My plan

How to Start a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business

Dog walking and pet sitting need almost no equipment, but clients hand you their keys and their pets. Trust, safety procedures and reliable scheduling are the business. Most growth comes from neighborhood referrals.

Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Sources linked inline

Startup costs

We haven't found a reliable published cost range for this business, so we don't show one. Costs vary widely by market, equipment and whether you buy new or used. Plug your own quotes into the worksheet:

Open a dog walking and pet sitting cost worksheet →

SBA 7(a) loans in this industry

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (NAICS 812910): 1,641 loans approved in FY2024–FY2026. Median loan $238,500; middle half $55,000–$564,000.

Loan size is not startup cost — these loans also fund acquisitions, real estate and working capital. Full breakdown and caveats →

How much competition is there?

Census industry: Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (NAICS 812910)

Nationwide: 25,551 employer establishments (2023) and 162,773 businesses without employees (2024).

See counts for your county → Counts aren't a measure of saturation — see the caveats on the tool page.

Equipment and supplies

  • Spare leashes, harnesses and waste bags
  • Pet first-aid kit
  • Secure key storage system
  • Scheduling, GPS walk tracking and payment app
  • Weather gear

Licenses and registration

  • If you form an LLC or corporation, register it with your state; if you use a business name other than your own, file a trade name (DBA) where your state requires it (in some states that's the county).
  • Dog walking and pet sitting usually don't need a state license, but some cities require a business license or limit how many dogs one person can walk.
  • Boarding pets in your home can trigger zoning or kennel rules — check before offering overnight boarding at your place.
  • Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire employees or form an LLC or corporation. Beware of sites that charge for this. [source]
  • Register an LLC or corporation with your state's business registration office (sole proprietors usually register a trade name/DBA instead). [source]

Insurance to consider

  • Pet care liability including animal bailee coverage
  • Bonding (protects clients against theft)
  • Workers' compensation once you hire walkers

Get quotes from several carriers or an independent agent; coverage needs depend on your contracts, state and staff.

Financing options

  • SBA 7(a) loans — the SBA's main guaranteed loan program, made through participating lenders. [source]
  • SBA Microloans — smaller loans delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. [source]
  • SBA Lender Match — a free tool that connects you with interested SBA lenders. [source]
  • Free counseling from your local SBDC or SCORE chapter can help you build the business plan lenders ask for. [source]

Estimate payments with the loan calculator, then check runway with the cash flow projection.

Ongoing operating expenses

  • Scheduling app
  • Insurance
  • Fuel
  • Supplies
  • Marketing

Use the break-even calculator to see how many jobs or sales cover them.

Common mistakes

  • No written service agreement and vet release
  • Walking too many dogs at once
  • Poor key security
  • No backup walker for sick days
  • Not asking new clients for a meet-and-greet

Finding customers

  • Neighborhood apps and groups
  • Vets, groomers and pet stores
  • Apartment complexes
  • Referral discounts

Startup checklist

Ticks are saved on this device and appear on My plan.

Compare with other businesses

Sources