How to Start a Dog Walking Business Successfully – Our Guide

Starting a business can be stressful, complicated, and overwhelming. However, a dog walking business is a pretty straightforward, low-cost means to break-through in the animal industry. With the increasing demand for expert and skilled dog care, it’s not a surprise that many aspiring entrepreneurs are now diving into this business idea. If you want to know how to start your dog walking business, there are some factors you need to consider first. Of course, your love and interest for our furry friends must be genuine. They can become quite a handful, so understanding their needs and behaviour is a must. You need to have their best interests at heart. You must also be aware of certain rules and guidelines surrounding the industry. In some cases, walking multiple dogs at once can be imperative. Starting a dog walking business can be easy by following some simple steps. You may choose to have a partner for this business as a limited liability corporation (LLC) or as a sole practitioner. When you need to register your business, it is important that you speak with someone trustworthy and knowledgeable, such as an attorney or accountant, to help you set up your business to a good start. The first step you need to do is lay your groundwork. Be prepared—there is no sense in simply grabbing the leash and heading out with no preparation at all. This means you need to sit down, draw out a blueprint, examine your financial situation and options, and decide the specific type of services you want to offer. Here are some tips that can help you set up a dog walking business successfully: Consider Insurance In every business, you need to be covered for any liabilities. Insurance coverage is a must before you start your dog walking business. There are available ones that are customized to provide coverage for dog walkers and pet sitters. This is an ideal kind of insurance since it covers you from any potential legal liabilities and action in case a pet causes any damage or harm while under your supervision. The cost could be a few hundred dollars but guaranteed to help save you big legal stress down the road. Educate Yourself In dog walking business, understanding canine needs and behaviour is extremely important to succeed, as well as keeping yourself updated with pet first-aid skills. You would want to educate yourself with leashes, harnesses, and collars. Remember that collars come in a variety of types, and certain dog owners may not have the best one for their pets. Knowing simple details about leashes, harnesses, and collars will help you suggest the right one for the dog, in the end enabling you to walk the dog more safely and easily. You might also want to consider training and qualifications, even if you don’t have to. Having them on your portfolio increases your credibility and professional standing when building your network or client base. Some training you can have include animal behaviour, animal care, and animal first-aid. Familiarise Yourself About Pricing and Services Knowing what kind of services and how much you charge is crucial to be able to reach a certain audience. Most services are offered in blocks of time, like in 30 minutes, one hour, or a whole afternoon. You can offer to walk one dog or a small pack in a residential street or some apartment complex. You can also offer additional related services, such as obedience training, pooper scooper, and pet sitting. Check various local competitions in the area to have an idea about how much they offer and what kind of services already exist. That way, you are able to use this information for bench marking and coming up with your own pricing structure and services. Starting a dog walking business all stems from your love for them. Remember, businesses can be tricky, but with the right tools and information, you can be off to a great start. Learn more about the dog walking business. Browse through our website for more news on the pet industry in the UK.