Steps To Start A Dog Walking Business

My nephew Satya who lives in Cleveland is very fond of pets and has a passion to care for animals; he also wanted to start a dog walking business like his friend Mohan. A dog walking business can be a very profitable and satisfying business for the right people.

Dog walking business requires not only a love for dogs, but also a love to be outdoors, no matter the weather. You should enjoy working alone and on details and it requires the same diligence as any other small business. You have to ensure the dog walking business is for you and take the proper steps to be successful in the business.

Steps to make your dog walking both lucrative and satisfying:

The first step:   

Research on dog walking businesses in the area.   Conduct a research by checking up with pet groomers and pet shops if there is sufficient demand for dog walking business. It would also help to check in newspaper and Craigslist ads to assess the level of competition, so as to avoid disappointment later if there is less demand and a keen competition.  

The second step: 

As a next step it would help to volunteer walking dogs of your local humane society or a pet shelter; this would help you gain experience from large untrained dogs to small, overactive breeds and give you a good idea if this business is for you.

The third step:

First consider pet sitting to a full-fledged dog walking business; do not leave your full time job and lose your current income, but start on pet sitting first. This will give you an opportunity to gain experience and also advertise your name. If you are unemployed or only work part time, it may make sense to start a dog walking business. Start off with a newspaper ad, some photocopied fliers and perhaps a free ad in Craigslist.

The fourth step:  

Find out from your county clerk's office if you need a business license; it is quite possible that since you will not have customers in your home, nor sell anything except your time, a license may not be required. Consider obtaining pet sitter and dog walker insurance once you begin getting many clients. 

The fifth step:

Find out the charges from other dog walkers in your area. You could easily charge $10 to $15 for a half hour and $20 to $30 for a full hour depending on the area.

The sixth step: 

Establish a company name and design a logo to use on business cards, fliers and a website. Market your business by posting your fliers on neighborhood bulletin boards, at pet stores, groomers, veterinarians and grocery stores. Ensure that your website or brochure includes your biography and reasons for becoming a dog walker.

The seventh step:

Write a brief and effective standard contract stating all terms like days, times and rates; it should also contain a disclaimer saying the owner must provide, up-to-date vaccinations, appropriate ID (tags and/or microchip) and be responsible for any property damage.

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