Simple Solutions - Making Money #4

Well, I started with dogs and thought I might as well stay with them for the time being.

Do you love dogs? Enjoy having them around? Do you need some extra money coming in? Start a small doggy day care at home in your yard. Won't work if you live in an apartment or condo. But, if you have a yard, a place where you can make the dogs comfortable, some shade or shelter, and love to see happy dogs, this one could be for you.

It only takes a few dogs - you don't want a whole herd of them on hand. Say four or five which can translate to the equivalent of $15 per hour. Price will depend on where you live, what other locations charge, the services you provide, etc. If you train dogs, great - you can charge more if you really train them. You can charge extra for dog washing and grooming. If you don't know how to groom a dog, find someone who does and who will come to your home.

Remember, though, if you do decide to run a doggy day care, you have to be at home with them at all times - they become your responsibility and do not take that lightly.

Start by finding articles on the web and read them.  Next, see if books are available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  (I already know they are available.)

Visit other people who have doggy day care centers to see what they have done - don't be afraid to steal ideas to make your operation better.  Need to find them?  Look on the Internet or look in (gasp!) your phone book.

Make a list of who you know who has dogs. Let them know you are starting an exclusive doggy day care center.

Make sure you like the dog and have the dog and owner over to see how the dog interacts with others - make sure they all get along if you have multiple dogs. If the new dog does not get along with the existing dogs - don't care for the dog.

Make sure the dog has had all shots and they are current.

Lunch for the dog should be packed by their 'guardian.' You should not have to purchase food, but do make sure each dog has an area they can think of as their own like  kennel or even a pad.

Keep your yard clean and free of fleas. Make sure the guardians are using something on their dog to control fleas.

Have emergency contact information for every dog including vet's name, number and location. Make sure you know the shortest way to get to the vet's office - just in case. 

This is not intended to be a full list of what to do to start a doggy day care. Do the research and know that you can start to make money very soon - target about $25.00 per day, per dog, or whatever your area will support comfortably. You could easily be earning several hundred dollars per week by taking care of animals you love.  Do your research!  I recently found prices on the Internet for my area that shocked me for in-home doggy day care.

And...get this...you can extend day care into over night care and make even more money! 

Easy Solutions - Safe Driving

There is no denying there are more cars on the road.  I don't have the numbers at this moment, but I do know from simple experience there are more people on the highway and streets just because there it takes longer to get anywhere.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that.

And, if there are more cars, there will be more accidents between vehicles and involving pedestrians.

The easiest way to avoid an accident?  Stop at stop signs.

Now, I know that's a pretty basic concept, but it's one that I don't see many folks fully understand.  I know you have seen those drivers; the ones who kind of slow down, but never stop.  I see them at just about every Stop sign and turning right at a red light.  They don't stop.  It's just a matter of time before someone is injured as a result of not obeying the rules of the road.

I apologize...I was starting to rant and you don't deserve that at all.  Please, please, just remember to stop at Stop signs.

Thanks!

Easy Solutions - Lesson From Jake

About six months ago a woman from a cat rescue group brought a kitten to me.  I didn't know what to expect, or if I'd even like the cat.  A white, fluffy kitten was handed to me and the first think he did was purr.  He, later named Jake, was happy to meet me!

Do you think there is a lesson there from Jake?  When you meet someone for the first time, greet them with a genuine smile and be pleased to meet them.  What can it hurt?  It can only help.  And you never know who you are going to meet; but do know you have from 10 to 30 seconds during which you make an impression that will last for years.  Why not make it a great impression?

Be happy to meet people.  Such an easy thing to do to make life a bit more simple!

There is more to this, but I wanted to get this out while it was on my mind.  Stay tuned.