Does A Dog Walking Business Appeal To You? | Dogs

By FloellaMcFee
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Introduction

The most important part of starting a business is a strong desire to the job. Are you suitable? Do you have the physical stamina for the task? However, there is more to it than simply wanting to have fun job. Basically you'll be in a service industry: is there need for it in your local area? Will there be enough work in your area to keep you fully employed? In the end nothing beats good old fashioned research! Fortunately there are plenty of trade journals and websites to help with this.

What is a Dog Walker?

It is also a good idea to define exactly what you business will do, and what exactly you will be offering your clients. For instance there is a good deal of difference between a dog walker and a pet sitter, but some activities might overlap. A dog walker takes dogs for walks, cleans up the poop when it happens during walks, and make sure that the dogs have enough to drink. Pet sitters on the other hand will not just have dogs as their charges, as they will be responsible for feeding and other domestic needs, which might also include taking a dog for a walk. Both could be required to administer meds if qualified to do so.

The Legal Side of Business

When setting up a business it best to understand the type of business that you will be running: as most dog walking business are solo affairs, then it would be wise to research being a sole proprietor. If you intending to involve anyone else then will they are a partner or an employee? What about protecting your personal assets in case of failure? In this case you might consider a Limited Liability Company. Other legal requirements might involve contacting your local authority as you may need a licence, or to register. Of course good insurance is a must.

Administration

Once you have researched your potential client base, you need to set the rates that you can charge, and how you will manage them. You can charge by the hour: divide your time into slots, which the client can purchase. This useful if a client has more than one dog that requires exercise. Other services can be added on, such cleaning up gardens of poop, or administering meds if required. Make sure that the paper work is all in order: lists of client details; contract details; payments (including your own tax); vet details. All these are vital to the successful running of a business.

Conclusion

A dog walking business is a wonderful idea for any person who is active, and hopefully, likes animals. You will be rewarded for doing a job you like and for being out and about rather than for being behind a desk. However, you should always remember that it is a business, and you should treat it as a business. You should maintain a professional manner, and be ready to fulfil all of your commitments, irrespective of other considerations such as bad weather. If you can do all of this, then you could be looking at a successful and rewarding business.

About the Author

Are you considering starting a dog walking business? Find out some of the things you should think about before starting out. If you have any dog training questions too, feel free to stop by our website.

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