How to Start a Dog Walking Business (Step-by-Step Guide)

Quick Summary

This article walks you through the essential steps, from deciding if dog walking is right for you, researching your local market, and setting services and pricing, to handling legal requirements, staying organized, and finding your first clients. It also shows how tools like Scritches can simplify administration, helping you run a professional, client-friendly business while focusing on what you enjoy most: caring for pets.

Looking to Start a Dog Walking Business the Right Way?

Walking dogs is fun, rewarding, and something you already know how to do well. You’ve probably done it for friends, family, or neighbors. But turning that passion into a proper business comes with responsibilities, like managing clients, scheduling, and handling payments. 

If you’re ready to make that transition, this Scritches guide breaks the process into clear, manageable steps. It has all you need to build a professional dog walking service without losing the joy of working with pets. 

Why Listen to Us?

At Scritches, we know what it’s like to run a dog walking business on your own. We’ve helped solo pet care providers manage bookings, keep clients happy, and grow their services. In this guide, you’ll find practical, real-world tips to create a smooth, professional experience that today’s pet owners appreciate.

What It Means to Start a Dog Walking Business

Starting a dog walking business is more than just taking dogs for walks, it’s running a service-based business. Unlike casual walks for friends or neighbors, a business requires structure, planning, and professionalism. You define your services, set rates, manage schedules, and handle client communications and payments consistently.

It also comes with responsibility. You’re accountable for the pets in your care, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and comfort. Clients rely on you to be dependable, which means maintaining trust and professionalism in every interaction.

Why Make the Transition? 

Turning your hobby into a business brings real benefits:

• Professional Credibility: Clients take you seriously.

• Consistent Income: Predictable earnings through structured pricing and scheduling.

• Scalability: Expand services, take more clients, or hire help.

• Efficiency and Organization: Systems save time and reduce stress.

How to Start a Dog Walking Business in 6 Steps

Step 1: Decide If Dog Walking Is the Right Fit

Turning dog walking into a business is exciting, but it’s not just about spending time with dogs. Before going all in, it’s important to understand what the day-to-day work really looks like. 

Here are the key things to take note of: 

• Client Management: You’ll manage multiple clients, keep track of schedules, handle payments, and ensure every pet is safe and happy.

• Physical Demands: Dog walking for multiple clients requires stamina, especially for long walks in hot or cold weather and handling dogs of varying sizes and temperaments. Patience and attention to detail are essential.

• Soft Skills: Beyond loving dogs, clear communication, reliability, and basic problem-solving make the job run smoothly. Missing appointments or mishandling a situation can affect both pets and client trust.

Being honest about these realities helps prevent burnout and sets the stage for a professional business. If you’re ready to handle both the physical and administrative responsibilities, you can build a dog walking business that’s sustainable, rewarding, and trusted by clients.

Step 2: Research Your Local Market

Before setting your services and prices, it’s important to understand your local dog walking landscape. Knowing the demand and expectations helps you position your business for success.

Try asking yourself these questions:

Check local demand

• How many dog walkers are already in your neighborhood?

• Which areas seem to have the most pet owners looking for help?

• Are there neighborhoods where pet care options are limited that you could focus on?

• What geographic area can you realistically serve without stretching yourself too thin?

Look at pricing

• What do other dog walkers charge for walks, sitting, or package deals?

• How often do they offer their services?

• How can you set fair prices that reflect your time, effort, and care?

Think about your ideal client and niche

• Who do you enjoy working with most—busy professionals, families, or seniors?

• Are there specific types of dogs or services you want to specialize in?

• What kinds of schedules or service needs do your ideal clients have?

• How can this guide the way you explain your services and connect with them?

Answering these questions helps you understand your market, define your services, and feel confident that your business is set up to attract the right clients and grow steadily.

Step 3: Choose Your Services and Set Prices

After researching your local market, it’s time to decide which services you’ll offer and how much to charge. Clear service options make your business easier to manage and help clients understand exactly what to expect.

Start simple. Most dog walkers begin with basic offerings like solo walks, group walks, or pet sitting. You can add extras later, such as feeding, administering medication, or drop-in visits. Focusing on a smaller set of services ensures you provide consistent, high-quality care without feeling overwhelmed.

Pricing is equally important. Look at what other dog walkers in your area charge and use that as a guide, but make sure your rates reflect the value of your time, effort, and experience. Avoid undercutting yourself. Charging too little can make your work feel undervalued and stressful. 

Also, consider offering packages for repeat clients or multi-pet households, which can simplify scheduling and increase steady income.

Packages simplify scheduling, create predictable income, and make your services more appealing. Clear, fair pricing helps build trust with clients and sets a strong foundation for growing your business with confidence.

