silly idea or feasible?

[SarahRicoh]

Well iv finally decided i want to start up my own pet sitting/dog walking etc business. So i did some research into other companies. There a few very established companies(one down the road from me) and they obviously do well!

I would charge quite a bit less and offer ind dog walks for same price as groups-most charge more for individual so id have something to attract people in.

I aim to start an evening job and quit my job so i can start setting it up. Id have a website,leaflets etc.

Do you think i could make a go of it or im silly to think i can conpete against other established companies? In my eyes every business has competitors so i dont see why i shouldnt be able to make it work,right?

 

[PooJay]

Well iv finally decided i want to start up my own pet sitting/dog walking etc business. So i did some research into other companies. There a few very established companies(one down the road from me) and they obviously do well!

I would charge quite a bit less and offer ind dog walks for same price as groups-most charge more for individual so id have something to attract people in.

I aim to start an evening job and quit my job so i can start setting it up. Id have a website,leaflets etc.

Do you think i could make a go of it or im silly to think i can conpete against other established companies? In my eyes every business has competitors so i dont see why i shouldnt be able to make it work,right?

I use a dog walker (well, he's actually a mate we pay to walk them 3 times a week) and we pay £6 per pooch.

What would be really useful at times is a dog sitting service too - someone to go let the dogs out, play with them in the garden for a bit if we're out all day.

good luck, i'd love to be able to afford to do that for a job, i'm much more comfy in walking boots than my work heels!

 

[Lotty]

I think it sounds like a good idea. I don't have a dog but I wish there was someone in my area that I could pay to look after my horse as I'm on DIY and the YO doesn't help as he's a farmer. My family are up North and I never get to visit them as my horse is on strict management - doesn't get turned out til 11ish then brought in at 4ish, plus I doak hay. I'd gladly pay someone the odd weekend or day if I decide to go shopping.

 

[Faro]

I wouldn't charge loads less - I would keep my prices pretty much the same as is average for your area - you don't want to a) Appear to be too cheap, b) Make yourself unpopular with the other established pet sitters c) Under-pay yourself.

BUT to attract the clients I would do an introductory offer - perhaps "For New Clients - Pay for Two Walks and Get the Third One Free", with your prices being on a par with what's charged by the established ones.

Good luck!

 

[tyson]

My mum does this after being unable to work from an accident and makes a nice little bit of money from it. I think you need a few loyal ones and the rest will come afterwards. Just make sure your garden is properly secure for the stayers!!!

Good luck!

 

[SarahRicoh]

Thanks guys sounds promising!!!

 

[Tooster]

We use day-boarding 3 days a week as on those days OH and I leave way early in the morning and come back quite late and it's too long a day (even with a walker). For us it's important that (in no particular order):

(1) the lady had been police-checked (didn't want her running off with our dog )
(2) the lady had insurance
(3) the lady had a great background in dogs (training and grooming)
(4) the garden was very secure
(5) the lady was flexible in pick-up/drop off time
(6) we and our dog got on with the lady and her dogs
(7) the lady would feed our dog when and what we wanted (important as our dog has irritable bowel disease)
(8) the lady came with impeccable references from loads of people in the area (not just people who used her services but also local vets etc)
(9) my dog would get 3 walks a day and wouldn't have to be in a crate at all. On walks the lady only takes a small number out with her at any one time.

Most of these would also apply if we were looking for a dog walker (some maybe even more so as you'd be giving them your house keys )

Hope that helps ...

 

[SarahRicoh]

Thankyou iv been crb checked. Need to look.into insurance!

 

[SarahRicoh]

Anyone know what insurance id need?

 

[Chavhorse]

Hi there,

Firstly lucky you sounds like a lovely plan to do something you want to do.

Up until I gave up work 6 months ago we used a dog walker 5 days a week for our three she charged us 27 euro per day (we are in Holland) for the three of them.

She rented an enclosed field with 2 other walkers which was set up with a pond, sandpit, toys etc, she used to collect them between 8.30am and bring them back (totally exhausted!) between 12.30 and 13.00. Field was about 10 minutes drive from our house so they got a good long run about.

She used a system of a 10 or 20 walk strip card which you paid for upfront and she ticked off each time she walked them and left the full card for us once used up so we could purchase another one.

We still use her now to cover holidays weekends away (as my three are nightmares and I do not trust many people to walk them!).

I would love to have access to a day sitting service, come in and let them out in the garden and just spend time with them (they are totally spoilt!).

Another thing I am happy to pay for is a dog sitting service in my home so when I am away the dogs do not have to go into kennells, we happily pay 25 euro a day for this service and the dog walker on top. Not the cheapest option but I know they are at home happy and not stressed and being walked safely each day.

Do not price yourself too cheap but maybe offer buy 10 get 2 free or something like that, and remember as it is a service it can the first thing to go when money gets tight, I felt quite guilty at dropping my walker when I gave up work and could do it myself as I know I was a large part of her monthly income and had been a stable customer for over 3 years.

 

[SarahRicoh]

Thankyou. All stuff i need to think about

 

[SarahRicoh]

Bump