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How Would You Like to Make $6 Million Sitting on Your Couch?

Recessions can be a great time to start your own business. Thanks to the Web and a variety of other resources, it’s cheaper and easier than ever to start one at home.

By his own admission, Paul Mann used to be a corporate stiff. Sure, he had a successful career, as CEO of Informative, a technology company that he co-founded in the late 1990s, but he hated putting on a suit and tie and trudging to the office every day.

All that changed — almost by accident, Mann admits — one day back in 2002 when he was looking for someone to watch his dog in a pinch. "I got very few responses back to my query," he recalls. "And the people I met, I just didn’t feel comfortable handing them the keys to my home."

What followed was an "aha" moment that led him to start Fetch! Pet Care, a local network of pet sitters and dog walkers that busy people like himself could rely on, especially on short notice. What started as a service for San Francisco pet owners little more than six years ago has grown into a nationwide franchise with 200 locations and a network of more than 3,800 pet sitters servicing pet owners in 1,800 cities. This past year, Fetch! ranked No. 964 on Inc.’s list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation, bringing in $6.25 million in revenue.

Oh, did we mention he works from home?

By: Tamara Schweitzer

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