Setting up a dog walking business is not quite a walk in the park. But by following the tips in our detailed guide, you can learn all you need to know, from how much to charge to what to include in a dog walking contract.
We love our canine companions in the UK, and the boom in dog ownership after the Covid-19 pandemic means that there are even more of us with a four-legged best friend. Now that more people are returning to their place of work, this has also created the perfect set of circumstances for dog walking businesses to thrive.
If you’re looking to capitalise on your love of dogs and get plenty of exercise in the process, a dog walking business could be the perfect career. But there are a few things to consider before you launch your new business venture.
What are the risks of setting up a dog walking business?
We don’t like to begin on a negative, but before you dive in, it is good to know what you’re getting yourself into.
Starting a dog walking business means that you are committing yourself to multiple walks every day, in all conditions. Given the variation in the Great British weather, you may find yourself trudging around in the cold and rain on many occasions.
You may also find yourself working in the early morning or late in the evening, as well as on weekends and holidays.
To make your dog walking business a success, you will also need to be physically fit as you could be walking multiple dogs for around an hour several times a day. A key risk of setting up a dog walking business is therefore what will happen if you become injured or ill.
You will need to be a business person too. Dog walking business owners will need to answer messages and calls from clients, prepare schedules, handle invoices and expenditure, and complete annual tax returns. Your business will also need to be GDPR compliant and ensure it protects its customer data according to the Data Protection Act.
If this sounds like the right challenge for you, that’s great! To find out for sure, you may want to get some experience…
Setting up a dog walking business: what experience do you need?
You do not currently need a dog walking licence to run a dog walking business in the UK.
However, having experience as a dog walker before you take the leap into business can give you the confidence you need to get your venture off to a flying start. It can also reassure future customers that you know what you’re doing.
As a professional dog walker you will need to walk lots of different types of dogs, and often more than one at once. Volunteering at a dog shelter or kennel can give you this opportunity. You can also offer to walk the furry friends of neighbours, friends and family. Make sure you collect feedback from them – you can use them as testimonials when your business gets started!
You may also want to get some dog walking qualifications. You can get City & Guilds qualifications in Technical Competence in Dog Walking, as well as Pet Sitting and Animal Health. You may also want to take an animal first aid course – this will give your customers even greater confidence in you.
Becoming a member of associations such as NarpsUK (National Association of Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers) may give you added support and guidance.
Creating a dog walking business plan
Creating a dog walking business plan will help you to work out how much money you can make and how your business will operate.
Start off by doing some research.
To get an idea of how much money you can charge and what services you could provide, take a sneaky peek at what your competitors are doing. Focus on the area in which you plan to operate and see what rates they charge, if they have any USPs and what services they offer.
If there are lots of dog walking businesses in your area, this is a sign that there is good demand. However, it can also indicate a crowded market, so take a look online or ask around to get a feel for how many people are looking for dog walking and if they have any specialist needs.
Using this information, you can start laying out your services. Think about whether you will offer anything different. Perhaps you could offer puppy check-ins, or specialise in dogs with behavioural problems or medical issues. You should also think about whether you will be doing pick-ups and drop-offs, whether you will offer solo or group walks, and how long you will walk and where – countryside or park walks may be an added selling point.
You also need to think about how much to charge for dog walking.
As a rough estimate, most dog walkers will charge around £15-£20 per hour. However, the rate you can charge will depend on where you are based and the length and frequency of your walks. If you have added qualifications, you may be able to charge a little more.
Before you set your pricing, you should consider your future business expenses. These could include:
- Fuel
- Equipment such as collapsible water bowls, treats, poo bags and clothing
- The cost of any employees
- Marketing
This will help you to work out your bottom line – the minimum amount of money you will need to earn in order to break even.
Once you know this, it’s a good idea to look back at your research on your competitors to see how much they are charging. After all, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market!
With your prices set out, you can flesh out your dog walking business plan with profit estimates. It is useful to create estimates for your first quarter of operation, your first year and then your profits after 5 years. This will be useful if you are looking to get a business loan or other finance for your dog walking business.
Your business plan should also identify and weigh up the risks of starting a dog walking business. Risks can be internal or external, and you should try to find ways of mitigating them or removing them in order to ensure the success and financial protection of your enterprise.
For instance, what would happen if you became injured and couldn’t walk the dogs? You should also consider what would happen if a dog in your care was hurt, or if they harmed a third person while in your custody.
Once you have identified the risks to your business, you can create strategies to reduce them. Dog Walking Insurance can be helpful for this.
Dog Walking Insurance
Dog Walking Insurance isn’t a legal obligation, but it can give you peace of mind and financial protection for your dog walking business.
As a dog walker, you will be legally responsible for the dogs under your charge (as per the Animal Welfare Act). This means that you need to have adequate third party insurance in place in case someone is injured or their property is damaged.
Additional insurance may also be necessary. For instance, if you are planning to employ other dog walkers, or even use volunteers, you are legally required to have Employers’ Liability Insurance in place in case they are injured or made ill by carrying out work for you.
And don’t forget, if you are planning to use your car to transport dogs, you will need to let your car insurer know that it will be used for business purposes. Make sure that you have good breakdown cover included – no one wants to be stranded at the side of the road with a car full of dogs!
To find out more about Dog Walking Insurance, you can take a look at our dedicated webpage.
Setting up your dog walking business
You’ve got your dog walking business plan in place, so now it is time to get your business started!
You will firstly need to choose a dog walking business name and then get in touch with HMRC to let them know that you will now be responsible for paying your own tax.
