FROM THE BACK COVER:
WARNING: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Known to cause side effects such as happiness and fulfillment
According to many experts, dog walking is currently the fastest growing area in the professional pet care industry and it shows no sign of slowing down. More American households have dogs than ever before! Whether you have been dreaming of escaping the 9-5 grind, or just love dogs and want to work with them, this book will help you take this growing industry by the leash and profit from it.
This easy to follow step-by-step guide to starting your own dog walking business teaches:
* How to assess the number of clients you ll need to meet your financial goals using case studies and formulas that work (page 12)
* What services will creatively sell your business and lead the competition (page 16)
* How to create a winning web presence that promotes customer confidence and sells your business 24 hours a day
* How to create a professional welcome packet step-by-step (page 31)
* How on-the-fly photo updates can enrich your service by promoting human interaction and involvement, leading to more referrals and additional income from advertising (page 124)
* Professional advertising strategies revealed in detail and highlighted with examples that will quickly turn your business idea into profit-making reality (page 53)
From the author:
First of all I'd like to create a distinction between pet sitting and dog walking. The two have been used interchangeably for far too long and there are major differences between the two you should be aware of. Dog walking differs considerably from traditional pet sitting and offers a very real solution for those who need a more flexible schedule. Pet sitting is about pet visits: feeding the cat, bird, dog, or fish, making sure they have fresh water, making sure the owners house is still standing, watering plants, taking in mail, taking the dog out for a potty break or a walk and some companionship. Pet sitters take care of many different types of animals from domestic pets to live-stock. But here is the clincher: the hours are pretty much 3 to 4 blocks of time in each day: early morning, noon, late afternoon, and an evening tuck-in. Pet sitters work very hard and need to be out most of the day with brief 1-2 hour blocks of down-time.
In contrast, a dog walker's job, focus, and service are very different and the hours are much more conducive to stay-at-home parents, students, and retired persons. The bulk of a dog walker's work happens between the hours of 10am and 3pm. However with puppy-care, and a 3x per day schedule, you'll be starting a bit earlier and finishing a bit later. Dog walking is also a great way to supplement a dog training business!
Dog walking is a Zen-like business model, provides a steady predictable income, and your customer base is much, much larger.
Dog walking is for the most part recession proof. American households with dogs have increased exponentially. According to the APPA pet-related spending in 2008 will likely exceed $10.5 billion. We aren't going to get rid of our pets, and we aren't going to stop working and commuting. Therefore dog walkers will still be needed, even in a down economy.
WARNING: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! Known to cause side effects such as happiness and fulfillment
According to many experts, dog walking is currently the fastest growing area in the professional pet care industry and it shows no sign of slowing down. More American households have dogs than ever before! Whether you have been dreaming of escaping the 9-5 grind, or just love dogs and want to work with them, this book will help you take this growing industry by the leash and profit from it.
This easy to follow step-by-step guide to starting your own dog walking business teaches:
* How to assess the number of clients you ll need to meet your financial goals using case studies and formulas that work (page 12)
* What services will creatively sell your business and lead the competition (page 16)
* How to create a winning web presence that promotes customer confidence and sells your business 24 hours a day
* How to create a professional welcome packet step-by-step (page 31)
* How on-the-fly photo updates can enrich your service by promoting human interaction and involvement, leading to more referrals and additional income from advertising (page 124)
* Professional advertising strategies revealed in detail and highlighted with examples that will quickly turn your business idea into profit-making reality (page 53)
From the author:
First of all I'd like to create a distinction between pet sitting and dog walking. The two have been used interchangeably for far too long and there are major differences between the two you should be aware of. Dog walking differs considerably from traditional pet sitting and offers a very real solution for those who need a more flexible schedule. Pet sitting is about pet visits: feeding the cat, bird, dog, or fish, making sure they have fresh water, making sure the owners house is still standing, watering plants, taking in mail, taking the dog out for a potty break or a walk and some companionship. Pet sitters take care of many different types of animals from domestic pets to live-stock. But here is the clincher: the hours are pretty much 3 to 4 blocks of time in each day: early morning, noon, late afternoon, and an evening tuck-in. Pet sitters work very hard and need to be out most of the day with brief 1-2 hour blocks of down-time.
In contrast, a dog walker's job, focus, and service are very different and the hours are much more conducive to stay-at-home parents, students, and retired persons. The bulk of a dog walker's work happens between the hours of 10am and 3pm. However with puppy-care, and a 3x per day schedule, you'll be starting a bit earlier and finishing a bit later. Dog walking is also a great way to supplement a dog training business!
Dog walking is a Zen-like business model, provides a steady predictable income, and your customer base is much, much larger.
Dog walking is for the most part recession proof. American households with dogs have increased exponentially. According to the APPA pet-related spending in 2008 will likely exceed $10.5 billion. We aren't going to get rid of our pets, and we aren't going to stop working and commuting. Therefore dog walkers will still be needed, even in a down economy.
