dogs and the dogs\u2019 owners.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>5. Take care of your health<\/h3>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Your health is essential for your business, <\/span>and taking care of it is a very serious matter. There are some &#8216;professional&#8217; injuries, like wrist and foot sprains, so be prepared to deal with them <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/lifestyle\/relieve-repetitive-stress-injury-dog-walkers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">too<\/a><span lang=\"en-GB\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span lang=\"en-GB\">6. Hire help if you feel that you can&#8217;t handle <\/span>it alone<\/h3>\n<p>You might feel overwhelmed and always rushed \u2013 this probably\u00a0means it&#8217;s time to hire some help.<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">Letting someone else into your business can be a tough challenge\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<span lang=\"en-GB\">trust<\/span>ing<span lang=\"en-GB\"> another person <\/span>can be hard <span lang=\"en-GB\">at the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"en-GB\">You can try hiring someone from your family. Who knows, it might become a family business one day, like the one in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.parkerpetcare.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canada<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0that<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">\u00a0owned by the third generation already and has grown into the most prestigious dog care business in Toronto.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3470\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3470\" style=\"width: 3000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3470 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?resize=690%2C460&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Doing what you love is always rewarding, as I hope your dog care business will be to you!\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?w=1380&amp;ssl=1 1380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-dog-mountains.jpg?w=2070&amp;ssl=1 2070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3470\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Doing what you love is always rewarding, as I hope your dog care business will be to you as well!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>To sum up everything:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>you can start a variety of dog care businesses<\/strong>, from dog walking to\u00a0psychological help for doggies;<\/li>\n<li><strong>people do often need someone else to take care of their dogs,\u00a0<\/strong>because neglecting them can lead to depression in their pets;<\/li>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\"><strong> profitable<\/strong> &#8211; in the UK professional walkers can earn up to\u00a0\u00a364,000 a year;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"en-GB\">to be in this business, you have to <strong>be<\/strong> <strong>patient, <\/strong><\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"><strong>have excellent concentration, reaction and coordination<\/strong>, preferably have no dog allergies, or any kind of seasonal allergies (or know how to fight them), be overall healthy, and have all the necessary shots;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>answer these questions before starting: <\/strong>who is your customer, what is your competition, and what can you offer?<\/li>\n<li><strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">have the necessary paperwork:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span lang=\"en-GB\">obtain licenses and permits,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">certification and trainings,\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">insurance,\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\">sign contracts with your clients;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>when you get started:\u00a0<\/strong>get supplies,\u00a0gear up with your first aid kit,\u00a0start promotion;<\/li>\n<li><strong>when established:\u00a0<\/strong>build your reputation, carefully\u00a0listen to the feedback, take care of your clients\u00a0(especially the loyal ones), and\u00a0<span lang=\"en-GB\">hire help if you feel that it<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">&#8216;s<\/span><span lang=\"en-GB\"> time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you&#8217;re sure that you love dogs enough to start your own dog care business, then I wish you all the best!<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\">Or do you already have a similar business and want to share your feedback? Feel free to leave a comment below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you a real pet lover, and are dogs your favorites? Then you&#8217;re probably already in the club with millions of other dog fans! According to CAROdog.eu, there are around 223 million owned dogs around the world, with 77.8 million of them living in the US\u00a0alone, and 6.4 million in Canada. That\u2019s a lot of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[56,345],"tags":[146,190,191,275,58],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dog-care-business-sleeping-doggies.jpg?fit=690%2C286&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5m6q6-Ta","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3420"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3420"}],"version-history":[{"count":62,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20126,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3420\/revisions\/20126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}