How to start a dog walking and pet sitting business will guide you through to start a successful pet sitting business. 
Dog walking and pet sitting business’s are growing more popular every year.
I will explain step by step how to start a dog walking, and pet sitting business.
Anyone interested in starting a dog walking and pet sitting business should read this article.
Let’s get right to it.
1. Do you have a name for your dog walking and pet sitting business?
To start your dog walking and pet sitting business you need a name.
Try something catchy that people can easily remember.
Once you have a business name you need to register your business name in the state you live in.
First, you must do a business name search to make sure you the name is not already taken.
If the name is not in the database you should be good to go. Now you can register your business name.
The cost to register your business name is different from state to state. In the state, I live in it cost a one-time registration fee .00.
To register your business name for your dog walking and pet sitting service do a search online.
For example, if you live in California type: Register business name in California.
2. Business License
Dog walking and Pet sitting services are not all required to carry a business license.
It depends on the state you live in. I recommended obtaining a business license for your dog walking and pet sitting business.
It will show potential clients how professional you are. It may be the reason they decided to hire over someone else.
3. Bond
If you are going to have independent contractors, or hire employees. Obtaining a Bond is a must.
A Bond will protect you against employee theft. Even if you decide not to hire anyone in the beginning.
I recommend a Bond for marketing your dog walking and pet sitting business.
Most clients will feel you are a professional dog walker and pet sitter if you carry a Bond.
It will help you get clients. It is very inexpensive.
I paid .00 for a Bond that covered my dog walking business for a year.
4. Pet Sitters Insurance
You should not operate a dog walking and pet sitting business unless you carry pet sitter insurance.
If you don’t have pet sitters insurance you will be financially responsible for any accidents that happen to your clients’ pets or home.
Vet bills are extremely expensive. It could cost you thousands of dollars out of pocket for a single vet visit.
You will want to protect your dog walking and pet sitting business and carry pet sitters insurance.
Potential clients looking for a dog walker will want to know if they carry pet sitters insurance.
A dog walking and pet sitting business will be more successful with it.
5. Get a Website
The best way to advertise your dog walking and pet sitting business is through a website.
Potential clients look online for dog walking and pet sitting businesses.
If you don’t have a website online they won’t know your dog walking and pet sitting business exists.
A website is very inexpensive to host. I pay under.00 a month for my website. I receive 50% of my business, advertising my dog walking and pet sitting business online.
6. How much should I charge for a dog walking visit?
This will determine your financial success.
If you are just starting out you will want to look at your competitors, ask how much they charge for a 30 minute or 1 hour visit.
Some dog walking and pet sitting business will charge extra if they have to travel further to get to the client’s house.
I highly recommend not to travel over 5 miles from your home.
Gas is expensive and will be the most expensive part of running a dog walking and pet sitting business.
I charge .00 for a 30 minute walk. And .00 for an hour, which includes fresh water, a treat, and a detailed note about the visit.
7. How many dogs should I walk at one time?
This varies from state to state. There are laws in place for how many dogs one person can walk at one time.
I personally will not walk more than three dogs a once.
I prefer dogs to belong to the same owner.
They must all be able to walk well together.
Don’t think you can start walking five dogs from different owners in one visit. Not all dogs get along with each other.
Some dogs can even become aggressive towards each other. It is not as easy as clipping on a leash and walking.
8. Offer a free dog walking consultation.
Just about every dog walking and pet sitting business offer a free consultation.
It will give you the opportunity to meet the clients and evaluate the pets.
You need to make sure that the pets are not aggressive before you take the job.
At the consultation bring a price sheet, contract, and business cards.
9. What supplies does a dog walker need?
A dog walker needs to carry a backpack. Inside the backpack should include:
* Towel for wet or dirty paws
* Phone with clients contact information programmed in it.
* Umbrella
* Doggie bags ( for dog waste )
* Extra leashes
* Directions to vet hospital in case of emergency
Start a Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business Easily
Pet sitting and dog walking services can be the perfect way to launch a good income-producing business during tough economic times.
