How to Get Insurance for Your Dog Walking Business
Dog walking general liability insurance will protect you if anything goes seriously wrong on a dog walk.
Even if you're always aware of your surroundings and in control of the dog or dogs you're walking, its still
possible to get into trouble on rare occassions.
Dog walking insurance will protect you from getting sued or
being held responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damages in case the worst case scenario happens.
Even if nothing ever goes wrong, just having insurance will make most dog owners take a sigh of relief and
trust you a lot more than they otherwise would. As a result, you'll more business, and you'll get business from
owners who trust you more from the start and who are more likely to pay premium prices for your dog walking services.
Getting General Liability Insurance in the United States
The best place to get dog walking insurance in the United States is Pet Sitters Associates.
Don't worry that they say "pet sitters", not dog walking. They offer insurance for both, and as your business grows, taking
on some pet sitting work can become an excellent addition to dog walking. Their insurance policy also covers other services
like pet transportation and poop scooping.
You can become a member of Pet Sitters Associates and get your general liability insurance for just $174 per year. That $174 does not cover insurance
that protects to pet owner's property (in case you and Fluffy accidently break a $10,000 antique desk on your way out of the hall) - to
get that extra insurance is $100 a year. Its still a great deal, and once you're a member you'll be able to use their logo on your
marketing materials, which helps get more business.
You can also add your spouse or an employee or an independent contractor to the insurance policy for an extra $80 a year, and if your
business is a partnership, LLP, LLC or a corporation, you can add it as a member and insured for no extra cost. There is a $500 deductible
if you voluntarily release a dog in your "care, custody or control" from its lease and something goes wrong anywhere but in the confined premises
of the pet's owner's residence or your residence. If the dog gets away from you accidentally, there is no deductible. If the dog gets into
trouble in your car, you're covered unless the dog was not confined in some way, either by being in a crate, or at least being on a leash.
Pet Sitters
also just added a "Pet Care Bond" if you buy their "Special Property of Others" coverage. The Pet Care Bond covers independent
contractors and employees for up to $10,000 per incident or $25,000 total per year if a client's personal property is stolen from
their home by one of your employees or incidental helpers. The bond coverage only applies to criminal acts, but there doesn't have to
be a criminal conviction for the act to qualify as a crime.
If you've got even a
little bit of cash to get yourself started in the dog walking business, Pet Sitters Associates is an excellent investment.
MORE DOG WALKING ARTICLES:
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
Dog Walking for Children and Teens
Dog Walking Services: Dogs' Day Out
Be the Best Dog Walker in Your Town
How to Handle Aggressive Dogs
How to Get a Dog Walking Job
Dog Walking Franchises
Additional Dog Services to Offer
Walking Puppies
How to Advertise and Promote a Dog Walking Business
How to Get Insurance for Your Dog Walking Business
How to Get Experience with Dog Walking and Dog Training
Pricing Your Dog Walking Services
Would You Make a Good Dog Walker? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Out
How To Interview Clients: The Owners and Their Dogs
Dog Training Basics Every Dog Walker Must Know: Dog Walkers' Obedience Training
Dog Walking Safety Tips
Dog Walking Etiquette
Dog Walking Flyers
Dog Walking Business Names