So, you have the desire to turn you love of pets into a business. It’s a great idea. Maybe you would like to be a Dog Groomer, a Dog Walker, Pet Sitter, or Pet Photographer.
However, this requires you to step outside of your comfort zone or away from the security of a 9-5, But this can be daunting and overwhelming right? I mean, where do you start? Ask yourself some questions:
- Do you have a passion?
- Do you have a hobby you really would like to do more of and share?
- Have you always felt there is more to what you can achieve?
BUT
- Do you feel scared?
- Like this is something for someone else and not you.
- Who are you to think you can start a business?
All the mind monkeys and self-doubt creep in right? Well let’s break this down to a place where you can say “let’s do it!”
Let’s Start With Your Passion
What is it that you really love about pets? Have you taken your dog to a groomer and thought, oh, I could do that, it looks like a great way to spend my working day. Or do you love the great outdoors and so dog walking would be an ideal career for you? Whatever it is, make a list of pros and cons to really see what would be right for you.
Think About Your Niche
Look around where you live or where you would have your business and try to identify your target market. Are you going to be a go-to for posh poodles, adventurous terriers or chilled out cats? What kind of Dogs do people have in your area that could potentially be your ideal client?
- Do some market research by going out and about
- Make a list of the kind of dogs people have
- Maybe talk to dog owners and see what they would be looking for in a dog groomer or dog walker. Maybe they are looking for something that doesn’t really exist in your area right now.
Market research is a great way to really pinpoint what is needed and what potential customers would be looking for.
1. Ditch the Doubt
We all have doubt about things in life and stepping outside of your comfort zone is a sure-fire way for those dreaded mind monkeys to start shouting loudly at you! BUT, you can absolutely do this! A great way is to connect with other petpreneurs for inspiration and support. Working together with like minded people really does help!
2. Planning
The first step is planning! This is an essential part of starting any business. Probably a great way to start is by brainstorming your idea. What do I mean by that? Simple – just get a sheet of paper and a pen and literally, write down all your ideas in one big list, from the type of business you would like, the people you might serve, the kind of dogs you want to work with etc etc. you get the idea. Remember though to have SMART goals:
S Specific
M Measurable
A Achievable
R Relevant
T Time-bound
3. Branding
Here’s the fun part ! Branding. Coming up with a great business name can be tricky, I mean I bet all the catchy names you have thought about are already being used right? But, here’s the thing, as long as they are not in your area you won’t have much competition as far as names go. The only thing you might struggle with is a domain name or social media account, so take all these factors into consideration and do your research. Check out Facebook and Instagram to see if anyone is using the name you are thinking about and if they are, keep going. Maybe use Chat GPT to help you?
Think about your brand colours and what is eye catching. Look at google and research what each colour means and the emotion it evokes in us. Invest in professional photos of you and your own pet, this really gives your potential clients a good feel for who you are.
4. Digital Presence
It is important to have an online presence. When potential clients are looking for their perfect pet partner, the first thing they will do is “Google it” right? Think about it, when you are looking for a particular product or place to visit, what do you do to find out more?
Building your own website can be a step too far sometimes. It’s not an easy process and can not only be a steep learning curve but very time consuming. But there are alternative ways to have a web presence without all the faff.
Think about social media and what platforms would be best for you and where your customers are likely to hang out? There are so many platforms, but here’s the thing, you don’t have to be on all of them! Can you imagine trying to manage ALL of the platforms, phew, I feel tired just thinking about it! Do your research, find out where your potential clients are.
5. Licences
Many pet businesses (although not all) will require you to have a licence, usually from your local authority if, for example, you run a kennel. It is important you check out your sector and local authority to find out exactly what you need to operate your business. After all, you don’t want to put in all that hard work only to be shut down! You can get lots of information either from www.gov.uk or from your own Local Authority
6. Finances
It is a good idea to have systems in place before you start. This will make it so much easier as you go on this business journey. Have a separate bank account solely for your business, that way you won’t get all your money muddled up spend hours working out what is yours and what is from your business. Set up records/spreadsheets for all your outgoings and income. That way when you come to the dreaded HMRC end of year accounts, it will all be up-to-date and easy to file. Set aside some time at the end of each week to update your records, trust me, it really will make life so much easier!
I have included a simple spreadsheet for you to use to help with your business accounts. You can add or change this as necessary.
7. Opportunities
While you are growing your business it’s a really good idea to see if you can network with others in your industry. Collaboration with others is a great way to support each other and help each other along the way. I’m not talking about a business that does the same as you but compliments you. Look for local events you could maybe get involved in, like pet shows or money raising events.
Become the expert in your field. Write blogs, get involved in forums and social media pages giving advice and help. Showing your knowledge helps people to know, like and trust you and your business.
8. Feedback
This is a key part of your business and one that a lot of people ignore! Ask for Feedback at every opportunity! Happy customers are your best advert!
Conclusion
These are just some of the stepping stones you can follow to get started on your business journey and to a life of doing what you love. So go on, banish those mind monkeys and get started on changing your life today!
