Dog owners will want to thoroughly vet you before hiring you. To avoid the costs associated with hiring employees, many dog walking business owners hire individuals as freelancers. Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office, Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in, Set up a system of policies and procedures and stick with them, Understand the risks of being a professional dog-walker, Research the safest dog walking areas in each part of town, Avoid dog parks, as they’re prime spaces for aggressive dog behavior, Carry a canister of citronella spray at all times. There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. Today's post is all about selling your pet sitting or dog walking business… This is a great introductory post to starting a business in dog walking! Learn about salaries, benefits, salary satisfaction and where you could earn the most. However, if you’re up to the challenge, a dog breeding business can be quite rewarding – financially and personally. Business insurance is crucial for dog walkers since you’d want to limit your liability … To start a pet sitting business, start by researching your local licensing requirements since you may need a license or permit to watch other people's pets. A dog walking business can be an inexpensive business to get started, if you get a good plan and strategy in place from the start. Be prepared with personal references and recommendations, even if they aren’t pet-related. For a dog walking business, it may be possible to operate as a sole proprietor or, if more than one person is involved, as a partnership. If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Instagram: @lovelaughplaypetminding / Image via Instagram.com . Make sure you have a customer base big enough to sustain your business. Written by a dog-walking pioneer, this book provides all the information anyone would need to start up his or her own dog walking business. These costs will vary depending upon your location and how wide of an area you serve. It's entirely possible to start a dog walking or pet sitting business with nothing more than a cell phone, computer, printer, and some poop bags! They’ve hired you to ensure their pets are well cared for, so it’s important to prove your value with each visit. If you’re dreaming big, another option is to set up dog walking services nationally. Start a dog walking business by following these 9 steps: You have found the perfect business idea, and now you are ready to take the next step. Examples of these additional services will be provide in a later section of this article. Other highly rated courses include the Think Dog! The bulk of your budget will go towards fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and insurance. You can start an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire a Business Formation Service for a small additional fee. US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources. Anyone that owns a dog and works outside of the home regularly stands to benefit from your services. Setting up the business, creating a plan, and then working hard to keep the business going are important steps in creating a successful and ongoing enterprise. Now she manages a team of four walkers. … If you love pets, this is the startup business idea for you. Just be sure to set aside a portion of your budget for “employee” background checks, as this will prove to be an important component to your organization’s long-term success. You should be detail oriented, organized, and have strong interpersonal skills. If this isn’t your strong suit, many marketing companies offer basic packages starting around $50 per month. If you’re not sure you want to start your own dog walking business, you have other options. for Pet Sitters, Department of Homeland Security: Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, SBA.gov: Register your Fictitious or “Doing Business As” (DBA) Name, IRS.gov: Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center, Florida Department of State – Divisions of Corporations: Fictitious Name Registration, I-9 Employment Eligibility: Independent Contractors and Subcontractors. When starting a dog-walking business, you need to set aside time and money to market it. SBA’s page on how to start a business is a great resource to use before taking any crucial steps with a small business. Check out our How to Start a Business page. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Dog Walking Business Name Generator. The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need. It's entirely possible to start a dog walking or pet sitting business with nothing more than a cell phone, computer, printer, and some poop bags! If you want to start a pet sitting business in Florida, you must get a business license from the Florida Division of Corporations. Kylie's story: An established business . On average, professionals charge $15- $17 for a 15 - 20 minute walk and $18 - $22 for a 30 - 40 minute walk. Dog owners will want to know how much you charge for dog walking, so it’s a good idea to research what other dog … Start a website for your dog walking business and open accounts on Facebook and Twitter to promote yourself. A sample contract can be found here. Visit our DBA guide to learn more. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss. Your clients are hiring you to care for their furry “children,” so it’s critical that you hire only the best. If you plan on marketing your business with signs around your community, you must get a signage permit from your county. Dog walking business opportunities. Recommended: Read our guide to find the best small business credit cards. Additionally, learning how to build business credit can help you get credit cards and other financing in your business's name (instead of yours), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more. Most importantly, show them why/how your services stand out above the competition. Every client will have a different routine, and every dog … General Considerations. The … Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your dog walking business when you sign up for their premium membership. There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. A vast majority of those canines are left alone each day as their parents go to work. