A dog walking business is governed by the same rules that guide other businesses – even though you will be spending a great portion of your time walking dogs. You have to have a business plan and consider hiring some staff. But because the dog walking business is very niche, there are a couple of things to consider before you begin.

Training And Qualifications

Even though training or qualification is not mandatory for dog walkers, having some will boost your professional standing and credibility as you begin building a client base. Some of the training and qualifications you should consider are – animal care, animal behaviour and animal first aid.

Get Insurance

Having dog walkers/pet sitters coverage will protect you from possible legal action. This insurance policy would only cost you a hundred dollars and could just save you a lot of trouble.

Get The Relevant Professional Business Licence

Enquire at your town, city or state council as to what certifications or professional licenses are recommended or needed. Most professional businesses need some sort of certification or licensing, so check if you will need to file any paperwork in order to get your dog walking business started.

Choose A Business Name And Advertise

The name you choose for your business is totally up to you but as a guide, trying to stick to the 3Cs of great business names – compelling, clear and concise. Don’t forget to advertise your business to get the attention of your potential clients. There are multiple ways you can get this done – putting a bulletin on message boards at grocery stores, social media, giving out flyers at dog parks, town centres, and so on.

ALSO READ  A Historical Look at the US Stock Market

Have A Price List For The Services You Render

This is a very important aspect of setting up your dog walking business -figuring out how and what to charge your clients. We recommend that you set up your price list by distance, time, activities with the client’s canine and other services rendered like providing snacks, and so on.

Answer The Following Questions

Before you get your business up and running, here are a couple of questions you should answer:

  • What do I need to start my business?
  • How many dogs will I need to walk to have a profitable business?
  • How many potential customers live in my target area?

Conduct Research

Running a successful dog walking business might seem straightforward, but there are a lot of moving parts. It would be smart to you want some research so you know first hand what operational issues or difficulties you might encounter – you can do this by reaching out to other dog walkers.

Understand Dog Walking Rules And Regulations

Some of them include:

  • Meet owners the first before booking.
  • Limit the number of dogs walked at a particular time -not more than four.
  • Keep track of all work undertaken
  • Protect customers personal information
  • Make sure all the dogs in public are wearing a collar with the owner’s name and address on it.
  • Cleaning up after the dogs (failure to do so could have you fined).

By following this advice, you can set up a successful dog walker’s business and enjoy custom from a broad range of people in your local area!