How to Get Started with Your Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business in the UK
One of the most common questions we hear is, “How do I become a dog walker or pet sitter in the UK?”
Starting a dog walking or pet sitting business can be a rewarding career, but it’s important to understand exactly what you need to get started, from legal requirements and insurance to training and client trust.
Whether you’re looking to become a dog walker, start a pet sitting business from home, or grow into a professional pet care service, this guide explains the practical steps to help you start confidently and correctly.
Market Research: Is There Demand For Dog Walkers Or Pet Sitters?
Before you start a dog walking or pet sitting business, research whether there is demand in your local area. Many people searching “become a dog walker UK” assume the market is overcrowded, but competition often proves there is consistent demand.
Look at:
- Existing dog walking and pet sitting services nearby
- Pricing structures and services offered
- Gaps you could fill, such as one-to-one walks, specialist care, or flexible services
Understanding demand early helps you set realistic prices and position yourself as a professional dog walker or pet sitter from day one.
What Services Will You Offer
When deciding how to start a pet sitting business or dog walking service, it’s important to choose services that match your experience, confidence, and lifestyle. Many new professionals begin with dog walking or pop-in visits before expanding their services.Some of the common services include:
1. Dog Walking: This service involves taking dogs out for walks, providing them with exercise and mental stimulation. Dog walking can be offered on a one-to-one basis or in group walks, depending on your preference.
2. Pop-in Services: These services involve short visits to the client's home to check on their pets, feed them, and provide companionship. This could include cat sitting or dog sitting where you visit the pet at scheduled times during the day.
3. Home Dog Boarding: This service entails hosting pets in your own home overnight while their owners are away on vacation or business trips. It provides a more personalized and home-like environment for the pets compared to traditional kennels.
4. Doggy Day Care: In this service, pet owners drop off their dogs in the morning and pick them up in the late afternoon after a day of supervised play, socialization, and care. It is ideal for pet owners who are busy during the day and want their dogs to have company.
5. House Sitting: House sitting involves staying at the client's house while they are away to take care of their pets, water plants, collect mail, and ensure the security of the property. It offers peace of mind to homeowners knowing that their pets and home are being looked after.
6. Pet Taxi Service: This service involves transporting pets to vet appointments, grooming sessions, or any other destination they need to go when their owners are unable to do so themselves.
When deciding on which services to offer, consider whether you prefer group walks or one-to-one walks. Additionally, think about whether you are comfortable looking after dogs of all sizes or do you prefer smaller or larger breeds based on your experience and comfort level.
By offering a variety of services tailored to different needs and preferences of pet owners, you can attract a wider clientele base and establish yourself as a reliable and versatile pet sitter in the industry.
Making the switch from employed to self employed
Making the switch from being employed to self-employed can be a significant transition.
"It can be daunting to leave employment and work for yourself, especially if you rely on your income. We recommend that you start advertising your new business before you are available to start taking bookings. This way, you can secure some business for when you are ready to begin and even if you cannot service a particular booking due to scheduling conflicts, it will still provide an opportunity to promote your services to local pet owners.
Learn about the legal requirements for operating a pet sitting business. If you offer home boarding or doggy day-care services, you will need to obtain a license from your local authority. Additionally, you will need pet business insurance. NarpsUK has an affiliation with a trusted insurance partner for added peace of mind."
Deciding on a Business Name
When choosing a business name, you need something unique, and something which reflects what sort of business you run.
You can check whether your proposed business name is already in use by carrying out a Google search, and we also recommend checking with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to ensure that the name has not been trademarked. We always suggest adding your area name to your business name - i.e. Barnsley Dog Walkers, or Pet Sitting Sussex which will help with Google searches.
Business Planning
Create a solid business plan that outlines your goals, target market, pricing strategy, and marketing tactics, we offer a pet sitting and dog walking business plan with all of our membership packages.