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage. Learn how to start your own Dog Training Business … For a 40 - 60 minute walk, you could charge between $22 and $27. A few important topics to consider are: Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you. You need to establish your canine business plan … Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. The sitter takes dogs out for walks, feeds them and provides them with water. I should do that too!” kinds of things. Remember, you’ll be spending each day with animals, but your clients are the dog owners. Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. Owning a hot dog cart can be a very fun and rewarding business. Dog Walking does not require a "trade" business license, but most states will require you to register your business with the state (DBA=Doing business as). Who Should Start a Dog Walking Business. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors. Be patient. In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. If you have people working for you in your pet sitting business, you must complete employee authorization checks with the U.S. #1 Pet Sitters Get Burned Out When Starting a Pet Sitting Business: A lot of people start out because they love the pets. The International Association of Canine Professionals, Professional advice on being a successful dog walker, Website - make sure your site is informative and that customers have the ability to make appointments online, Attorney services to assist you in writing a contract to be signed by each new client. In this article we’ll outline everything you need to know to start a successful dog walking business. So if you decide that you want to start a dog walking business, then sit down and map it out! Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Many professional dog walkers offer additional services to increase their company’s profits. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant. Costs to start a pet care business: LLC or DBA — $10 to $500+ One of the first steps to becoming a business … This name will stand out above the rest. A business may be located in a home or in a commercial space, or a trainer may go to clients’ homes. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. As of this article's publication, Florida has no license requirements for pet sitting services other than the standard business registration license. You may be excited to start a business that’s so much fun, but keep in mind that like all businesses, a dog walking service will require some hard work. Choose a Smart Name for Your Dog Walking Business. Get more ideas with our Business Ideas Generator. Safer than pepper spray, it will spray 10-12 feet and will deter 95% of approaching animals, Join a professional organization and become certified in pet first aid. Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. Tips for Running a Dog Breeding Business Successfully. Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank, credit union, business-loan friendly banks, one with many brick-and-mortar locations, and more. It also makes accounting and tax filing easier. Tice launched her dog walking business, Boston for the Dogs, four years ago. But they love the pets so much that they care more about the pets than themselves and their business. Exact figures will vary depending upon how much you’re able to charge and how many canines you’re able to walk each day. If your client requires late night or early evening walks, many dog walkers charge an additional fee of $5 per dog. Regardless of how big or small you desire to be, you’ll need to perform a background check on each new team member. Business name search. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing. This is a physically demanding job and often requires you to work inconsistent hours. Even though getting your dog walking business started may seem like a … Unlike most startup businesses, your initial investment is fairly small. If you are opening a pet sitting business in Florida, you must contact the Divisions of Corporations, which is a subdivision of the Florida Department of State. This department is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It can also lead to a full-time career if that is what you desire. Learn about the business of dog walking. As your local business grows, you could begin to build a team, with each member targeting a specific part of town. Kylie Bennett established her business, Love Laugh Play, in June 2012. Best of all, aside from being fun, a dog walking business is relatively easy to start. You need to do some research first, including the expenses and income you would need to consider for the first year. Before getting started, be sure you’re ready to take this on. Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our article, What is an EIN?. You'd definitely want to have enough clients in close proximity so you could take a number of dogs out for a walk at once, rather than cycling through them one at a time. How to Start a Mobile Food Cart Business in Florida. You covered a lot of important topics, and I’m glad you make it clear that it’s not just one of those “I like walking dogs! If you love pets, this is the startup business idea for you. When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking: It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does. Now she manages a team of four walkers. Challenges of Starting a Dog Walking Business. Let’s assume they’re able to walk sixteen dogs per day and work five days per week. Upon opening your business, issue a press release to local papers announcing your grand opening. Every client will have a different routine, and every dog will have a different need. If you are the top dog walker in the area, you likely know the top massage therapist, car detailer and pool cleaner. If you love dogs, a dog walking business may be the perfect opportunity for you. Tice launched her dog walking business, Boston for the Dogs, four years ago. Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You. Before you start your dog walking business, you need to make a business plan. Get some knowledge of the most popular dog breeds and their particular … It can also be very lucrative. Network with pet stores, veterinarians, and dog groomers in the area. You can also use social media to attract new clients or customers. Dogs Go Walking 11547 66th Place N. West Palm Beach, FL 33411 (964) 260-4304 www.dogsgowalking.com. Building a successful dog walking business can be tough. 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