Complete all the required paperwork and pay the fees to make your business legal. Business expenses can include pet food, pet treats, fecal bags, training tools, home cleaning products, or even dog and cat shampoo. There is only a one-time premium, which is the price of the bond. Pet owners, visit PSI's Pet Sitter Locator to find a local, professional pet sitter! Working for a professional house-sitting services may offer the benefit of working for a business without the need for a personal house-sitting business license. Every business needs to register with the state in order to conduct business legally. Starting a pet sitting business is a great idea for anyone who loves pets and would like to earn some money on the side, or even start their own small business. Below is an overview of responsibilities, required skills, working hours and salary prospects. Learn how PSI can help you build and grow your pet-sitting business. Pet sitters do not need a license to operate, although acquiring a business license is advisable, but not necessary. Instead, you must set aside money for tax payments, which are made to the federal and state government on a quarterly basis as “estimated payments.” In addition, if a client pays you more than $600 in one year, they can report your business fees as their own business expense and send you a 1099 form, which you must report on your own tax return as business income. dog boarding in my house with registration on Rover website. To get started, apply online for a business service bond. Surety1 was founded in 2003 and helps thousands of clients find the best prices on their surety bonds. Insurance is available for pet sitters. PSI's CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® Exam provides candidates with the only knowledge-based assessment designed specifically for professional pet sitters. You can also build up an extra cushion of money in case you owe more than expected at the end of the year. Once you’ve paid your taxes for a couple years, you’ll have a better idea of how much you usually owe. dog boarding in my house with registration on Rover website. For a pet sitting business, the surety bond will guarantee the pet sitter will follow all state rules and regulations. Topics covered include animal behavior, pet care, health and nutrition for pets, first aid skills and business know-how. We take pride in our work so that we can give you great service. Earning certification is the first step to developing your skill, qualification and reputation as a pet sitter. This will look professional and your clients will recognize your small business year after year. Not a member? Business insurance is important when the small business can pose risk to other’s property, which, in this case, would be your client’s pet(s) or property. In order to find out the exact bond type, contact the state in which the business will be operating. License fees support the return of hundreds of lost pets to their homes and help adopt thousands of homeless pets to new families every year - Pet license fees also fund investigation of animal neglect or cruelty, spay/neuter programs to reduce pet … Check licensing requirements in your area and get any necessary permits. A license cannot be obtained without a surety bond because the bond is a legal guarantee that the business will abide by state and/or federal rules and regulations. You’ll also be able to find any required supporting documentation. Once you’ve insured and bonded your business, you can advertise as a “bonded and insured” pet sitter, which will give your clients a great deal of peace of mind. These expenses can be a write-off for you, as long as you itemize them. Designed by PSI founder, CEO and industry pioneer Patti J. Moran and the PSI staff, this exam is for serious pet-sitting professionals who understand the importance of established standards of excellence in the pet sitting industry and who are committed to continuing education throughout their careers. A pet sitting business makes money by charging pet owners for a variety of pet care services. Required State License(s): No state license is required for a pet sitter. According to Sitter City, qualified pet sitters that have taken courses on pet sitting and obtained certification don't need a pet sitter license. This course is self directed, which means you may study and complete assignments at times that are most convenient for you from the comfort of your own home. The goal of business insurance is to ensure coverage of any legal or financial damages if they are to ever arise. Ready to purchase your license? These rules and regulations are set in place in order to protect the owner of the animal(s) and the general public. Inexpensive ways to market a pet sitter include: Create a company logo and slogan, and keep them consistent throughout all of your marketing efforts. The Pet Sitter Certificate course is an online learning program with suggested readings from the textbook (FabJob Guide to Become a Pet Sitter). A client will hire a licensed sitter over one that is not licensed. The local, county, state, or federal government requires a surety bond to be posted in order for a business license to be granted. Visit the SBA website to learn more about advertising and marketing laws. All surety bonds are made up of three parties: the obligee, the principle, and the surety company. The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) Program is a licensing and inspection program dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of pet animals in facilities throughout Colorado. Make sure every business expense is tracked and noted for when tax season comes around. Your pet's safety is important, therefore, ALL pets entering and exiting pet stays must be on a leash or in a carrier until they are in the control of a Pet Sitter. We’re glad to help! Just like any other small business, there are