Pet sitting has so much to offer as a career. People today need services of all sorts and economically, service-providing industries are expected to account for millions of the new age and salary jobs generated between 2009 and 2013.
These figures are so encouraging to anyone thinking of starting a pet sitting service. With your own pet sitting business, you'll join the fast track of the new, service-oriented British economy!
Why is the service economy growing?
 Two income families have become the norm in this climate of the credit crunch , making services both needed by and afforded by these families. Many spouses are now having to go out to work which means long hours that their pets are left at home. Providing a local dog walking service will prove hugely popular in the current financial climate.
Travel for pleasure or business still remains affordable with Ryanair for example still offering extremely economical flights which means that more pet care is needed when owners are away.
Many families also have second homes abroad and even though there is a pet's passport in place which means that UK owners can travel with their dogs, many choose to leave them behind if they suffer with conditions such as arthritis or heart conditions (or if they fly!) and there are always their cats and small pets left at home for you to look after.
Many couples choose to delay having families; or pets are owned by families whose children have left home which means that pets are better looked after today than ever before. Owners are prepared to spend extra to give their pets luxuries that they are used to and that normally involves leaving them under your care in their own homes when they are away.
So many owners 'anthropomorphise' their pets which basically means that we tend to treat them like little people and give them human characterisitics and then obviously want the best for them. The best is a pet sitter! I see clients daily who dread putting their pets into kennels as they are regarded as family members.
Obesity is becoming a growing problem in family pets in the UK and again, if you offer the option of dog walking for busy pet owners, this can be very profitable.
Crime is a growing concern in many big cities or even country areas and people love the fact that by using a professional pet sitter, their home is being checked at the same time as their pets are being looked after.
Rabbits are become increasingly popular in the UK either as house pets or outdoor pets. There are very few boarding kennels that house rabbits, and offering to care for rabbits as part of your service will ensure that you are sought after.
What other benefits are there?
You have virtually no start up costs. There are not many small businesses that can boast this.
You do not really need any office space - maybe just a corner in the house with your computer. Obviously if you plan to keep small pets or board dogs and cat in your home, you would need to cater for this, but you would have none of the costs of a kennel.
A friend of mine looked into opening their own kennel and he realised that he would need about a quarter of a million pounds to do this. All the profit you would bring in with a kennel or cattery would pay for your costly loan AND you have the added cost of all the pet food. With pet sitting, there are no huge loans you need to worry about AND your clients buy the pet food!
Just set aside funds for insurance (private pet sitting insurance as well as insuring your car for business purposes) and advertising costs. The running costs of your car would obviously increase too but that should be all!
The advantages of being your own boss
Self-employment means that you take control of your life, your daily routine and you set your own income.
As a pet sitter, you are your own boss. You decide where you work, when you work, what you charge and who you want to work for.
wThere is no one looking over your shoulder and no time clock to punch, just some loving pets to fuss over AND you are doing something you love.
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