How to Start a Dog Walking Business

If you're good with animals and want to be your own boss, you should consider starting a dog walking business. These days many pet lovers are running successful dog walking businesses.

It's obvious that the pre-requisite for starting a dog walking business is to have a lot of knowledge about dogs. It's not so obvious that having a lot of knowledge about dog owners is a key to success.

Starting this kind of venture is not as simple as it seems. So if you think all you have to do is put the pooch on a leash and walk him on the sidewalk, think again. It takes a fair amount of work and skill to run a flourishing dog walking venture as it would with any other business.


How Much Can You Make Walking Dogs?

Before starting this dog walking business, you need to make an estimation of how much you expect to earn. Dog walking can be a real money-maker. On an average, a dog walker makes anything from $15 to $35 per half hour per dog. So, imagine the kind of money you'll make if you walk two dogs or more at the same time. But all this requires meticulous planning and attention to detail or your business may fail.


Whose Dogs Will You Walk?

The first thing to do is identify your market. Figure out where your potential customers are located. Some will be regulars who are busy at work and hence require the services of a dog walker. Some of these workers may have to stay at the office some nights, so offering early evening walks may get you some extra dog walks.

There will be other dog owners who will only require your services during holidays, like Christmas and Easter. So make an educated guess about who your prospective customers are, where they are located, and what they need.


Other Dog Walkers - The Competition

The next step is to check out the competition. You can do all this by going online and conducting a quick search, or by browsing local publications (phonebooks, or your local weekly magazine, or weekly newspapers). If you can, call these competitors, pretending you're a dog owner looking for dog walking services, and ask about their rates, their terms, and how many "other" clients they have.

If you really have a lot of competition, consider offering your services to a few owners for just a few weeks in turn for their testimonials and references. That way you'll have numbers on hand to give out when people ask for references - and most people will ask for references. After all, they're probably going to be giving you a key to their house, and they are entrusting you with their "best friend".

The more you can present yourself as trustworthy (and prove it on paper), the easier it will be to get clients. Just be sure you get enough references so you're not having prospective clients call anyone more than once a week - if you start becoming a pest, your references may become more of a hindrance than a help.


Dog Walking Business Startup Costs

Next you have to outline the costs to get your business underway. The best part about a dog walking business is that the initial outlay is negligible as compared to any other business. Your expenses will mainly be in the form of business cards, groomers etc. Always provide for contingencies so that you don't bust your budget when things don't go as planned. And consider getting some business insurance... crazy things can happen on a dog walk.

You also have to get yourself acquainted with the nitty-gritty of dog care such as how to walk dogs, how to do basic dog training and how to collect poop. You'll also need to procure a license to start and run your business. You might want to enroll with a professional pet care organization to interact with other dog walkers and get updated on the latest fads and advancements in pet care.


Advertising Your Dog Walking Business

The most crucial thing in getting your business going is advertising. You'll have to advertise as aggressively as possible. Distribute your business cards to vets, stores that supply doggy stuff and your friends. Also, you can get a listing in one of the local directories or pet magazines since they are frequently referred to by pet owners when looking for a dog walker. If you have the resources, you could create a website to display all your services and their rates.

Promotions also form a critical part of your marketing strategy. Offer discounts to elderly and handicapped individuals. If you like you can expand your dog walking services to include other associated services like mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage etc.

Prepare a service agreement that includes details like the name of the pet, the dates or a specific time-frame that you'll walk the pet, the kinds of services that you specialize in, the rates per half hour and other things you want to mention. Get the agreement signed by the pet owner and then you counter-sign it.

These are a few fundamentals to get your dog walking business started. Besides, you'll also need to stock up on some essentials like leashes, bags to collect poop, and treats to reward good behavior. Keep a pepper spray handy in case you're harassed by strays. Don't forget to carry a small first aid kit just in case.