How to start a dog walking business

What does a dog walking or pet sitting business involve?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this work with animal care and service workers. Pet sitters look after animals while the pet owner is away, and most pet sitters feed, walk and play with pets daily (BLS: Animal Care and Service Workers). About a quarter of animal caretakers, 25%, were self-employed, and the median annual wage for animal caretakers was $35,360 in May 2025.

It is a business you can start with little equipment, but it runs on trust: owners hand you their keys and their pets. Clear policies on cancellations, emergencies and what happens if a dog is unwell, written down before the first booking, protect you both.

Do I need a license to walk dogs?

Usually you need a general business license, and some cities add rules for professional walkers. The BLS notes that certifications are not required but may help workers establish their credentials, and that many states require self-employed animal care and service workers to have a business license. Check with your state and city before you take your first client; our guide to business licenses and permits shows where to look.

Cities can also have their own rules for professional dog walkers, such as limits on how many dogs one person may walk at once in public spaces. Ask your city's animal services or parks department what applies where you will walk.

Does pet sitting in my home need a kennel license?

It can. Rules for keeping other people's dogs overnight are set by states and cities, and caring for dogs in your own home for pay may count as boarding. Two examples:

• Pennsylvania. The state's Dog Law defines a boarding kennel as any establishment available to the general public where dogs are housed for compensation by the day, week or other period, and its definition of a kennel includes boarding kennels as well as places that keep or transfer at least 26 dogs in a calendar year (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: Kennel license types).
• San Francisco. Running an animal boarding facility or kennel needs a health permit from the Department of Public Health (SF.gov: Animal boarding facility permit).

If you plan overnight stays, look up your state's dog law and your city's permits before you advertise them.

How do I keep myself and the dogs safe?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says dogs can sometimes carry germs that can make people and other animals sick, and advises washing your hands after handling a dog, its food, waste or supplies. Dog bites can cause pain and injury and spread germs that cause infection (CDC: Dogs). Carry hand sanitizer and waste bags, learn each dog's temperament before the first walk, and keep the owner's vet details with you.

Insurance is worth pricing before you start. The SBA describes general liability insurance as protecting against financial loss from bodily injury and property damage, and says laws requiring insurance vary by state (SBA: Launch your business); see our guide to small business insurance.

Pricing and tax

Price each walk or visit from your time, travel between homes and the number of dogs, and decide how you will handle holidays and last-minute bookings; our guide on how to price a product or service shows how to find your break-even point. You will owe self-employment tax on your net earnings as well as income tax (IRS: Self-employed individuals tax center). The general guide on how to start a service business covers the rest of the setup.