A Step by Step Guide to Your Seasonal Business
If you’ve been pet sitting for a while, you may have noticed that business ebbs and flows. That’s because pet sitting is a seasonal business– which means business spikes during the high travel seasons. In this article, we’ll break down the four sitting seasons, so you know what to expect for your business throughout the year.
Winter (The Slow Season)
From January to March, you can expect that business is going to be a bit slower than it was during the busy holiday season. While people don’t travel as much this time of year, you can still make money if you temper your expectations. Try:
- Adding Daytime Services. While your clients may not be traveling, that doesn’t mean that their dog still won’t need care. Walks, drop-ins, and daycare might still be a need.
- Acquiring New Clients. With some of your time freed up, you have more bandwidth to promote your business. Leave business cards at the vet, dog park, and pet stores, and get the word out among your existing clients for referrals. Check out our promo hub and the Rover Store to take a look at promotional materials.
- Reach out to past clients. Your past clients also are an excellent resource for potential business. Learn how to send them a friendly hello.
The most important thing is staying engaged with your business, even if it’s a little slower. For more information check out our article about what to do during the slow season.
Spring Break
It might not be the busy season yet, but things start to speed up in springtime. Capitalize on the upcoming Spring Breaks, people starting to travel more, and dogs (and people) being more interested in being outside. Try:
- Being proactive. Reach out to past clients and alert them to your availability so you’re at the top of their mind.
- Highlighting walking. As the weather improves, highlight your daytime services to remind clients to take advantage of the better weather.
Once spring is in full swing, get ready for the influx of requests for summertime.
Summer Rush
May to September is the peak of vacation season, so demand for pet care providers is constant. Your repeat clients and new clients will be clamoring to book, so be sure to be aware of the following.
- Update your availability. Keep your calendar updated, especially around any summer holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor day.
- Reach out to repeat clients early. Remind your clients that your schedule is filling up fast and that you’re giving them priority.
Summer is the busiest season for pet care, so make sure you build in some rest time for yourself.
Holiday Season
The end of the year is a rollercoaster of a season for pet sitters. Most of the demand for a sitter is clustered around the holidays. So be sure to:
- Keep your calendar updated. People make their holiday plans early, so the earlier you know your availability the better.
- Keep in touch with regulars. Ask your regulars what their holiday plans are and if they’ll need care.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve are all busy holidays that you can capitalize on.
There you have it. By knowing these patterns you can plan your year and manage your business accordingly.