Anyone run a dog walking business?

[detoxdiva]

Thinking of expanding my daily dog walks into a business opportunity and wondered if there were any success stories or otherwise out there?

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Any of the weekend crew have experience?

I don't run one but have used one. Don't suppose thats much help though is it?

How much did you pay and how often did you use them? Any feedback from an owners point of view?

Our council are trying to ban professional 'multi' dog walkers from public fields. Not sure if this would effect your plans? (but maybe you 1-1 walk)

We use one because they run a pet sitting service. When we are away she comes into our cat twice a day and charges £8 a day. Actually it's more like 4 time as she pops in to let her out on her way passed to muck out her horse then gets her back in one her way back and the same again in the evening. One happy cat not stressed by a cattery and much cheaper.

I know the person I use only walks one dog at a time and uses this as a sales benefit she charges about £12 per hour.

We have used several and pay between 10 and 13 pounds (Midlands). Before I went part time, we used them 5 days a week to do a lunchtime walk for our dog. We pay the same whether she is walked with other dogs or alone. I have no problem with her walking with other dogs with ours, as I know my dog prefers this. From what I can tell, to make the business model work, you need to do small pet visiting and pet sitting in your or the clients house, on top of the daily dog walks. One of our lovely walkers has struggled to make it work and at one point had to take another part time job. Good luck! I looked into it when I got made redundant but couldn't make the maths work for us.