How to Start a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business

THE BUSINESS OF PET SITTING AND DOG WALKING

A GUIDE TO STARTING A NEW BUSINESS www.narpsuk.co.uk

01322 683 564

What is Pet Sitting?

Pet Sitting is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK. In recent times our schedules have become busier with longer working hours and often all members of the household out for the whole day. Pets are more than ever seen to be members of the family, so using caged holiday homes has become less popular. This is where Pet Sitting has become a more popular option amongst owners.

THE TERM PET SITTING CAN REFER TO ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: Home Boarding - caring for pets in your own home whilst the owners are away House Sitting – caring for pets and/or a home whilst owners are away Doggy Day Care – caring for dogs on a daily basis whilst owners are at work Dog Walking – taking dogs out for a walk once a day Pop-In-Services – Going to a pet owners house on a daily basis to feed cats, put down food, let dogs out, clean litter trays or just play, etc.

Caged Animal Care – Small pet care whilst owners are away Pet Taxi Services – door to door car service for pets

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A Day in the Life...

08.30 Welcome my two doggie day care clients before their owners go to work. I am also home boarding two dogs at present for one week.

09.00 Take my visitors out for their walk 10.30 I also have 2 rabbits and a guinea pig staying for two weeks so I feed them and clean out their hutches 11.00 Dog Walking Clients – I walk four dogs at a time for one hour in the morning 12.30 Home to feed my visitors and let them out 13.30 Pop in Service for two cats to feed and change litter tray 14.00 Dog Walking Clients round 2! Walk another four dogs in the afternoon 15.00 Playtime – I spend time with the four dogs I have at home playing and giving them some affection 16.00 Pet Taxi service to take a lady and her dog to the vet 17.30 Doggie Day care clients arrive to pick up their dogs 18.00 Guinea Pig owner arrives to pick up her pet Today’s Total Earnings: £185.00

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What is NarpsUK? Narpsuk was founded in 2007 by a team of experts with extensive experience within the Pet Sitting Industry. Due to an absence of any authoritive organisation, an association needed to be established to actively set industry standards and guidelines for pet sitters and dog walkers, as well as making education and training material available to its members.

Up until the point of when Narpsuk was established there was uncertainty by pet sitters of what was required to run a legitimate and professional pet sitting service. There were many sources of conflicting information available which were leaving pet sitters confused and unable to provide a professional service. NarpsUK was in the forefront by consulting with external animal welfare partners and business experts to establish what tools and guidelines are required to run a successful and professional business.

NarpsUK is now the regulating body for the pet sitting industry and recognised within central and local government as well as animal welfare organisations. Our aims and objectives are: To set industry standards by working with government, local authorities and partner organisations To promote best practice and represent the interests of members and the wider profession at local and national government levels To support pet care professionals to deliver high standards of care by providing quality information, education and training To provide our members with benefits which reduce costs and achieve a more profitable business

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Get Started in 10 Steps 1.

2.

3.

4.

SELECT YOUR PACKAGE

REGISTER AND CREATE PROFILE

WELCOME EMAIL

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES

We offer three different packages based on what you may need from your membership.

Create your profile to generate your own 7 page URL!

Receive your welcome email with details of what you need to do next and your log in details. Log in and add photos, feedback and emblems!

We have already produced your Business Plan, flyers, forms and contracts so you don’t have to worry!

Discounted Insurance from £76 per year exclusively for our members!

5.

GET INSURANCE

6.

CHECK OUT OUR PET SITTING SOFTWARE

Our highly recommended software and app is ideal for storing client’s details, bookings, invoicing and diary management!

Required if you will be holding keys – we can arrange this for you!

7.

APPLY FOR A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

8.

SIGN UP FOR OUR COURSE

9.

START TAKING BOOKINGS

Our Lantra Accredited Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business Course is a must if you are just starting up!

Start accepting clients from day one!

Use our Income Calculator to work out how much you could earn!

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Membership Benefits • Membership to the largest Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Association in the UK • Membership Certificate • Use of our Logos and Emblems on our Literature • Your own 7 Page URL, Which can be used as a Website Listing for Pet Owners to Find you via our Post Code • Search - Extra Work!

