How to Start a Pet Sitting Business in India?

Overview 

Pets are adorable, affectionate and warm companions if you take care of them. Pet sitting is one such professional job where you can deal with your clients to take care of their pets when they are away from their home. In recent years, the pet industry in India is currently valued at $320 billion, and could surge to nearly $500 billion by 2030. This is a remarkable surge which has been observed since the past few decades for starting the business as a pet sitter. Initiating this business with no expense and with some basic equipment can kick start their business without hefty investment. If you are the one who loves to open your side business as a pet carer, then this business is right for you. This blog will let you learn about how to turn your love into a profitable business with a 6 step guide to begin your pet sitting business.

Table of Contents 

1. What is a pet sitting business?
2. Role & Responsibility of Pet Sitter 
3. How to start a Pet Sitting Business in India?
4. License & Registration required for Pet Sitting Business 
5. Challenges 
6. Conclusion 
7. Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the Pet Sitter Business?

Pet sitter business is the professional caretaker who takes care of the pets of the owner. This venture is taken to ensure that the pet is treated as safe if their owner is away. The responsibility of the pet sitter is to give a complete nurturing environment to the pets such as feeding, walking, playing with pets and administering medication as and when required. 

Role of the Pet Sitter 

Here’s the list of roles and responsibilities that must be followed by the pet sitter:

• Feeding and Watering: 

Knowing the foods which are suitable for feeding the pets is the necessary part to deliver pets. Pet sitter is responsible for providing a diet that is food for pets’ health. Similarly, offering fresh and clean water is essential for a pet's digestive health.

• Regular exercise: 

Exercising regularly is an essential routine in a pet's life. Understanding the specific kind of exercises according to the pet’s capability is important for the pet's well being. Scheduling the exercise that is appropriate for pets benefits their mental, social and physical well-being.

• Administering medications:

On monitoring and tracking the physical well-being of pets, t

Depending upon the physical state of well being, the pet sitter is recommended to ensure administering medications on time. Pet sitter is suggested to offer medications through the pet's food or by administering the syringe on special circumstances.

• Providing Grooming Services

Grooming a pet can be a great way to attract the potential client towards your services. Offering services such as bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning and teeth brushing can attract the potential owner of the pet to take care of while he or she may not present. 

License Required for Pet Sitting Business in India

Here’s the list of license which is required for pet sitting business in India: 

• Requirement of GST Registration: In case your threshold limit exceeds a certain turnover amount in the pet sitting business, a person is taxable to pay taxes by registering under GST registration. 
  
  
  
• Requirement of Business Registration: For any kind of business in India, you want to establish whether it is online or vendor business, you need to require business registration. There are 5 types of business registration which includes: OPC registration, sole proprietorship, LLP registration, partnership registration and private limited company registration.
  
  
• Udyam Registration: As you are beginning your business from home, your pet sitting business would fall under the category of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. For getting government incentives without heavy investing on your business for inventory stocks, etc. you are required to get Udyam Registration. 
  
  
• Trademark Registration Online: The trademark registration protects the rights and identity of your brand and logos. 
  
  
• Shop and Establishment Act Registration: Even for online business, the registration for Shop and Establishment Act Registration is also essential.
  
  
• Animal Welfare Board Registration: Planning to start a pet sitting business can be easy. Then you must register with the Animal Welfare Board of India. This registration ensures that the business stays compliant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, of 1960.

For getting multiple benefits from legal and financial regulations, you are required to get assistance from experienced CA and CS experts for easing your application. We at Bizfoc team will dedicatedly serve your needs to make your business comply to meet legal and financial regulations. 

How to Start a Pet Sitting Business in India?

Starting a pet sitting business is quite easy if you’re the one who is fond of caring for the pets. Here’s the step-by-step procedures to earn a side income from pet sitting business in India:

Step 1: Plan your Business Priority: 

Planning your business should start with your priority. In general, the pet sitter business is available and considered as a side business for many young people. You should focus on what type of domestic pets you would consider for your business as most households prefer to care for cats and dogs. So you can focus on being a pet sitter for them. 

Step 2: Get the Necessary Equipments to get Started

You should be completely equipped with the necessary equipment to get started with your business. Equipment such as toys, foods and medicine or extra emergency kit should be with you in case of emergency or boarding a pet at your home in special circumstances. However, the owner of the pet will provide you with this extra equipment but you should have back up items so that caring services to the pet won’t be lacking. 

Step 3: Network with Vets, Groomers, and Pet shops in Your Area:

Try to spread networking with vets, Groomers and Pet Shops in your area so that you’ll get the community to get started with your career path. Ask your friends, relatives and families to let their connection be known about your business. 

Step 4: Choose a Legal Structure:

Choosing the business structure is necessary to start your business. Business registration is differentiated into five main structure which are as follows:

• Limited Liability Partnership
• One-Person Company
• Sole Proprietorship 
• Partnership firm registration
• Private Limited Company

Step 5: Begin Building your Business Online:

Once your business has a legal structure, your business must be known through online. Creating the website which is named on your brand will help your customers to reach out to your pet sitting business and the passion you’ve. With unique structured bloggings and designs of your website, users get easily attracted and clients make offers according to your payscale expectations. 

Step 6: Ongoing Management of Your Business:

In order to secure and survive your business for the long run, managing your business should be the first priority once the business is set. So it is important to uptick with the required trends and continuous changing in pets industry trends and regulations. To stay compliant with the necessary license and requirements, you should consider continuously tracking and monitoring the market trends and its evolution.

Challenges for Starting the Pet Sitting Business in India

Here’s the few listing of challenges that many pet sitter business will likely to face at the initial level:

• Researching the competition: 

To stay up-to-date to the latest market trends of your competition, researching for your rivalries is necessary. Staying up-to-date for your existing pet care business services. You can also check the bulletins boards of your local competition where pet sitters advertise their services. 

• Understanding the demand:

Staying outdated from market trends won’t let the pet sitters business to grow further because of shifting consumer preferences. 

• Managing the risks

You may face certain problems while managing the risks while staying with a pet. The pet may harm your personal belongings, third party property or harm others. Other problems you’ll likely face are injuries and wounds. 

Conclusion

The pet sitting business is a rewarding business for the animal lovers. Yet this business requires minimal investment and requirements of basic equipment. For registering your pet sitting business in legal, you’re required to register under a certain license so that there will be no further obstruction for your business. On getting your business register, you will have to uptick as per the latest market trends. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What pets are commonly cared for in pet sitting?

Pets such as dogs and cats are commonly cared for in pet sitting business in India. These two pets are majorly taken care of by Indian poets' owners and it has been increasing drastically since the past few decades. 

2) What certifications or courses can help?

There is no specific certification or courses required for starting a skillful business in India. But should have to keep prior knowledge about animal behavior, animal caring method and use of first aid. 

3) What are the busiest times for pet sitting services? 

The pet sitting services increase on the occasion of holidays, weekends and festivals. 

4) Can I run this business solo, or do I need staff?

Depending upon the demand of your business among customers, you can either choose to run this business solely. If the business increases in the market, then you need to hire staff for caring for the other customers' pets at competitive prices.