Dog Walking/Pet sitting business

[cheryl knowles]

Hi,I am hoping to start a business as a dog walker and pet sitter. I chose a name and had some business cards made up.I have posted through letter boxes.Advertised in a few shops. So far had no interest. It's only been a few weeks.
I have a neighbour who bought a franchise in a dog walking business and is doing well.
Just wonder about what else I have to do. Do I have to register my name with the National Business register? I heard that if you chose a name that someone else has or is similar I could be eventually fined. So looked on the internet to find out ,saw a few websites sayin that they are the actual National business register.Then they charge lots for the service.Can someone advise me on this please.
Also I know I have to notify the council on my business for tax purposes. I won't be having pets at my home,I will be going out to do my work. As I haven't yet started with trading then do I have to notify them?
Is there anything else I can do to get interest? Any advise appreciated.

 

[Spock]

Perhaps your neighbour has all the jobs then? See if you can do the job cheaper. Also, I have found building a Facebook page for the business and then using targeted Facebook ads can be a good ROI for local business.

And make sure you have insurance.

 

[profitxchange]

Can I temper your enthusiasm. If you are doing the walking yourself you are unlikely to make enough money to make it worthwhile. Have you done any sort of business plan? Some councils now limit the number of dogs you can walk this limits income. Do not reduce your prices just make sure you provide superb service and you build a loyal client base. Charge a premiums if clients want walks at short notice, charge on a monthly basis so you get paid even if they cancel. Have a look at some of the American dogwalking sites for ideas. If you have to go out of your preferred area try and recruit a local person to walk the dogs on a zero hours contract, but pay them sensible money.

 

[AllUpHere]

A quick point; the national business register is nonsense and sounds a bit like a con. I've owned several businesses and have helped thousands of businesses in start up stage, and I've never heard of them let alone registered with them.

 

[Mark T Jones]

National Business Register doesn't exist - it is a name used by a company in Birmingham to offer a range of services and offer advice.

That may be totally legit, though the name alone makes it look a bit slippery to me.

Insurance will be a biggie - so will appropriate vehicle if you are transporting the dogs.

Reference tax, you will either need to register as self employed with HMRC or appoint yourself as a director and pay yourself under your PAYE code - the company will (I believe) need a UTR

 

[BustersDogs]

Commuters are your best bet, and they will be looking online for dog walker, not in shop windows, and probably not at leaflets through the door. This is the quietest time of year for new enquiries for dog walking, the weather is mild and there's lots of light so people don't mind walking their dogs before and after work, or popping home at lunchtime to let them out. September is the biggest time for new clients, followed by January. Don't despair though, this gives you plenty of time to get a decent website going and to get it ranking well. Lots of people don't even bother to click through from google to the site, they call straight from the google listing, but you have to be high in the ranking to get noticed.

Cats and other small pets is what you should be pushing now, as people will be starting to think about their summer holidays. You might get some 'holiday' walks, where owners have gone on holiday and left the dog with Granny who can't manage it, or young adult children who aren't quite trusted to walk it.

I run dog walker training, both practical and business side, so if you want more info, feel free to check out my website www.dogwalkertraining.co.uk, and I have 3 e-books for dog walkers on Amazon.

This is a good way to earn a living, you can earn enough to live on, despite the nay-sayers (although you will get a better living if you have staff), and never try to compete on price. You will get the wrong type of customers. There's nothing wrong with being a 'budget' type service if you want to, but you should still charge what you are worth and be able to make a good living. It takes time to build up like many other businesses, but it has very low start up costs.

Good luck!

 

[Nochexman]

Hi,I am hoping to start a business as a dog walker and pet sitter. I chose a name and had some business cards made up.I have posted through letter boxes.Advertised in a few shops. So far had no interest. It's only been a few weeks.

You need to work out why you are getting no interest. How many letter boxes have you posted; how many people have you approached?

Are you actually dog walking already for friends / family? Do you wear something that indicates you are a professional dog walker and how other people can contact you?

