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 - Making Money #2

People love their dogs - that is just a fact. And, they want them to be cared for and cared about.

What else can do with dogs? Walk them.

Walking dogs is a big business in some major cities like New York. We've all seen pictures of a person walking what looks like 12 dogs at once. It does not have to be that way. You can walk fewer dogs and still make decent money.

Why walk dogs? Because, like people, dogs need exercise on a daily basis. They need to get out and see what's going on in the neighborhood. And, people's workdays are getting longer so the time to walk their dog is really limited. Enter a dog walker.

What will you need? A love of dogs - all kinds of dogs. A few strong leashes, unless the leash is provided by the dog's guardian. Decent shoes - you will be walking a lot. A sense of adventure - because like mail delivery you will be walking dogs in all sorts of weather. And, be a good neighbor - pick up after the dogs. Oh, yes, don't forget to keep dog treats with you at all times in your pocket or a bag - remember to keep your hands free.

Figure out how much you want to charge. Start a bit low so you can get some first clients. You will probably know your first clients, so start by calling friends and neighbors, let them know you are going to walk dogs.

Remember to meet the dogs you will walk - literally interview them. Make sure you get along with the dog before committing to walking it. Also, find out what training the dog has had and what words they respond to. You can walk dogs in the morning and in the afternoon.

Again, I found a book you might want to consider if you want to walk dogs. It's titled The Dog Walker's Startup Guide: Create Your Own Lucrative Dog Walking Business. There are also articles available on the internet that have valuable information.

The money? Figure about $10.00 to $20.00 per dog per walk. And, that is with a group of dogs.  For a private walk think around $20 or $30 – and higher in some areas.  I'd think about giving a discount if you take the same dogs out twice per day, but that's up to you. However you price your service, be very careful not to price it too high.

Be selective in the dogs you choose to walk. Make sure you get along with the dog and the dog likes you. If you think there will be a problem - don't take the dog. Being selective can be a very good thing for your business.

If you take two or three dogs out - make sure they get along!

Think about add-on services you can offer clients. Training is a natural if you know what you are doing and have experience. Grooming is another - even just bathing a dog is an add-on service.

You can live in the city or in a suburb. Almost anywhere people have dogs as pets.  In fact, I was just talking with a friend the other day who lives in a middle class section of Southern California.  I would have never expected a dog walker to be active in his neighborhood, but what do I know?  He told me about seeing a woman walking several dogs twice a day and that he had talked with her.  Why was she walking the dogs?  She had a business - it was her job to walk them!

It just goes to show you that this can be done almost anywhere.










I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner