Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Businesses for Sale

With so many people working and busy outside the home today, dog walkers and pet sitters have never been in greater demand. If you’re thinking of starting a dog walking or pet sitting business, you need to love animals, be trustworthy, and have plenty of time when you are available. In order for your business to succeed, you might be in high demand during holidays, on weekends, evenings, at lunch hours – times when you might like to do things for yourself. Instead, you would be taking dogs for walks, feeding pets, giving medication, or cleaning cages. Flexible hours are a must. Most people who engage in pet sitting and especially dog walking are also physically fit.

Along with walking dogs you might have to lift a big dog, move a crate, or carry a big bag of pet food. Pet first aid skills are also a good idea.

Benefits of buying an existing pet sitting or dog walking business

If walking dogs and pet sitting appeal to you, there are plenty of benefits for this kind of business:

• You get to spend time with some great pets. If you love cats, dogs, and other animals, then pet sitting and dog walking are a great way to enjoy being around pets.
• Dog walking and pet sitting have low or no overhead costs. You might have to carry a few extra leashes or collars with you or some first aid supplies, just to be safe, but, for the most part, pet owners provide all of the supplies you will need such as pet food, toys, and other items. You can use your phone or computer for keeping track of appointments.
• You don’t need a brick-and-mortar store. Most dog walkers and pet sitters work from home or their vehicle. You don’t need storage or a place to keep supplies. Your work is usually done at your clients’ homes and in public places such as parks.
• How much you work is up to you. You can work as many or as few hours as you like. Many dog walkers and pet sitters work on a part-time basis. You can work as a hobby. If you build a client base that’s large enough, you can turn your hobby into a full-time business. According to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, the average rate for a single visit to a pet is about $16.
• Finding clients is usually easy. Neighbors, pet stores, and veterinarians are all good places to establish relationships and build a client base.
• Most dog walkers and pet sitters get lots of daily exercise. If you want more exercise and you’re looking for a way to stay physically fit – while enjoying pets – walking dogs and pet sitting are great activities! You may walk miles per day, especially if you have some big dogs among your clients.

If you have flexible hours and you’re reasonably fit, being a dog walker or pet sitter could be a great way to earn some extra money. And this kind of work can lead to a full-time business.