 

[The Byre]

So how do you get a couple of Great Danes who spend all day in bed, snoring and producing copious numbers of farts, to stir their bones and go for a run?

When I get them outside, I have to run about and bark and they just look at me, wondering what the hell that's all about!

 

[Mr D]

The Byre - the public will also be thinking the same thing.

Cheryl - do a leaflet up - A5 or so. Post that through letterboxes, display in shops etc. Have a website, attend local meetings and meet people, don't ram it down their throats but tell them you are a professional dog walker. And expect it to take time to build.
I could honestly do with someone to walk my baby but I'd ideally want it to be someone I know.

 

[BustersDogs]

So how do you get a couple of Great Danes who spend all day in bed, snoring and producing copious numbers of farts, to stir their bones and go for a run?

When I get them outside, I have to run about and bark and they just look at me, wondering what the hell that's all about!

Great Danes aren't really built for running these days, they're one of the breeds we recommend to owners who have a lot of space but don't want to spend hours having to walk dogs. Make sure they get at least 16-20 hours of sleep a day, then they should be up for a walk. Age is a factor as well, They come into their prime by 3, then are really veterans by about 5 or 6.

 

[BusinessTradeCentre]

There are loads of websites to sign up and advertise your pet services, pawshake is one. I have used this in the past to find local pet sitters.

I would suggest signing up with a few of these, you will have jobs coming out of your ears...

Also you mentioned that you had to tell the council about your business for tax purposes? That's not right. All you have to do is register as self employed. If you wanted to be legit.

 

[cheryl knowles]

Thanks for all your replies,some good advice there. I signed up yo Pawshake a few days ago.Seems a good site. I have a page on Facebook but have only got 2 people so far liking my page. I need to get more seeing it. I need to add more photos for a start.
Good advice about the National business register. I myself thought it wasn't legit.
My neighbour has her own van and travels outside our city to pick up dogs and takes them out in the countryside for walks. I have only been trying to get customers local to begin with. But maybe I should look further afield.
Everything else I will give a go. Thanks and fingers crossed for me!

 

[billybob99]

These guys raised $19m for dog walking; https://wagwalking.com/

 

[paulears]

Dog owners tend to be social so word of mouth is important. It's likely that adverts alone aren't enough because like kennels, it's the experience for the dogs people worry about. If you wear a fluorescent jacket with your business name on it when you walk, people will chat and if they like you, remember you. Locally that's important. A friend if mine in Ireland started walking on dog, then it just grew. He never walks that far because he talks so much, he left his stressful banking job and now has others working for him. Personality is critical. You are after better off people in full time work. Shop window advertising is not the right way to do it.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

I have a page on Facebook but have only got 2 people so far liking my page.

Get all your friends and family to like and circulate the page and ask if they can add a recommendation when sharing.

 

[BustersDogs]

He never walks that far because he talks so much, he left his stressful banking job and now has others working for him.

Hopefully his staff are doing what owners are paying him for and walking the dogs, rather than taking them out and spending time standing around chatting. :-/

 

[paulears]

Nah - I suspect that most dog walking is social activity for the dogs and less of pure exercise. Some of his clients put their animals into a dog hotel - where they have music and TVs!

 

[BustersDogs]

Nah - I suspect that most dog walking is social activity for the dogs and less of pure exercise. Some of his clients put their animals into a dog hotel - where they have music and TVs!

Unfortunately that's why dog behaviour in this country is going downhill.

 

[BustersDogs]

I so wanted to say 'going to the dogs' there...

 

[Colin Forrest]

Whilst it is somewhat of an informal channel, Gumtree can be great for dog walkers. I know quite a few people who do dog walking/ sitting as a full time job (more or less) and they almost entirely built up a customer base from Gumtree. If you focus on paid advertising and website design for this, then people will expect you to already have built up a reputation and have the relevant accreditations. A good way to side track this is to use informal channels and start building up customers this way. Not only can you then use these on your formal page, but you will also have some customers to keep you going.