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Statistically the following are true:

• 47% of all US households own more than one pet

• 40 million US households own at least one dog

• Americans spend $34 billion on their pets each year

Do you love dogs? Then a dog grooming business might be right for you. There are many dog owners who just don’t have the time to take proper care of their beloved pet. Taking care of a dog is a demand for some who just don’t have the time nor the inclination to maintain proper care, even though they understand and want to care for their canine. For dog owners there are such duties as taking the dog for a walk, giving the dog a bath, grooming the dog and other things.

When setting up an area for grooming dogs in your pet care business, select a quiet area inside the house. Of course you can set-up a grooming area outside of the house if you want to but grooming a dog inside the house is lot better. First, most dogs are less playful when they are inside the house than when they are in the yard, second, there are less distractions inside the house and third, it would be easier on your part to store all your grooming stuff. For grooming dogs, you will need the following materials; a table, towels, cotton, mineral oil, eye ointment, nails clippers and a brush. You can easily get all these stuff at your favorite pet shop. Of course if you have ample room in a garage area this is even more suitable for grooming the dog.

Certainly the pet care business, especially the dog business, is worthwhile getting into. Dog grooming and bathing is not the only way in which one can make a living taking care of pets, however it is a good example that even though it is not easy to take care of pets nevertheless a very worthwhile income can be made taking care of dogs or any other pet in a home pet business.

Amanda King is a work at home mum who provides resources to the internet marketing community. Her primary websites includes an internet resources site ask2profit.com
She also sells products for pets in her website jewelkingusa.com
Finally she can also make animal jewelry available through her website gemasking.com

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As the number of children per household declines, the number of pets is increasing. Baby boomers, a powerful segment of today’s market, are quickly becoming empty-nesters and replacing their grown two-legged children with four-legged ones. Indeed, many people now call themselves pet parents or guardians rather than “owners.”

“By buying pets human-type gifts, we are making ourselves feel good and making them happy,” says Bob Vetere, chief operating officer of the American Pet Products Manufactures Association (APPMA). This trend suggests a hugely profitable strategy for entrepreneurs in the pet business: position pets as members of the family. Here are three ways:

Create human-like products and services for pets:

–Gourmet and specialty pet foods.

–Doggy and kitty treat cookbooks.

–Pet clothing.

–Human-type pet furniture.

–Coordinating “Mommy and pet” jewelry.

–Designer pet carriers, buggies, and strollers.

–In-home grooming services.

–High-end grooming products, such as aromatherapy baths.

–Pet portraiture.

–Pet birthday party supplies.

–Pet communicator services for pets with problem behaviors.

Rename your existing pet products and services:

–Your pet supply store becomes a pet boutique.

–Your boarding facility becomes a pet hotel.

–Your kennel becomes doggy and kitty day care.

–Your grooming business becomes a pet spa.

–Your dog training skills make you a pet behavior specialist.

Capitalize on the fur frenzy with your existing non-pet business:

–Extend your brand to include pet products.

–Feature pets in your ads and sales messages.

–Donate a portion of your profits to an animal rescue group (and say that you are).

–Welcome pets in your store or lodging facility.

–Have a food service? Host regular dog-and-human cocktail parties.

–In the construction business? Offer custom dog baths/showers in high-end homes.

As always, choose a marketing expert with a passion for pets to help you create a marketing plan that resonates with your market. People are eager to spend lots of money on their pets. You might as well be positioned to receive your share.

Lisa J. Lehr is a freelance copywriter specializing in direct response and marketing collateral, with a special interest in the health, pets, specialty foods, and inspirational/motivational/self-help niches. She has a degree in biology, has worked in a variety of fields including pharmaceuticals and teaching, and has volunteered for many causes including special-needs kids and literacy. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, art, music, outdoor exercise, and all things Celtic and Renaissance.

Have you signed up for her free e-mail series on marketing strategies?

http://www.justrightcopy.com

http://www.thegoodplacetobe.com

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There are a lot of people making money from home selling dog treats, cat condominiums and other products that can be made in ones home.

One product that is not sold on grocery and department store shelves, that pet owner’s love, is all natural pet soap. This is a niche that is in high demand for dog owners, with very little competition.

You could start a pet soap business quickly and easier, using materials purchased at just about any grocery store. You could then sell your soaps to area stores, pet gift basket businesses and local pet owners.

