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If you're a renter, what's the hardest part of buying your own  home?  Saving the downpayment.  It's tough to do when your  salary is being spent on rent and other living expenses.  If you  don't have much of a surplus, saving for that downpayment  can take forever.

If you're a homeowner, what's the hardest thing about going on extended vacation?  Worrying about your house, garden and  pets while you're gone.

Here's where your business can come in.  A House Sitting  Registry basically brings these two groups together.  Many  renters, instead of paying rent every month, would prefer to  house sit in someone else's home and save that rent towards  a deposit.  In exchange for free accommodation, the renter  takes care of the property, tends to the plants and looks after  the owner's animals.  The renter's only expense is utilities and  food.

Home-owners, naturally enough, are going to be concerned  about exactly who it is who's going to be living in their house  for the next six weeks.  For this reason, it's vital that your  sitters come with sterling references.  Of course, once that  sitter's first assignment is complete it becomes a whole lot  easier because the home-owner can provide a reference and  you can provide a reference based on the first experience and  away you go.

Your income from this business comes from the sitter.  The  sitter should pay you a membership fee for a certain period of  time, say one year.  I've seen membership fees of around $250  per year.  You allow home-owners to list their property for free.

If you're interested in learning more about this business idea, I suggest you visit the Australian House Sitters site at http://www.housesitters.com.au.  It's an excellent example of  how this idea can work in practice.