When you're caring for the cats, dogs, and other pets belonging to homeowners in your area, you might begin to build a pet-sitting business. As an animal lover, you may love being paid to spend time with other people's furry friends. However, once you start a business, you must approach pet care professionally. In particular, you need to think about insurance needs. Commercial insurance can protect you and any employees you bring on. What is there to consider?

1. General Liability

Accidents and mishaps might not happen all the time, but they're always possible. If something happens to the pet or the client's property while you're there, you might have to pay damage and repair--unless you've got general liability coverage. General coverage involves property or injury damage to the clients and their parents. If you accidentally break a wooden gate on a client's property, for instance, general liability typically protects you. If the dog chews a client's shoes while you're there, insurance should cover that.

This comes in handy if you have clients bring their pets to your own house too. If your cat scratches a client's dog or a client's cat gets hurt while in your home, general insurance is a big help.  

2. Professional Liability

As part of your duties, you're responsible for the pet you're caring for. Professional liability covers different situations that you may encounter. If you're taking a dog out and they're injured by another person's dog, for example, that could be your responsibility because they were under your care at the time. Should a puppy's leash come off during a walk and they're lost, that's another time when professional liability coverage could be vital.

3. Personal Coverage

Usually, commercial insurance will protect you from lawsuits, bills and other issues that arise when your clients blame you for different things that happen. However, you should also be asking about how you will protect yourself if you're bitten by an animal or suffer other injuries. Additions and adjustments to your insurance should be discussed.

Having insurance for your pet sitting business can give you a professional edge over other pet sitters in the area. Clients are likely to trust you more when they know that you're making an effort to protect everyone. Commercial insurance agents can lay out the coverage you most need for your new pet-sitting business. Work with them to protect your interests as you work with clients and their animals.