In today’s tough economic times, millions are unemployed or facing an uncertain future at their present job. Why not join others who have started a successful business of their own? It’s possible to start a profitable new business for just a few hundred dollars. Here are six promising, proven businesses you can start on a shoestring right now.

Pets are an incredibly good source to have a lot of fun and lot of entertainment both for the kids and also for the elders. Pets can really make people happy and relax with their activities. The ratio of keeping at least only one pet in the home is increasing day by day in the world. Now people are getting more and more familiar with the importance and utility of keeping pets. To have a pet is to be responsible providing good and high quality supplies for them. Pet supplies have a lot of importance for the pets to enjoy a good and healthy life. The quality of pet supplies plays a very important role in the health and also in the overall condition of them.

Nurturing a pet is not an easy task to do. It requires the pet owners to give them all the comfort and their needs in all the aspects such as health, entertainment, discipline, and grooming. Pet owners have to make sure that their pets are given a balanced and nutritional food, regular cleanliness and hygiene, regular exercise by taking them out for a long walk, and take them to the veterinary doctor during the times of their illnesses. However, pet owners can now skip from performing those duties since wholesale pet supplies have just formulated on time to take control by providing all sorts of items necessary for pets’ smooth and fantastic growth.

Whatever the pet is, it must be given proper attention, entertainment, and health care. All these tasks are made simple with the assistance of wholesale pet supplies which offer every item according to pets’ needs such as nutritional food, bones and chews, grooming items such as shampoo, brushes, combs, dryers etc. training equipments for the dogs and cats are also provided as well as suitable, comfy and comfortable beds.

This is a fantastic business to start with since nowadays almost every household do have their pets to care with. By partnering with the reliable wholesale suppliers, it is possible to make money being a middleman for them and for the pet owners.

-By: Nancy J. McClaren

Buy Direct Wholesale
As Seen On: CNN Money, BBC News, Oprah, Business Today, Entrepreneurs Network and various other Online Business Journals as the Best Wholesale Directory Online. Jumpstart Your Online Business and Join the eBay Powersellers! Buy Wholesale Products From Real Wholesale Manufacturers Worldwide. Compare Top 3 Legit Wholesale Suppliers. As Compared by BBC News: Dropship Wholesale Directory

Gene Brown missed having a dog around. A traveling radiologist, Brown lived in corporate housing and was often on the road between assignments.

“I would see other technicians, who traveled with pets, and think, ‘I wish I could do that,’” he said.

Pets can be accommodated by most corporate housing providers, although some properties carry breed restrictions such as no pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherds, or chows. Other properties require pet interviews, which can be difficult for traveling professionals to do if they are unable to see the property before taking occupancy. Taking the time to attend obedience classes with your dog will benefit you in any number of ways, but especially in the case of a pet interview.

If you own an aggressive breed of dog such as a pit bull, you may have an easier time accommodating your pet if you choose to rent a private furnished property over renting corporate housing at an apartment complex. Your corporate housing provider will be able to advise you how to proceed in such circumstances.

“One time we had this client whose dog kept escaping from the apartment,” said Erin Connelly, Operations Manager for the corporate housing provider Almost Home USA, “So we asked the complex to put a special lock on the door and they did.”

Finding housing that will accommodate a pet is only part of the challenge, there’s also getting them from point A to point B without causing them undue stress. Here are some helpful tips:

• If you’re taking your dog or cat by car, begin by taking them on shorter trips first. That way you can gauge the level of their anxiety and speak with your veterinarian if you feel that tranquilizers are necessary.
• Make sure the dog is always in the back seat of a car (although never in the bed of a pick-up truck) because passenger side air bags deploying can cause a pet damage. What’s more, dogs should not be allowed to stick their heads out of the window. According to the Humane Society, “Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or become ill from having cold air forced into their lungs.”
• To help a pet deal with motion sickness, the Human Society suggests taking along ice cubes, which are easier on a pet’s stomach than water.
• Never leave your dog alone in a parked car. According to the Los Angeles SPCA, a parked car can heat up to 160 degrees in a minute, potentially causing stroke, brain damage, or even death.
• If you’re traveling by plane, make sure that the dog or cat’s crate is clearly marked with all of your contact information. Make sure that the animal is wearing a collar with a legible tag, and a rabies tag.
• There are pet transportation specialists who will, for a fee, make sure that Fido gets to where he needs to go with great efficiency, but online reviews of these services are mixed. Pet Airways, a new airline that caters to pets, will also transport your pet to its new home.
• And most importantly, make sure that you travel with a pet in good health. A certificate of health from your veterinarian is usually required in case you need to stop at a hotel (and some providers may require it as well). Make sure your dog or cat’s vaccinations are up-to-date and that you have the appropriate documentation of them.
• Get a reference from your current veterinarian of a good animal clinic that is a short drive from your new home. Carry both clinics’ numbers on you in case of emergency.

