Getting your dog walking business ready for the first client

You've decided to start a dog walking business, and your first client is close. Before you pick up that first lead, it's worth getting a few practical things in place. None of them take long, and they'll save you a lot of trouble later.

This guide is written with the UK in mind. Rules differ between areas, so treat it as a checklist to work through rather than legal advice, and check anything local with your council.

1. Tell HMRC you're self-employed

If you're working for yourself as a sole trader, you'll usually need to register for Self Assessment with HMRC. The deadline is 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started. Keep a simple record of what you earn and spend from day one: it makes your first tax return far easier.

If you're setting up a limited company instead, the rules are different, and an accountant can help you decide which suits you.

2. Get the right insurance

Insurance is the one thing not to skip. Dog walkers commonly take out:

• public liability, in case a dog in your care injures someone or damages property
• care, custody and control, which covers the dogs themselves if they're injured, lost or become ill while with you
• key cover, if you'll hold clients' house keys

Read the policy carefully. Many set a limit on how many dogs you can walk at once, and some exclude off-lead walking. Check whether you need business use on your vehicle insurance if you'll be driving dogs anywhere.

3. Check the local rules

In England, dog walking on its own isn't one of the activities that needs an animal activity licence, unlike dog day care and boarding. But there are often local rules:

• Some councils use public spaces protection orders that limit how many dogs one person can walk at once, or require dogs to be on leads in certain areas.
• Some parks and landowners ask professional walkers to hold a permit.

Look on your council's website, and check the rules for the parks and open spaces you plan to use. If you're outside England, check the equivalent rules where you are.

4. Write simple terms

Clear terms prevent most disagreements. Cover:

• your prices, and how and when clients pay
• your cancellation policy, for both you and the client
• what happens in an emergency, including permission to take a dog to a vet
• how you'll handle keys
• whether walks are on or off lead, and solo or in groups

Have each new client agree to your terms before the first walk.

5. Collect the right information

For every dog, you'll want:

• the owner's contact details and an emergency contact
• the vet's name and phone number
• vaccination status
• health conditions, allergies and any medication
• behaviour around other dogs, people, traffic and recall
• written consent for emergency vet treatment, and for photos if you plan to share them

Because you're collecting personal information, you're responsible for keeping it safe. Check whether you need to pay the data protection fee on the Information Commissioner's Office website. Many small businesses do, though there are exemptions.

6. Do a meet and greet

Before the first walk, meet the client and their dog at home. It's your chance to see how the dog behaves, check the lead and harness, agree how you'll get in and out, and answer questions. It also helps a nervous dog get used to you.

7. Think about first aid

A canine first aid course is well worth doing, and some insurers look on it favourably. Carry a basic first aid kit, water, spare leads and poo bags on every walk.

8. Decide how you'll get paid

Agree how you'll be paid before you start. Direct Debit and card payments are easier to manage than cash or bank transfer, especially as you take on more clients. Our guide to taking Direct Debit as a dog walker explains how it works.

9. Keep simple records

Even without a licence, a short note after each walk is good practice: when you collected and returned the dog, where you went, and anything notable. If there's ever a question about what happened, you'll have the answer.

Ready for the first walk

Once these are in place, you're ready. Trusthound can help with the day-to-day: bookings, walk updates with photos and routes, and getting paid by card or Direct Debit, all from your phone. Good luck with your first client.