Statistics show that Americans spent an estimated $40.8 billion on their pets in 2007 and that 53% of US households own at least one pet; that equates to 7.1 million homes. That’s a lot of potential business! Think you have what it takes to own a successful pet sitting business? Owning a pet sitting business offers many advantages and it is now one of the top 10 fastest growing industries of today. It offers you the opportunity to be self employed, choose the hours you want to work and your paycheck is only limited by your willingness to work. You don't need experience or a large sum of money to get started; only your passion for pets and some creative thinking.
 
So, what makes a successful petrepreneur? There are many important characteristics that make a petrepreneur successful in their industry; factors such as personality, education, skill set, and many others. There is, however, one deciding factor that shouldn’t be disregarded if you truly want to succeed: Passion for your business or industry, in this case, a passion for clients and their pets. Without it, you will definitely find it hard to succeed. You must be willing to do whatever it takes to reach the finish line; many times that includes being able to captivate an audience who shares your passion for pets and working very long hours. Being able to maintain enthusiasm and interest in your business is key to its success. 


Business today is full of risks. In the every day course of business, you will encounter a lot of problems and challenges. Having a clear vision of your goal (operating a successful pet sitting business) and being able to solve problems creatively is a big advantage. For ordinary individuals, problems are considered obstacles, for a petrepreneur, they are a challenge. Challenges give you an opportunity to look at a current process or product and discover a way to improve it. If, after careful consideration of an issue you find an unconventional solution, don’t be afraid to step outside of the so-called safety zone. To operate a successful pet sitting business, one must be willing to accept some risk. You must be continually willing to put one foot in front of the other or your business will go nowhere. One’s greatest failure is sticking with the mentality of being conventional. This would be a petrepreneur’s greatest downfall. Think big. Act big. Follow your passion and find success. Start your pet sitting business today! 

Lee Anne Emig is the founder of The Pet Sitting Institute. She owned a successful pet sitting business and is the author of several pet care articles. The Pet Sitting Institute offers complete systems, products and tools to help people start the pet sitting business of their dreams and succeed in the industry. Visit http://www.PetSittingInstitute.com for more information.