Starting a dog walking business can be a rewarding transition for animal lovers looking to turn their passion into a profession. After all, who wouldn’t want their profession to involve taking care of our canine companions?
If you’re ready to trade in your desk job for the great outdoors and a pack of furry friends, you’re in the right place. This article will walk you through the steps to launch your own dog walking enterprise, from market research to building a client base.
Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or create a full-time career, starting a dog walking business can offer flexibility, independence and the joy of working with a human’s best friend.
Learn more: How to start a business
What is a dog walking business?
A dog walking business is a service where you or your employees are paid to walk dogs for clients. Typically, you’ll pick up dogs from their homes, take them for walks in local parks or neighborhoods and return them safely. Services often include feeding, providing water and basic care during the walk. Some dog walking businesses also offer complementary services like being a pet sitter, dog training or hygiene.
Why start a dog walking business?
As of 2023, dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S., with 65.1 million households owning them. As pet owners prioritize the well-being and happiness of their dogs, they seek reliable dog walking services to ensure their pets receive regular exercise and mental stimulation.
Low startup costs compared to many other businesses
Flexibility to set your own schedule
Opportunity to work outdoors and stay active
Potential for steady, repeat clients generating cashflow
Chance to work with animals if you’re passionate about them
Possibility to scale by hiring additional walkers as your business grows
Challenges of running a dog walking business
Physical demands of walking multiple dogs daily in various weather conditions
Managing unpredictable animal behavior and potential injuries
Building and maintaining a reliable client base
Dealing with cancellations and scheduling conflicts
Handling the responsibilities of pet care, including emergencies
Managing liability and obtaining proper insurance
Competing with other local dog walkers and pet care services
How to start a dog walking business in 8 steps
Starting a business can be quite an advantage, so make sure you follow these essential steps:
01. Conduct market research
Begin by analyzing your local area to determine whether there’s a demand for dog-walking services. Focus on affluent neighborhoods where pet owners may have busy schedules and disposable income. Moreover, research your competition and identify gaps in the market you could fill.
For example, cities like Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles have the highest demand for dog walkers, so consider your location’s potential. You can also use online resources, talk to local pet stores and observe popular dog parks to gauge the need for your services.
When researching your competitors, ask yourself:
How much do they charge?
Do they have large companies with many employees?
What types of services do they offer?
The answers to these questions will help you understand what people are paying for and how to improve your business plan.
02. Develop a business plan
Create a comprehensive business plan that outlines your goals, target market, services, pricing strategy and marketing approach. Include financial projections, startup costs and operational details.
Your plan should also address how you’ll differentiate yourself from competitors and scale your business over time. More than a roadmap, your plan could be crucial to secure financing.
Learn more: How to create a dog walking business plan
03. Secure financing
Determine your startup costs, including equipment, insurance, licenses and marketing expenses. While dog walking businesses generally have low overhead, you may need some initial capital if you plan to hire employees from the start.
Consider using personal savings, seeking a small business loan or exploring crowdfunding options to raise money for your business. And in the beginning, be sure to have a financial buffer for unexpected expenses and slow periods as you build your client base.
04. Define and price your services
Based on the market research you’ve done, clearly outline the services you offer. That might include individual walking, group walks or additional pet services. Consider offering package deals or loyalty discounts to encourage repeat business.
And be prepared to adjust your pricing as you gain experience and understand your market better—the only way to find what works is to test.
05. Choose a business name and legal structure
Once you’ve done the behind-the-scenes legwork, you can start working on the front end of your business, including a legal structure. Select a catchy, memorable name that reflects your brand and appeals to pet owners. You can use Wix’s free business name generator to brainstorm ideas—just make sure the name is available before you register your business entity.
Then, you can decide on a business structure, such as a sole proprietor, limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Each has different tax implications and liability protections, so consult with a legal professional or accountant to choose the best option for your situation.
06. Obtain permits and licenses
Research and acquire all necessary permits, licenses and certifications required to operate a dog walking business in your area and state of residence. This may include a general business license, pet care license or specific dog walking permit.
Don’t forget to obtain proper business insurance to protect yourself, your clients and their pets. You’ll want to consider both general liability insurance and specialized pet care insurance.
If you’re looking to start a business in a specific state, here are some helpful resources:
07. Build your client base
Create a website using an easy builder like Wix, use social media to showcase your love for dogs and network with local pet businesses (such as pet cleaning companies).
Advertising is where you’ll want to get creative. For example, you’ll probably want to include a mix of digital marketing ads and in-person ads. That could include running Facebook Ads or Google Ads for people in your area and putting up flyers in popular locations. And even better, you could go door-to-door in the neighborhoods you’d like to work with.
The idea behind your marketing is to acquire a solid client base, showcasing how and why you’re better than your competition. And the easiest way to do that is to put more effort, creativity and passion into your marketing.