Although it’s best to be prepared for emergencies, concern should not prevent you from taking your pet with you when you travel for work. A dog or a cat can be an excellent companion on a lonely business trip, and it’s always nice to come home to a friendly and familiar face at the end of a long day.

-By: Lisa Marie Brown

Lisa Brown is a Sales and Marketing Associate for Shop Corporate Housing (http://www.shopcorporatehousing.com/), an excellent venue for corporate housing providers and those “shopping” for corporate housing.

Are dogs and cats immune to salmonella contamination? The answer is no! Your family pets are just as susceptible to contracting salmonellosis as human beings. Pets can also be carriers of salmonella increasing the risk of cross contamination between pets and human beings. In the light of the recent peanut butter product recall, companies that offer organic pet products and have GMP-certified manufacturing units are finding themselves in higher demand.The recent scandal and scare of contaminated peanut butter products have driven consumers to think twice about the products they purchase and the manufacturing practices employed by companies. Can they be trusted? How can a consumer ensure that the product purchased is safe for consumption for the entire family, including the family pet? Many consumers now feel safer choosing products that are organic-certified and are produced by a GMP-certified company. This ensures high standards of quality control and quality assurance.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the recent salmonella contamination originated from a plant in Georgia that produces peanut products in mass production to sell in bulk to various distributors. As a result, more than hundreds of companies have recalled their products from the shelves. The FDA reported that the Georgia-based manufacturing plant was “not compliant with current good manufacturing practices required by the FDA”. They also reported lack of quality control measures in cleaning procedures and failure on the company’s part to take action for mitigating contamination in their facility. The contamination has led to serious cases of salmonella infections. All-out efforts are being taken to contain the infection by public awareness and recalling products that can trace their peanut-related ingredient to the Georgia-based plant in question. A number of Pet products containing peanut paste from this plant have also been recalled.

Organic Pet Products-A Quality Choice

With a broad spectrum of choices for organic pet products, more consumers are turning to organic pet products which, they feel, can be fully trusted for safety and health.A broad category of organic pet products include:

• Organic Dog Food / Cat Food
• Organic Pet Treats
• Grain-Free pet foods
• Dry pet foods
• Canned pet foods
• Low Fat Pet Foods
• Senior Pet Foods
• Puppy Treats
• Organic Gourmet Foods
• Organic Grooming and Hygiene for Pets
• Organic Pet Flea Treatments…
• … and more!

There’s an endless variety of options for organic pet products. The trend towards Organic products, even in organic pet foods is continually on the rise.

Premium Organic Pet Product Manufacturing

If you are pet product manufacturer using a contract manufacturer to produce your products, the recent peanut butter product recall should raise a red flag. Is your contract manufacturer following strict GMPs? Are raw materials being inspected for quality before being taken into the facility for production? Are there quality control measures in place in every stage of production? No one wants a lawsuit to deal with and the price to pay is irrecoverable in terms of loss of reputation and other legal hassles. If you find manufacturing facilities questionable, you may want to consider shifting your business to an organic, GMP-certified contract manufacturer for your pet product manufacturing. Placing your manufacturing needs with a GMP-certified contract manufacturer leaves you free to focus on expanding and enhancing your business.

Rising Demand for Organic Pet Products

Organic pet products have shown a steady rise in demand over the last decade. According to Global Industry Analysts, Inc. the attitudes of pet owners are changing. A growing number of pet owners consider their household pets as a part of the family and entitled to equal benefits with other members of the family. More pet owners are concerned with health and nutrition for their pets. This has led to the pet food sector being the fastest rising in the food industry. Pet owners are looking specifically for preservative-free organic, natural products that offer high quality nutrition and health for their pets.More consumers realize they have more control over health and nutrition issues for their pets by choosing products that are organic and produced by a reliable company. Good health and nutrition are worth the price.

-By: Kevin A

Nutricap Labs is a full service GMP-certified contract manufacturer providing vitamin supplement manufacturing service. We primarily manufacture nutritional tablets, Organic pet products, capsules, powders, liquids and creams, but we also offer label and packaging design services and order fulfillment services to our customers.

