Dog walking/pet sitting business

[StathamsSopranino]

Hello!
I’m really keen to start up my own dog walking/pet sitting business. I have qualifications in animal management and whilst I know I could do the ‘work’ - I have absolutely no idea about what’s involved in starting up something like this and how I even begin to get myself out there with it! Are there any dog walkers/pet sitters out there who would be able to help and give me some invaluable info on things I need to consider?! I know I’d need public liability insurance but what else?!

I also have no idea about if/when I’d need to register as self employed, pay tax etc. Seriously, I’m completely clueless (as you can probably tell) but I really want to do it! I’ve already put it off for many years as I just haven’t felt confident about the ‘business’ side of things, but this year I really want to try and make it happen, otherwise I know I never will.

If anyone out there can give me any advice/words of wisdom etc at all on how to go about things and what I need to do to get started I’d be extremely grateful!!!

You need to register as self employed within 3 months iirc. Once you have informed HMRC, either over the phone or online, they will inform you of when your tax returns are due. The online self-assessments are easy, but if you struggle, give them a call and they can help talk you through everything. In the first year or so, you're unlikely to earn enough to put you over threshold unless you live in an area with lots of dogs and no dog walkers.
Regarding finding customers, getting the word out on social media is a good start. Posting in local business groups, take advantage of vistaprint offers for business cards and post through doors locally.
It's tempting to try and price yourself lower than competitors, but doing so is the best way of going out of business. Ensure you offer a reasonable price, and be firm on your conditions. (example, I never walk more than one dog at a time, unless they are from the same household. I lose a lot of customers with undersocialised dogs because they can't understand why I won't walk their dog with one belonging to another client.) Make potential clients aware of the benefits of using you rather than someone else without putting them down.
But most of all, good luck!

Good advice as above, also if you are doing home boarding you need to apply for a animal boarding establishment licence from your council. Check all the regulations first though. If not you can still provide holiday care but in their home with late calls and early mornings then throughout the day, I know people would use that but I wouldn't personally for my dog I like her to stay at someone's house.

A website is good, you can provide testimonials and information about yourself people need to trust you, its the most important things in their lives, their pets and their home.

Good luck!

Thank you so much to you both for your invaluable advice! I really appreciate it.

So as I understand it I can ‘test the waters’ and see how it goes for 3 months without having to register with HMRC or worry about anything from a legal perspective?

I totally agree re getting a website and getting some testimonials... Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent free/cheap website builder? And yes, I think social media is probably the best place to start to try and get myself out there! And posting business cards through doors is a fantastic idea!

Can I also ask - how do you transport the dogs you walk? I just have a bog standard peugout 206! Do I need to get a dog cage to put in? And/or some kind of travel harnesses? I can’t afford to get a proper van (yet) - much as I’d like to! I’d also plan on only walking one dog/dog household at a time! So wouldn’t be transporting loads of dogs at the same time.

I guess I’m just trying to work out what I’ll need to purchase/organise in terms of ‘startup costs’ before I start trying to promote myself. I want to make sure I do everything right! I know public liability insurance is an absolute must. Anything else that’s absolutely essential from the get go?

Gaaah, I have so many silly little questions that keep popping into my head and I get conflicting answers when I try researching!

Thanks again though, you’ve both been so helpful! I didn’t think I’d get any responses.

A good free website builder is Wix (used them myself).
Regarding transport of pets, for me, it depends on location. Some clients live near suitable areas for walking and others don't. For those I need to take to a suitable area, I use a harness, but it is more personal choice. I currently don't have masses of space for a crate without putting back seats down. Harnesses also mean I can get the lead on the dog while they are still secure in the car.
I am saving to get a small van converted to a dog van (friend's father is looking for a suitable small van to convert). Another thing to remember is, using your own vehicle, to inform your insurers (if it isn't already on your policy) that it's going to be used for business purposes too.

You'll need:

• Transportation & crates to do that.
• Decent handling gear - clients don't always have appropriate walking gear and you might end up struggling.
• Public liability insurance.
• if you're pet sitting then you'll need to be able to separate problematic animals, so you'll probably need several crates.
• So many treats as bribes for potentially difficult doggos ;)
• All the dog poo bags ever because clients will assume you carry them.
• Make sure any clients you take on have had their dogs vaccinated and are up to date with them.

That's just off the top of me head. There's probably more but I'm a night owl and it's almost time for me to fall into my coffin. 🦇

Also SO MANY TOWELS.

'specially in wet seasons and there is MUD. Oh god the mud..

Hello I brought your doggo back and she is wearing the latest in mud..

I mean it's a fantastic look, but imagine returning doggo to their owner and the inside of your car being decorated tastefully with paw prints and mud bombs.

My friend has just set up, its cost about £10000. Dog van, hers is an ex policedog van, towels, bowls, leads, portable dog shower, extra washing machine and tumble dryer for dirty towels and bedding, bedding, cages, kennel with run, first aid course, insurance, advertising. Its a lot to think about and do but she loves her new job.

I don't know if it's any help getting the perspective of a pet sitting customer but here we go...

I use a pet sitting service and she's utterly amazing. She has a van with numerous crates secured in it. She picks my dog up at about 9am and returns him at about 4.30pm. He's been for a couple of walks in that time and is in her house for the rest of the time.

She charges £10 per day and £10 per night if he needs to board with her. She will bath him before he comes home if he's particularly muddy but this costs an extra £10 (I've never used this service!). She's also recently qualified in dog grooming so once every couple of months I pay her £30 for him to be fully clipped.

She's truly amazing and more interested in dogs than humans if you know what I mean!

She texts me at the end of the month with his bill and I do a bank transfer. She does do paper bills of her clients want it broken down by week.

We have to give 24 hours notice if he's not going to her on one of his regular days. We don't pay if we've given more notice, so for example if I'm home for half term he doesn't go to her and we don't pay.

I truly couldn't ask for anything more from her and trust her completely.

Dogs must be suitably restrained in a car, see this

www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/news/48-of-uk-dog-owners-could-be-breaking-the-law

Wow, thanks so much everyone for all the amazing advice and guidance! I can’t tell you how helpful you’ve all been. And it’s definitely massively beneficial to hear from a customers perspective - so thank you!

Right, I guess I just need to actually get some things in motion now, make a start with it and see where it takes me...

I knew MN would be able to help me! Thanks again so much to you all.

Good luck!!

I have run a dog walking/sitting business for years. Never had a van. I use the family SUV with appropriate guards, I have one crate and use doggie seatbelts. You'll need Business insurance on your car if you're going to use your own.
I have a facebook site which is the most popular, as I take photos of the dogs daily and post up where they've been and with whom etc - the clients love this ;)
I use Cliverton brokers for my public liability, they're great.
I only take well bahaved dogs, in small groups that get on well together and charge £11 per walk. Hope that helps! Good luck xx

Check out the local competition first.

What services do they provide?

Is there a gap that you might fill?

Would you consider house sitting (so looking after the house and the pets when owners go away)? Lots of people don't want to use kennels and I reckon your animal management qualifications would really be a draw in that situation.

I have a friend who does a cleaning and dog walking combination. Her time is split into 3 hour blocks - so 2 hours cleaning and then one hour dog walking in the morning. And then another 2 hours cleaning and one hour dog walking with another client in the afternoon.

She is very much in demand, has a long waiting list and it fits in with her family. She doesn't work weekends.