Money is something that all of us desire to have in plenty. Everyone requires money to survive in the current economy. The more money you get or earn, the more your needs increase.
Do you need some extra cash? Do you have a full-time job, yet it does not give you enough money? Can you multi-task? If so, then this is the right place to be.
There are so many things you can do to earn that extra cash. One of the best businesses to start for extra money is house sitting.
In this article, we shall give you some tips on how to start a house sitting business.
Here we go!
Have a Plan
One of the essential determinants of business success is a well-crafted plan. It gives you a direction of what to do or what to expect.
Some of the contents of your business plan should be the list of services you offer, your marketing ideas, your pricing, and your potential clients, among other things.
Also, an estimate of your startup cost and business structure should appear in your business plan.
Some of the services to be offered on the house sitting business include cleaning, pet sitting, gardening, laundry, and washing the dishes. The list is very long. You should specify which type of service you want.
Conduct a Market Analysis
A market analysis will help you acquire the necessary information from the market.
You have to determine which services are in high demand. You have to identify your competitors. You have to know the market prices for your house sitting business.
All the above information may only be obtained after conducting a market survey.
Enroll for Some Learning Courses
How many of us can handle a dog or a cat without any knowledge? What if the dogs are very fierce? How do you clean a cat? You will need some knowledge of how to take care of such pets. You can enroll for short courses that are available even online.
Also, handling some equipment at your client’s house will require some knowledge and skills.
Also, you will have an added advantage if you take some of these courses. Who will want to leave his house to someone who doesn’t know how to treat his/her beloved pets?
Get an Insurance Cover for Your Business
What happens if you break something at your client’s home? How will you explain to your client that his/her house was robbed while he/she was away? What happens if one of the pets dies due to lack of proper care?
You will be held responsible for any damage or risk that occurs at your client’s house while he/she isn’t home.
To avoid such risks, it is good to have an insurance cover. Remember, you are doing this house sitting business to get extra cash. Where will you get money to pay for damages when this is just your side hustle? Do not risk doing business without an insurance cover.
Most of the governments have made it mandatory for any business owners to have an insurance cover for their business.
If you plan to employ some staff to help conduct your house sitting business, consider taking an employee’s liability insurance.
Get the Necessary Permits and Licenses
Without a valid license, you won’t be able to start the house sitting business. Most people will assume that since it is a small business, there is no need for a license.
What happens if everyone got into the house sitting business? Where will all of you get clients? To regulate the number of firms, the government issues licenses to relevant people to start a business.
For you to be issued with a business license, you must comply with the set rules and regulations. It is a form of control so they will use any excuse to deny you the business license.
Ensure you comply with the health and safety measures and standards.
No client will hire you without a valid business license or permit.
Come up With a Pricing Strategy
While coming up with a pricing strategy, you need to consider some essential factors. If not, you might end up spending more than your earnings.
You must ensure that you get the most from your services. Setting meager prices might devalue your services. On the other hand, raising your rates very high might drive away your clients.
Alternatively, you may choose to be paid per day, per hour, or monthly. In either way, choose the best pricing strategy. If it becomes a challenge for you, you should never hesitate to seek consultation from relevant people.
You may ask other house sitting business owners about their pricing strategy as well. Ensure your price goes hand in hand with the quality of services you offer.
Market Your Business
How will people know that your business exists? How will they reach you? One of the most appropriate promotional tools for every business is marketing.
Print some business cards with your contacts on them and distribute them to people. Post flyers and business cards on the walls of the streets, supermarkets, and travel agencies where people can easily see them.
Also, with the rapid growth in technology, social media platforms have become the best places for marketing business. Use every platform to attract more clients to your business.
Alternatively, you can develop your website to market your business. Make your website accessible and straightforward. You can seek the assistance of professionals on how to create the best site for your house sitting business.
Also, you can develop a customized mobile app. In this era of technology, almost everyone has access to a smartphone. It will be much easier to get clients via a smartphone.
You should maximize the use of technology to acquire as many clients for your business as possible.
Draft a Contract With Terms and Agreements
Having a documented contract for your business provides security for you and your business. It protects you and also the clients against a breach of any of the terms of the agreement.
The contract legally binds you and your clients. You should ensure that you both come to a universal agreement on the terms of your contract. In most cases, it has a place for your signatures. After you sign, you are legally bound to the contract.
Balance Your House Sitting Business With Your Full-Time Job
What happens if your house sitting business demands more of your time? How will you manage to work full-time and part-time at the same time? It sounds confusing, right?
Do not let your house sitting business ruin your full-time career. Remember, this is just a part-time job to get you extra cash. You have a good job that puts food on your table. Will you leave your full-time job for a house sitting business? Does that even make sense?
To deal with this issue, pick flexible tasks. Tasks that you can efficiently finish at your own pace. What if your full-time job demands more of your time, and you are left with very little time to conduct your house sitting business.
These are some of the things you should keep in mind when choosing a client to work for. Choose a client that can understand you have another job.
Some clients won’t hire you because you have another better paying job. So should you hide them from the truth? Should you tell them you are unemployed? Honesty is a virtue. It is good to be open to your client. If he/she decides to hire you, then you are lucky; if he or she doesn’t, then so be it. There are more clients out there looking for house sitters like you.
The point is, have a balance between your full-time job and your house sitting business.
Provide Quality Services to Your Clients
Even with the above tips, if you do not provide quality services, your house sitting business will not last for long. Just because it is a side hustle doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your best.
Be an excellent house sitter. Get your clients to trust you. You will be referred to many clients if the quality of your services is excellent. Be the best house sitter in your town. You will receive maximum benefits for your hard work.
As seen above, starting a house sitting business isn’t daunting. You only need little startup costs and requirements, and you’re set to go. Don’t spend your idol time just relaxing or watching movies and listening to music. Time is money. Use it to earn extra income. Do not just rely on your full-time job. Have some side hustles. Be a business-minded person and get the extra cash you need.
