How to start a dog walking business from scratch

Step-by-step

1

Decide your offer: solo walks, group walks, or both

Group walks (3–6 dogs at once) are the highest-earning model for solo dog walkers — you charge each owner £10–£15, walk for an hour, and earn £40–£90 in 60 minutes of work. Solo walks (one dog at a time) pay better per dog but limit you to a few clients per day. Most successful dog walkers do a mix: group walks at midday (the peak time when most working owners need them) and solo walks early morning or late afternoon for puppies, anxious dogs, or premium clients who want one-on-one attention.

2

Get insurance and basic legal setup

Get specialist pet business insurance — typically £80–£200/year covering public liability, care/custody/control of dogs, and key cover for client homes. In the UK try Cliverton or Pet Business Insurance; in the US most general business insurers offer dog walking-specific policies. Register as a sole trader (UK: free with HMRC online, 10 minutes) or LLC (US: $50–$200). Some areas require additional licences for walking more than 3 dogs at once — check your local council. Optional but valuable: get pet first aid certified (£60–£150 online course) — owners specifically look for this.

3

Set your pricing

Research your market — Google '[your city] dog walker prices' and check Bark, Tailster, Rover. Typical UK pricing: solo walk £12–£18 for 30 min, £15–£25 for 60 min; group walk £10–£15 per dog for 60 min. Typical US pricing: $20–$35 for 30 min solo walk; $15–$25 per dog for group walks. Pet sitting and home visits typically pay £15–£25 per visit. Don't undercharge — owners trust expensive dog walkers more than cheap ones because they're trusting you with their family member.

4

Buy minimum equipment

A few decent leads with two-handle/double-clip options for handling multiple dogs (£40–£80). Slip leads as backup (£10–£15 each). A waist belt with poo bag dispenser and treat pouch (£20–£30). High-vis vest for winter walks (£15). Reliable waterproofs for yourself (£100–£200). Optional: a magnetic car sign and branded T-shirts (£30–£60). Total: £250–£400. Don't overinvest until you have 5+ regular clients.

5

Get your first 5 clients

Your first clients come from four channels, in this order. One: your existing network — post on your personal Facebook, Instagram stories, message people who have dogs ('I'm starting a dog walking service, looking for a few first clients at an introductory rate'). Two: local community groups — Nextdoor, Facebook neighbourhood groups, dog-specific local groups, your local WhatsApp groups. Three: Google Business Profile + simple website — start ranking locally and get organic enquiries. Four: dog walker platforms (Bark, Rover, Tailster) — useful but they take 15–25% commission. Use 1–3 for the first 3 months; consider platforms only once you're confident in your offer.

6

Build trust through content

Owners pick dog walkers based on trust above price. The fastest way to build trust online is through content showing you actually working with dogs. Post daily photos and short videos of the dogs you walk (with owner permission) on Instagram and your website. Include captions about the dogs' personalities. This compound effect is huge: by month 3, prospective clients arrive having already seen 50+ posts of you doing the work well. Adviita generates a simple website that you can update with new photos and write-ups every week.

7

Build a sustainable schedule

Most owners want their dogs walked between 11am and 3pm during their work day. That's a finite window. Plan your route geographically — cluster clients in the same neighbourhood so you can do back-to-back walks without driving across town. Add capacity through additional walks at peak times (group walks of 3–4 dogs) rather than working more hours. Reserve mornings for puppies and senior dogs (shorter, calmer walks) and afternoons for solo walks if you want more variety. A well-planned schedule lets you earn £200–£400 a day from 5–6 hours of actual walking.

Common questions