business expenses for pet sitters. Call us toll free at 877-654-2327. Not all states require pet sitters to be licensed, although a pet sitting business must be registered with the state. The first step to choosing the correct type of business license is to decide what type of business will be operating under the license. To find out what your state licensing agency requires, click here , then click on your state and choose general licensing. All licensing fees should be paid to that local government agency. The most highly-recognized pet-sitter certification: Earn your CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® designation. Each state requires its own form of a pet sitting surety bond. If a pet sitter is bonded, that means that they have taken the necessary steps for proper protection for all parties. Follow the links to read the instructions from your local government’s website. Some pet sitters hire additional staff members to expand their service area, increase the number of customers they can accommodate per week, and act as a backup when they go on vacation or get sick. PSI’s exam requires that candidates demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed and prosper as professional pet sitters. Speak with a skilled bond agent and supply any supporting documents. Business registration establishes a business with the state or federal government as an official operating business. running a business like a riding stables or pet shop; Contact your local council to apply for a licence or to check if you need one. The fee information will be provided by the state at the time of application. Surety1 was Founded in 2003. You must get the licence before you get the animal. The sitter takes dogs out for walks, feeds them and provides them with water. The bond premium is a small fraction of the bond amount. Soon will be doing overnight stays at clients houses with their pets while they are away. Please check your certificate for correct address and pet information. The first step to becoming a professional pet sitter is gaining a thorough and clear understanding of what the role entails. You’ll get a list of business licensing requirements for your state, county, or city. For this article, we’ll look at the 3 most popular organizations for pet sitters and the requirements to obtain their pet sitting certification. If a license is needed, be aware that part of the license application process includes a background and credit check of the applicant. There are multiple forms of business licenses since there are so many different types of businesses in the United States. Use the “Start a Business” wizard and follow the prompts to answer questions about your business. It is a good idea to buy liability insurance. Instructions to License Online. PSI Members: Learn more about becoming a CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter®. Every business needs to register with the state in order to conduct business legally. For a pet sitting bond, the obligee is the state government that requires the principle (the pet sitter) to be bonded. Get Started With A Free, No-Obligation Quote, Visit the SBA website to learn more about advertising and marketing laws, Get your business licenced and registered. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, Traditional methods such as hanging up posters and asking people to spread the word, Online advertising with Google Adwords (paid) or Craigslist (free), Car signs, business cards, posters/fliers, Attending local events for small businesses, Create your own website with a service like WordPress or SquareSpace. Liability insurance is essential when you're providing pet-walking … If any of these things are missing its a red flag. The following organizations offer certification programs relevant to the pet care industry: National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) provides a certified pet sitter at-home study course. Since there are hundreds of business license classifications, choosing the correct type of license is key to completing and submitting the correct paperwork. Successfully completing the exam will earn candidates the designation of CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter®. what kind of business license for a pet sitter that boards at home 2-3 dogs (kennel) I am a pet sitter, I provide walks, and check ins. If you would like to license online, a convenience fee of up to $2.00 will apply for each transaction. A business license and a professional license are quite different, and anyone who hires a pet sitter should know what those differences are. Once the bond is turned in to the obligee, the pet sitter may begin taking care of animals. 2. They can also earn additional revenue by creating a franchise business and licensing pet sitting providers under their established brand name. Ask yourself a series of questions to help you focus the plan for your business. Pet sitting isn’t the same as caring for your own pet at home. It is also not a bad idea to hire an accountant to take care of the business taxes so the sitter can focus solely on caring for the pets. Additional tax and business expense information can be found at SBA’s official website. Finding a Certified Professional Pet Sitter®, Learn more about becoming a CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter. Mon-Fri 8:00 - 4:30 PST. Business expenses that occur for a pet sitter can be subtracted from the yearly revenue to determine the sitter’s taxable income. The best thing I’ve ever done was become a pet sitter. One particular requirement may be that the pet sitter will pay all taxes in full and on time to the state and federal government. The world's leading educational organization for professional pet sitters since 1994. Look for house-sitting services that employ and bond their sitters. The most important small business coverage includes Business