How to Become a Professional Pet Sitter
Whether you are looking to create a full time business, or looking for a side job to supplement your income where you can work from home job with flexible hours, then pet sitting can be a lucrative avenue. We give you steps on how to become a professional pet sitter.
1 Decide on Services
What services would you enjoy doing? What pets would you like to do them for? Will you specialise in Big Dogs or little dogs only? What services are worth your time doing? What days of the week would you like to offer those services? How much will you charge? Will you specialise in a particular breed only? Do you only want to services that take place outside of your home? Pet Concierging for Weddings, Home visits, dog walks, and house sitting all take place outside of your home if you are unable to have pets at your own home.
2 Get Trained
Being trained in animal care by a registered training provider or animal welfare organisation will help you avoid the pitfalls. Reputable courses will teach you animal care standards, Laws, Communication, how to prevent accidents and escape, Manage Client Expectations. If you take on NDIS Clients with disabilities, then you also need to complete the NDIS Worker Orientation training module.
3 Prepare your home
Make your home escape-proof and hazard-free. Training will take you through a checklist with all the things you need to do.
4 List your services
The fastest way to get the word out about yourself is to list yourself on pet care service marketplace, PetCloud. The website enables Pet Sitters to set up your own listing, for free, without exposing your private home address to the world online. Share your link with friends and family and tell them what you are doing on the side now and ask for referrals.
5 Build Trust
One of the fastest ways you would build trust with someone you’ve never met is through a National Police check, displaying the right kind of high quality, well-lit photos in your gallery listing online and through requesting References from friends, family, and colleagues.
6 Apply to Jobs
PetCloud’s Pet Jobs Board displays loads of amazing and fun pet job opportunities. Anything from taking a pet lizard to the airport, to day care sitting different breeds of pets in your home, to house sitting in amazing locations.
7 Investigate Insurance
You can save money by joining an online Pet Care Marketplace such as PetCloud who will cover the insurance policy expense for you.
8 Keep Records and Receipts
Setting yourself apart from the competition by being professional, organised and reliable – is key.
Calendar – Keep a calendar or diary of Meet & Greets or Bookings so you are always organised of which client you are seeing, where, and when, and what service you are providing. Put aside some time Sunday nights to plan the week ahead.
Contracts – If you are booked through an online pet care service marketplace like PetCloud, their website does this for you.
Receipts – Keep all receipts for expenses related to pet sitting. This is important if you want to claim tax deductions.
9 Apply for an ABN
As a self-employed business owner, it is imperative to keep good records. You will need to set aside a portion of your income for federal/state taxes.
Self-employed persons can deduct certain business fees such as marketing expenses if they pertain directly to your business. For example, petrol receipts from mileage incurred while travelling to and from a client’s house can be included on your income taxes, but you will need to maintain a mileage log book for the year. A CPA or tax consultant can advise you on what is eligible for deductions and what must be claimed.
Starting your own pet sitting business can be an exciting and challenging time. By following these guidelines, you will establish yourself as a professional and reliable pet sitter and earn money while embracing your passion for animals.
Awarded Pet Care Innovation of the Year 2022, & Canstar’s best Pet Apps 2021, PetCloud is redefining pet care in Australia and is the only national pet care service marketplace to police check and insure all Pet Carers.