08. Establish policies and procedures
Lastly, develop clear policies for scheduling, cancellations, payment and emergency situations. Moreover, create a standard contract for clients that outlines your services, responsibilities and liability limitations. While it might seem boring, setting expectations will help you avoid bad experiences and reviews from customers down the road.
Next, implement efficient systems for tracking walks, managing client information and handling finances. Standardized operating procedures will also prepare your business to scale up in case you want to hire employees.
How profitable is a dog walking business
The average dog walking company brings in $236,000 in revenue, which includes a scaled operation. The average single dog walker salary sits around $33,000 per year.
As you can see, a dog walking business can be a profitable model, especially as you build a loyal client base. Your earnings will depend on factors like location, services offered and the number of dogs you can walk. As you grow, you might want to consider expanding to pet sitting or adding employees to increase your income.
Keep in mind that your profits will also depend on how well you manage expenses. While startup costs are low, ongoing expenses like insurance, gas and supplies can add up. Your profitability will also depend on efficient scheduling (we recommend using scheduling software), competitive pricing and excellent service that keeps clients coming back.
Managing a dog-walking business effectively
Running a successful dog walking business involves more than just loving dogs. You’ll need to wear many hats—from accountant to marketer and customer service rep.
Start by creating a schedule that maximizes your time and minimizes travel between clients. That should include a reliable system to track appointments, payments and client information.
Additionally, keep your clients updated about their pets’ walks and be proactive about any issues that arise. Consider using a pet care app to streamline this process. Don’t forget about self-care, either. Dog walking can be physically demanding, so take care of your health and know your limits.
As your business grows, you might need to hire help. Choose employees carefully, ensuring they share your passion for dogs and commitment to quality service. Provide thorough training and clear guidelines to maintain your business’s reputation. That might include a pet first aid kit, poop bags and other standard operating procedures to ensure daily tasks run smoothly.
Promoting your dog walking business
Here’s a breakdown of how to market your dog walking business:
Create a website
Your website often is a potential client’s first impression of your business, so make it count! Use a user-friendly website builder like Wix to create a professional-looking site. You can also choose from several pet and animal templates to get started. Then, include clear information about your services, pricing and booking process.
Next, add a gallery of happy canine clients (with the owners’ permission) to showcase your experience. And remember to optimize your site for local searches—you want to be the first result when someone googles “dog walker near me.”
Leverage social media to gain clients
Social media is a goldmine for pet-related businesses because a funny or cute video can reach thousands of potential dog owners. Create engaging profiles on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Share cute photos and videos of your furry clients, along with helpful pet care tips. Moreover, use local hashtags to increase visibility in your area and consider running targeted ads to reach pet owners in your neighborhood.
Remember, consistency is key—regular posts keep your business top-of-mind for potential clients.
Use word-of-mouth tactics
In the pet care industry, nothing beats a personal recommendation. Encouraging satisfied clients to spread the word about your services can be the best form of marketing.
You could offer a referral discount as an incentive. Partner with local pet businesses like groomers or vets—they might be willing to recommend you to their clients.
Attend local pet events or organize your own doggy meetups to network with pet owners. Sometimes, the old-school approach of handing out business cards at the dog park can be surprisingly effective.
Successful dog-walking businesses to draw inspiration from
Promoting your pet services venture involves various aspects, from effective marketing and networking to establishing a captivating online presence. Just like these thriving pet care companies, you can create an engaging website and connect with your clients online to enhance your brand.
Walk on the Wild Side: This reputable pet care company showcases its dedication to high-quality services through a visually appealing website. They feature pictures of happy dogs on their walk, offering services ranging from 30-minute visits to hour-long sessions.
Doggone It: Offering a wide range of pet care services, Doggone It promotes their expertise online by showcasing specific service offerings and happy pets in action. Beyond dog walks, Doggone It provides pet taxi services and pet sitting.
Xtreme Dog Walking: Based on providing fun-filled adventures for your furry friends, Xtreme Dog Walking's services include two-hour outings and overnight care.
Suite Strides: Quality pet sitting and dog walking services located in the Greater Atlantic City area. This pet care business offers tailored dog walks, pet sitting, overnight boarding and professional in-home pet care.
For more inspiration, you can check out these service business examples to help you get your creative juices flowing.
How to start a dog walking business FAQ
How much should you charge to walk a dog?
Pricing for dog walking services can vary widely depending on your location, experience and the specific needs of each client. In general, rates typically range from $20 to $40 per 30-minute walk.
Additionally, you should consider these factors when choosing your pricing:
Urban areas usually command higher rates than rural areas
Early morning, late evening or weekend walks might warrant a premium rate
Discounts (such as 50% off each additional dog) for multiple dogs from the same household
Adjusted rates for longer or shorter walks
Extra charges for tasks like feeding or administering medication
Do you need insurance for dog walking?
What type of business loans can you apply for as a dog walker?
Not sure if this is the right type of business for you? You might be interested in some of these other business ideas: