How to Start a Dog Walking Business
If you love dogs, exercise and fresh air, starting a dog walking business could be the perfect career opportunity for you. While you could get started with a few leashes and a good pair of sneakers, following our steps on how to start a dog walking business can help take your business to the next level.
1. Assess the local competition
Start by assessing the local dog walking competition. How many companies will you be competing against for customers? The answer to this question will help you set your prices and your overall business strategy.
For example, if your community is lacking people who walk dogs, you could charge industry rates or even a little more. However, if there’s little room for you to compete in the market, you might need to consider offering lower prices or driving to a neighboring area to launch your business there.
Here are a few things you can do to assess your competition:
- Check social media to see if there are open ads for pet walkers and sitters in your area, which could indicate that there is a shortage of pet professionals nearby.
- Leverage dog walking apps like Rover to see if walkers have open availability or if they are booking far out into the future, which can help you understand demand.
- Read competitor reviews to look for potential pain points you can try to solve with your services.
2. Create a business plan
New businesses can benefit from a detailed business plan, especially if you plan to expand your company down the road. You don’t have to stick to all of your initial ideas, but starting with a clear roadmap can help make sure you don’t get lost along the way.
Here are some basics of what to include in your dog walking business plan:
- Services: Consider what types of dogs you want to work with, how many dogs you can walk at once and if you’ll offer other types of pet care, such as pet sitting.
- Prices: Look at what competitors charge in your area and price your fees accordingly. Keep in mind that charging too much could turn away potential clients, especially during the early stages when you’re establishing your brand.
- Marketing plans: Come up with creative ways to attract clients, such as social media blasts or starting a client referral program.
- Financial projections: Creating a business budget can help estimate your startup costs and expected revenue, making sure you don’t overspend during the early months.
- Organizational systems: Using bookkeeping software can help track income and expenses. Having an online calendar can help you organize your schedule while allowing clients to see your upcoming availability. And don’t forget to think about how to pay yourself as a business owner.
3. Register the business and choose an entity
Contact your secretary of state to discuss the legal requirements for registering your dog walking business. While you don’t need a specific license for dog walking, you will probably need a general business license.
Next, you’ll need to choose a business entity for your dog walking services. Your business’s structure will impact your business taxes and personal liability. Here are two popular options for structuring a dog walking business:
- Sole proprietorship: This option makes sense if you’re starting a small operation on your own and you want to minimize your legal paperwork. However, sole proprietors don’t have any liability protection, meaning you would be personally responsible for all financial aspects of the business.
- Limited liability company (LLC): Forming an LLC can create a layer of protection between your personal and business finances. You could also bring in another owner to help you run the business. That said, more paperwork is required to establish an LLC.
4. Buy dog walking insurance
Business insurance can help protect you and your livelihood in the rare case that something happens while pets are in your care. Look for an insurance policy that includes:
- General liability coverage: Can prevent you from being held responsible for someone else’s property while it’s in your possession — in this case, a dog.
- Pet protection coverage, or animal bailee coverage: Specifically protects businesses in custody of animals that don’t belong to them. This provides coverage beyond general liability, protecting against injuries or damages to an animal in your care.
- Commercial property coverage: Can help cover any damages or losses to your business property.
Pet Care Insurance (PCI) and Pet Sitters Associates are two popular providers of dog walking insurance. Both provide general liability coverage up to $1 million per incident or $2 million per year. These policies also include animal bailee coverage and veterinary reimbursement up to a certain amount.
The amount of coverage you need depends on the scale of your operations. If you’re hiring multiple employees or working with high-risk pets, getting the maximum coverage available could provide extra peace of mind in case of an accident. When in doubt, consult a legal professional or insurance specialist to find out what options might work best for your company.
5. Get pet first aid certified
Getting certifications like Pet First Aid and CPR can show your clients that you are a professional dog walker and you take the safety of their pets seriously. In turn, this can help you stand out from competitors. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters and public health organizations often offer certification courses at a relatively low cost.
For example, the American Red Cross has a $25 online course that covers the basics of first aid for both cats and dogs in less than an hour. If you’re looking for more in-depth training, Pet Emergency Academy offers a three-hour course for about $75, and you can pay more to receive a pet first aid kit to have on hand for emergencies.
6. Build a dog walking contract
Before you work with your first clients, fine-tune your customer contract. Having well-defined policies makes your business look more professional, and it helps in case issues arise. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Service agreement: A service agreement should include your company’s terms and conditions, including details on rates and services, such as walks, administering medication or providing snacks.
- Vet release form: In case of an emergency, a vet release form will allow you or your employees to seek medical care for the animal.
- Cancellation policy: Having a client cancel last minute can negatively impact your business, especially if they don’t provide enough time to fill that slot. Including a detailed cancellation policy can help. For example, you might require full or partial payment if a service is canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice.
If you’re just getting started, you can often find templates for these forms online. However, it may be worth consulting a lawyer to make sure you’re fully protected.
