How to Start a House Sitting Referral Business

Many people don't want to leave their house vacant when they go away for an extended period of time. A great way to protect the home is to hire a house sitter. A house sitting referral service provides clients with a list of reputable house sitters whenever the need arises. Here are a few things to consider as you plan.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Create a business and marketing plan. Pick a name for your house sitting referral company that is catchy and easy to remember. Consider registering the trade name with your state. Select a business form such as sole proprietor, partnership, limited liability company or corporation. Obtain required business licenses and insurance.

2. Choose responsible house sitters. Select sitters from client referrals only. Perform a background check on all sitters. Create a disclaimer form to protect you from liability in the event of a house sitting problem.

3. Seek client referrals. Referrals are the lifeblood of a house sitting referral business. Know the best time to ask your client for a referral. Ensure that your client has had a positive experience with your service before asking for a referral.

4. Offer customer incentives. Give rewards to clients who refer sitters that you add to your listing. The reward could be a discount on house sitting services, gift card or gift basket.

5. Say "thank you." Create personalized thank you cards to send to clients. A house sitting referral service is a people-oriented business. Customers will appreciate gestures that have a personal touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult an attorney for advice when selecting your business form and creating a disclaimer.