Starting a Dog Sitting Business: Step-by-Step Guide
Becoming a professional pet sitter entails many of the same steps as launching any other small business venture. These include:
- Choosing a business name
- Conducting market research on potential clients
- Selecting the right business structure
- Getting relevant business licenses or permits
- Setting long-term goals
Once you’ve established your business, see if you need a business license or sales tax certificate to operate in your state or locality. You may also need to carry insurance, such as workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees, general liability insurance, and pet-sitting business insurance.
Before you legally organize your pet-sitting business, it’s wise to research existing pet care services in your area. Many local pet stores have bulletin boards where pet sitters advertise their services. A web search might also reveal your local competition. It helps to know what other pet sitters charge before setting your prices.
For marketing and advertising, once your pet-sitting business is up and running, it’s time to get the word out to pet owners in your area. You may try the following strategies:
- Create flyers and business cards
- Put up flyers at dog parks and in pet stores
- Hand out business cards to potential clients
To ensure your pet sitting or dog walking business is a success, you need a business plan. A well-thought-out plan can guide your strategy, identify risks, and help you secure funding to expand and grow your business.
You may also need to register your new company with your state and/or local government. To do this, LLCs, corporations, and general partnerships must register (online or through the mail) with the Secretary of State or business agency where they conduct business.
Here are the typical costs when starting a pet care business:
- Business Registration: LLC or DBA — $10 to $1000+
- Professional Organizations — $0 to $500
Costs to start a pet care business can include:
- A business account, which makes tracking expenses and taxes easier
- Basic business operation license
- Home occupation permit
- Local permit
- Sales tax license/sellers permit/resellers permit
If you love animals and have an entrepreneurial spirit, a pet sitting and dog walking business can be a rewarding venture. Starting a pet sitting business is a fantastic opportunity given the rising demand. Begin by choosing a niche, such as specializing in specific types of pets or services.
Key Steps to Get Started:
- Start with pet sitting for friends and family to build up references.
- Branch out by creating a simple webpage.
- Get insurance.
- Post in local groups on Facebook and on Nextdoor.
Though there is no particular pet sitting license required of pet sitters, insurance protection is important, and certification often enables a pet sitter to get a discount on their pet-sitter liability insurance.
Starting a new pet sitting or dog walking business can be an exhilarating time! You’ve decided to turn your love of pet care into a career, but it can be easy to get lost in the dream of being your own boss, hanging out with amazing dogs and cats, growing your company, and having the financial freedom you’ve always wanted.
For more information about opening a bank account for your business, we recommend taking a look at this article from the Small Business Administration.
While this can vary significantly from state to state and even city to city, we’ve put together a ‘ruff’ guide to the average costs you can expect when starting your pet care business in 2024! Use this guide to help you determine what it will take to start your business.
Legal Considerations for Dog Sitters: What You Need to Know
Legal Requirements for Dog Sitting Business:
- Every business needs to register with the state. This requirement includes pet sitters. However, not all states require pet sitters to be licensed.
- Check with your state government’s website to determine whether you need a business license to run a pet sitting business, as well as the correct type of license to apply for.
- Even though not every state requires a pet sitter to be licensed, a licensed, bonded, and insured sitter will be more reputable and attract more clients. Clients are more likely to hire a licensed sitter over one that is not licensed.
Licensing and Insurance:
- A license cannot be obtained without a surety bond. This bond serves as a legal guarantee that the business will abide by state and/or federal rules and regulations.
- Pet sitting insurance is important. The goal is to ensure coverage of any legal or financial damages that may arise. Pet sitting insurance is typically inexpensive due to lower risk for insurance companies. The most important small business coverage includes Business Property, Business Liability, and Business Income.
- For home boarding of pets, a license is required. Additionally, stricter legislation and insurance apply. This is not legal advice but is a guide to starting your pet sitting business within UK law.
Tax Responsibilities:
- As independent contractors, pet sitters must set aside money for tax payments. These payments are made to the federal and state government on a quarterly basis as ‘estimated payments.’
