Good advice Sandi.

I would also insist that you get paid up front. There was one couple, I was very good friends with(I used to cat sit for them for free till I became "Fur-Nanny 911" who I had to chase around to get paid. It took me 3 weeks.

My great clients with the 4 dogs put the money in a clip on the fridge. No hassles, no nothing.

I don't do contracts. Although eventually with any new clients I might write up an "agreement". I'm in the middle of drafting up a "Client Feedback" sheet. Asking clients how they like my services, if there is anything I can do differently, anything they don't like. Just to get a feel as to how they like what I do.

I find that animals that are left to the care of a pet sitter are happier and calmer in their own environment, plus you avoid them getting sick if boarded out (other pets have fleas, URIs, etc that are contagious).