Pet Boarding vs Pet Sitting: What’s the Difference?
Are you passionate about animals? If so, you may want to start a pet boarding or pet sitting business. Both types of businesses will allow you to work with animals. And unlike with veterinary professions, you don’t need to complete any higher-education programs to start a pet boarding or pet sitting business. Pet boarding isn’t the same as pet sitting, however. There are nuances between them that you’ll need to learn to determine which type of business is right for you.
What Is Pet Boarding?
Pet boarding is a service that involves housing and caring for pets — primarily dogs and cats — at a facility. Not all owners are home 365 days a year. Many of them go out of town for vacations, business trips or other purposes. Before going out of town, an owner may seek the services of a pet boarding business. The pet boarding business will keep the owner’s pet at its facility until he or she returns. While housing the pet, the pet boarding business will provide food, water, companionship and other services.
What Is Pet Sitting?
Pet sitting is a service that involves caring for pets at their own homes. In other words, pet sitting businesses visit owners’ homes to care for their pets. Pet sitting businesses typically don’t have a facility where they house pets. Rather, they visit owners’ homes to provide their services. Pet sitting businesses still provide food, water and companionship to pets; they just provide these services at the pets’ homes.
Differences Between Pet Boarding and Pet Sitting
As previously mentioned, pet boarding and pet sitting services are performed in different settings. Pet boarding is performed exclusively at the business’s facility, whereas pet sitting is performed exclusively at the pets’ homes. They both consist of similar services. Pet boarding businesses and pet sitting businesses must provide food and water to pets. They must also take the pets outdoors for playtime and companionship. If a pet is currently on any medication, both businesses must typically administer the medication as well. Regardless, pet boarding businesses operate out of a facility. In comparison, pet sitting businesses visit the homes of pets and their owners to provide their services.
Benefits of Starting a Pet Boarding Business
Why should you start a pet boarding business exactly? There’s no denying the fact that it’s a rewarding and enjoyable career path. With a pet boarding business, you’ll be able to house and play with pets — all while making money. This alone is reason enough for many people to start a pet boarding business.
You can also branch out your pet boarding business into other services. Grooming, for instance, is a common service offered by many pet boarding businesses. For an additional fee, owners can elect to have their pets groomed. You can groom their pets by bathing them, trimming their nails and clipping their fur. When owners return to pick up their pets, they’ll appreciate this grooming service.
Benefits of Starting a Pet Sitting Business
The startup costs for a pet sitting business are substantially lower than those for a pet boarding business. To start a pet boarding business, you’ll have to procure a facility. Boarding facilities, of course, are typically large and consist of both an indoor and outdoor area. You’ll also have to buy dog and cat food. With a pet sitting business, on the other hand, you won’t need a facility, and you probably won’t need to buy as much dog and cat food, either.
You can start a pet sitting business without a facility. After all, pet sitting services are performed at the pets’ homes, not a boarding facility. Most owners will likely request that you use their own food. If an owner feeds his or her pet a specific type of food, the owner will probably ask you that you use it. Therefore, you won’t have to buy as much pet food when starting a pet sitting business.
Many owners also prefer pet sitting businesses over pet boarding businesses. Dogs and cats are typically more relaxed at their own homes. If an owner uses a pet boarding business, he or she will have to take their pets to the facility. These trips to an unfamiliar place can leave pets feeling stressed. Pet sitting businesses, though, promote relaxation by allowing pets to stay at their own homes. This can make it easier to handle pets. If you start a pet sitting business, you’ll probably discover that pets are easier to approach because they are more relaxed at their own homes.
In Conclusion
Pet boarding and pet sitting businesses are similar. They both involve watching and caring for pets while their owners are away. Pet boarding businesses simply offer their services at a remote facility, known as a boarding kennel, whereas pet sitting businesses offer their services at the pets’ homes.
