People all over the world are stricken with the itch to be self-employed or to even start their own company, and this phenomenon certainly shows up among Mississauga residents as well. What if you’re a dog lover? Is there a way that you can work your passion into your occupation? With a little creativity and ingenuity, you always can. We put together a local think-tank to see what opportunities might exist for Mississauga residents, and this is what we found.

Dog Walking
The seemingly age-old occupation of being a daytime dog walker was the first thing that came to our minds, and there are no signs of this opportunity fading into the distance. It’s a perfect part-time job for someone who already works from home and is looking to supplement their income, and it offers the added benefit of getting you outside for a brisk walk for a good portion of the day. Reports indicate that it pays fairly well too, especially during the winter months when others may be reluctant to take to the streets.

Pet Sitting
If you’re more of a home-body, an alternative to dog walking would be pet sitting. The advantage of pet sitting over dog walking is that there is potentially less action required on your part – especially if you already enjoy caring for dogs. There is a bit of an increased liability associated with pet sitting though, as you have other people’s pets under your supervision 24 hours a day, potentially for several days on end. That said, it is still a viable way of making an income.

Invisible Fence Installation
For those inclined to a more labor-intensive occupation, you can always take to installing in-ground dog fences. The competition is likely to be lower due to the inherent skills required, and the payout will definitely be greater. There will be some startup costs because of the tools required however, and you’ll have to consider what you’ll do with your time when the frost sets in. It would probably work best with someone who has a snowplow for the winter months.

eCommerce
For the internet-savvy, there are a lot of attractive facets of running an online business. Work from home, set your own schedule, and you don’t have to work face-to-face with customers. You have to figure out how to source your products and find a way to market. It is probably best to stick with simple products that are easy to ship and are unlikely to malfunction, like dog collars, harnesses, and leashes. You can even take the physical product out of the business model and focus on a purely content-based website, like they’ve done over at The Pampered Pup.

Dog Grooming
For those that are a bit more entrepreneurial, a more sophisticated yet undeniably profitable way to make an income can be with dog grooming. This is going to require a physical location, trained technicians, and a general business prowess. You’ll undeniably be managing a lot of overhead. That said, there is always a need for dog groomers so if you have what it takes to step up to the plate this is certainly an opportunity for you.