Do you find that you are spending too much on pet supplies at your local stores? Most pet owners feel that they are paying too much for small portions of food and other pet supplies that they wish they could find bulk or wholesale. Although, most smaller pet stores and people who live in smaller areas are not always able to find and sell pet supplies at wholesale levels, there are alternatives that you should know about.

If you really want to start saving some money, try finding a pet supply wholesale company online. There are many different online stores that offer pet supplies at bulk and wholesale pricing. The great thing about these websites is that it is a fairly competitive business and they usually offer good deals and bargains, especially to first -time customers.

If you are unfamiliar with shopping for online pet supplies, you can easily do searches that will bring up different competitors and different products. Take for instance if you are looking for a particular brand of cat or dog food, you can either search for the name of the brand, or just include it in your search terms and add the words wholesale to it. This will bring up numerous different companies and websites that offer the brand of food or other supply that you are looking for.

Another good idea, is that if you have friends or family members that use the same brand of pet products that you do, you can go in together when ordering wholesale and save a lot of money in the process. Make sure before you do any wholesale buying of pet supplies that you are aware of the different options available, and make sure that the products you are buying are ones that you will use for some time for your pet.

It is not a good idea to try out a new product buying it wholesale. You could be stuck with something that you or your pet does not like or does not work for your situation. It is always better to find a product that works well for you and your pets and then seek out a wholesale resource for it.

Some local stores do offer wholesale purchasing and pricing options, and may not always advertise it, so if you are interested it is always a good idea to inquire with them and find out. There are big chains of pet stores in most metropolitan areas that offer wholesale pet supplies as well. Some of these are available right in the stores, and others need to be specially ordered, but it never hurts to check and find out what options are available to you.

Buying pet supplies wholesale can save you a lot of money, and a lot of hassle from having to make special trips to the store to get what you need for your pets. Some people are hesitant at first to pay a lofty price, but if you do the math, you are sure to find out that it will save you time and money and be very much worth your while to check out. Just the money that you can save in travel expenses alone is usually worth the higher upfront cost to pet owners.

If you decide to go with a certain wholesale company and continue to do business with them, a lot of them will offer discounts for referrals and future business, which can help you in the long run save even more money and keep you and your pets happy.

-By: John Sommer Sr.

John Sommer is the Author and Leading Expert on AKC Pet Insurance and the creator of Pet Health 101. Visit the site now to find all the guides you need for picking the perfect insurance for your pet.

The pet service business is certainly one that brings a great deal of joy to the right business owner. It is also a great comfort to the pet owner to know their family member is in the hands of someone who loves them and will care for them just like they were at home. It is a great business and deserves the necessary planning to be successful.

To make money in the pet services business, begin by identifying your goal. It’s hard to hit the bulls eye without a target. Make your goal something related to your business but personally important to you, such as building to a specific client level at which point you will build the addition to the house you’ve always wanted! Write this goal down and review it often.

Set a plan in motion. These are steps to achieve your pet service business goals. Numbers of personal contacts daily or weekly, consistent marketing efforts, business planning and book keeping are all steps you will want to schedule to reach your goal.

Create a website. Most people go online first to research products or services. Don’t waste money on a listing in the yellow pages. Your website must convey your care and love of their pets. People who use pet sitters love their pets like children so your feeling for them is very important to communicate.

Watch your pennies and be ready to persist through some obstacles. You are sure to hit a snag or two but, over a period of time with consistent effort, you will succeed and make money in the pet service business!

-By: Lewis Bennington

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Imagine doubling your money every week with no or little risk! To discover a verified list of Million Dollar Corporations offering you their products at 75% commission to you. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program.

Quickest-way-to-make-money-on-earth.com

Obviously, we’re in the midst of a recession; that’s been the buzzword for too long now to ignore it. But the question rising to the surface of people’s minds now is exactly how long this downward trend is going to last.

A recent survey of top economists has concluded that, if professional estimates are right, recession is likely to last through 2009. Of course, no one can definitively say what the future holds, but of 102 of today’s great economic minds, all but 10 held far more pessimistic outlooks than they had only 3 months prior. Of them, 79% expected an economic growth of no more than 1% over the next year, and 38% felt that the economy would most likely continue to shrink. Only 36% of those surveyed believe that all the government’s efforts to turn things around were having any kind of a positive impact, while the vast majority see no fruit from all the government has tried to do to free up the credit situation. All things considered, these 102 professionals do not have high expectations for 2009.

