10 things you need to start a dog sitting business

Starting a dog sitting business is fairly simple because it does not require a lot of start-up costs. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s not as complicated as starting some businesses. To help you get started, I’ve put together a list of the most important things you’ll need while keeping the total as cost effective as possible.

I’m using dog walking and dog sitting interchangeably since you will probably end up offering both services through your business as I have done.

What do I need in order to start a dog walking or dog sitting business?

1. A good dog sitting web site

You need a professional-looking site in order to be taken seriously. If you don’t have a lot of competition, you may be able to get by with a shitty site, but sooner or later you’ll have strong competition. A professional web site will make your dog walking business stand out.

Cost: $10 for a domain name through GoDaddy; $15 per year for hosting; $0 for a free WordPress theme; $500 to bribe your tech friend to help you set up your site; or $1,000+ to hire a professional web designer

2. Pet sitting insurance

You’ll definitely want to carry pet sitting insurance for your own safety. This is well worth the investment, and people will take your business more seriously if you carry insurance. Each pet sitting insurance company is different, but for the most part you can expect your policy to cover the cost of any damage you cause to a client’s property, any injuries that happen to the pet while under your care, medical costs if the dog bites someone, etc. Most policies will not cover injuries to you, the pet sitter.

Cost: $200 or so per year

3. Dog walking business forms

You can either buy dog walking business forms or design them yourself. You will need a form for gathering information about each pet and owner such as the dog’s age, veterinary info, level of training, etc.

You will also need a liability contract that states the dog’s owner will cover all medical bills if his or her pet bites you. Your liability form is also a good place to include other policies such as your cancellation policy, your vaccination policy and so on.

Cost: $30 here

4. My ebook on how to start a dog sitting business

The reason you should invest in my ebook is because I am a real, down-to-earth person sharing my actual business experience with you. You can take a look at all of my other dog sitting blog posts to see how passionate I am about animals. One way I get to help more dogs and cats is to encourage other talented people to start businesses similar to mine. Having recently moved, I recently started a new dog walking business in Del Mar, Calif., so I know how important it is to be able to build up clients really quickly. I really, really want you to be successful. My ebook on how to start a dog sitting business if available for $17.

Cost: $17 here

5. Dog handling experience

One of the best and most rewarding ways to gain experience with a variety of dogs is to volunteer to walk dogs for a shelter or rescue group. Many of these dogs will have a lot of pent-up energy from living at a shelter. Some have had very little training. Some will be reactive to other dogs. If you can handle these dogs, you’ll be ready for anything. It’s not that shelter dogs are bad dogs. It’s just that the shelter environment is very stressful for them and often sets them up for their worst behaviors at no fault of their own.

Cost: Your time

6. Dog sitting business cards

Take the time to design a simple, professional business card. You’ll need these to hand out when you are out and about networking within your community. Hand them out to people you meet at the dog park, at humane society fundraisers or at the vet office. Go around town and introduce yourself to other pet-related business owners (like dog groomers and dog daycare owners) and ask if you can drop off 15 or 20 business cards.

Cost: $30 or so to print 250 cards, plus $100 or so to hire a designer if necessary

7. A bike or a car

Well, that’s obvious. But one thing you may not think about is the extra expense for gas. Depending on how large of an area you serve and how many clients you take, you may end up driving 250 miles per week for your business. When you first start your business, you may need to accept clients from a larger area that you would like. Eventually, you’ll be able to serve a smaller area. Some dog walkers live in more populated areas and can easily keep their service area within biking distance.

Cost: Enough gas to get you up to 250 miles per week

8. Shoes and clothing for walking in all weather

Hopefully you own a variety of walking/running gear already. If not, the most important investment is to purchase a good pair of walking/running shoes. Replace them every six months or so. You may also want to purchase a pair of boots for walking in the snow or rain. Other gear to consider could include a rain coat; winter clothing such as a coat, hat and gloves; a hat or viser for sun protection; sunglasses; sunscreen; a small backpack for carrying dog gear; appropriate summer walking/running clothing, etc. You won’t need all of these things immediately when you are starting a dog sitting business, but you may want to purchase a few new items each month.

Cost: $200 – $1,000, not necessarily all at once

9. May My Run app or GPS watch

A GPS watch is nice to have for tracking your mileage with each dog. Some owners want to know how far you walked their dogs. If you want a cheaper option, just use the Map My Run app on your phone. It tracks your exact route and the distance of your run.

Cost: $6 per month for the app or $250-$400 for a new gps watch

10. Extra dog gear

Most of your clients will supply the gear necessary for their dogs, but it’s still nice to have a few extra leashes and training collars in your car just in case. I recommend you keep a six-foot leash, a slip collar and perhaps a Gentle Leader in your car. You’ll definitely need some extra poop bags for each appointment, and you may want to provide treats for the dogs.

Other dog-related gear to consider for your dog walking business could include a dog backpack, a treat pouch and a doggy water bottle.

Cost: $25 to $100

Are you a dog walker or dog sitter? Are there any other essentials I’m forgetting?