Dog walking company names can be whatever you choose, but it may help if it gives some indication of the services you provide. You may opt for something fun and friendly or a little more serious – it depends on the type of business you want to create and the impression you want to make.
When choosing your dog walking business name, it is a good idea to check that the website domain and social media handles for it are available – and to snap them up. This will help you later on when you need to market your business.
You will also need to decide on the legal structure of your dog walking business. You can run it as:
- a sole proprietorship or partnership
- a limited company
The option you choose will affect your legal liabilities (which will also affect your dog walking insurance needs).
Operating as a sole trader or partnership means that you (and your partner) will be personally responsible for any debts your business incurs and legally responsible for any liabilities. However, this type of business is very simple and inexpensive to set up.
A limited company, however, is a little more complicated to establish but will protect your personal assets. As a limited company, your dog walking business name will need to be registered with Companies House. This will then legally protect your business name, which means no one will be able to copy it.
There are pros and cons for each option, so you will need to pick the one that suits you best. If in doubt, speak to a business adviser.
Whatever type of business you choose, you will need to create a strong process of record-keeping so that accurate information can be supplied for tax returns. You may choose an accountant to do the tax returns for you, but they will still need to be given a clear idea of your earnings and outgoings.
Keeping receipts and creating a log for your clients detailing the work you carry out for them and when invoices are sent and paid is therefore a good idea. Having a separate business banking account can help you to keep track and ensure that your business profits and expenses are kept separate. Thanks to the internet, there are lots of free business banking options available and these can often be set up in a matter of hours.
You should also think about other key documentation for your business, such as a dog walking contract.
Dog walking contracts and other policies
Your dog walking contract should be easy to read and understand. It should clearly set out what services you are supplying so that your client knows what to expect. It should also include your terms and policies.
For example, one of your terms could be that a meet and greet must be carried out before you agree to take on a new dog. Another could be that dogs must be vaccinated, wormed and regularly treated for fleas. You can then lay out what will happen if these terms are not met.
Key policies should include a cancellation policy, which should describe the circumstances in which you can cancel services, and when your clients can cancel them. Remember to set out a notice period for this otherwise clients could cancel appointments or services at the very last minute.
Other policies should set out how you want to be paid and what you will do in emergencies. It is a good idea to include a vet release form with your contact, which will allow you to get a dog treated in an emergency.
Other useful documents to create for sharing with your clients could include a key release form if you are doing pick-ups and drop-offs and a document containing key contact details. You could also create a new client form, where owners can provide details of their pet’s likes, dislikes, medical conditions and allergies for future reference.
Dog walking essentials
To run your business successfully, you will need the right equipment and dog walking clothes.
Think carefully about your dog walking clothing. You will be going outside in all weathers, so clothing needs to be easy to move in, easy to clean and tough.
In winter, layering up can keep you warm as well as give you the flexibility to adjust as you get warmer or colder. Waterproofs are a must, and not just for your top half – investing in some waterproof dog walking trousers will keep you dry on really filthy days. When it comes to gloves, opt for some with grip so that you can keep a tight hold of multiple leads on wet days.
On your feet, look for sturdy boots that will be able to keep up with your mileage. Waterproof ones will again be useful for rainy walks. Check that they have a good grip – if a dog pulls you, you won’t want to slip over if it is wet, icy or muddy.
If the weather is really bad, you may be glad to have the option of a comfortable pair of wellies. The best wellies for dog walking are those that have a strong rubber sole as well as fitted ankles. This will stop the wellies from slipping around on your feet, something that is sure to cause blisters for a dedicated dog walker. If you tend to get cold feet, you may also want to invest in a pair that comes with a fleece or neoprene lining for extra warmth.
Walking dogs in hot weather means that you will need clothes that are light, comfortable and breathable. Sportswear such as running gear may be particularly useful for the summer as it will be designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool. A hat will help to keep the sun off your face.
Other dog walking essentials include:
- Plenty of poo bags
- Reflective gear so you can walk safely when it is dark
- Collapsible dog bowls for watering on the go
- Spare leads in case one breaks, is lost or damaged
- A whistle
- Towels to dry off wet dogs
- Treats
Marketing your dog walking business
Setting up a dog walking business means that you will probably have to market your services. Word of mouth can go a long way, but if you want to gain more clients quickly, a little bit of promotion won’t hurt.
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to work on a brand identity by creating an eye-catching logo. You may want to design your own, but if you don’t have design skills, don’t worry! You can get someone with experience to design some ideas using communities such as Fiverr. Make sure that you pick something that stands out and is instantly recognisable.
You can then use this logo and its colours across your marketing, including a website.
Setting up a dog walking business website is a great idea as it can give prospective clients all the information they need and a way to get in touch with you. You can also include its address on leaflets, business cards and other pieces of marketing material to provide further information.
A good dog walking website should include:
- A homepage
- An ‘about us’ page
- A services page
- Reviews or testimonials (make sure you update these regularly!)
- A blog (this will provide your website with fresh content)
- Your policies
- A contact page
- Links to social media accounts
Social media is a great place to market your dog walking business too. You can share photos of the dogs under your care having a great time as well as feedback from your current clients. You don’t have to be active on all social media channels, so pick the ones you are familiar with or experiment with them to see which ones get the most results.
Of course, you can always go down the tried-and-tested route of leaving adverts in local shops and in the papers.
Ready to start your dog walking business?
Hopefully this guide has given you all the help you need to get your dog walking business started. But if you would like more guidance on getting the right Dog Walking Insurance, we can help. Simply get in touch with our dedicated dog-loving team to discuss your needs today.
This article was created to provide general information and does not constitute advice. If you are starting a business, seek professional advice.