There are many types of molds that can be used when making homemade soaps. You can sell bars that are a basic rectangular shape, or you could get a paw shaped mold and sell puppy paws soap. Another fun way to shape your pet soaps would be to use molds shaped like food. A T-Bone shaped soap would be a novelty gift that would bring joy to any recipient.

A full line of pet soaps could be created, offering basic affordable bars for every day baths, to expensive soaps made with exotic oils for pet shows and special occasions.

To create gift sets of your soaps, you could make bubble bath out of the soaps as well (just grate the soap with any cheese grater, add water and simmer on low heat until a thick liquid). Packaging a bar of soap with a bottle of bubble bath and a pet towel makes a wonderful gift for Holidays and pet birthdays. Or why not add something more. Why not include a dog biscuit to clean dog’s teeth, and you will have a complete bath in a box set sure to delight pets and their owners alike.

This is a business opportunity that you could start this week, with little start-up cost. You can turn regular olive oil into a bar of pure beauty that will make dogs drool as their owner washes the silkiness all over their fur.

Maria Wilkes is an expert soap maker, who has a lot of fun developing all sorts of novelty soaps and bath products. She also shares her expertise with others who are wishing to learn how to make homemade soaps, at http://www.homemadelyesoaps.com .

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There are some things that you want to look for before you choose which one of the organic pet food business opportunities that you want to join. You don’t want to join the first organic pet food business that you come to. You want to make sure that it is the right one for you. So you will need to look at all of the different opportunities that you can. That way you will know when you start a business that you have started the right one for you.

Here are some things that you want to find out about all of the organic pet food business opportunities that you look at.

One: What are their products like? Are they something that you would want to sell? Would you feed the products to your own beloved animal?

Two: What kind of money can you make with the organic pet food business? Is this enough money for you or do you want to make more?

Three: What type of customer service do they have? Do they have help for the people who are starting their own home business, such as a forum or support group, or are you left totally on your own?

Four: Which one of the natural pet food business opportunities has tools and resources to help you make your business a success?

Five: Is this a business that you will gladly tell your friends and family about? When you are ashamed to tell them about a business then you will want to stay away from it. You want something that you can be proud of and get excited about no matter who you talk to.

These are just a few of the things that you need to ask yourself before you join any of the natural pet food business opportunities. There are other questions that you will need to know about but these are the most important ones. The organic pet food business that you start with will make you feel good about all of the above questions. They will be able to show you that they are there to help you all the way.

Find out why one of the very best natural pet food business opportunities available is the one that offers the best natural pet food you can give your pet. Your pet will benefit from your decision to go into the organic pet food business, and so will your hip pocket!

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As a pet grooming professional, you need to be online and actively advertising to prospective clients in your area. In this article we’ll cover the best online places to advertise your products and services, how you can build a free web space, the power or online communities and how you can use forum and review sites to really push your pet grooming business. Keep reading to learn more.

How Online Directories Can Promote Your Grooming Business:

Online Directories and pet classifieds’ sites are great because they allow you to focus directly on your potential customers, instead of wasting advertising dollars in a generic newspaper. There are websites that let you post online classifieds about your business and get you connected directly to pet-owners.

By advertising on a site that provides heaps of pet-related concerns and information about other pet-related services like pet boarding, training, veterinarians, you’re tapping directly into your target market. Most of these sites also allow you to build a small profile page, thus creating a web space that you can promote to clients, showcase your latest grooming work and use to connect with potential customers.

How Social Networking Sites Can Grow a Grooming Business:

Joining social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook, Multiply or Bebo will work wonders to promote your services. These networks increase their membership by the thousands everyday and many offer localized networks that allow you to connect with people in your geographic area.

Social networking sites are a great way of building referral business. Keep your online profile focused on your business and always try to make “friends” with your customers online. Once their family and friends see your profile, notice that you’re a dog groomer and then make the connection, you could have a surge of business. Remember to keep your profile lively with photos from your grooming portfolio.

How Participating in Forum Discussions will build Your Business:

Engaging in live discussions and forums gives you a chance to reach out and introduce yourself and your business to potential customers. By posting on forums, you will position yourself as an expert and make direct personal contact with new clients.

Focus your efforts on localized forums or pet-specific forums, where you’re more likely to make contact with potential clients.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html