Is starting a dog walking business profitable?
Dog walking services are in demand as more people seek high-quality care for their dogs. According to Glassdoor Canada, the average annual income for a dog walking job in Canada is $46,034 and has the potential to increase if you include additional services or bring in more customers.
While profitability will depend on various factors such as competition, marketing strategies, and expenses, with hard work and dedication, you can start a dog walking business in Canada and make it a lucrative endeavor.
How much can you make from starting a dog walking business?
On average, dog walkers in Canada charge anywhere from $15 to $30 per hour per dog. An entrepreneur can earn $30,000 to $60,000 per year walking two dogs each day on a five-day workweek. These are simply estimates, and actual earnings will depend on various factors, including the number of customers, the frequency and duration of walks, insurance expenses, and other operating costs.
What is the condition of the pet industry in Canada?
Forecasts indicate that the Canadian pet food market will expand at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2021 and 2027. The demand for pet-related products and services is high, and new pet-related businesses are regularly entering the market. Additionally, the humanization of pets, where they are treated like family members and given high-quality care, has also help this industry flourish.
Even when people have trouble paying their bills, they still spend money on their pets. This means that the pet business doesn't depend on the economy and will keep growing even in the face of a recession, inflation, or rising interest rates.
Find out more: Need funding? Check out our guide on small business grants.
Why should you start a dog walking business?
It is a smart choice to start a dog walking business for several reasons:
- Essential services: Particularly in bustling cities like Montreal, there are a growing number of dog owners needing a reliable dog sitter or walker to take care of their pets while they're away, making it a profitable business opportunity.
- Flexibility: Dog walking businesses offer a high level of flexibility, allowing entrepreneurs to work on their own terms and choose the hours they want to work.
- Low start-up costs: It requires relatively low capital to start a dog walking business compared to other businesses, making it a more accessible option for entrepreneurs.
- Independence: Running a dog walking business allows entrepreneurs to be their own boss and have control over their schedule, income, and the services they offer.
Risks of starting a dog walking business
When starting a dog walking business, there are risks to keep in mind:
- Liability risk: You will be responsible for the well-being and safety of the dogs in your care. To protect yourself, you will need to invest in dog walking insurance.
- Weather-related risks: Dog walking is an outdoor activity; therefore, adverse weather conditions can impact your business.
- Competition: Pet walking businesses in your community will compete for consumers. To stay relevant, you must differentiate your services and build a good reputation.
- Unexpected events: Your business may be disrupted by a dog's illness or injury. Prepare for such events by having a contingency plan in place.
Dog walker personality and skills
Several entrepreneurial skills are required before you start a dog walking business in Canada:
- Responsibility and passion for walking dogs: As a dog walker, you will oversee the well-being of someone else's pets, so a high level of responsibility and a genuine interest in dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments is essential.
- Organizational skills: From arranging walks and appointments to tracking customer information and payment, running a dog walking business demands organization.
- Physical fitness: Dog walking jobs can be physically demanding; you'll need to walk several dogs for long hours and adapt to changing weather.
- Customer service skills: Customer retention and growth depend on providing excellent service. You should be friendly, professional, and able to connect with consumers and their pets.
Entrepreneurship takes initiative, innovation, and drive. You must want to succeed and be willing to take calculated risks to grow your dog walking business.
What are the start-up costs for a dog walking business?
The overall cost to start a dog walking business in Canada could range from $7,500 to $20,000, depending on your location, the size of your business, and the equipment and services you need to purchase.
As a potential business owner, you can set competitive dog walking prices by researching and understanding the local market rate.
If you don't have enough funds to start a dog walking business in Canada, our guide on small business grants and small business loans can help you understand more about the financing options available to you.
How to start your dog walking business
Starting a dog walking business requires more than a passion for dogs, a desire to run a business, or assurance of demand. Let’s run through the initial steps you need to take to start a dog walking business in Canada.
Research your market
Do your research and understand your target market before establishing your dog walking business plan. Google your competition, potential clients, and neighborhood conditions. Talk to dog owners, pet groomers, and store workers at local dog parks or retailers to find out and address their concerns.
Do you need a license or training to start a dog walking business?
The requirements for starting a dog walking business in Canada may vary by province and municipality. Although you don’t need any legal qualifications to start this type of business, we do recommend that you get a qualification to boost your credibility and reputation.
Taking a pet care training course will prove to potential clients that you take the health and safety of dogs seriously. Make sure you research the specific regulations and best practices in your local area before you start a dog walking business.
What are the regulations you need to know to start a dog walking business?
The regulations concerning the welfare of animals will vary by territory, so it’s important that you understand which Acts define what you can and can’t do. For example, most provinces prohibit tethering, leaving pets in hot cars and using certain collars.
We encourage you to read more about territorial and provincial regulations before starting your dog walking business.