Step 4: Handle Legal and Paperwork Basics

Protecting yourself and your clients is a fundamental part of running a professional operation. This moves you away from a casual hobby and shows you are a serious business owner.

Begin by deciding on your business structure. Most solo dog walkers have two options here: 

• Sole Proprietorship: This is the simplest way to start, as there is no formal filing needed, but you remain personally responsible for business debts.

• LLC: A Limited Liability Company provides a layer of protection between your personal assets and your business.

Check local regulations for any required permits or licenses, and make sure you understand your tax responsibilities.

Insurance is also important. Dog walking liability insurance protects you if an accident happens while pets are in your care. It gives clients peace of mind and shields your personal finances, making it a crucial part of running a professional business.

Finally, create clear agreements and policies for clients. Written contracts outline services, payment expectations, cancellations, and emergency procedures. Scritches makes this easy by allowing you to upload contracts and release forms for digital e-signing.

These help build trust, protect your business, and ensure that every interaction is professional from the first walk to the last.

Step 5: Set Up Tools to Stay Organized

Even with just a few clients, running a dog walking business involves juggling schedules, tracking pets’ routines, handling payments, and keeping client information organized. Without the right tools, it’s easy for appointments to slip through the cracks or for administrative work to take over your day.

Digital tools can make a big difference. They help you:

• Keep an accurate calendar and avoid double bookings.

• Track pet details like feeding schedules, medications, and behavioral notes.

• Manage client communications efficiently, from confirmations to follow-ups.

• Handle payments and invoices without juggling multiple apps or spreadsheets.

While it’s possible to manage these tasks using several separate tools, it can be stressful and time-consuming. That’s where Scritches comes in.

Introducing Scritches for New Dog Walking Business Owners

Scritches is designed specifically for solo pet care providers who want to turn a side hustle into a full-time, professional business. As a dog walker, iIt consolidates your essential business functions into one platform, making daily management simple and efficient.

With Scritches, you can:

• Offer 24/7 online booking, so clients can schedule anytime without back-and-forth messages.

• Keep centralized records of client contacts, pet details, and service history for personalized care.

• Automate invoicing and payments, including credit cards, Venmo, Zelle, and checks.

• Collect digital agreements and intake forms quickly and securely.

• Send professional report cards with service summaries and photos after each visit.

Scritches keeps your business organized, professional, and reliable. This gives you more time to focus on what’s most important: providing high-quality care to pets and building trust with your clients. See our pricing plans to see what package works best for you. 

Step 6. Find Your First Clients

With the right system in place, it’s time to find and secure your first client. 

The best way to start your dog walking business is with people who already know and trust you. Friends, family, and neighbors can be your first clients, giving you a safe space to refine your services and build confidence.

Once you’ve started, local marketing can help you expand. Simple strategies like flyers in community centers, posts in neighborhood social media groups, or connecting with local pet stores and veterinarians can spread the word effectively. Plus, personal recommendations from satisfied clients are often the most powerful tool for gaining trust in your area. 

Best Practices for How to Start a Dog Walking Business

Even after setting up your services, pricing, and clients, these habits can help your business thrive:

• Keep learning about dogs: Invest in understanding dog behavior, first aid, and basic training. The more you know, the better you can handle unexpected situations and provide exceptional care.

• Build strong client relationships: Share updates, photos, and ask for feedback. Small gestures strengthen trust, encourage repeat business, and turn clients into advocates for your services.

• Track your finances regularly: Even a small business benefits from simple bookkeeping. Track income, expenses, and taxes to understand profitability and make informed decisions for growth.

• Use technology to stay efficient: Leverage apps and platforms to manage schedules, communications, and payments. A tool like Scritches keeps everything in one place, reducing errors and saving time.

• Prioritize safety: Always follow leash laws, check vaccinations, and carry a basic first aid kit. Pre-screen pets and households when possible, and maintain emergency protocols to protect both you and the animals.

• Maintain your own wellbeing: Dog walking is physical and sometimes unpredictable. Schedule breaks, set limits on daily walks, and take care of your health to avoid burnout while sustaining high-quality service.

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Success with Scritches

Starting a dog walking business requires planning, organization, and clear processes. From defining services and pricing to managing clients and paperwork, following the right steps sets the foundation for a thriving, professional operation, one that works seamlessly with Scritches.

Scritches is a platform built specifically for solo pet care providers. It consolidates bookings, client and pet records, invoicing, and agreements into one easy-to-use tool, helping dog walkers stay organized, professional, and focused on providing exceptional care.

Get started with Scritches today for free and take your dog walking business to the next level.