Everyone loves their furry friends, with almost 70 percent of U.S. families (or 85 million households) owning a pet. Dogs are the most popular choice: over 60 million households are home to a canine companion. With this huge love of animals across the nation, there's plenty of need for trustworthy, capable and caring people to become dog walkers or pet sitters.
You might not think of dog walking or pet sitting as a formal business, but with enough effort it could become an excellent way for you to make money as an animal lover. It’s not just dog walking or pet sitting either — doggy day cares, grooming studios and kennels are all in demand.
We want to help you get your business off the ground. Since 2004, we’ve helped over 250,000 people start exciting businesses and bring their ideas to life. We’ll give you the support, guidance and advice you need to create a woman-owned business and make it into a success.
Here is our simple guide to starting up a successful dog walking, pet sitting or related canine business. From exploring the types of business you can start, to doing research, to learning about the legalities of setting up your business and the realities of your day to day operations — this guide is here to help.
Read on for some insight into creating your own dog walking or pet sitting business and becoming an entrepreneur. In this guide we will cover:
This is why dog walking, pet sitting and similar businesses are so exciting — how can you be part of that success? We're here to help you figure that out.
Although it can be exciting to form a dog walking or pet sitting business, there will be significant demands on you as a small business owner. Here are some of the things you can expect.
Here are some of the typical tasks you’ll be performing for your dog walking or pet sitting business on a daily basis:
The following skills will be very useful in your role as a dog walking or pet sitting small business owner.
Your customers are trusting you with the well-being and happiness of their animal companions. This means demonstrating some expertise in animal handling and behavior, and having a good track record of caring for canines. Pet owners will want to make sure that their dogs are kept safe, that they won’t escape and that you will be able to deal with any special doggy needs or issues.
There are several different types of dog-related business you can start.
This is probably the easiest type of canine-related business to get started with. You will need the skills listed above, some equipment, a car to get where you’re going and not too much else. A love of the great outdoors and awareness of what’s happening around you will be essential, as will dog relationship expertise.
Whether you take care of a dog while the family is away on vacation or you’re just needed on short notice, the life of a dog sitter can be a good one. You can combine this with dog walking, and the type of service you offer could vary from being a stay-at-home dog carer to just visiting pups a couple of times a day for food and toileting.
If you want a step up from dog sitting, opening a specialized dog care facility could be a great option. Whether you look after canine companions for a few hours a day or offer complete room and board, dog parents need a kennel they can trust to look after their furbabies.
There are plenty of dogs with hair that needs regular cutting, grooming and washing to stay healthy and beautiful. Dog groomers are places that a doggy parent can get their dog’s coat washed, nails trimmed, hair cut and other cosmetic changes. You could open a pet grooming location or travel to your customers’ houses.
These are all great starting points, but you will need to build on them to make the business your own. You have unique skills and insight that you can use to create a dog walking or pet sitting business that will really stand out.
You should already know the type of dog business that you’re best suited to. A combination of your canine and business skills, experience and expertise will steer you in the right direction.
Whatever dog-related business you choose, it’s likely that you will have several competitors in your area. To stand out, you will need to build up a good track record and deliver superior canine services.
Not every idea you have will make it through to becoming a dog walking or pet sitting business. There are all sorts of reasons to say “yes” or “no” to specific approaches, so think about what your strengths and weaknesses are so you can choose a dog-related business you’d be great at.
You might think that your dog-related business doesn’t need a plan, but you’ll find that a solid business model will help you become a success. A business plan will help you define how you’re going to run your dog walking or pet sitting business, market yourself, get sales, make a profit and grow.
You need to establish your canine business plan and model now, which is how you will generate sales, provide services and make money. It’s best to get your plans in place now so you can start acquiring customers and generating revenue from day one.
Think about and predict financial projections for your dog walking or pet sitting business. What are your expected sales and revenues? What is your profitability? How much money will you keep in the business to grow it? How much will you pay yourself and others?
Business plans do vary slightly, but they should all cover the following areas:
There are five main business structures you can have in the U.S., and it’s important to choose the right one. We’ve shared your options below. They are:
.If you don’t choose to form a legal business entity for your dog walking, pet sitting or other business, you will be a sole proprietor by default. This won’t give you the legal protections you need, so we do not recommend this.
This is a type of business that is formed when two or more people work together without creating a more formal business entity. Like a sole proprietorship, it may not give you all the protections your dog walking or pet sitting business may need.
The most common type of business entity. An LLC is fast, simple and inexpensive to set up and maintain. It protects your personal finances and assets and is a great way to start your dog-related business.
This is a more complex type of business and isn't generally recommended for smaller organizations.
These are the largest and most complex types of businesses and are typically far more than the average canine entrepreneur will ever need.
Once you've legally created your dog walking or pet sitting business, you’ll need to get some other things in place.
Your business location depends entirely on the type of canine business you’re running. If you’re walking dogs, you only need a place to administer your business, like a small home office. If you’re running a doggy daycare or a groomer, you may well need a specialized facility. It’s best to start small so you can prove out your dog business before committing to longer-term, expensive leases, rents or fees.
Like the location, your equipment needs will vary depending on the type of business you run. A dog walking business might only need leashes, collars and treats, whereas a groomer will need all sorts of specialized tools and products.
Marketing will be a huge part of your dog walking, pet sitting or other business. Naturally, you will need an awesome website, but you'll also need to get branding, digital ads, social media accounts and other channels in place. Most of your advertising will be local, and you may want to get involved with local animal shelters, dog events and similar to get the word out.
The right software and processes will make running your dog walking or pet sitting business much easier. See our list of the best apps and software at the end of this guide.
To start with, you will probably be running your business by yourself. Don’t think about hiring anyone else until you have a good customer base and can afford to expand.
If you’re set up as an LLC or corporation, you will need a separate business bank account for your canine concern. Additionally, you will also need to keep careful bookkeeping records and file business and personal taxes. Here at Incfile we can even help you file your taxes.
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