Idea for a slef employed business, what do people think.

[Kelly123batterbury456]

Hi All. I currently run my own rabbit boarding business from home. I was wondering if you think people would pay me to clean out their rabbits as and when they require at their own home. With peoples hectic lifestyles and long working hours I just thought that this may be something that would help people out. Please can I have your honest opinion on if you think people would pay for this service and also how much you think would be the maximum I could charge.

[fortifiedwithtea]

Sorry I don't think its workable.

Into your fee you will need to build in the cost of your time travelling from home to hutch to next hutch. How many hutches do you think you could clean in a working day? How far would you travel in a day? Factor in a cost per mile. Plus how much you would pay yourself per hour. Will you provide materials as well (i.e. straw, hay etc.) another cost to be factored in or have to locate owners supplies (could be time consuming, what if they have run out an item).

I'm guessing the amount you would need to charge to make it worthwhile would be more than people would pay considering how many times a week a rabbit need cleaning out.

Also there shouldn't be a need for this service. If people haven't got time to clean out a hutch, they shouldn't be owning a rabbit.

Its lovely that you run a bunny boarding business. Perhaps you could expand your business to include guinea pig boarding or other small furries.

[dotty2]

I have paid a local dog walker to come in and clean out and feed my guinea pigs when I've gone away for a night or two. I usually ask a friend or neighbour but just occasionally no one's around. IIRC, she charged £6 a visit, plus mileage. So you wouldn't make a living doing that, but you might be able to build up a bit of a business on the side of your boarding business - particularly if you're savvy about advertising and make yourself easy to find on Google.

[Kelly123batterbury456]

Thank you for your opinion fortifiedwithtea. I would only go to the persons house and use their materials for cleaning out their rabbits. I agree with what you say that there shouldnt be a need for this service, but unfortunately people are still keeping rabbits cooped up in hutches, and I hear/see a lot that dont get cleaned out enough and the reason is that the owners are rarely home or lazyness. I decided when I expanded my accomodation to lodges that it would just be for rabbits, as thats the field I know a lot about, and I wouldnt take on other animals unless I have good knowledge about them. Also the lodges my husband has built wouldnt be suitable for guinea pigs. Dont really have room to build any more accomodation for other animals etc. I thank you for your opinion though.

[Midori1999]

Tbh, I think for people who care about their bunnies the service would be practical, I clean my bunnies out each day and so do most people I know. For people who don't do that I doubt most care enough to pay someone to clean them.

There could well be a need for someone to do holiday care whilst owners are away though. I wouldn't want to board my bunnies, I'd consider it too stressful for them, but I would like to have someone I could trust to come in and check on them twice a day and feed them wtc if we went away.

[expatinscotland]

Why not expand to full on pet sitting?