Working with animals can be one of the most gratifying career choices a person can make. There is a range of choices you can make regarding what field you wish to pursue, such as training, caretaking, health care and breeding. Each career choice provides its own unique benefits and challenges; however, in order to set up a business working with animals, some aspects are universal. These criteria are in place to ensure the safety of the business owner, the animals and the general public.
Instructions
1. Choose a discipline. It's one thing to say you want to work with animals, but it is tough to decide what you might best suited for. You should look toward your strengths to help you decide. If you have a knack for teaching dogs basic obedience or keeping cats out of the garbage, then opening an animal training center might be a good idea. If you enjoy simply taking care of pets while their owners are away, then opening a boarding facility might be the way to go. Or, if you want to do your part to end the suffering of abused or neglected animals, you can open an animal rescue or shelter operation.
2. Obtain certification in your discipline of choice. Not only does certification in a particular area of expertise ensure that you are providing your animal clientele the very best when it comes to the service you are offering, but it is a great marketing tool for drawing in their human counterparts. For example, a wildlife rehabilitation specialist who has attended educational courses is generally viewed as someone more qualified than someone who has not, and is therefore likely to capture the attention of larger institutions such as local veterinary hospitals for referral business.
3. Research and obtain necessary permits. Cities and counties have different ordinances when it comes to businesses that work with animals. There are specific permits, licenses and regulations that must be met in order to establish your business. Make sure that you can both financially and physically meet these requirements by visiting your city's or county's business office and obtaining a copy of what is required for your business type.
4. Obtain a facility. In many cases, you will not be able to house your animal business on your property, usually because of city ordinances. If this is the case, you will need to rent, lease or purchase a property that is suitable to your needs. For example, if you are starting a boarding or shelter type of business, a large, climate-controlled, warehouse-like building with plenty of outdoor space is necessary. The outdoor space will need to be fenced in and the fence in good repair. If you rent or lease your facility, you need to make sure that the lease or rental agreement allows for improvements, such as building indoor housing for your animals.
5. Obtain clients. Every business needs a way of drawing in customers in order to be successful. One of the easiest ways to tap into the animal business is to establish the trust, and referrals of, local veterinary hospitals. This works even if you are not catering to companion animals. For example, if you wish to start a wildlife rehab facility, you can gain regular business from local exotic pet veterinarians as well as from veterinarians who attempt to help wildlife, either brought into their clinics by clients or by their own rescue attempts.
6. Obtain any necesary vaccines. There are a number of diseases that can be passed from animals to humans, and getting the proper vaccines, including a prophylactic rabies vaccine, is important for protecting your health.
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