• Free Listing on ‘Find a Local Pet Sitters’

• In House Members Forum • Support and Advice from NarpsUK via Email or Telephone • Access to Basic Disclosure Criminal Record Checks • Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business Software and App • Marketing Materials to help you to promote your business • Professional Forms and Service Contracts • Information sheets to Guide You

• • • •

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and to Ensure you are Providing the Best Service Pet Sitting Business plan Pet Sitters Account Package Discounted Pet Sitting Insurance Discounted Lantra Accredited Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business Course Vetfone – 24/7 Access to a FREE advice line answered by Veterinary Nurses

Membership OPTIONS

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01322 683 564

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business Course

A unique and comprehensive online course produced by experts specifically for those wishing to start or who already run their own pet sitting or dog walking business. The course has been co-written and accredited by Lantra Awards which is a nationally recognised Awarding Organisation.

BENEFITS OF THE COURSE • This course will help you to decide if pet sitting is the right career for you • It will teach you skills to make your business a success using marketing and branding • It will inform you about how to incorporate booking systems and work scheduling in your business • It will inform you of which services are offered within pet

• Setting Prices • Animal Law and Regulations • Breeds

sitting and what’s involved • It will teach you which contracts and forms are required • It will give you an insight into Animal Law, Animal Healthcare, Nutrition and Grooming • On completion you will receive a digital image which you can use on your website and stationery along with your Lantra certification.

• Forms and Contracts • Animal Healthcare • Managing Clients • Running Your Business • Nurtition, Diet and Grooming • Branding, Marketing and Advertising • Pet First Aid

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01322 683 564

Business Software and App If you already run a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business, you will be aware of how quickly the admin side of your business can build up and the amount of paperwork for clients, bookings, schedules, etc. The database and app access are available FREE with our bronze and gold membership packages. Our Pet Sitting Software makes running your business EASY.

We give you access to a package that allows you to: • Manage Client Details • Manage Pet Details • Create and Manage Bookings • Check Your Schedule • Manage Your Diary System • Client Invoicing • Add Meetings Our Software allows you to view your workload and manage your business quickly and easily from your desktop and on the move!

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01322 683 564

Feedback and Reviews “NARPS is an excellent association that has not only helped me set up my business but has also helped me with the continued growth of it. The forms are invaluable, the legal wording is all done for you - I really don’t know where I’d have started without these.The member forum has provided me with advice and comfort when needed and the database is the administration backbone of my business. I can’t thank them enough for the support and quick & friendly response I’ve received each time. Truly excellent!“

“I have today secured my first client (through NarpsUK Thank you!) It’s good to know things are constantly being reviewed. I would like to both congratulate and thank you on such an amazing website and business you have. If it wasn’t for finding NARPS online with all the information and support (plus forms etc) I would never have felt brave enough to make the decision to leave my office job (which I hated) and embark on my ‘career’ in dog walking.

It gave me the confidence to do so, knowing there was this wealth of information on hand and I wasn’t alone. Thank you!!”

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“After careful consideration and comparing NarpsUK with other associations, I chose to join NarpsUK. I am so pleased that I did! I love the members forum and have received fantastic advise and support. The support manager responds to queries very quickly and is always helpful. The database is well worth having and has made life easier. Finally, the forms that you are able to download have all be checked by a solicitor and I am confident in knowing that my terms and conditions are legal.”

“Narpsuk has been invaluable in helping me get started petsitting. I have found the downloadable policies and forms really helpful. I am now on my first dog sitting assignment and loving it! The narpsuk forum is really useful too. I got a quick reply fro. Narpsuk when I was unsure how valid the contract was in Scotland and reassured it was fine. Thank you so much, Narpsuk! “ “The best thing I did when starting my own business 5 months ago was to sign up and become a proud member of NarpsUK! Customer service is helpful, any question I get a reply in a few hours; forms and contracts have been heaven sent! I can’t imagine having had to do it myself. The forum is fun and useful too; been sharing ideas and asking for advice to others in the business. Thank you!”

01322 683 564

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PET SITTERS AND DOG WALKERS

www.narpsuk.co.uk

CALL US :

01322 683 564

Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm www.narpsuk.co.uk

01322 683 564