Property, Business Liability, and Business Income. Business associations such as the International Boarding and Pet Services Association offer education, standards and certification. Learn more about what the CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® Exam has to offer: Just entering the industry and not ready to test for the CPPS designation? We have live surety bond agents available Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 4:30 PST. A business license and a professional license are quite different, and anyone who hires a pet sitter should know what those differences are. Since 1994, PSI has been the leading educational association for professional pet sitters. Any required documents, such as your pet's current rabies vaccination certificate, may be scanned and uploaded or submitted later by fax, mail or email. You can do a quick online search to find local business licensing … Call Us: 877-654-2327 In order to obtain this certification, pet sitters must: Be a member of PSI Business insurance is not the same thing as bonding insurance, since a bond includes three parties while business insurance only includes two parties. Pet Sitter. Not all states require pet sitters to be licensed, although a pet sitting business must be registered with the state. The surety company underwrites the pet sitting bond and will pay out the bond if a claim is taken against it. Pet sitting insurance is inexpensive since there is not too much risk for insurance companies to cover. The obligee requires the principle to be bonded while the surety company underwrites and ensures the bond. Learn how PSI can help you build and grow your pet-sitting business. Each year, McKamey Animal Center receives more than 6,400 animals, yet the vast majority of them have no form of identification to assist us in reuniting them with their families. Check with your state government’s website to determine whether you need a business license to run a pet sitting business, as well as the correct type of license to apply for. Stroudsburg, Pet Sitter License, I.e., Get a Pet Sitter license in PA 18360 527620 One of our surety experts will call and email you with the firm quote and an agreement to sign. This requirement includes pet sitters. Since 1994, Pet Sitters International has been the leading educational association for professional pet sitters, with the mission of “pet-sitting excellence through education.” Now, more than ever before, we believe the pet-owning public needs an easily identifiable way to determine the most qualified, knowledgeable professional pet-sitting options—and professional pet sitters need a way to demonstrate their qualifications so they can stand out in the sea of qualified and unqualified options in the ever-growing pet-care services industry. SBA’s page on how to start a business is a great resource to use before taking any crucial steps with a small business. A pet sitter takes care of people’s pets while these people are at work or elsewhere. Each local state, county, or city will have its own forms and rules. Since 1994, PSI has been the leading educational association for professional pet sitters. Business registration and licensing are often confused as being the same thing. QuickBooks and Quicken are each excellent tools to use to track business expenses electronically. Displaying the business license in plain view allows the public to know that the business has taken the necessary steps to be properly licensed. I can’t imagine any other career as fulfilling and fun as the one I have. what kind of business license for a pet sitter that boards at home 2-3 dogs (kennel) I am a pet sitter, I provide walks, and check ins. dog boarding in my house with registration on Rover website. Even if a pet sitter earns a small amount of money, they still need to claim earnings on their personal income tax return. 1. Clients want to be ensured that their furry animals will be cared for and will always be safe during the sitter’s care. In order to ensure enough money is available for tax payments, it’s a smart idea to open a separate checking or savings account to set aside money for taxes. Learn more about Surety1. If you want to start a pet sitting business in Florida, you must get a business license from the Florida Division of Corporations. Pet sitters must be able to sell themselves as trusting, caring, dependable, and intelligent. Naming Your Pet Sitter Business what kind of business license for a pet sitter that boards at home 2-3 dogs (kennel) I am a pet sitter, I provide walks, and check ins. This exam tests professional pet sitters on a general body of knowledge that they should have obtained through their educational and professional experiences in the pet-sitting industry. Soon will be doing overnight stays at clients houses with their pets while they are away. Surety1 is licensed throughout the United States. Demonstrate your knowledge and competency by becoming a CPPS. Instead, the exam provides the opportunity to demonstrate that they are proficient in the body of knowledge that has been established for the professional pet-sitting industry. Since pet sitters are independent contractors, money is not taken out of a weekly or monthly check for taxes as it would if they were to work for an employer. Surety1 provides all bonds for business, licensing, construction, permit, and court purposes. After applying, you’ll typically receive your bond within 1-2 business days. CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® is a federally-trademarked certification mark PSI awards to professional pet sitters who successfully demonstrate their knowledge and skills by obtaining a passing score on the CPPS Exam and agreeing to adhere to PSI’s Recommended Quality Standards and Code of Conduct & Ethics. Each business license is different with its own set of standards. This requirement includes pet sitters. You may have to pay a fee to join or go through an application process before getting a house-sitting opportunity. A policy will protect you … Get Liability Insurance. 