How to Start a Dog Walking Business | Square (2023)

FAQs

What do you need to start up a dog walking business? ›

Do I need dog walker insurance? Insurance for dog walkers isn't a legal requirement unless you employ someone. But without at least public liability insurance you could find yourself in financial trouble if something goes wrong in connection with your dog-walking business.

To give you a general idea of a dog walker's earnings, HomeGuide reports the following national average rates for low, medium, and high-end dog walkers: Low-end dog walking services: $10 per 30-minute walk. Mid-range dog walking services: $20 per 30-minute walk.

Where the bye-law is in place (see the list of open spaces covered), a licence is required for an individual to walk more than four dogs at any one time up to a maximum of eight dogs.

A dog walking business presents special risks because you are dealing with live animals and engaged in physical activity. Dogs may be injured or even killed, and you or someone else could be injured as well. Insurance does exist specifically for businesses that deal with caring for pets.

The average salary for dog walkers is £9.86 per hour. This can vary depending on the level of experience you have and by the number of competing dog walkers operating in the local area. There's also some level of regional variation, as salaries are typically slightly higher in the south of England than in the north.

The average pay for the job is $15.11 per hour, which translates to $31,428 per year. However, dog walkers can earn more or less depending on where they work in the U.S., additional services they offer, and whether they work for an employer or for themselves.

It is essential that you hold a UK driving licence and are a car or van owner (with business insurance) suitable for carrying dogs (be prepared to kit your car……

What sort of insurance might you need for a dog walking business? ›

Having public liability included in your Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters' Insurance policy means you're covered if the animal in your care is injured, causes injury to someone else or damages someone's property. If you employ other workers, you can include employer's liability cover in your policy.

For a dog walker to be great, they should be able to communicate with the client and the dog. If they can't communicate openly, any concerns they might have will go unanswered. Also, the good times must be shared as well. A healthy back-and-forth between the client and the dog walker is important.

Dog walkers typically charge between $20 and $30 for a 30-minute dog walking service. The average cost across the US for a 30-minute dog walking service is $24.84 in 2022.

Dog walking prices range from $10 to $60 depending on your location with most pet owners spending $15 to 25 per walk. You can find discounts of $5 to $10 off if you don't mind your dog walking with other dogs.

So in reality, a part-time dog walker would earn roughly $2,000 each month if they worked every week instead of just every other week. And full-time dog walkers, who work five days a week all month long, earn an average of $3,300 per month.

Most dogs can handle 5 km (3 miles) without extra training but need at least a month to get up to 20 km. Walks above 5 km should always be followed by a light rest day. If you go too far too quickly you could cause all sorts of muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or bone problems.

In general, most dogs benefit from between 30 minutes to two hours of physical activity per day (source). That averages out to 3.5 to 14 hours of walking per week. Many people break that time up into two or three walks per day.

A dog in good general shape can enjoy a 15 to 30 minute walk daily. Most breeds may need routine walks several times per day. Moreover, dogs with excellent health can enjoy long walks of up to two or more hours. Some will even hike with their owners for a couple of hours.

What are the disadvantages of dog walking? ›

For example, the dog you're walking might get into a fight with another dog. It might have an unusual behavioural change or it might break free of its lead and run away. In general though, drama is fairly minimal for professional dog walkers.

Dog walking is undoubtedly a viable business venture to consider if you're passionate about dogs. Not only is the demand for dog walking high, but the business also has a relatively low barrier to entry and is highly profitable.

How do dog walkers pay tax? Most dog walkers will be self-employed meaning they don't work for a company and they're not at the scale of having their own limited company. This means they pay tax as part of a self-assessment tax return.

How much can I earn as a dog-sitter? From Care.com, we found out that the average hourly rate for pet carers in London is between £7 and £8 as you can see from the ads below. Remember that these are just an example and depending on where you live (and the competition) you could earn more or less than this.

Good to work on your own schedule

Loved being able to meet new furry friends, and the idea of Wag! is great. The 2 biggest cons are the compensation is not enough especially if you have to drive to more populated areas to get walks or sittings, and Wag! support will side with the customer more than us walkers/sitters.

Seeking work that's available through either app? Rover might be the way to go. Applications take less time — on average — to get approved, so you can start working sooner. With Rover, you'll also keep more of the money you earn; its 20% commission fee is significantly lower than Wag's 40% fee.

How much does Rover pay? According to Rover, you can earn up to $1,000 a month as a dog walker or dog sitter. Additionally, for dog sitters willing to also become a dog boarder, it's possible to earn up to two times more than those who just offer dog-sitting services.

To be on the safe side and bypass the £100 fine imposed on lawbreakers, just walk no more than four dogs at any one time. Also, make sure that you have a lead for each dog.

In 2022, the average dog walking price is around £14 for a walk lasting between 45 minutes to an hour. It is 15% increase from the previous year.

Which dog needs the most walking? ›

Bred for jobs that require endurance, these groups have the greatest need for a daily workout. They include Retrievers, Spaniels, Collies, Pointers and German Shepherds. Include training along with exercise and vary routines to keep the attention of these robust dogs.

Whether it be long term health condition or short term need following surgery or accident etc., you may need some time out from walking your dog. A dog walker can help take that pressure off and ensure they have consistent and regular walks. Your pooch will be happy whilst you recuperate.

DIY Wipes

Get a paper towel or a clean cloth damped in warm water then use a drop of your dog's shampoo and wrinkle it to spread the shampoo. Use it to gently wipe off dirt from your dog's knees, paws or tail. Rinse with warm water and make sure that their paws are completely dry before letting them on the floor.

Some people make the mistake of using grass, and while it's cheap, it's also messy, and you'll find yourself replacing it at least once a year. Instead, you should consider a stone like pea gravel, limestone or gravel chips, as well as screenings as the base of the dog run.

Do I Need a License to Dog Walk in the UK? In the UK, it's currently not necessary to have a dog walking licence, qualification, or certification. With no universal minimum requirements in place, all you need to legally operate a successful dog walking business is a love of dogs and adequate spare time.

Starting a dog walking business is a fairly straightforward, low-cost way to enter the animal industry. You can get your business off to a great start by following just a few simple steps. Most people will probably start their business as a sole practitioner or as a limited liability corporation (LLC).

How do dog walkers pay tax? Most dog walkers will be self-employed meaning they don't work for a company and they're not at the scale of having their own limited company. This means they pay tax as part of a self-assessment tax return.

How much do dog walkers charge per hour? In 2022, the average dog walking price is around £14 for a walk lasting between 45 minutes to an hour.

So in reality, a part-time dog walker would earn roughly $2,000 each month if they worked every week instead of just every other week. And full-time dog walkers, who work five days a week all month long, earn an average of $3,300 per month.

Is dog walking a good side hustle? ›

Dog walking is a great side hustle because the clients are adorable, you get exercise, you're helping out a caring pet owner (having a dog of my own, I know what it's like to want the best for your pup), the hours are short and you can make around $16-$24/hour depending on your rates.

If you like dogs and you enjoy being outside, dog walking can be a nice way to earn some additional income or you can even make a career out of it and start your own business. The average price for one 30-minute walk ranges from $20 to $30, which depends on a few factors.

As of Nov 21, 2022, the average weekly pay for a DOG Walker in the United States is $616 a week. While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $1,000 and as low as $260, the majority of DOG Walker wages currently range between $480 (25th percentile) to $721 (75th percentile) across the United States.

The market size, measured by revenue, of the Dog Walking Services industry is $1.0bn in 2022. What is the growth rate of the Dog Walking Services industry in the US in 2022? The market size of the Dog Walking Services industry is expected to increase 5.5% in 2022.