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The seemingly disparate worlds of animals and freelance collide when you’re setting your business up while welcoming a new pet to your life. Congratulations - your life is going to be pretty crazy for a while. But good crazy, because both entrepreneurship and animal adoption are rewarding, enriching experiences that add vitality to your life.

Paws 2 Purrfection presents a few tips to help you navigate this time successfully so both you and your furry friend are happy as can be.

Get Your Business Squared Away

It may go without saying, but before you welcome your new buddy, make sure your business i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. Utilize resources that’ll make your life as easy as your pets’, like time management apps to help you keep track of details that are easy to overlook when life gets busy - or, busier. Set up automation for invoicing and payroll if you’re working with a team. Or if you’re just starting out, form a business entity today to alleviate a portion of the daunting task of starting (and managing) a freelancing business. The benefit of forming an entity, like a limited liability company (LLC) is that you’ll be set up structure-wise for clients that mandate liaising with an entity and not an individual alone. You’ll also have numerous tax benefits, like pass-through taxation, and benefit from legal and financial protection.

Set Up Your Space

Set up a designated area of work - both for you and your pet. In addition to fitting out your space with the staple furniture elements, remember pets are like babies. This means you’re going to have to pet-proof the place and remove any loose wiring, cables, or small objects that could fall easily to the floor. You want to avoid your precious items getting chewed up, spat out, or worse, become the cause for tripping up your pet.

Remember to also include all the staples your pet may need while you’re busy at work. Some items to include are a pet bed, food and water bowls, treats and snacks, and most importantly - toys to keep them happy and occupied.

Let Resources Do the Work for You

Apps are your friend - utilize them for finding a sitter or vet and scheduling feeding times. You can even find apps that make sounds and play videos to keep your furry friend engaged! Another strategy is to buy games that increase your pets’ intelligence and acumen. Games are found easily in stores and online and will ensure the training you provide has a good base in ‘petsmarts’.

Enforce Rules and Routine

Once you’re all set up, it’s time to train your pet to improve their behavior and housebreak them if need be. The more well-trained your pet, the easier it will be for you to focus on your business. Establish a routine, such as a fixed time for walks and food, so your pet knows what to expect. This allows them to operate more independently of you.

If you’re finding it hard to train your pet in addition to running a full-time business, we feel for you. According to Rover, the first six months of pet ownership is the hardest - so delegating the training aspect might be your best bet. A professional will get the job done more efficiently so that you can rest easy. Look up apps for trainers in your area, or post a listing to a local community board to find someone near you.

Get Playful

Make sure to move with your pet and get playful! You’ve probably been behind that desk for hours on end, so both you and your pet deserve some walking or exercise time! According to Harvard Health, making time to exercise is crucial to maintaining heart and cardiovascular health, so prioritize it over long hours working. You could break up your work-day with short bursts of play or opt for longer walking sessions - either way, just get out there and enjoy your time with your pet!

Managing a new business as well as a new pet puts a lot of responsibilities to your plate. Finding a balance between work and play will be key in this stressful time. Lucky for you, pets are natural stress-busters, so your furry friend is sure to give you the love and encouragement you need to keep going with your business. You’ll be able to watch your pet grow, as well as your company, leading to a successful venture overall.

*This article was a guest submission by Cindy Aldridge of ourdogfriends.org