Pet Sitting for Profit [Hardcover]

Patti J. Moran (Author), Michelle Boles (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 9, 2006

It's estimated that professional pet sitters serve a million clients annually, and demand for their services is growing rapidly. Updated and expanded for today's entrepreneurs, Pet Sitting for Profit, Third Edition covers all the fundamentals of starting and operating a pet-sitting business. It addresses new challenges and concerns faced by novice and experienced pet sitters alike, as well as the issues fundamental to the field. With information on everything from office procedures and personnel to advertising and business forms, this book is invaluable to entrepreneurs interested in starting a pet-sitting business or making an existing business more profitable. It's laced with real-life stories from professional pet sitters--stories that show how to handle unexpected situations with furry, feathered, or finny pets or their owners.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

It's estimated that professional pet sitters serve a million clients annually, and demand for their services is growing rapidly. Updated and expanded for today's entrepreneurs, Pet Sitting for Profit, Third Edition covers all the fundamentals of starting and operating a pet-sitting business. It addresses new challenges and concerns faced by novice and experienced pet sitters alike, as well as the issues fundamental to the field. With information on everything from office procedures and personnel to advertising and business forms, this book is invaluable to entrepreneurs interested in starting a pet-sitting business or making an existing business more profitable. It's laced with real-life stories from professional pet sitters—stories that show how to handle unexpected situations with furry, feathered, or finny pets or their owners.

About the Author

PATTI J. MORAN developed pet sitting as a profession after starting her own pet-sitting business in North Carolina in 1983. After word of her business spread to other parts of the United States, Moran was prompted to put her how-to advice on paper; the premier reference, Pet Sitting for Profit, was published in 1987. Shortly thereafter, requests for her pet-sitting business forms led to the start of Patti Moran's Products for Professional Pet Sitters. As others joined her in the profession, Moran began the National Association of Pet Sitters in 1989 and also founded Pet Sitters International in 1994. With more than 7,500 members, PSI is the largest association of professional pet sitters in the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 3 edition (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764596357
• ISBN-13: 978-0764596353
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but general information, August 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Pet Sitting for Profit: A Complete Manual for Professional Success (Howell Reference Books) (Paperback)

I bought this book with high expectations, since Patti is billed as the "guru" of pet sitting. The information provided in the book is extensive, but it seems to me that the book is actually an advertisement for the products Patti Moran sells on her website. I thought for the price of the book, we should expect at least one business form to start our business! If you want to buy those, the catalog is free! Overall, the book helps you decide if pet sitting is really for you, and how to go about setting up the business (insurance, bonding, office practices, etc). If that's all you expect from this book, you won't be disappointed.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent advice on starting a pet sitting business, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pet Sitting for Profit: A Complete Manual for Professional Success (Howell Reference Books) (Paperback)

Patti Moran gives a complete overview of everything a potential pet sitter needs to consider before starting a business. I was particularly impressed with her comments regarding form of business (i.e., sole proprietorship, corporation, etc), tax considerations, and insurance, because other books about starting a pet sitting business gloss over or fail to cover these topics. Given the disasters which could occur if a business isn't properly insured or hasn't complied with tax laws, this advice is invaluable. My only complaint is that there are an awful lot of references to Patti Moran's new business; she is now engaged in supplying pet sitters with a variety of products, and she constantly refers prospective pet sitters to her catalog and excludes other sources of information and supplies. (However, her catalog does have a great variety of items.) By the way, that isn't Patti on the cover of the book -- I would have liked to see her on its jacket. In sum, you must read this book if you want to start a professional pet sitting business; it will eliminate a lot of the headaches and will point you toward valuable resources.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes right on, sometimes just silly, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pet Sitting for Profit: A Complete Manual for Professional Success (Howell Reference Books) (Paperback)

I have had some experience with walking/sitting for some time with an established agency and recently branched out on my own. I bought an earlier version of this book, so that was my mistake. I recommend getting the 1997 revised edition, as the 2nd one is not at all geared for today's computer literate individual. No type of e-mail, website or even detailed computer database info is addressed, which is understandable given the date of revised publication (1991). At that time, home computer use was in its infancy, unlike today, where owning a home computer is as common as having a television.

On the whole this book provided some very valuable information, even for someone with previous professional experience like me. However, there were some points that were just common sense...such as a rambling paragraph about dealing with a toilet overflowing (due to litter disposal). I enjoyed the business suggestions much more that the home repair tips!

I DO think this is a valuble tool for a starting-off sitter. Worthwhile, but a bit "cutsey". But take some of the filler with a grain of salt- and also, skip the numerous plugs for Moran's product line. I suggest that you call for info from others in your area and obtain their business forms so that you can base your info on real competitors, instead of shelling out for forms you'll use only as a general model.