Does A Dog Walking Business Appeal To You?

June 7, 2008 – 8:39 am
by Floella McFee

Introduction

If you are the sort of person who actively likes being with dogs, but are unhappy with the sort of line of work that you are in maybe it’s time to combine an activity that you love with a way of earning money! One of the simplest ways of doing this is to start a dog walking business. If you are unsure of what all this would entail then as with any business, it requires research: fortunately there are plenty of pet trade magazines and website that can help with this side of things.

What is a Dog Walker?

The answer to this question is unsurprisingly simple: a dog walker walks dogs. There are a myriad of reasons why dog owners cannot find time to do this themselves: busy lifestyles, ill-health, even disabilities may prevent owners from personally exercising their dog. However, it is easy to confuse a pet sitter with a dog walker: a pet sitter’s responsibilities usually are much wider including feeding, administering medication and attending to a pet’s general house needs. A pet sitter’s clients will not just be dogs: their charges could include cats, rabbits, birds, in fact anything that is kept as a pet.

The Legal Side of Business

A business, no matter how much fun, is still a business, and the legal side will also require attention. The type of business structure you intend to use needs to be researched, whether Sole Proprietor, or Limited Liability (which will protect your personal assets in the event of failure), it’s an important decision! Other areas to investigated are the legal requirements of you local area: you may need a licence, or to register your business. Of course good insurance cover should never be overlooked.

Administration

Any business will generate admin. This will involve contracts with you clients; reports on what your doing; a register of client details; vet details and pet care information; tax details. The most important are the rates you charge for your services. This can be dependant on the area where your clients live as well as what you will include in your service: for example, would you be qualified to administer meds? Therefore look at what client would require a dog walker and sort out the rates accordingly.

Conclusion

A dog walking business is a great idea for any individual who is fit, and hopefully, likes dogs. You will paid for doing a job you enjoy and for being in the fresh air. However, it is a business, and you should treat it as such. You should also adopt a professional attitude, and be prepared to fulfil all of your commitments, irrespective of the weather or your own circumstances. So, if you can do all of this, you could be looking at a successful and enjoyable business.

About the Author:
Are you thinking about starting a dog walking business? Find out some of the things you should think about before starting out. If you have any dog or puppy training questions too, feel free to stop by our blog.

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