Pet Sitting Business Plan Template
Answer each prompt in a sentence or two. A plan you finish beats a perfect plan you never write.
This template is for planning only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Talk to a local attorney and an accountant about your own situation.
1. The business in one page
- What is your business name, and what do you do in one sentence?
- Who is it for? (busy professionals, seniors, families, new puppy owners)
- What makes clients pick you over a neighbor or an app?
- What do you want this business to look like in 12 months?
2. Services
- Which services will you offer: drop-ins, walks, overnights, pet taxi, medication visits?
- Which pets will you take, and which will you decline?
- How long are visits, and what is included in each?
- What will you not do, and how will you say no politely?
3. Your local market
- Which neighborhoods will you serve, and how far will you drive?
- Who are your three closest competitors, and what do they charge?
- When is your busy season, and when is it slow?
- What gap do you see that nobody fills well?
4. Pricing
- What will you charge per visit, walk and overnight?
- What do you want to earn per hour worked? (use the rate calculator)
- What are your holiday, extra-pet and short-notice fees?
- Will you offer packages or recurring discounts?
5. Legal and insurance
- What business structure will you use (sole proprietor, LLC)? Who will you ask to confirm it?
- What local licenses or registrations do you need?
- What liability insurance and bonding will you carry?
- Which contract and intake form will every client sign?
6. Marketing
- Where will your first 10 clients come from?
- Which local partners can send you referrals (vets, groomers, trainers, apartment managers)?
- What will your website, profile and first photos show?
- What will you ask happy clients to do?
7. Operations
- How will clients book, and how fast will you reply?
- How will you schedule, invoice and get paid?
- What happens when a pet is sick, a key is lost or you are sick?
- What records will you keep for each visit?
8. Team
- At what point will you hire your first sitter?
- Employees or contractors? Ask an accountant or attorney which is right for you.
- How will you train sitters and check their work?
- How will you pay them: per visit, percent of service or hourly?
9. Money
- What are your startup costs (insurance, supplies, website, licenses)?
- What are your monthly costs (software, phone, mileage, insurance)?
- How many visits a week do you need to cover costs and your target pay?
- How much will you set aside for taxes and slow weeks?
10. Next 90 days
- What are the five things you must finish before your first client?
- What is your goal for clients, visits and revenue in month one, two and three?
- What will you review every week?
- What would tell you it is time to raise prices or hire?