How To Start And Operate A Dog Walking And Pet Sitting Business

YOUR LOGO                                                                  YOUR CONTACT INFO   CLIENT INFORMATION   Name: ______________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________ City; Zip:____________________ Phones: Home: ____________________________ /__________________________ Name: __________________ Work: _________________  Cell: _______________ Name: __________________ Work: _________________  Cell: _______________ Name–email: _________________________________________________________ Name–email: ________________________________________________________ Emergency Contact:     ________________________________________________ Emergency Contact:     ________________________________________________ Location of Extra Key: _________________________________________________ Alarm deactivation Code: _______________________________________________ Alarm activation Code: _________________________________________________ Alarm company Name: ______________________________

The single most important document that you will have in your business will be your service agreement. It and only it spells out in detail the scope of your business. Your Service Agreement memorializes the agreement between you and your customer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SERVICE AGREEMENT   This Service Agreement is between and the Client, ___________________ for pet care services beginning on (start date) _______ and thereafter on an as-needed basis. PET CARE AND PAYMENT Pet care services will be provided at the following rate: _______.  Rates for subsequent services are subject to change. The Client authorizes to perform pet care services as outlined in the Client Information, Pet Information, and Veterinary Release forms, which shall become part of this Service Agreement. Prior to any future pet care services, the Client agrees to notify of any changes to the information on these forms. Emergency care: In the event that the pet(

Insurance protects your dog walking and pet sitting business against any covered losses to your business Bonding protects your customers from your business if your business breaches its contract with them. Google the term, "Insurance companies for dog walkers." Click on the site “Pet Sitting Insurance USA comparison chart …” at http://petsits.com/petsittinginsuranceusa.htm Pet Sitters Associates or PSA Pet Sitters International or PSI Acceptable coverage for Bodily Injury or Property Damage: $1 million for each occurrence $2 million general aggregate $1 million personal injury $2 million aggregate limit $100,000 Fire Legal Damage limit $15,000 each occurrence for loss of pets in your care with a $30,000 aggregate $1,000 each occurrence for veterinary expenses with a $5,000 aggregate $10,000 each occurrence for loss of personal property with an aggregate of $25,000 including a surety bond $2,000 for lost key and re-keying costs of a customer’s home. $5,000 Medical expenses Staying Out Of Trouble Mak

#4 More Business Stuff   Set up your professional email account Does your state require you to collect sales or use taxes? Check the Tax Foundation (http://taxfoundation.org) for information Contact your state’s revenue or tax department Ask them if dog walkers need to collect sales or use taxes Apply for your business license No need for a federal business license May need county and/or incorporated city business license May need business license in every county and city that you work in Search the Small Business Administration (SBA) website for business license information https://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/obtain-business-licenses- Google “where to apply for a business license in ” Odds are that your state will not require a business license for a dog walking – pet sitting business – check the SBA site Contact your county’s or city’s tax assessment office that you’re going to work in Ask them if a license for dog walking – pet

3 Let’s Set Up Your Business   Choosing a company name choose a name that defines your business quickly stay away from personal names that are more ego driven than business smart unless you have "Dog Walking" and/or "Pet Sitting as part of the name Women's names seem to work best Highlight the business; minimize the name Dog Walking and Pet Sitting is more important than the actual name Important for magnetic signs on car log in to your state’s Corporation Commission confirm that your company name is unique if not, you must choose another name Apply for and immediately receive an IRS EIN log onto IRS website 1.http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/How-to-Apply-for-an-EIN DO NOT use non-IRS websites to apply for EIN After completing the EIN application, EIN will be generated immediately   III. Legally organize your company log onto IRS website for discussion about business structures http://www.irs.gov/uac/Choosing-a-Business-Structure Sole Proprietorship      No legal fili

For questions or comments, email me at dogwalkerpodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment on my Facebook page.   In this session I’m going to talk to you about the many reasons that you should consider before deciding whether you’re the right person for this business. Below is the spreadsheet that I mentioned in this session.     solo employee           Total Total Total effective earnings rate # of  total Total Total Fee Income Income Income per hour Customers # walks/week Hrs/day Hrs/wk $ per wk per mo per yr $30 2 10 1 5 $15 $150 $600 $7,200 $36 2 10 1 5 $18 $180 $720 $8,640 $40 2 10 1 5 $20 $200 $800 $9,600 $44 2 10 1 5 $22 $220 $880 $10,560                   $30 4 20 2 10 $15 $300 $1,200 $14,400 $36 4 20 2 10 $18 $360 $1,440 $17,280 $40 4 20 2 10 $20 $400 $1,600 $19,200 $44 4 20 2 10 $22 $440 $1,760 $21,120                   $30 8 40 4 20 $15 $600 $2,400 $28,800 $36 8 40 4 20 $18 $720 $2,880 $34,560 $40 8 40 4 20 $20 $800 $3,200 $38,400 $44 8 40 4 20 $22 $880 $3,520

For questions or comments, send an email to dogwalkerpodcast@gmail.com or leave a message on our FACEBOOK page. - - - Have you ever wondered about owning your own business, or are you unemployed and can’t find anyone to hire you? Are you retired but still too young and still too active to resign yourself to a life of inactivity? Do you want to start a successful business on a shoestring? If any of these questions resonate with you I want you to think about starting and operating a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting business. Listen to this Introduction of “Starting and Running a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business” and decide for yourself whether this is the business for you. Also listen to the 2nd session which takes you further into the evaluation process of whether you’d make a good Dog Walking and Pet Sitting business owner. With Session 3, we get going and organize your business.