8 hot businesses you can start now

• Searches by would-be customers: 16,840 in 2013, up from 7,204 in 2012
• Entrepreneurs listed: 1,933 in 2013, up from 842
• Typical pay: $15 an hour

There's serious money to be made as a dog boarder. But it's not easy work, said Geoffrey Capco.

Capco, who lives in West Hills, Calif., got into the business 10 years ago. After speaking with a neighbor who seemed to be doing well dog-sitting, he decided to "test the waters."

He began by posting some simple fliers around the neighborhood. Calls started coming in immediately. Within three months, dog sitting became his full-time job.

Before the recession, Capco was working seven days a week and pulling in as much as $15,000 in a single month. But consumers became more budget-conscious after that, asking family and friends for help before hiring a dog sitter, he said.

So Capco has come up with other ways to augment his business. In addition to dog sitting, he provides grooming and simple teeth cleaning services for an additional charge.

"You really have to love animals to be successful at this," he said. "My dogs have the run of the house. Sometimes I wake up and there will be six dogs asleep on my bed. I don't mind."

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