Legal Accountability and Responsibilities:
- As a pet sitter, you are legally accountable for the safety of the pets in your care. Therefore, you must have up-to-date knowledge of your legal obligations, including any specific local authority regulations. This is especially true for dog walkers and boarders.
- Without this knowledge, you could face fines from local authorities, criminal proceedings, or even be banned from owning a pet.
- The pet-sitting sector is largely unregulated, with no registered Associations or required qualifications. Nonetheless, many laws apply to the care of animals.
- In the UK, pet owners have a legal duty to provide for their pet’s welfare and needs. All domestic animals are entitled to protection from pain and suffering, and to be fed and housed in a suitable environment.
Regulations for Specific Activities:
- For cat sitting and dog walking, you do not require a license. However, if you are going to home board a client’s pet, there are stricter regulations and additional insurance required.
- Familiarize yourself with the laws covering handling of dangerous dogs, clearing up excrement, controlling dogs near livestock, walking dogs in public spaces, and types of collars, leads, and muzzles allowed.
Permits:
- Your local government may require a home occupation permit if it considers your business a legal home-based occupation.
- Some cities require permits for commercial dog walking and small animal boarding.
Animal Welfare Standards:
- Adhering to local and federal animal welfare laws is crucial. These laws ensure humane treatment of animals, covering shelter, nutrition, medical care, and humane handling practices.
How Much Can You Earn as a Dog Sitter?
Did you know that pet sitting businesses in cities can make $30,000 to $60,000 a year? This is a big chance for smart entrepreneurs to make money from growing pet care needs. As the pet industry grows, learning how to make money in pet sitting is key for many new business owners.
The average annual revenue for a pet sitting business in urban areas ranges from $30,000 to $60,000. Profit margins for pet sitting businesses can range from 25% to 40%.
- Most full-time pet sitting and dog walking businesses make $30,000-$40,000 a year after costs.
- A pet sitter working 20-35 hours a week can earn $20,000-$25,000 a year.
- Those working less or as a side job might make $3,000 to $10,000 a year.
To make a six-figure income, a solo pet sitter would need to do about 4,000 visits a year. This means working 58 hours a week and doing 14 visits a day. For a company with a team, you’d need to book 15,000 visits a year to make a six-figure income. This would require a team of 10-11 people.
The pet sitting industry is booming, with a global market expected to hit nearly $6.4 billion by 2032. It’s growing at a 10.50% annual rate. This growth means pet sitting businesses can make a lot of money each year.
Because of the way pet sitters charge for their services, it’s tricky to estimate the average pet sitter’s hourly salary. However, to give you a general idea, Salary.com estimates that pet sitters earn an average salary of $16 per hour, $34,071 per year, and $2,839 per month as of 2021.
The earning potential for pet sitters, including dog and cat sitters, is influenced by a variety of factors:
- Location
- The number of clients
- Experience
- Additional services offered
Metropolitan areas or regions with a higher cost of living usually have higher rates for pet-sitting services than rural areas.
More experienced pet sitters, or those with credentials related to animal care, can command higher fees. Enhancing your knowledge and skills through courses like Stratford Career Institute’s Canine Specialist or Cat Care Specialist programs could increase your marketability and earning potential.
The demand for pet-sitting services within your area and your ability to secure regular clients play essential roles in determining income. Establishing a solid client base through reliability and excellent service can lead to word-of-mouth referrals and higher earnings.
The average annual pay for pet sitting jobs in the United States is $32,599 a year, which is equivalent to approximately $15.67 an hour. This amounts to $626/week or $2,716/month. On average, full-time pet sitting businesses make $30,000-$40,000 a year after costs. A pet sitter working 20-35 hours a week can earn $20,000-$25,000 a year. Those working less or as a side job might make $3,000 to $10,000 a year.
