Pet aftercare pickup and arrangements

Grieving pet owners, plus veterinary clinics and animal hospitals that want a trusted aftercare partner for their clients.

A fee for each pickup and arrangement, which usually includes the partner crematory's cremation cost. Extras such as urns, paw prints, memorial jewelry and home delivery of ashes add to each job.

• Compassion and calm communication
• Reliable and organized
• Comfortable handling deceased animals
• Careful record-keeping

• Check state and local rules on transporting and handling animal remains, including any vehicle or cold storage requirements
• Get general liability insurance and ask your agent about cover for the vehicle and the remains in your care
• Check your crematory partner's own permits and ask about their process for tracking each pet, so ashes are always returned correctly
• Business license and sales tax registration may be needed for urns and keepsakes, so check with your city, county and state
• The work can be emotionally heavy and calls may come at short notice, so plan for your own wellbeing and flexible hours

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your vehicle setup, insurance and supplies. Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $7,000, depending on how many families and veterinary clinics you serve.

Check state and local rules on transporting and handling animal remains, including any vehicle or cold storage requirements. Also check your crematory partner's permits and tracking process, and whether you need a business license or sales tax registration for urns and keepsakes.

Helpful skills include compassion and calm communication, being reliable and organized, comfort handling deceased animals, and careful record-keeping. Time is typically at least around 10 hours a week, and calls may come at short notice, so plan for flexible hours.