Setting up your dog walking business
After understanding the first steps you need to take to start your dog walking business, let’ look at the finer details of setting it up:
Business registration and income tax filing
Registering your business is a requirement for all businesses operating in Canada. The process of registering a business involves obtaining a business number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and registering for various taxes, such as the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) and payroll taxes
It is also vital to keep accurate records, including receipts, invoices, and bank statements, so you can properly report your net business income on your income tax return. It is recommended to consult with a tax professional or the Canada Revenue Agency for guidance on filing your self-employed income tax in Canada.
Decide your pricing model and mode of transport
There are five commonly used pricing strategies that a dog walking business can choose from
- Cost-plus pricing: this involves calculating your dog walker costs and adding a markup to determine the final price.
- Competitive pricing: this involves setting a price based on your competitors' charges.
- Price skimming: this involves setting a high price and then gradually lowering it over time as the market evolves.
- Penetration pricing: involves setting a low price initially to enter a competitive market and then gradually raising it later.
- Value-based pricing: involves basing your pricing on the perceived value of the product or service, as determined by their customers.
The pricing for a Canadian dog walking business can change based on location, competition, services, and walk duration and frequency. Monthly or weekly packages, group walks, and other services like pet care or dog training can be priced separately or as a package.
Depending on the area, pets may require reliable transportation. You'll need to modify your dog walker insurance to use your automobile for business.
Preparing a contract for clients
Having a clearly stated policy and agreement will help you avoid potential issues or lawsuits and enhance the image of your dog walking company. Your agreement should include:
- The service, including booking and billing procedures
- Your responsibilities
- Your rate
- Frequency and distance of the walks
- Insurance and liabilities
- Safety protocols
Registering a domain name for your website
Customers will always remember your domain name, logo, and website, as they represent your company to the outside world. When choosing a domain name, pick something memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your website's content or business.
Investing in dog walking gear
Investing in high-quality dog walking gear is essential for running a successful dog walking business, increasing your visibility, and helping you stand out from other dog walkers.
Professional dog walkers use waterproof winter parkas, embroidered gilets, windbreakers, and hats. It's essential to do research, compare prices, and choose the highest-quality gear you can afford to ensure the safety and comfort of dogs and make dog walking more manageable and enjoyable. You could provide your customers with free dog socks as a bonus, as Canadian winters can be freezing.
How to grow your dog walking business
Marketing can be a powerful tool for growth when you finally start your dog walking business.
Designing a logo
Every business needs a strong brand identity that reflects its values, personality, and unique selling proposition. A dog walker logo will ensure that everything appears uniform and professional in your brochures, business cards, invoices, price lists, and website.
Social media
You can promote your dog walking business and build a community using social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter. Share photos and videos of your happy customers, post regular updates about your services and deals, and respond to your followers to build a loyal following. Most importantly, ensure that you are set up to receive alerts and messages.
Website and SEO (search engine optimisation)
Your website is the online face of your business, so make sure it's well-designed and includes all the essential information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Use relevant keywords and SEO to help your business show up in local search results and offer online booking to make it easy for pet owners to book your services. Website creation platforms like Wix and Squarespace make it simple to create a professional online profile for your dog walking business with simple drag-and-drop interfaces.
Customer reviews
Encourage reviews and testimonials on your website, social media, and online directories. Display these reviews on your website and other channels to develop trust and demonstrate your exceptional service. Then use these reviews to improve your business so you can continue offering top-notch service.
Niching down
Niching down and focusing on a specific breed of dog can help you establish expertise in that breed, build a loyal following of clients, and charge higher rates for specialized care. In a competitive industry, you may stand out from other dog walkers by catering to a breed's specific needs and behaviors.
Network with other pet professionals
The best-known way to build a loyal customer base as a dog walker is to have a solid reputation among other experts like veterinarians, groomers, and pet store owners. They may refer clients to you or even collaborate on promotions and events.
Find out more: Need more advice on this sector? Read our sector-specific articles.
Starting a dog walking business is not your only option
While we don’t’ want to deter you from starting this new venture, it’s important that we offer you other routes into business ownership.
Buying an existing dog walking business offers an established brand and customer base, existing systems, a proven track record of revenue and profitability, and potential cost savings.
By taking over an existing dog business, you can focus on getting an immediate income while improving and growing it to meet your objectives.
We have different pet-related businesses for sale in Canada that you can consider. It may be worth diversifying your offerings by including grooming, walking, and boarding.
If this is a route you are considering, we have a dedicated guide on buying a business in Canada, which will help you understand if this is the right path to take.
Here is a checklist of how to start a dog walking business in Canada:
- Research your market and create a dog walking business plan.
- Get qualifications to boost your credibility.
- Register your business and understand the regulations in your area.
- Specify your pricing model and mode of transport.
- Prepare your contract for clients.
- Register your domain name and set up your website.
- Invest in dog walking gear.
- Designing a captivating logo.
- Leverage social media and customer reviews.
- Network with other pet professionals.
If you're entrepreneurial and love animals, dog walking could be a fantastic opportunity. While starting a business brings multiple challenges, it also brings exciting rewards!
We hope this guide has been helpful, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to connect with us.