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From Dog Lover to Business Owner: How to Succeed

If you consider yourself to be a huge dog lover, you might be thinking of starting a business that will allow you to spend even more time with them. However, it’s important that you keep in mind that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Keep on reading to learn more about what you can expect if you plan on starting a dog-related business and what is vital for success.

From Dog Lover to Business Owner

Make Sure It’s Worth It

The first step before you quit your day job should be determining whether this endeavor is really worth it. If you already have a full-time job, you can perhaps start this as a side job to see how well it will go and only resign once you are sure there is money to be made in your new dog-oriented company. On the other hand, if you don’t currently have a job and think this is a good idea because you love animals and you’ve heard the old saying “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” you need to take a harder look at what lies ahead. Sure, some dog-related jobs are easy to do but some require plenty of time and money so don’t start something you cannot deliver on.

Decide On What You Want To Start

Once you are sure that you want to start a pet business, you need to decide on the kind of company you want to run. For some, you will need formal education while others do not require such a thing. A pretty low-cost way to enter the industry would be to start a dog walking or a dog sitting business. Then, if you love photography, you can offer dog photography services. While you will not be dealing directly with dogs all the time, starting a company that makes dog food or treats or one that specializes in various dog clothing items can also be an interesting career choice. On the other hand, if you are willing to put in time, money, and effort, you can go to veterinary school to get a degree so that you can take care of dogs in need of medical assistance.

From Dog Lover to Business Owner

Create A Business Plan

As you can see, the choices abound. After you’ve made up your mind, you need to write a business plan. This includes plenty of important aspects that you cannot overlook. For example, how much money will you need to start and run the business? If you can’t afford to do it on your own, you will have to look for a partner or investor that agrees with your vision. Then, you should put down some goals in writing, such as where you see the company in a few months, a year, two, or ten. You will also need to research the competition to see whether you have any chance of success when going up against them. Try to come up with a service they don’t offer, something that will put you ahead. Furthermore, you will need to register your company, get insurance, check whether you need any special licenses, and equip your business.

Reach The Target Audience

Before your big launch, you have to raise awareness about the business. Use social media to your advantage. Create a website for your company and be active on platforms like Instagram. Of course, depending on what you do, different platforms will work best. Come up with a hashtag that you can use to show off your work. On the other hand, you can give out flyers and put up posters around town to let people know that you are out there. Ask your friends and people you’ve already worked with to spread the word. Recommendations work great but you should also consider offering some kind of discount, in the beginning, to gain an audience and show off your skills.

From Dog Lover to Business Owner

Grow Your Business

There is no guarantee that your business will be a success straight away. You might have to tweak it a bit here and there until you see what your audience responds to best. Once you find your stride, you can start thinking about expanding. Whether you will open more locations, hire more people, or offer a wider range of products/services, it’s up to you.

Business Owner

Conclusion

There you have it – if you are a dog lover, you have a wide variety of business ideas in front of you. Choose what feels right and work on getting started. Be persistent and the success will come in time.


 

 

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