Start a Dog Walking Business
Honest, practical guidance on starting a dog walking business in the UK — council rules, insurance, trust, and building a schedule clients rely on. Delivered over video call, wherever you're based.
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How to Start a Dog Walking Business
Dog walking is one of the most accessible businesses on this list to start — genuinely low-cost, with regular clients booking daily or weekly walks rather than one-off visits, making it a naturally recurring business from day one.
What You'll Need to Get Started
Check Your Local Council's Rules
No national licence is required for walking a handful of dogs, but many councils cap group sizes — often around four — and some require a local permit.
The Right Insurance
Public liability that specifically includes Care, Custody and Control cover, so you're protected if a dog in your care is injured or gets loose.
A DBS Check
Not a legal requirement, but a genuine trust signal, especially if you'll have access to a client's home or keys.
Know the Law on Leads & Mess
Nationwide rules on keeping dogs under control, picking up after them, and preventing them frightening livestock apply to you as much as any owner.
Registering Your Business
Most dog walkers start as sole traders — the simplest structure, requiring registration with HMRC for Self Assessment once you earn over £1,000 in a tax year. A limited company is worth considering later, particularly once you're hiring.
The Real Costs of Starting
This is one of the lowest-cost businesses on this list to launch — often under £500 including insurance (typically £80–£150 a year) and a DBS check (around £25). Our free Planning Tool gives you an honest first estimate based on your specific plans.
How We Help Dog Walkers Specifically
Beyond the general start-up support, we help with the things that matter most for this trade: building trust and getting found locally through your Google Business Profile and word of mouth, turning single walks into regular weekly bookings through winning and keeping customers, and pricing sensibly around your real group-size capacity through straightforward financial tracking.
How much of this have you already worked out?
- Do you know your local council's rules on group dog walking, or are you assuming the national default applies everywhere?
- Does your insurance actually cover a dog in your care, not just general public liability?
- How many dogs can you comfortably and safely manage at once, and does your pricing reflect that real capacity limit?
- If a client wants boarding or day care alongside walking, do you know that needs a different licence entirely?
These aren't trick questions — most people starting out haven't sat down and answered them either. Your free call is where we figure out which of these matter most for you; working through the answers properly is what the ongoing mentoring is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence to start a dog walking business?
What insurance do I need?
Do I need a DBS check?
Can I offer boarding as well as walking?
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