If you’re an animal lover, you’d probably jump at the chance to hang out with dogs all day — even if it didn’t pay a dime. However, a dog walking business offers not only the potential for unlimited canine love, but also the chance to make a decent living.
Dog walking in the U.S. is an industry valued at over $1 billion. Yet entry in this lucrative market can require as little as a leash and a comfortable pair of shoes. And once you're up and running, there’s real potential to grow your business and reap the rewards.
Sounds too good to be true? It sure isn’t. Let’s check out how you can start, maintain, and grow your very own dog walking business.
What is a dog walking business?
When busy pet owners can’t be there to provide love and care, a dog walking business can step in to provide peace of mind. These businesses help ensure dogs get the exercise, attention, and companionship they need. Some of the most common services include:
- Solo walks: For not only exercise, but one-on-one attention
- Group walks: The chance to get out for socialization with other dogs
- Pet sitting: The familiarity of in-home care while owners are away
- Puppy visits: Avoid stress and loneliness with short check-ins for young dogs
- Drop-in visits: Maintain routines like feeding, playtime, and quick walks
- Basic training: During walks, reinforce basic commands like sit, stay, and come
- Transportation: Pick-up and drop-off for vet or groomer appointments
Demand for pet care services is steady, as people can have hectic work schedules or travel frequently. As a dog-walker, your target audience includes working professionals, frequent travelers, elderly pet owners, and anyone needing extra help caring for their dogs.
How to start a dog walking business in 9 steps
You can increase the likelihood of success by taking a measured approach that covers all the bases. Let’s cruise through nine steps that can help get your dog-walking business off on the right paw.
1. Do market research
Finding the right market to launch your new business is key, as it can help ensure there’s demand for your services. For example, you might have a tough time in an area dominated by young, active people who work from home.
You also might get stuck if there’s a competing business in your market that’s more established or offers deals you can’t match. Here are a few research methods that can help:
- Surveys: Running surveys might sound highly involved, but it could be as simple as striking up conversations with people in your intended area to gauge demand for your business.
- Map data: Fire up an app like Google Maps to see which areas lend themselves to walking dogs and which places aren’t as pleasant for pooches.
- Demographic data: Sources like the U.S. Census or Zillow can reveal important information like age and income data, providing clues about who you’re marketing to.
- Competitor analysis: Put yourself in the mindset of a customer and search businesses in your area, noting the volume of competitors, and their services and pricing.
- Online reviews: Checking reviews of other businesses can let you know if you’re up against tough competition or if there are gaps in the market that you can fill.
2. Create a business plan
Whatever the scope of your business, learning how to write a business plan is essential. It’s a must if you’re seeking external funding and, even if you’re not, an important roadmap to keep your business on track. Here are a few key sections to include in your business plan:
- Mission statement: Outlines the company’s core purpose, values, and goals, guiding decision-making and communicating its vision to customers and stakeholders
- Services: Details the specific products or services offered, highlighting their features, benefits, and how they fulfill customer needs or solve problems
- Pricing: Explains your pricing strategy, including rates, rationale, and how prices compare to competitors, aligning with target market expectations and profitability goals
- Marketing strategy: Outlines how the company will attract, engage, and retain customers through the various marketing channels you determine
- Financial projections: Presents estimated income, expenses, and profitability, showing the company’s financial health and guiding business decisions
3. Define your services or offerings
We’ve already covered the basic services a dog-walking business should offer, but don’t stop there. You can differentiate yourself from the competition through niche services that support your brand. Here are a few thought starters:
- Custom walk lengths: Options might include brief potty outings for older dogs and epic journeys for more active pups
- Special food: Finicky eaters or pets with special dietary requirements receive the nutrition they’re used to
- Adventure walks: Longer, scenic walks or hikes in local parks or nature trails for extra exercise and stimulation
- Dog jogging: Higher-energy outings for athletic dogs who need vigorous exercise and a longer duration of exercise
- Medication administration: Gently giving medications or special care during walks for dogs with health needs.
4. Set pricing and create a financial plan
To set your pricing, start by researching local competitors and consider any differentiators that make you a top choice. Next, calculate all your costs, including supplies like leashes and waste bags, transportation, and other business expenses (e.g,. insurance, professional invoicing).
These calculations will let you create a simple budget by estimating your expected monthly income and subtracting your monthly expenses. Ideally, it’ll help you set profitable rates, manage cash flow, and plan for growth.
The table below is an example of what all this number-crunching might yield:
| Service | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo walk | 30 minutes | $30 | Exercise and one-on-one attention |
| Group walks | 30 minutes | $20 | Socialization with other dogs |
| Pet sitting | 1 day/overnight | $150 | In-home care |
| Puppy visits | 15 minutes | $20 | Short check-ins for young dogs |
| Drop-in visits | 15 minutes | $20 | Routines like feeding, playtime and quick walks |
| Transportation | 1 mile | $5 | Pick-up and drop-off |
| Specialty/Add-ons |
|---|
| Administer medication — $10 |
| Basic training — $10 (during walks) |
| Special feeding — $5 (during pet sitting, must provide food) |
5. Register your business and handle legal requirements
As with most businesses, there will be some legal requirements you need to check off before you’re off and running. If you have any questions or doubts, it’s best to seek professional guidance. But, from a high level, here are a few items you’ll need to address:
- Register your business: Choose and register a business structure (like sole proprietorship or LLC) with your state and obtain a federal EIN if needed. If you’re wondering how to start an LLC, be sure to check out GoDaddy Airo™.This AI experience is included when you register a domain name with GoDaddy and can get you started with free LLC registration.