If their predictions prove true, those in the business world do not have a great deal to look forward to, and those hoping to break into the business world have a potentially steep road ahead of them. There is, however, a very stark difference between steep and impossible, and even though the economy, present and future, may not be pretty, there are still ways that franchises can help new business owners make their way even in long-term recession. The following are some of the business opportunities that franchising offers in what some people consider recession-proof industries.

Alliance Cost Containment

Thriving for the very reason that so many businesses are suffering, Alliance Cost Containment franchisees are some of the best in the business at analyzing a client company spending to establish new ways of cutting costs and saving money in tough times. Franchisees work from home and are trained how to address 35 specific areas of business finance that most companies struggle with. There is limited travel involved, and franchisees have consistent access to ongoing training and support from central staff and other franchisees who have a wealth of knowledge to share.

Grease Monkey

A great recession-proof business opportunity is the auto industry. Though manufacturing and sales of cars decrease during economic downturn, people are more likely than ever to seek auto service because they don’t want to buy a new car. A Grease Monkey franchise is the perfect way to capitalize on this trend. The only nationally recognized lube chain that is not owned by an oil company, this franchise gives franchisees a first class business experience with full training, support, and site-selection services without mandating the use of certain products over others. There is quite a bit of potential success and financial freedom to be had for a Grease Monkey franchisee.

Meineke

This is one of the most well known auto franchises around, with a nationally recognized name that has been seen by millions on TV and print advertising. With a more-than-successful 36-year track-record, Meineke has kept itself up-to-date with current industry trends without losing connection with its traditional, service-oriented roots. Join over 900 other franchisees on their road to success with this shockingly successful business franchise.

Precision Tune Auto Care

Franchisees with this business are brought into a family of franchises whose focus is on serving clients in addition to servicing cars. Though each franchise tends to numerous automotive needs, including air conditioning, brakes, fuel injection, air induction, fluid maintenance, and tune-ups, the key to their success in the industry is being able to call their clients by name, because they keep a standing relationship with each one.

Case Handyman and Remodeling

Home service franchises offer another great business opportunity in the midst of recession, because, though many Americans can’t purchase new property, they are still interested in repairing and updating the properties that they have, in case the market turns and they can sell. Case Handyman and Remodeling offers them just such an opportunity, with a home service business model that mixes neighborly treatment with Harvard-level knowledge of the industry. Franchisees are able to start their businesses at whatever size fits them best and are given plenty of room to grow as necessary.

Homeworx

Taking a different approach to the home improvement industry, this business for sale doesn’t directly serve clients who want construction services; instead it aids the other businesses doing the construction and remodeling by providing warranty services on their behalf. This frees the other companies to focus on doing the labor that they’re assigned to. Franchisees don’t necessarily need previous home industry experience, just the willingness to learn from an expert team that does have the experience and can teach them all they need to know.

Return-a-pet

Though it may come as a surprise, the pet industry seems, so far, to be recession-proof. Despite economic decline, people are unwilling to stop spending money on their family pets, and one home based business putting that knowledge to use is Return-a-pet. The system is simple: Return-a-pet has developed a pet registry that people can add their pets to, in case the pet is lost, and receive tags with a custom registration number and a phone number to call if the animal is found. Every home business franchisee pays a one-time licensing fee to become a Return-a-pet distributor and is immediately taught how to market and sell the product.

Though everyone had hopes that this recession would pass quickly, that has not been the case, and according to economic pros, it won’t be the case in the near future, either. Recession, however, is not the same as economic collapse. There are still numerous business opportunities that either survive downturn well or miraculously thrive in it. As you give heavy thought to whether or not this is the time to start up a franchise of your own, keep your eye on these industries and see how they continue to prosper in the midst of this economic crucible.

-By: Raymond Lawrence

Find more franchise businesses including pet franchises and home service franchises at Franchise Gator

Daily people are looking on the Internet for ways to start an online business. The possibilities are unlimited with the access allowed because of the Internet.

One can find searches made daily for phrases like Online Dollar Store, Online Jewelry Store, Retail Store Online and Pet Stores. People are starting to realize they have a chance at attaining success from the comfort of their home.

One type of business I found that is becoming increasingly popular is online pet stores. This is a 40 billion dollar business. This equates to over 70 million homes. How many people do you know that have pets and purchase products for their pets. People will be able to purchase from your online pet store and sent directly from the warehouse without you having to do a thing. You simply send them to your online store. You can also purchase your products, if you have pets or your own, at cost.

I did some research and found an online pet store that offers you a free startup kit for a limited time.

Here is an example of what this particular online business offers:

You will be immediately provided with your own online store, complete with popular pet products in a variety of categories.