Pet sitters generally earn somewhere in the range of $15–$100 per session. Pet sitting rates are typically flat rates charged per session rather than hourly rates. They vary depending on factors like the duration of the sit. The cost of dog sitting depends on the length of the service. Nightly dog sitting is more expensive than just an hour of service. The more hours or days you are away, the higher the cost.
The average monthly revenue for a pet sitting business can range from $1,000 to $10,000. This depends on various factors such as location, services offered, and the scale of operations. Understanding potential earnings and what affects them is a crucial first step toward a successful pet-sitting journey.
Key Tips for Marketing Your Dog Sitting Business Online
It’s time for a refresh of one of our most visited blog posts on marketing your dog walking or pet sitting business without the need for paid advertising. Marketing has evolved over the years, and since this post was originally written in 2018, we’re making it relevant to today’s times!
Many pet sitters will tell me that they have all they need from referrals and word of mouth. Well, guess what? There’s more you can do to reach a wider audience.
- Get a website for your business. Having a website is like having a home in the digital space to welcome your clients. Your website can and should act as your:
- Salesperson and customer service person
- Data tracker, analyzer, and marketer
- Onboarding specialist and business cheerleader
- Get a Facebook business page and use it strategically. Consider the 80/20 rule. 20% of your posts can be full-on promotional. The remaining 80% should be split between a variety of types of content, like educational, listicles, entertaining, engaging, and more. Other basic tips include adding your phone number and email address, which will make it easy for potential customers to reach out to you. Set up that tiny button underneath the cover photo to present a call to action to your audience.
- Focus on SEO! SEO is a crucial and underestimated part of marketing. By optimizing your on-page and off-page SEO, you’ll be able to increase your website traffic and market your pet business to a larger network.
- Go to your website platform’s support articles and find their SEO checklist or resources for on-page SEO. Complete those items!
- Get your website listed on other websites—whether it’s business listings, business directories, guest blog post features, local business groups, or business partnership recommendation pages.
- Understand Your Audience. This journey commences with understanding your audience profoundly – diving into their motivations, fears, and ultimate desires for their pets. Embrace platforms where your target audience flourishes, engaging them with stories that touch their hearts. Incorporate a blend of visual allure and compelling narratives to paint a picture of unparalleled care and dedication.
- Utilize Design Tools. Utilizing platforms like Desygner can elevate your marketing materials with professional flair, enabling you to design captivating graphics that tell the story of your commitment to pet wellbeing. Remember, it’s about creating an emotional connection; show them why their pets will be happier and safer in your care than anywhere else.
- Leverage Social Media. Social media is akin to a town square for the digital age. It’s a place where opinions are formed, experiences shared, and decisions made. For a pet sitting business, it offers an unparalleled platform to showcase your services. Regularly update your profiles with engaging content that highlights happy pets, satisfied customers, and useful tips for pet owners.
- Incorporate SEO. In today’s digital age, being invisible online means missing out on countless opportunities. That’s where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes into play. It ensures that when someone searches for pet sitting services in your area, your business stands out. Incorporating relevant keywords throughout your website content is crucial but do it thoughtfully to keep the narrative natural and engaging.
- Build Lasting Connections. Marketing strategies, when implemented with precision and passion, become more than mere tactics; they evolve into the very essence that defines the success of your business. It’s about creating connections, fostering relationships, and providing peace of mind to those who entrust us with their beloved companions.
- Additional Tips.
- Optimize your Instagram bio + highlights.
- Start a blog on your website.
- Business cards are not dead! With community marketing on the rise, business cards are not irrelevant.
- Claim your online listings.
- Partner with a shelter to offer new client offers for newly adopted pets.
- Create a memorable logo that resonates with your brand ethos.
- Build a user-friendly website that highlights your services.
- Leverage social media platforms to engage with your community.
- Encourage reviews and testimonials to build trust.
- Use Desygner for crafting professional promotional materials effortlessly.
- Finding Clients. To find your first clients, use both traditional and digital marketing:
- Local Outreach: Post flyers in community centers, vet offices, and pet stores. Also, network in dog parks.
- Social Media: Promote your services on Facebook and Instagram.