7. Advertise and recruit clients
Once you’re ready to start dog walking, it’s time to start spreading the word about your dog walking services. Here are some ways to market your services:
- Create a website. An eye-catching website can help draw in clients, especially if you include pictures of you bonding with other pets. List your services, prices, certifications and other key details to ensure potential clients have all the information they need.
- Advertise on social media. You can create profiles on several social media platforms to help spread the word. While advertising on social media comes at a cost, it can be worth it to build brand awareness and attract new customers.
- Hand out business cards. Though physical marketing materials can seem outdated, it might be a good idea to have business cards printed that you can hand out when you’re at the dog park or visiting local pet stores.
- Offer a customer referral program. Offering referral bonuses can be a great way to gain more clients through word of mouth. You could offer a discount for both your existing client and the new client, making it a win-win for everyone involved.
Costs of starting a dog walking business
Fortunately, startup costs for dog walking companies are typically lower than other business types, such as starting a restaurant. In fact, some dog walkers can get their business started for less than $500.
Your exact costs will vary based on your services and location, but here are some typical expenses you might need to pay when starting your dog walking business:
- LLC fees: $35 to $500. Depending on your state, you may need to pay a one-time and/or annual fee if your business is structured as an LLC. These fees vary significantly by state, typically ranging from $35 to $500.
- Business license: $25 to $500. The fee for a general business license varies by state, city and county. For example, business licenses are free in many parts of Illinois, but businesses operating in Chicago are required to get a city-level license. Do some research to understand the licensing requirements in your area.
- Website: $0 to $200. Building a website yourself can be a great way to save some money, but while free tools can help you build your website, it might be worth paying a little extra to remove ads and access higher quality templates. Depending on the service you select, this could cost anywhere from $15 to $160 per month.
- Insurance: $150 to $500. Pet care insurance can vary based on your location, your business’s size and how much coverage you need. In general, you can expect to pay $150 to $215 a year for basic coverage, with prices reaching $500 or higher for more in-depth policies.
- Pet first aid class: $25 to $200. Pet First Aid and CPR training can give you and your clients extra peace of mind. Estimated costs range from $25 to $200.
- Dog walking software: $15 to $35. Investing in dog walking software can help you streamline parts of your business like scheduling and invoicing. Prices start around $15 per month, though some companies offer a free trial.
- Dog walking supplies: Varies. You might want to invest in leashes, treats and more to provide a five-star experience for your furry clients. These costs can vary depending on how much you want to invest.
Dog walker salaries vary by location. According to ZipRecruiter, dog walkers in the U.S. earn an average $17.20 per hour — or around $35,770 per year.
Keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Your final earnings will depend on factors like your business’s structure, local demand, your qualifications and overhead expenses.
How to finance a dog walking business
Even though starting your business can be relatively inexpensive, you might need some extra cash to cover upfront costs while you’re working to build up a client base.
Once some time has passed, you may be able to obtain small business financing from a traditional or alternative lender to expand your business. But when you’re first starting out, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to meet the minimum time in business and annual revenue requirements to qualify for a business loan.
Instead, consider funding your dog walking business in one of the following ways:
- Personal funds: If you have the cash on hand to get started, it’s typically cheaper and less risky to avoid taking on debt. You may be able to start with just the basics to legally cover yourself and upgrade things like your website and accounting software once you start bringing in revenue.
- Crowdfunding: Online crowdfunding platforms help business owners raise funds from family, friends and the general public. Some platforms allow you to accept donations without offering anything in return, while others may require you to offer a stake in your business in exchange for funding.
- Business credit cards: A business credit card could be a good way to cover essential expenses while building business credit. Just know that credit card interest rates can be quite high, so it’s worth keeping your credit card spending within reason and paying the full bill each month. You could also consider a 0% intro APR credit card, allowing you to make interest-free purchases for up to 24 months.
- Personal loans: If you need a larger sum than a credit card can provide, a personal loan is another alternative. Personal loans are generally easier to qualify for than business loans, but they put your personal assets and credit score on the line if you fall behind with your payments.
Tips to help your dog walking business succeed
Besides the physical demands of the job, there are a few hurdles you could face as the owner of a dog walking business. Here are some ways to set your business up for success:
- Build your network: You can learn more about the industry by attending conferences for pet sitters and dog walkers. For example, Pet Sitter International (PSI) offers one-day online events as well as in-person, multi-day events for professional pet care businesses. These events can help you build industry expertise while expanding your professional network.
- Start a pet care blog: Establishing yourself as a pet care expert can strengthen your credibility. Consider starting a pet care blog or social media profile with regular tips on grooming and caring for your pet. Optimizing your blog for SEO can also help drive traffic to your website — and therefore your services.
- Offer free meet and greets: Some clients might feel nervous handing over their beloved pets without knowing you first. Offering a free meet and greet can help ease their nerves. For example, you might offer a short video chat or a 30-minute in person meeting where you can interact with the pet and go over the services you provide.
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