If you love animals and you spend a good portion of the time at your 9 to 5 daydreaming about starting your own business, pet sitting might be a great fit for you. According to a poll from Harris Interactive, a whopping 91 percent of pet owners think of their pets as members of the family.

So, naturally, when pet parents need to travel and can't bring Fido with them, they want to leave their pet in trustworthy, loving hands. And that's why pet sitting is so lucrative right now. In fact, if you run a smart business, you could make more than $48,000 a year.

If you're ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship and think pet sitting is right for you, here are a few tips for running a successful business.

1. Be smart about your rates

Think carefully when setting your rates. You'll want to choose a rate that is appropriate for what you're offering, your experience level, your market and so on, but it also has to be appealing to pet owners. Don't underprice or overprice your services. As this article notes, it's best to do some research.

It recommends finding out what your competitors are charging "by searching online or calling them." Or you might take a look at CostHelper.com's rundown of what pet owners can expect to pay pet sitters. It gives easy-to-understand guidelines on the costs of per visit or per night visits.

2. Be attentive to pet owners' needs, too

Of course, your number one priority when pet sitting is the safety and well-being of the pet in your care, but know that the pet parents will need a little care as well. Chances are they'll be worried about leaving their four-legged friend behind, so find ways to give them some peace of mind.

For example, this article on how to be a great pet sitter recommends sending them a photo and short update at least once a day.

3. Always treat it like a business

Is pet sitting fun and rewarding? Yes! But it's also a business. And once you're a business owner, you'll need to take steps to make sure you and your business are protected.

For example, as About.com explains, you'll need to decide whether to run your business as a sole proprietorship or an LLC, whether to get insurance and what kind fits your needs as a pet sitter, what your terms of service will be, and more. The article also notes you'll need to be constantly thinking about creative ways to market your pet-sitting services to customers.

4. Get certified

Once your business is underway, there are certifications you can seek that will help you set yourself apart from the competition. As Care.com notes in its article on pet care certification, getting certified shows you're serious about what you do and you're a "true professional."

And, as a bonus, being certified usually means you can charge more for your services.

The great thing about starting a pet-sitting business is you don't have to dive all the way in right at the beginning. You can test the waters a bit by doing some pet sitting on the side. Once you get a feel for whether it's something you enjoy, you can then decide whether being an entrepreneur and pet sitter is the right career move for you.