This is another article submitted by Lily Little with suggestions to pet lovers in our community.
As a pet lover, do you ever wonder if you could spend most of your time around animals? Do you want a job that allows you to interact with pets on a daily basis? If so, you may have an interest in pet care-based business. After all, about 70% of Americans own at least one pet. With as many pets as you can find in the U.S., there are plenty of clients for you to choose from. If you’re ready to take the plunge, AltonMO.com has some tips to get you started.
Types of Pet Care Businesses
In 2018, Americans spent around $6 billion on pet services. If you are unsure how you want to work with animals, there are various ideas to choose from. Some common types of pet businesses include:
- Pet sitting
- Dog training
- Pet boarding
- Grooming
- Dog walking
- Pet clothes
- Pet portraits
The sky is the limit when it comes to pet care-based businesses. You can choose to work closely with animals as a trainer or to have animals at an arm’s length while you work on portraits and clothes. You may even decide to help clients find the right vet for their pet.
Tips to Form Your Company
When forming your business, consider creating a “doing business as” or DBA name for your company. A DBA allows you to branch out and sell different products and services under a new name. This can be particularly helpful if you do not have access to your business’s domain. You can always market services under different names.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, your business structure affects the amount of paperwork you need to complete, how much you pay in taxes, and your liability. Some common business structures include:
- Partnerships
- Sole proprietorships
- LLCs
- Corporations
Make sure to put together a business plan as soon as possible. Your business plan should include a summary, not unlike an elevator pitch. Investors will read your summary first. Describe your company and your business’s goals. Your plan should include what you hope to accomplish with your company and the steps you can take to meet your goals.
Paths to Making a Profit
To make a profit, you have to learn how to market your company. There is no point in starting a business if you cannot sell yourself to others. Make sure to listen to your clients or potential clients. Pay close attention to what pet owners are looking for.
Additionally, you want to make sure you’re using the best pet-related products on the market, so do yourself a big favor and check product reviews before buying. You can check recommendations via social media, as well. Also, try to use social media for marketing your company. That will allow you to make contact with your clients quickly and efficiently.
If you want to gather more clients, make sure you have various ways to accept payments. Customers like to have options for payment. If you worry about receiving payment for services, make sure you have clear payment terms, get your invoices to the client quickly, and have a professional template for invoices. You can use an invoice template to create professional invoices that include your logo and suit your brand. Use an online invoice generator to choose from various pre-made templates while integrating your logos and colors into the invoices.
When starting a business based around pets, you need a passion for animals. Think about what you can bring to the pet market and how to access your customer demographic. Once you know what you can bring to the table, you are one step closer to making your dream a reality.