3. Pet Sitters International (PSI) offers the Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) Certification. Provide payment and your signed agreement, then you will receive your bond! One of the best ways for a small business to market its services is by having excellent references and getting referred by word of mouth. This money should be used to pay your quarterly estimated payments. Soon will be doing overnight stays at clients houses with their pets while they are away. For example, a pet sitter may charge a set rate for weekend care, but charge additional fees for services such as grooming or specific training. Also, insurance comes with expected losses, while bonding insurance does not. Even though not every state requires a pet sitter to be licensed, a licensed, bonded, and insured sitter will be more reputable and attract more clients. Some services are priced by the hour, while others are priced by the service. Over 150,000 Happy Customers and Counting! Business License A business license is a permit, issued by a governmental entity, that allows an individual or company to operate a business in a particular geographical area. In fact, in the U.S. there is no specific pet sitter license instituted by the government. A successful pet sitter is meticulous, caring, patient and responsible. Pet owners, visit PSI's Pet Sitter Locator to find a local, professional pet sitter! One of the requirements for a business license is for the business owner to post a surety bond. Licensing fees are also charged by the state government. Pet Sitting does not require a "trade" business license, but most states will only require you to register your business with the state (which is called a DBA - Doing Business As). If the pet sitter uses a phone or their car for business necessities, mileage and the phone bill can also be a write-off. Learn more about PSI’s member benefits and join today. Consider Getting Insurance. ); contact your local county/city clerks office and inquire about a permit or license for the type of business that you may be starting. The Pet Sitting Certification is an online course which has been broken down into twenty three manageable and information packed modules, which should take around fifteen hours to complete. As a certification, there is no coursework and pet sitters are not tested on a specific curriculum. Many professionals are leaving full-time jobs to join a legion of pet sitters who are making good money on their own terms, and the industry is projected to continue to grow. Once the license is achieved, it must be posted at the location(s) of business where it can be seen easily by the public. For that reason, surety bonds only have a one-time premium while insurance has a monthly premium. Pet sitting is more than taking dogs on walks or practicing pet behavior training. Low-Cost Bond Provider. The industry’s only knowledge-assessed certification exam for professional pet sitters. To operate your boarding business, regardless of the need in your jurisdiction for a specific animal boarding license, you will at least need to be licensed at the state, county or municipal level to run a business. Business License A business license is a permit, issued by a governmental entity, that allows an individual or company to operate a business in a particular geographical area. Or, if the pet sitter hires employees, the bond may require the pet sitter pay them a legal wage and provide legal working conditions. Pet sitters do not need a license but you should look that the pet sitter has professional experience (not just that they have owned pets all their life), that the business is bonded and insured, and they should have you fill out a variety of paperwork before they watch your pet. There are countless insurance companies that offer small business insurance, so it’s a smart idea to shop around to get the best possible price for insurance. But we pet sitters are human, which means that, despite the best attention to detail, calamities are going to happen. PSI offers the industry's only knowledge-assessed exam for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. Contact your local business licensing offices and inquire about necessary business licenses and permits for a pet sitting business in your area. PSI offers an online certificate course, Professional Pet Sitting as a Career, which provides the need-to-know information for starting and growing your own professional pet-sitting service. For a pet sitting business, the business license should be displayed where clients can easily view it when dropping off or picking up their pet. Applying for a bond is simple and free. ©1994-2020 Pet Sitters International, Inc. | Privacy Notice. Complete an online application. Choose “business service bond” as the bond you want. The course covers everything you need to know about setting up and running your own successful pet sitting business. If you’re interested in becoming a pet sitter, there are tons of rewards. Other Possible License(s): Some counties regulate different types of businesses (i.e.., dog kennels, etc. Pet Sitters International. Your pet’s license is a legally required form of identification and is your best friend’s most valuable asset in getting them home safely. In that case, the pet sitter would then have to repay the surety company for the paid claim. A business license is a piece of paper that legally allows operation of a business that sells goods or services and poses a risk to the public. Market yourself as a pet sitter; License and Registration for a Pet Sitting Business. A small business license is logical for a pet sitter since the business will most likely be privately owned without employees. 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