Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers actually come from
Most new paying customers arrive through personal networks and local visibility rather than large ads. Neighbours and friends who already know you are the most common first sources, followed by colleagues at work, parents at a school or kindergarten, and people you meet through community groups.
Online search and social media are useful once you have some photos and a clear service description. Local online marketplaces and community Facebook groups can send a steady trickle of enquiries. Word of mouth becomes important after several satisfied clients refer you to others.
A marketplace like Websta connects people looking for pet care with local providers - you can be found by service and place, and customers can also post a task for providers to offer on.
- Neighbours, friends and family
- Workplace colleagues and parents at schools
- Local community groups and social media
- Search results and directory listings
- Marketplace listings and direct task posts
How to set a first price and talk about money
Start by estimating your time, travel, supplies and any special care needs the pet requires. Decide whether you will charge per visit, per hour, or a flat rate for services such as dog walking, sitting or grooming. Be realistic about time spent travelling and waiting.
Look at how other local providers describe their services and prices, but do not copy numbers - use them only as a benchmark. When you give a price, state clearly what is included and what is extra (travel, special medicine, late fees).
Talk about deposits and cancellation terms before you accept a booking. Use short, clear messages so clients know the cancellation window and whether you require partial payment up front.
- Estimate your true time and costs before naming a price
- Be explicit about what services and extras are included
- Set and communicate cancellation and deposit terms
What the first ten customers usually look like
Your first ten customers are often a mixed group: friends and family, neighbours, one or two people from your workplace, and a few leads from local groups or online search. Expect casual, one-off jobs at first rather than regular contracts.
Some will test you with a single short visit; others may book recurring walks or weekend sitting. A few customers will refer others if you handle the first job professionally and communicate clearly.
Keep simple notes about each customer and pet - breed, medical needs, contact details and preferred payment method. That record keeps repeat business organised.
- Friends, family and neighbours form the early customer base
- A mix of one-offs and potential repeat clients
- Referrals begin after several successful jobs
What to sort out when taking money as an independent person in Slovakia
If you will work independently, check with the local Trade Licensing Office - živnostenský úrad - about whether you need to register a trade. Ask what type of trade licence applies to providing pet care and the required documents.
Contact the Tax Office - Daňový úrad - to learn how to report earnings, whether you must register for VAT, and what records you must keep. For social and health insurance questions, speak with Sociálna poisťovňa and your health insurance provider.
If you are unsure about legal obligations, ask each authority: do I need to register a trade, what insurance and contributions will I owe, how to issue receipts or invoices, and whether specific permits or animal-handling rules apply.
- Ask the Trade Licensing Office about trade registration for pet care
- Ask the Tax Office about income reporting and VAT registration
- Ask Sociálna poisťovňa and your health insurer about contributions and coverage
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Common problems are underpricing, unclear communication about services, and scheduling conflicts. New providers often underestimate travel time and the time needed to explain care details to owners.
Recordkeeping can be neglected: without receipts, clear booking logs and notes about pet needs you will struggle to manage repeat clients and tax reporting. Cancellations and last-minute changes also cause income gaps if you do not have clear cancellation terms.
Health and safety incidents are rare but possible. Know basic first aid for common problems and be honest with clients about limits to your care. If you face uncertainties about liability, consult an authority or an advisor.
- Underestimating time and costs
- Poor recordkeeping and unclear cancellation policies
- Scheduling conflicts and last-minute cancellations
- Not preparing for simple pet emergencies
How a Websta profile fits into this work
A Websta profile acts as a single public page you can send to potential customers - it looks like a small website with services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. Card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe, and the provider sets the prices.
Websta also operates a marketplace where people nearby find providers by service and place and can post a task for providers to make offers on. On Websta the category is "pet care providers" and the marketplace path is "/marketplace/pets". Profiles in some places were built from public business registers and show the registered trade and town of a sole trader; those pages carry a notice that the person can claim or remove the page.
Use your profile to publish clear service descriptions and cancellation terms, upload current photos, and display the booking calendar so customers can see availability without extra messages.
- Single shareable page with services, prices and online booking
- Payments via Stripe paid to your bank account
- Visible in a local marketplace and searchable by service
Practical next steps to get started
Begin with a short list of services you can deliver reliably, make a simple price plan, and ask friends and neighbours for a first booking. Create or claim your Websta profile and add clear service descriptions, photos and your booking rules.
Contact the Trade Licensing Office, Tax Office and Sociálna poisťovňa with the specific questions listed above before you scale. Keep simple records of bookings, payments and pet notes from day one.
Expect it to take time to build a steady stream of paying customers. Focus on reliable delivery, clear communication and good recordkeeping - those three things create the conditions for growth.
- Start small, document each job and collect feedback
- Set clear payment and cancellation terms on your profile
- Check registration and reporting rules with the named authorities
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register a trade to offer pet care in Slovakia?
- Check with your local Trade Licensing Office - živnostenský úrad. Ask if your planned activities require a trade licence and what documents you must submit to register.
- Can I accept card payments from customers?
- Yes. On Websta card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe; set up requires linking your bank account according to Stripe and Websta instructions.
- How should I set prices when I have no local competitors listed?
- Estimate your time, travel and equipment costs, decide on per-visit or hourly rates, and test your price in the market. Make terms clear and adjust after you see typical demand and time spent.
- What records do I need for tax and insurance?
- Ask the Tax Office - Daňový úrad what income records they require and ask Sociálna poisťovňa about social and health insurance reporting. Keep copies of invoices, receipts and booking logs.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.
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- How to find and hire a pet care provider in Slovakia
- Pet care provider profile on Websta in Slovakia
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