- Figure out a business name. …
- Structure your small business. …
- Understand your market. …
- Price your services correctly. …
- Promote yourself. …
- Obtain dog walking insurance. …
- Get ready for challenges.
I imagined myself walking six attentive, well-behaved Golden Retrievers and Labradors along the Pacific coastline while wearing a cute white sweater and 501 red-tag Levis. Being my own boss, setting my own schedule, and spending all day with dogs What could be better?.
On my second day of working as a professional dog walker, reality struck when I twisted my ankle and fell face-first into the sand while chasing an overweight yellow Labrador named Willard who was obsessed with balls and a Sheepdog named Bear who acted like she was on acid. Sand was everywhere; it was a particularly poor beginning to my new career as a dog walker.
I got up, took a shower, and went back to work on my new business, which eventually grew to have a clientele of 80 dogs, eight staff members, and a fleet of five vehicles that were suitable for dogs. I adore dogs, so my love for them outweighs the risks of my job. Perhaps you secretly harbor the same dream. If so, the following advice can help you launch your own business providing professional pet sitting services.
Investigate dog-walking services in your area. When I first started, there wasn’t an off-leash adventure service where a Labrador Retriever could go swimming, play chase, and trample picnics. (Just joking about picnics. ) You can start building your business once you determine the kind of service your area needs.
Don’t overextend yourself; figure out how many dogs you can safely handle in a group, how many shifts a day, how long each walk will last, how much you’ll charge, and what parts of town you’ll serve. Choose a location that is close to your home, or even better, as my father, a Wall Street financial analyst, advised me, “Choose a recession-proof area; if they lose a million in the market, it won’t matter and they’ll keep you employed so you can pay the rent.” âRelated article.
If you’re looking for a new career path, a Humane Society director has some advice.
The majority of dog-walking businesses are organized as sole proprietorships or LLCs. In a sole proprietorship, the owner is accountable for all debts and has joint ownership of both the business and personal assets. An LLC separates the personal and business assets. There is also the option of incorporation, which shields the owner from liability for the debts of the business. I started out as a sole proprietor but switched to an LLC when I hired staff. Later, I married a financially responsible man who was concerned about safeguarding our assets and home.
Check out your competitionâs rates and services. When I first started in 1995, the typical San Francisco dog walking fee was $8 per walk. I initially set my prices at $5 to attract customers, but I later realized that I had undervalued my services, which included longer walks and more time spent outside the house than what the competition was offering. Currently, depending on the area, the average cost per walk ranges from $10 to $35. If you have the necessary skills, you might also want to charge extra for obedience training and pet sitting.
Get clients to sign a contract that at the very least includes the fundamentals: details about the dog, any training or behavioral issues, emergency contact information, and the name of the family veterinarian. Include a release of liability and consent to seek veterinary care, if necessary (and to be reimbursed for that care, if it becomes necessary).
Develop a business plan
A thorough business plan can be advantageous for even the simplest new businesses. After all, you wouldn’t build a dog house without blueprints. The same principle applies to your brand-new dog walking business. Making a business plan gives you a roadmap for your organization to follow and can help you choose the best growth strategies for those critical initial months.
Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be difficult to learn. All you need to get started is:
Depending on how big you want your business to be, including a business plan when you launch your dog walking business might seem like overkill. However, developing a plan early on can position you for future growth. Additionally, it’s better to create a business plan now rather than later, when you’ll have less time to do so as your company grows.
Secure the necessary business licenses
Almost every state and municipality requires businesses to have business licenses in order to operate legally. That applies to both individuals and small businesses, as well as to large corporations. To ensure that what you’re doing is ethical and legal, you must register with your local governing body even if you only want to start a dog walking business with your four-legged friends. Most of the time, you can get by with a fairly basic business license.
A sole proprietorship, for instance, is simple to set up and manage but offers fewer protections than other business entities like a limited liability corporation (LLC). Unlike sole proprietorships, LLCs assist in separating a person from their business.
An LLC enables you to keep your personal and business finances separate. Additionally, they aid in putting distance between you and any potential legal problems your company may face. This is especially useful for dog walking businesses because, in the event that something went wrong with your clients’ cherished pets, you might be held personally accountable if the proper business entity hadn’t been set up.
A small business attorney can help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of various corporate structures if you’re unsure of what kind your dog walking business might require. Although the additional assistance will cost slightly more than if you did it on your own, you may end up saving a lot of money in the long run.
Meet and Greets
New customers can get to know you and your business during the meet and greet for dog walking services. Making a good first impression is crucial because it’s frequently the first—and occasionally the only—time a pet sitter or dog walker interacts with a client face-to-face.
Having new clients sign your contract and going over all of your company’s policies is ideal during the meet and greet. To establish expectations for a visit, you’ll frequently have at least one phone call before the meet and greet.
FAQ
Do you need anything to start a dog walking business?
You can work as a dog walker without receiving any formal education or training. However, dogs can be a real handful, so you should be aware of their behavior. When walking multiple dogs at once, it’s crucial to be aware of their needs and to act in their best interests.
How do dog walkers get clients?
- Post on local notice boards. There is a good chance that the supermarket or general store where you are going to go has a community notice board.
- Use social media. …
- Get in touch with like minded businesses. …
- Market yourself. …
- Advertise in local newspaper. …
- Partnerships. …
- Referral discounts. …
- Flyers.
How can I start walking my dog for money?
- Rover. One of the most well-known websites for hiring dog walkers is Rover.
- Wag is a place where you can board or pay to walk dogs.
- Steady. An app called Steady can help you find dog walking jobs in your area.
- Fetch! Pet Care. …
- PetSitter.com. …
- Care.com. …
- DogVacay. …
- Barkly Pets.
How much money can I make from walking dogs?
HomeGuide provides the following national average rates for low, medium, and high-end dog walkers to give you an idea of how much a dog walker makes: Low-end dog walking services: $10 per 30-minute walk Mid-range dog walking services: $20 per 30-minute walk.