If you love animals and have always dreamed about launching your own company, now is the perfect time to launch a business based around pet care. People lead busy lives and often need help providing their pets with necessary services, so if you have the right skills or products, get ready to start a company. Use these three tips from Saving Sadie to get started.
1. Decide Which Type of Business You Want
There are many types of pet care businesses. If you prefer to start a hands-on company that allows you to work directly with animals, you may want to think about pet sitting, grooming or dog walking. If you prefer a hands-off approach and just want to supply pet owners with products to help them care for their animals, you may decide to start a business selling pet supplies.
It’s important to make sure that you have the skill set to accomplish your goals. If you have no experience grooming dogs, you probably won’t be successful in owning a grooming business because you don’t have the right skill set. If networking with other companies that sell pet supplies is not your strong suit, you should not focus on selling third-party pet products to owners. You should choose the option that best fits your skills.
You should also know that the amount of work you do will depend on the types of pets you care for. Taking care of cats while their owners are out of town on vacation is much less time-consuming than caring for dogs. You will likely experience varying personalities if the animals you are caring for have been adopted. They may have past trauma that requires a different skill set when it comes to caring for them.
When it comes time to purchase supplies for your pet care business, be sure to consult reviews. You want to care for pets with the best products available, so having a few recommendations will be a big help.
2. Choose a Business Structure
Future Founders notes that there are several types of business structures, and it is important to choose the one that best meets the needs of your business. One popular option is a limited liability company (LLC). LLCs offer several important benefits, including personal asset protection, flexible management structure, and tax advantages. In addition, LLCs are relatively easy and inexpensive to form.
If you are thinking about starting an LLC, there are a few key steps you will need to take. First, you will need to choose a business name and register it with your state. Next, you will need to obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Then, you will need to draft and file Articles of Organization with your state’s Division of Corporations. Finally, you will need to create an Operating Agreement, which outlines the members’ roles and responsibilities. During this process, be sure to research your state’s registered agent requirements. While you can fulfill this requirement yourself, you may find it helpful to pay for a service to handle it instead.
You also need to make sure you have the right tools to run your business. One thing you need to ensure is prompt payment. You can create a customized invoice using an invoice maker. Make sure you send out your invoices immediately after performing services. You should also have clear terms for payment and accept multiple payment options.
Another tool you’ll want is a PDF editor—there’s a tool to help with this online. Having one on standby can be handy if you’re looking to edit a PDF online. It’s useful for adding notes or highlights to any PDF you have. You can add context to documents that could be important should you need to refer to them later.
3. Market Your Company
Having a strong marketing plan in place is important for launching a successful company. According to one Statista survey, more than 91% of businesses use social media marketing as a huge part of their advertising strategy. This is an effective, cost-efficient way to spread the word about what your business offers.
Word-of-mouth marketing is also a good advertising tactic for new businesses. You can build a client base of people you know personally and allow them to spread the word about how good your company is. This is another strategy that grows your business without having to spend any money.
Now is the perfect time to turn your passion for pets into a business. If you aren’t sure how to get started developing a sustainable company, use these tips. Remember to determine what type of business you’ll specialize in, choose how to structure your operation, and begin marketing your company to get the word out.
For the dog story with a happy ending, visit Saving Sadie today!
Article courtesy of David Dixon: daviddixon@neighborhoodweek.org