June 7, 2008

A Dog Walking Business Could Be The Answer For You

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?

Qualify what a dog walker does. Do you know? For example there is a great deal of difference between a pet sitter and a dog walker. Pet sitter responsibilities are based around the general domestic needs of a wide variety of species: not just dogs. A pet sitter might be required to feed, administer medication and keep the pet happy. A dog walker simply walks dogs, and cleans-up the poop of the canines in their charge. Watering and maybe administering meds can also be part of the remit.

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 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 training questions too, feel free to stop by our blog.