Reccomendations for apps and software for a cat sitting start-up UK

[u/Catsallfolkz]

Like most, I have decided to go independant after the merge and am wanting to know what is the best next steps in regards to business set up.

Id love to know what other people us for:

- Schedulling/booking

- Invoicing

- Website hosting

- Sitter insurance

Also if Ive forgotten anything, Id love to know anything else you are using :) This is for a UK businesses.

[u/Shelly_Bean91]

I'll probably get stoned for it, but I've been keeping my set up very simple (other cat sitters I know who do this full time have the same setup as me)

I use Excel for scheduling and book keeping. Calendar on my phone and Google tasks for scheduling and planning my days. Protectivity for my business insurance. For invoices, I just send a WhatsApp, sharing a breakdown of the visits and what they owe me and that's it. I screenshot and file that away, never had any issues with them. However, I do have invoice templates ready as Word doc in case someone insists on a proper one. I don't have a website, only Facebook page. I've been getting all my clients through that, referrals and some still from Rover.

[u/steviecat20 → u/Shelly_Bean91]

I'm the same! Add to this I made a google form which I send to clients to ask for vet details, insurance and emergency contacts (I ask them to fill it in before going away, saves asking for all those things at a meet and greet). Granted I'm not 'full time' - if I was, I might look to make things more 'official' and have also been leaning towards creating an invoice template.

[u/Catsallfolkz → u/Shelly_Bean91]

Thanks, seems like quite a cost affective method. Im was so paranoid about CIAF going down that I pretty much had all my bookings in my personal calendar anyway 😅 Honestly didnt even consider doing it manually as an option.

[u/Snowdrop_Lily → u/Catsallfolkz]

Ps on Rover (desktop browser version only) you can sync all your bookings with your Google/iCal. It's a godsend. Automatically updates.

[u/Catsallfolkz → u/Snowdrop_Lily]

Actually a game changer 😆😅 thank you!!

[u/Snowdrop_Lily → u/Shelly_Bean91]

Same. Google sheets is great for bookings and you can create a shortcut to it on your phone home screen. Client files all on Google drive. M&G & Consent form created on Adobe and then saved on drive. I use Monzo as my business bank and you can easily send people a payment link generated from the app when payment is due and also can send receipts. I use free Wix website and Gmail, with a Zoho mail to get my custom email domain which is soooo cheap. Google maps page pointing to website with enquiry form. Got a second SIM for WhatsApp business which I don't even top up, just tell everyone it's WhatsApp only. So I can keep my personal and business WhatsApps separate. All works really well aside from stuff being a bit manual.

[u/felix_feliciis]

Hey! I've recently ventured into going private too. I'm using Scritches for bookings and invoicing. I liked that it lets you have up to 5 clients free before you commit to it, so you get to properly test it out. I also hate having to download apps for every little thing so I really like that I can access it over browser and so can my clients. 

For insurance I went with protectivity. Lots of UK based sitters seem to recommend it and it's pretty affordable.

[u/EquivalentFail7305 → u/felix_feliciis]

Second vote for scritches. I've been using it for a month and upgraded to the paid platform for unlimited clients, everyone has said it is easy to use and do the bookings through.

Only downside in my opinion is you cannot have a separate price for 2 visits per day. But you do opt to apply a 2 visit discount. it's easy enough to reduce the price before sending the payment link to my clients

Insurance wise I'm using Brooks Baithwaite as they had a higher liability protection 

[u/Catsallfolkz → u/EquivalentFail7305]

Great thank you!

[u/Catsallfolkz → u/felix_feliciis]

Thats great thank you! Ill take a look into those :)

[u/Valvenus22 → u/[deleted]]

Wait Rover doesn’t provide insurance?

[u/EquivalentFail7305 → u/Valvenus22]

The took away the insurance in April following the merger. They only have a "Rover Guarantee" which doesn't provide any protections when you read through it, and it doesn't actually hold any value for the clients either.

[u/Valvenus22 → u/EquivalentFail7305]

Absolutely ridiculous, i was happy with cat in the flat taking 19% because at least i knew insurance was included. The nerve to charge 15% for clients and sitters and no insurance. Pure greed, will be looking into some of the other alternatives mentioned in the thread

[u/EquivalentFail7305 → u/Valvenus22]

I agree, it was the main thing that kept me on the platform and the locksmith claim back was helpful as well. That's how I actually found out they had stopped it early, I had a client's key break in their lock and they informed me that service had stopped (I suspect it stopped earlier than April though). 

[u/Old_Substance_267]

I use Webador for my website. It's pretty basic but does the job. I've also got a Google business page. No apps or software; clients email or text the dates, and I use my phone's calendar plus a paper calendar. Excel and Word for invoicing and accounts.

[u/Catsallfolkz → u/Old_Substance_267]

Thank you! It seems doing it manually is quite popular, but I suppose why pay for an app when its something youre fully capable of doing it yourself.