Many pet sitters
say they are “licensed, bonded, and insured” and proudly
display it on their marketing materials and websites. What does
all of this actually mean though? Insurance and bonding are pretty
straightforward, but it’s the use of the word “licensed”
that can be a bit confusing.
Insurance
Pet sitter liability insurance works much like any other insurance.
It covers accidents that may affect the client’s pets or
property while the pet sitter is on an assignment.
Bonding
Bonding is most appropriate for companies that hire employees.
A fidelity bond (or dishonesty bond) usually insures a business
in the event that an employee steals from a client. If this happens,
and the employee is found guilty of theft, the bonding company
will pay for the stolen items. Many sole-proprietors are bonded,
but this is mostly for their clients’ peace of mind.
Licenses
A business license and a professional license are quite different,
and anyone who hires a pet sitter should know what those differences
are.
Business
License
A business license is a permit, issued by a governmental entity,
that allows an individual or company to operate a business in
a particular geographical area. It can be issued by a city, town,
or other entity, and can be issued to a pet sitter, a retail store,
a bookstore, etc. - not just pet sitters. This type of license
does not imply that the person obtaining the license has any expertise
in the business he or she will operate.
Professional
License
In order to work in certain professions, one must take specified
coursework and then pass a test. Passing the test shows (ideally!)
that people know their stuff, and it earns them a license to work
in that profession.
There
are no professional licensing requirements for pet sitters.
Anyone who wants to open a pet sitting business can do so without
any formal training, and no licensing tests are required. Many
pet sitters have taken pet related classes such as pet behavior,
dog training, first aid, or business courses. Some pet sitters
even take pet sitting business courses offered by private companies
or trade groups, but classes such as this are not legal requirements
to operate a pet sitting business.
So for many
pet owners, when they see “licensed, bonded and insured”
they assume the pet sitter has gone through some licensing coursework
and testing. Since there are no professional licenses for pet
sitters though, this isn’t the case. I don’t think pet
sitters are intentionally trying to mislead potential clients
this way but it can certainly be misleading for those who don’t
realize there isn’t a pet sitter license.
I would like
to see more pet sitters clearly state that they have a “business
license” rather than just saying they are licensed. Either
that, or simply leave off the fact that they have a business license.
Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary as most businesses
that operate in a professional manner do get the necessary business
licenses and other permits for their area. And, of course, if
a client were to ask if a pet sitter has a business license it
would be a simple yes or no answer.
Return to the list of articles