Insurance
Business Insurance is a legal requirement for Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers. NarpsUK has an affiliation with Pet Business Insurance and our Silver and Gold members receive a 25% discount, prices start from £83.00.
Policies can be found on our insurance page.
Criminal Record Check
A Basic Disclosure Criminal Record Check is required by any pet sitter or dog walker who is holding keys.
This is also a requirement by most insurance companies. A Basic Disclosure check
can be obtained for a cost of £25 from the gov.uk website. The links to this are also provided in your NarpsUK account area.
Licensing
Licences are required by your local authority if you are boarding dogs in your own home or at a commercial premise, whether this is as a part of a daycare facility or overnight.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 provide all of the details of the requirements of the licence, but your local licensing officer can also help you with this. NarpsUK provides all of the template forms and policies that you will need as a part of your licence conditions.
Forms and Contracts
When starting a business, it is crucial to have the necessary forms and contracts in place to safeguard both your interests as a business owner and the rights of your customers. NarpsUK offers silver and gold memberships that include all the essential forms, service agreements, and contracts required for operating a business effectively.
The service agreements provided by NarpsUK have been meticulously crafted by a Contract Solicitor. These agreements are conveniently formatted in Microsoft Word, allowing for easy customization to incorporate your specific terms and conditions. Additionally, you can personalize these documents with your company logo and other pertinent business details.
Ensuring that you have well-drafted forms and contracts is essential for establishing clear expectations between you as a business owner and your clients. By utilizing the resources offered through NarpsUK's membership packages, you can streamline the process of creating legally sound documentation tailored to your business needs.
Managing Your Bookings
A booking system is essential to ensure you are carrying out tasks efficiently and getting paid on time. The easiest way to do this is by using a pet sitting software system; this doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Narpsuk software is only £12.00 a month and includes an app for when you are out and about. NarpsUK Gold & Bronze members get free access to our software. We offer a two-week free trial for you to give it a try. You can also choose to look at our software package if this is all you need.
Client Management
Explore the benefits of efficient booking systems and software to streamline your operations and keep track of appointments and payments.
Training And Qualifications For Dog Walkers And Pet Sitters
Although you don’t legally need qualifications to start dog walking, professional training helps you stand out and builds trust with pet owners. Many councils also require recognised qualifications for licensed services.
NarpsUK offers:
- Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Courses
- Canine & Feline First Aid
- Animal Law & Regulations
- Business-focused pet care training
These courses are discounted for members and designed for those starting a pet sitting business in the UK or becoming a professional dog walker.
Why Join NarpsUK When Starting A Dog Walking Or Pet Sitting Business?
If you’re serious about becoming a professional dog walker or pet sitter, joining a recognised association gives your business instant credibility.
NarpsUK members receive:
- Professional recognition and trust
- Business support, advice, and templates
- Insurance guidance and discounts
- Training, resources, and marketing support
- A public profile to attract local pet owners
Many successful pet care businesses start with NarpsUK support to avoid common mistakes and grow faster with confidence.
Advertising
Most of the clients you get will more than likely be via your online presence, platforms like Google, Social Media, Yell.com, where you can get free listings. You want to ensure that when a pet owner in your area types in "dog walker and your town name" that you show up. Free listings work best when linked to a website. NarpsUK provides a whole range of information sheets to its members about branding, marketing, and advertising to establish a strong online presence as part of our NarpsUK memberships. If you don't plan to have a website built just yet, don't worry. With our membership, you get your own 7-page profile on our website with a unique URL which can be used as a mini-website. You can use this on free listings to take prospective clients directly to your 7-page profile that is also used on our 'postcode search facility' to attract new customers too.
Establish a strong online presence through Google, social media, and other platforms. Leverage our information sheets to improve your branding, marketing, and advertising efforts.
If you’re ready to take the next step, NarpsUK offers flexible membership options and access to tools, training, and guidance to help you start a dog walking or pet sitting business the right way.
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