When start-up capital is in short supply. And you need to get going with something fast, this might just fit your needs.
Most animal lovers already take care of pets for friends and family during vacations and short trips.
So why not turn that skill and passion into the work you love to do?
While the idea of running a pet sitting business may seem like a piece of cake at first.
There is quite a bit involved with it that many people don’t think of right away.
There is much more to it than simply showing up to feed, water and walk pets.
As a pet care business, you will develop relationships with clients.
Both human and animal, that are pivotal to the success of your business. A basis of mutual trust, respect, and excellence in caregiving is necessary.
There is a need for organization, starting from the services offered and fees that will be charged, to contracts, forms. And the service area within which you will work.
Additionally, insurance, bonding, and safely carrying out duties so that pets are healthy.
As well as the home secured, are necessary factors. Protecting yourself and your clients from liabilities come not only with insurance coverage. But also in how you perform your work.
Here are the main points a new startup for pet sitting and dog walking should consider:
1. Services and Pricing.
It goes without saying that the busiest periods for a pet sitting business is the summer months and holidays.
But there is an array of services that can be offered, including daily dog walking for those with long work hours, medical problems, etc…
This can keep a pet sitting business busy during other times. The average professional pet sitter with insurance charges anywhere from -25.00 per visit to a client home for pet care.
2. Insurance and bonding.
As a professional pet sitter, securing commercial liability insurance, and when needed, a bond is essential when taking on a service that requires entering homes and working with animals.
There are pet sitting trade organizations that offer this specialized insurance through membership.
Which make this aspect of the business affordable for a new startup and for established businesses.
3. Service area.
Knowing where your service area boundaries are as a new startup is very important. And it must be determined according to your location.
A pet sitting service located in a compact, high population city is different from providing service in a rural or semi-rural area.
Even the sprawl of some suburbs and weather conditions for your part of the country can have an effect on choosing the service area you will start with.
Eventually, growth beyond the initial area can be pursued as you gain experience and are in a position to hire help.
4. Advertising and marketing.
There are numerous traditional and more innovative ways. You can get the word out about your pet sitting and dog walking business.
As a new start-up, obtaining your first clients is the most important step to growth.
Most of these early clients will serve as your initial references.
And they often provide word-of-mouth referrals to their neighbors and friends.
However, keeping your business name in front of new clients throughout the year is also important.
And the most important way to start is with a good website that can be easily found on Internet searches.
It has been recently estimated that over 80% of American households now have a computer and Internet access.
And using search engines has become the standard when looking for products and services.
A website is no longer an option, but a necessity for any business.
5. Management.
Every business has to have an organization. Whether is it scheduling services, collecting money, contracts, forms, record keeping, accounting, etc.
Pet Sitting and dog walking businesses are no different. And in fact, pet care can have some of the more complicated and changeable scheduling challenges of all.
People change their travel plans, work hours. And have sudden needs (like a death in the family) that may require last minute changes and need for service.
Having a good system in place to handle these events will go far in running a smooth and worry-free service.
Now that the essentials have been discussed.
How does one get started with a pet sitting and dog walking business?
Although a pet sitting and dog walking business can be started fast and easy. Some guidance will make you more successful.
Having the resources in one place with everything you need is hard to come by.
That’s why the Pet Sitter Boot Camp(TM) was created. A one-stop online course that gets to the core of what it takes to operate an in-home pet care business.
Everything that is relevant to a new startup is covered and included, saving loads of time and research.
Most participants are ready to start in less than a month. Even ready to use forms, contracts, how-to for conducting new client consultations, daily visit routines. Simply everything you need to know and have.
Wouldn’t it be great to have an actual pet sitting business owner to talk to?
Pet Sitter Boot Camp(TM) provides this as well. As part of your enrollment, you will have access by phone, email or chat room to your mentor for any questions and specialized guidance you need.