Dog walking and pet sitting is one of the few businesses you can start this month with almost no money. Your main costs are insurance, a basic website or booking page, and supplies like leashes, waste bags and treats.
It sits inside the pet care industry, where services such as walking, sitting, grooming and boarding made up $14.3 billion of US spending in 2025.
Who it suits
You are dependable, you like animals, and you live in or near a neighborhood with busy working households and apartment buildings. You don’t mind early mornings, weekends or rain.
What you need before your first client
- A business structure. Many walkers start as a sole proprietor, then form an LLC once they have steady income. See the A–Z guide.
- Insurance and bonding. Pet care liability insurance covers injury to an animal in your care. Bonding protects clients if something goes missing from their home. Many clients will ask for both.
- A simple service agreement. It should cover emergencies, vet authorization, key handling and cancellations.
- A booking method. A pet care scheduling app or a simple online form.
How to get the first 10 clients
Start with people who already trust you: neighbors, friends, coworkers. Post in local community groups, leave cards at vet clinics and groomers, and offer a free meet-and-greet. Ask every happy client for a review. In this business, reviews and referrals are your marketing.
How it makes money
Charge per walk or per visit, and sell weekly packages to lock in recurring revenue. Holiday sitting and overnight stays command higher rates. Check local competitors’ prices before you set yours.
How to grow
Once your schedule is full, raise prices or hire walkers. Hiring turns the job into a business, but it adds payroll, training and the risk that comes with someone else caring for clients’ pets. Some owners add group walks, training or pet taxi services instead.
Watch out for
Burnout, last-minute cancellations, and the gap between holiday rushes and slow months. Set a cancellation policy from day one.
Last reviewed October 17, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.
