A recent article in the Raleigh News & Observer newspaper gave me an idea for a pet business that I hadn't previously seen.

Animal lover Dennis Money started Critter Coach with about $18,000 of his own savings to buy and equip a minivan and ambulance for his pet medical transport business.

ZodSquad.com has an entire section devoted to marketing pet-related businesses, and coming up with ideas for pet-related businesses. Companies catering to pet guardians are flourishing, and that goes for pet sitters, dog walkers, pooper scoopers, doggie day care, pet friendly hotels, pet clothiers, and now pet ambulance services.

Money began offering his pet transport service about two years ago as an add-on to his petsitting business, according to the newspaper article. He now offers his service - transportation only, no emergency care - throughout the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro area of North Carolina. In addition to the 24-hour emergency transport service, he also taxis pets to their regular veterinary visits or to grooming appointments.

The combination of folks' willingness to spend more and more on caring for their furry family members, plus the innovativeness of the pet transport business idea, mean Money should continue to make money with Critter Coach, even after more people take his idea and run with it. The first people to enter a market with a service-oriented business have a distinct advantage. They're the ones who develop the first relationships with complementary businesses - in this case, veterinarians, groomers, and so forth - and they get the media attention due to the originality of what they offer. You still have time to be first in your area, in all liklihood, unless you live in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area or one of the few other places to already have a pet transport service. It won't be long before this catches on, so don't wait to start your own service soon. Make it your New Year's resolution to create a profitable pet enterprise. Get started now!