Emmanuel ChijiokeFirstly, You have to be a true pet lover to be successful in this dawg business. However, it is a profitable industry.
With over 67% of households having pets, dogs are at the top of the list. Since these pets need to walk, run and exercise on a daily basis, the dog walking business, or dawg business as it is now being referred is in very good demand. Therefore, it is a great business idea for you.
A high number of households have dogs. However, they do not have enough time for their usual walk. That is why there is a good demand for dog walkers, which is an excellent opportunity for your business to grow.
The first quality needed for your dog walking business (dawg business) is your passion for dogs. You have to be a true pet lover to be successful in this business. It is a profitable industry. You can do it all yourself on a small scale. On the other hand, you can also hire employees for a large-scale operation.
The dawg business is a simple activity built on trust and companionship. If you can earn the trust of pet owners and love dogs, you will make a good profit from the dog walking business.
What is the job of a dog walker?
Most people don’t understand what it means to be a dog walker. The main job of this side hustle is essentially taking the pet for a walk at a specific time and path. It can be directed and determined by the client. During walks, you should provide pets with food and water. Along with this, you need to get rid of dog waste.
Closely monitor the behavior of the dogs. Report any abnormalities to pet owners. If you encounter any emergency during walks, you should take the dog to the veterinary clinic immediately.
Apart from all that, you have to develop a deep bond with the pet. This is also part of your dawg business job.
Is the Dawg Business Profitable?
Dog walking is profitable and a sustainable business. The amount, of course, depends on the scale of your operation. Rates are subject to a walking time where an hour pays you more than it would if it was just a half hour.
If you can do 5-6 half-hour walks every day, or a few 1-hour walks five days a week, you can earn $20,000 to $40,000 a year. After all the costs you need to make, such as accessories, taxes, insurance, etc., you will make a profit of 50-60%. That’s a pretty good margin!
As you plan to start your dawg business, there are certain important steps you need to follow. These will help you achieve quick success.
Guide to dog walking business plans for beginners
Here are the steps to follow to start a successful dawg business:
Determine the location of your business
Decide on the location of your dog walking business. The location must have nearby parks, land, or open space. There it will be easier for you to take the dog for a walk. If you also want to provide a running dog service, you will need large spaces.
Research the local market
Research the people in the area. How many households have dogs? What is the demand for your Dog Walking service? You must know these facts correctly. This will facilitate your business planning.
Along with this, investigate the different breeds of dogs and their behavioral traits. It is essential to conduct market research and explore the gaps that exist in the current market.
Create a dog-walking business plan
Making a business plan will make your dawg business more organized and structured. Do not forget to put the details of each step of your company. Your business plan should have important points like:
- Name of your dog-walking business
- Investment required for the company
- Source of funds
- legal formalities
- Necessary Equipment/Accessories
- Spending Patterns
- How are you going to work?
- How much will your charges be?
- Marketing and advertising plans
- How to grow your dawg business
You can seek the help of an expert in the preparation of the Business Plan. Of course, it must be detailed and well-researched.
Give your company a name
Find a suitable name for your dog walking business. It should be something relevant to your service, as well as simple and catchy. Think of your ideas, take the opinions of your friends and family and then choose.
It is very important that you obtain the domain in the name of your company. If the domain is not available, you must change the name. Keep in mind that websites are vital in business today. Along with the domain, get a trademark as well.
Legally register your company
Once you have chosen the name of your dog-walking business, you must legalize the company. If you are from the United States, you have many options such as partnership, property, corporation, or LLC.
You can choose any shape. However, LLC will be the most convenient option for you as it protects your personal assets from business ones. You must also register to pay the necessary taxes applicable to your business. To do this, you will need to obtain an EIN or Employer Identification Number.
One can form an LLC by oneself or hire a professional company formation service provider by paying some additional fees.
Obtain the necessary license and permits
Obtain the necessary license and permits at both the federal and state levels. This is very important because without the proper permits and licenses you may have to pay heavy fines.
Open a business bank account
In the next step, open a bank account in the name of your dawg business. Along with it, get a business credit card that will help you run the business.
Purchase commercial insurance
Insurance is important for your dog walking business because it will protect your business from risks. General liability insurance will serve this purpose.
Liability insurance as a dog walker will protect you from two things. First of all, you will be protected against any accidental injury. Second, the damage caused by the dog. In case you are hiring employees, you must have Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
Make sure you have the necessary equipment and expenses
You will need several things in your dog-walking business. Some are essential, while others will help you stand out from the crowd. In short, the things you need are:
- good quality straps
- Waste bags (Biodegradable) for dog poop
- Chew toys that are good and attractive
- Balls and other toys
- chewy treats
- Food and water dishes
- First aid kit
- Dog whistle
- Waterproof and reflective jackets and hats for you
Additionally to equipment, you must spend on taxes, insurance, license fees, salaries, transportation, website, marketing, and advertising. In short, the cost of starting a dawg business will be around $7,000-8,000.
Find your potential customers
This is very simple. People with pet dogs are your customers. You should take note of its affordability to pay your charges. Most homes have dogs. Therefore, it is to be expected that you have several clients.
How much profit can you make in the dog walking business?
Normal rates range from US$18-20 for a 30-minute walk and US$25-28 for an hour’s walk. For morning or night walks, you can charge an additional US$3-5. If you can have 4-5 dogs a day for 5 days a week or 1-hour walks, you will potentially earn $20,000-40,000 per year.
If you hire employees, your income increases because of the numbers. To earn more, you can provide the Dog Racing Service, which gives you a higher income.
How to get more benefits
This is the goal of any business. In order to make more profit and gradually expand your dawg business, you need to do a few things.
Added value to your Dawg Business
You can add value to your dog-walking business in a number of ways. First of all, train yourself in handling dogs. Professional training makes you more credible.
Second, add extra services like dog runs, daycare, or dog sitting when needed. You will receive additional charges along with the emergency service credit.
Third, give the pets a good meal from time to time or offer a free vet checkup sometimes.
Make an online presence
Create a nice website for your dog walking business with different images of pets of various breeds. This is a good advertising method. Set options for online booking and payment.
Social networks
Create pages with the name of your dog-walking business on social networks like Instagram, Facebook, etc. This will spread the name of your company among the people.
Promotion and advertising
Invest money in advertisements for your dawg business in your local newspapers, TV, radio, etc. In addition, distribute brochures and use banners, posters, and notices in prominent places.
Make good relationships with customers
Just as you need to be friendly to dogs, you also need to be very kind to their owners. This will make you trustworthy and give you more referral clients.
Run a personal campaign
A door-to-door campaign, as well as advertising, is very important. You can do it yourself or hire marketing staff. Go to people’s housing complexes and residences and tell them about your dog-walking business. This is very effective as personal contacts work better than ads for many people.
Offer offer discounts
Offer discounts on a monthly membership. In addition, it provides special discounts during festivals.
Develop and maintain key vendor contacts in your dawg business
Keep in good contact with important people like veterinarians, veterinary clinics, bakers, and pet stores. Also, let your customers know. This will make them feel more confident about you.
These are the important points that you should follow. With these aspects along with your true love for pets, you can be sure to achieve success in your dog-walking business, or dawg business as it is now been called.
Emmanuel Chijioke