There is NO SETUP FEE involved!

As soon as you have received your kit in the mail, simply follow the step-by-step instructions in the iStore Quickstart Marketing Guide to begin getting customers to your store.

We warehouse and ship everything for you.

I’m sure there are many others out there for your choosing, but you need to do your research to ensure that you don’t get involved with a bad company. I suggest that you either use a website that has done some level of research for you or be prepared to do the effort yourself.

Some people simply want to earn some extra income and are not really looking to own an online business. There are many choices for people seeking to do this as well.

The benefits of owning an online home based business are great, in my opinion, because you have minimal overhead. No employees, employee’s benefits other than your own, no rent and no inventory costs. You have to admit this is a truly amazing opportunity.

Take your time to join, read the step-by-step instructions and enjoy building your new work at home endeavor. It takes a bit more time to build up a home based business, but in the end the money will more than likely increase as your effort decreases. This is one of the major pluses of owning an online business in my opinion. Think about it, you can be traveling, shopping or whatever you may enjoy doing and your business is running 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Please feel free to read both this article or one of my many others by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.

I wish you the very best.

-By: Michael Comeau

Michael Comeau has been owner of many successful businesses over the years including his current online business which can be viewed at http://www.workfromhome4dollars.com/Articles-Open-Your-Own-Online-Pet-Store.php – You may also find more articles by Michael Comeau at http://www.workfromhome4dollars.com

Pet sitting insurance will insure people who own businesses involving pets for example you have set up your own dog-sitting and dog-walking business. The insurance for pet sitting will cover all aspect of your work, from picking up the dog at the dog owners’ home to actually walking the dog. A pet sitter’s insurance is unavoidable and a necessary, and can prove to be priceless if a dog sustains an injury, gets caught up in an accident or worse during the time that the dog is in your hands.

Who Can Take This Insurance out?

The pet sitting insurance can be taken out by pet walking and pet sitting businesses, dog walkers and individuals working as dog sitters and dog walkers. Anyone working with dogs, caring for them in the place of their owners and walking them can make use of this insurance. As accidents may happen during a walk or crossing the road.

Any harm or injury and damage caused by the pet in your care can be claimed against you by pet owners or the general public. By having a pet sitting business insurance you will be covered for such claims.

The Advantages of having a Pet Sitting Insurance

A pet sitting insurance offers a lot of safety for a little money every month. Taking a insurance for pet sitting will provide you with some advantages:

Bodily Injuries are Insured

The dog that you are walking could escape and run off and the dog causes any injury you could be held accountable for the damages.

Damage Caused by You is Insured

Damage done to any items belonging to the owner of the dog while the animal is in your care and injuries sustained by the animal during transport is covered totally with any decent pet sitters insurance.

-By: Norman A Bates

for more information on Pet sitting insurance or Petplan

Virtual pet adoption (VPA) is a type of activity to keep your kids busy on the rainy days. Today one of the trendiest online activities for children is the virtual pet, and there are various types of virtual pets available at various virtual pet adoption sites, so you can easily get one that will be appreciated by your kids. Primarily there are 3 kinds of VPA methods, namely, the downloadable one that can be saved onto your computer. Next is the online, where you have to login to a website to play and look after the virtual pet. Lastly there is a plush animal, along with the alternative of going on the Net to play with the virtual copy of the pet.

The downloadable kind is fun and the benefit is that there is no need to be online for your kid to play with it, but the disadvantage is that until you get the virtual pet game from a well-known source, you are faced with the danger of downloading a virus.

The second kind of cyber pet adoption is the online virtual pet, which necessitates you to enlist with a website so that you can own the pet. After logging into the VPA site, you can play and look after the pet.

The plush animal alternative is also an excellent method of making your kids work. In this option, you purchase a plush animal with which your children can play anytime, just like a regular toy, but the difference being the plush animal has a code with which the child can visit the virtual pet adoption website to play. In this kind of cyber pet adoption, your child looks after its virtual pet online, while designing a home for it and plays many other games too. Virtual pet adoption is an effective method of teaching your kids about looking after pets, while enjoying themselves. If you want an outlet to keep your kids busy, think about VPA, since playing with a pet online will keep your child busy for a long time and you won’t have to clean up the mess created by a live pet.

A great way to teach your children about caring and best of all, they will have fun doing it.

-By: Thomas T

Thomas T is the owner of Virtual-Pet-Adoption.NET. Have tons of virtual pet adoption material and lot of adopt a virtual pet information. Enjoy.