- Local requirements: Check your city or county for any required business licenses or permits specific to pet services. These might include restrictions on the number of animals you can house, or pet-specific rules from local health authorities.
- Get insured: Be sure to get solid liability insurance to protect against accidents or injuries involving dogs in your care, and consider bonding for additional client reassurance. This will likely be something your potential clients will prioritize.
- Business-specific rules: Review local ordinances regarding leash laws, pet waste disposal, and the maximum number of dogs allowed per walk to ensure compliance. In some areas, you might even find noise restrictions, making them less than ideal spots to take vocal canines.
6. Set up your operations
Now that you’ve covered much of the groundwork, it’s time to look at how you’ll set up day-to-day operations. Your needs will likely change as your business evolves, but let’s look at a few of the things that will help with a solid foundation:
Scheduling platform
You’ll need a way for your clients to book appointments. This might be manageable the old-school way, with phone calls and a notebook, but that doesn’t support scalability. Take a look at GoDaddy Website Builder, which lets your clients seamlessly book online.
Managing clients
It’ll help a lot if you maintain a list of clients that includes their names, pets, and contact information. The most straightforward way to keep track of this information might be keeping it all on a spreadsheet.
Setting policies
You might face some tricky situations, such as last-minute cancellations or aggressive pets. Make sure to consider these scenarios and have rules in place that you can share with clients ahead of time, avoiding any conflict or confusion.
Find a suitable location
Have a solid plan for where you’ll operate. If you’re pet sitting, consider whether it’ll be at your location or the client’s. Similarly, map out good routes for the walks you offer so you can provide a dependable, consistent experience.
Get equipment and supplies
One of the more substantial investments in your new business will be equipment like leashes, waste bags, safety gear, and payment systems, which can offer convenient options, including tap to pay and pay links.
7. Build your brand and online presence
At its most basic, your brand lets people know they’ve found your business. But more effective branding can help you stand out in a crowded market and reach your target audience.
Start by choosing a memorable business name that reflects your services and appeals to pet owners. With your creative juices flowing, create a business logo to anchor a recognizable visual identity. You’ll also need to create a website to showcase your services and display your rates and contact information.
Finally, use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase happy clients, share updates, and engage with your local community to attract and retain dog-walking customers.
8. Market your business and acquire clients
Marketing is an ongoing effort that aims to attract new clients and keep existing ones excited about your business. There are a few methods — or “marketing channels” — that have proven their effectiveness over the test of time:
- Email: Sign up for a professional business email plan, and then curate a list of email addresses to contact (make sure you get permission). Consider sending messages when you’re running specials, celebrating holidays or just enjoying walking weather.
- Flyers: Once you design and print flyers highlighting the awesome things about your business, start handing them out to passersby. You could also get permission to leave your flyers at a high-traffic establishment like a coffee shop or bar.
- Social media: Everyone loves dog pictures. Share them on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. You could also create short videos for YouTube that show funny or adorable moments with your canine clients.
- Partnerships: Keep an eye out for other local businesses in the pet industry that you could partner with. For example, a local groomer might offer a discount for customers who also book your services, and vice versa.
- Word-of-mouth: Encourage your clients to leave positive comments and reviews on your online profiles. You should also ask them to refer friends and family when they’ve had an outstanding experience with your business.
- Promotions: Folks love a discount, so get creative with promotions and special offers. You might offer discounts for multiple walks booked in advance, or create packages of complementary services.
9. Track progress and scale
Putting numbers to your success will help you scale by identifying areas where you excel and those where you should focus your attention to make improvements. There are a vast number of metrics you could potentially measure, but these are a great starting point:
- Number of clients: Tally up the number of clients who regularly use your services. Revisit this number at key points, such as year over year or month over month, and after events like promotions or email campaigns.
- Revenue growth rate: Measuring the movement of your total cash intake can yield many insights, such as your market share and the overall size of your business.
- Net profit margin: This metric will show your overall profitability and give you an idea of how efficient your operation is. To calculate it, subtract your expenditures on this like equipment and marketing from your overall revenue.
- Social media audience: Checking how many followers you’ve gained or lost will let you know how well your marketing works. Growth might suggest you’re on the right track, while losses might signal it’s time for a new approach.
- Website metrics: The performance of your website can closely align with the success of your business. Get started with website analytics by checking this handy beginner’s guide.
Start a dog walking business FAQ
You're probably excited to get started with your dog walking business. But in case you have any lingering questions, here are some answers,
How much to charge for a 30-minute walk?
A good rule of thumb for pricing is $1 per minute, or $30 for a 30-minute walk. Keep in mind, this pricing could fluctuate based on your location, market, and any related services your clients add.
What qualifications do I need to be a dog walker?
Physical fitness, reliability, and compassion are all key qualifications. It will also help if you develop some business acumen and online savvy, and creativity for marketing efforts, website design, and branding.
What is the 5-second rule for walking dogs?
It’s very important to check if a dog can safely walk on a surface that might be too hot or cold. Place your hand on the surface you intend for the walk, and if you can’t comfortably hold it there for five seconds, it’s not safe for the dog.
