Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
How to Start and Earn Money Through a Pet House
Decide to start your pet & house sitting business. Begin by coming up with a cute and eye-catching name. It could be something like 'Purrfect Pet Sitting' or 'Tender Touch Pet Sitting', etc.
Contact your local small business administration (visit http://www.sba.gov/) for advice on getting the business started. They will help you with plan your business, get necessary licenses, market it and more. You can attend classes/workshops or receive one-on-one business counseling.
Join the National Association of Pet Sitters. Become bonded and insured, a service they will help with. This is very important for your and your clients protection.
Join Pet Sitters International. They also offer tools, information, and support for your business.
Set your rates. Keep it reasonable since you are new, but don't underestimate your abilities either. The average is about 12$ per visit - you may set it as more or less depending on the cost of living in your area, etc. You might consider charging a 'Holiday Fee' as well. Check out what other pet sitters in your area (if any) charge, and keep it at the same or less.
Visit with (and if necessary) hire a CPA. He/she can help you with filing your taxes.
Create business cards. You can get them made online for a very low cost (try ebay), or even make them yourself with a kit on the computer.
Begin to advertise and market your business. Start light since you don't want to overwhelm yourself at first. One idea is place an ad in the 'Yellow Pages' section of a newspaper - (they are small ads in Yellow Pages style) - you can purchase an ad that will run for a full month, for a fairly reasonable price.
You might also look into running ads in free community papers/magazines, the Thrifty Nickel, and free newspapers geared towards Senior Citizens. (Most large towns and cities have them, check out the library.)
Create and post fliers around town on bulletin boards in places such as grocery stores, pet groomers, etc. (Vets might not welcome them since they offer a kennel, but you never know.)
Look into getting your business included in the phone book. Evaluate if the cost is worth it. You might even include a coupon such as 10% off services, etc.
Consider getting a booth at a home and garden expo, community fair, etc. Even some craft fairs would be happy to rent you a booth. You can meet potential clients in person, hand out your business cards, etc.
Another idea is to mail fliers to families in the area with pets. You can purchase mailing list (arranged by income, pets, etc.) from services such as InfoUsa (http://www.infousa.com/).
Consider joining your local Chamber of Commerce. They offer numerous networking opportunities to get your business out there.
Create a list of personal and employment references to give to potential clients in case they ask for them.
Create a questionaire that you will provide to new clients when they hire you for a job. Include questions such as a pet's name, veternarian's information, what they like to do, where they might hide in the house, etc. Be sure to ask if they would like their mail collected, plants watered, sprinklers turned on, etc. Don't forget to get emergency contact information as well. You can either have them fill it out, or ask them the questions and you'll fill it out.
Create a visitation log/form that you will leave at the home. It will include information such as the time you visited, how long you stayed, and any information such as 'Fido wanted me to rub his belly' or 'Barney refused to go for a walk.'
Patiently wait for your first job.
When you get your first job, provide excellent, top-notch quality service, as you would with any job. Try to go above and beyond. Act as though there are video cameras in the home each time you visit.
If you feel comfortable, ask your first clients if you can use them as a reference, or perhaps get a testimonial from them.
Continue to promote your business, accept jobs, and provide A+ service. You might have to slow down on advertising because you'll get so much business through word of mouth! Never slack or let the quality of your job go down, always provide lots of tender loving care, and have fun!
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Monday, September 14, 2015
How to Earn Extra Money
Ask your employer if it is possible for you to work overtime or pick up extra shifts. Your employer may even have a special project or extra work you can take on for a little more pay.
Evaluate your skills and interests and find a niche for a small part-time business or job you would enjoy doing. Generate ideas by writing down a list of all the jobs you've held and skills you have.
Approach local businesses for a potential match. For example, if you have sewing or quilting skills you could ask local fabric or craft stores if they know of any leads for work. If you're an accountant or particularly good with numbers you could earn extra money by preparing taxes during tax season.
Sell your baked goods at church bake sales or other community sales. If you are skilled at making jewelry you can create pieces to sell at craft fairs. Convert your hobby into a source of extra income. Many scrap-bookers and greeting card makers sell their creations or services as a way to make extra money. Sell your wares through Craigslist, eBay or Etsy.
Plant vegetables seeds in the winter and transplant the seedlings into individual pots when they are several inches tall. Sell these at your local farmer's market or flea market in the spring.
Gather up the belongings you no longer need and sell them at a flea market or community yard sale where there is plenty of foot traffic. Price your items to move but also to give you the cash you need. List big-ticket, expensive items on Craigslist.
Offer babysitting or daycare services on the weekends or at special events. Contact wedding or special events coordinators to see if you could offer your child care services at events they coordinate.
Develop or hone writing skills and become a freelance writer. You could offer your services for online content or blogs, especially if you have expertise in a certain area.
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
How to Use My Box Van to Deliver for Money
Contact your local government to obtain the appropriate business license. The requirements vary from place to place, so it is important to determine what type of licensing you need to start your business.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your state government to apply for a tax identification number. It will be used to report the earnings of your business and submit any taxes due.
Call the company that supplies insurance for your box van and let them know you plan to use the vehicle for business purposes. Chances are your current policy does not cover business use, so it is important to make sure you have the coverage you need.
Design and print business cards and start handing them out in the course of your daily activities. Networking is an important part of establishing a business, and some of the most valuable marketing is word-of-mouth. When you stop at your favorite store, ask the owner about his need for delivery services. Do the same at the dry cleaner, the grocery store and other businesses in town.
Contact businesses in your area to let them know you are available for local deliveries. Have a stack of colorful flyers made and hand those out with your business cards as you go from business to business. Offer a special discount for the first service to entice new customers to give your service a try.
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