Starting a dog walking business in New Zealand

In New Zealand, there's no national licence for dog walkers, but your council may well have rules. Auckland needs approval to walk more than four dogs in council-controlled public places, and Wellington asks commercial walkers to hold a licence. Beyond that, the basics are telling Inland Revenue you're self-employed, watching the GST threshold, getting insurance and looking after clients' information under the Privacy Act 2020.

This guide covers the main steps. It's general information rather than legal or tax advice, and council rules change, so check anything local with your council before you start.

Do you need to register with Inland Revenue?

Yes, in the sense that you need to tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself. As a sole trader, you use your personal IRD number for your business; there's no separate business number to get. At the end of each tax year you file an IR3 individual tax return, and your net profit is taxed at your personal rates.

Keep a record of what you earn and spend from day one. Because no one is deducting tax from your income, an accountant can help you plan for provisional tax as you grow.

When do you need to register for GST?

You must register for GST if your turnover was at least $60,000 in the last 12 months, or you expect it to be at least $60,000 in the next 12 months. Below that, registration is optional. Many solo walkers start below the threshold, but it's worth checking your rolling total every few months.

Do you need a licence or council approval to walk dogs?

Often, yes, depending on your council and how many dogs you walk. Two examples:

Council	What's required	Key details
Auckland	Council approval to walk more than four dogs in council-controlled public places	Up to 12 dogs. Approval is free and lasts 12 months. You wear a vest showing your approval number
Wellington	An annual commercial dog walking licence if you use shared public spaces	You complete a course and an assessment

Other councils have their own dog control bylaws, covering leash areas, off-leash areas, beaches and how many dogs one person can control. Read your council's dog policy and bylaw before you plan routes.

It's also reasonable to ask clients to confirm their dog is registered with their council and microchipped, and to note it in your records.

What about boarding and day care?

Anyone in charge of dogs has to meet the minimum standards in the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the relevant codes of welfare. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says the code of welfare for dogs applies to people who own or are in charge of dogs, including in day care and kennels. If you board dogs, the code of welfare for temporary housing of companion animals also applies to boarding establishments.

Councils may also have rules about kennels, the number of dogs at one property and the use of your home for business. Check with your council's animal management and planning teams before you take dogs overnight or open a day care.

What insurance do you need?

Insurance isn't usually a legal requirement, but it's the one thing not to skip. Common cover includes:

public liability, in case a dog in your care injures someone or damages property
care, custody and control, which covers the dogs themselves, since public liability often excludes animals in your care
key cover, if you hold clients' keys
business use on your vehicle insurance, if you'll drive dogs

Check the policy for limits on how many dogs you can walk at once, and whether off-leash walking is covered.

How does the Privacy Act 2020 affect you?

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to businesses of all sizes, including sole traders, and every business needs a privacy officer (for a solo walker, that's you). You'll collect names, addresses, phone numbers, vet details and sometimes door codes, so you need to look after them.

One change to know about: Information Privacy Principle 3A has applied since 1 May 2026. It covers personal information you collect indirectly, meaning from someone other than the person it's about. When that happens, you must take reasonable steps to let the person know, unless an exception applies. The Privacy Commissioner lists what to tell them, including:

that you've collected their information, and why
who will receive it
your name and contact details as the business holding it
their right to access and correct it

A common example for walkers is an emergency contact a client gives you. Telling that person you hold their details, or asking the client to pass on a short note from you, is a simple way to handle it. Read the Commissioner's IPP 3A guidance to see whether an exception applies in your situation.

How should you get paid?

For regular walks, direct debit saves a lot of chasing. Stripe calls its method NZ BECS Direct Debit. The client sets up a Direct Debit Authority (DDA) once, and you collect what's due from their bank account on the agreed dates.

Things to know:

Notifications. The scheme requires you to email the client within five days of setting up the authority, and to notify them about each debit. Stripe sends these emails by default.
Disputes. A client can dispute a debit for up to 120 days if they weren't notified, or if the amount or date differs from the notice. Clear, accurate invoices help a lot.
Timing. With Stripe, payments typically show as successful two business days after submission.

Card payments are a handy option for one-off bookings.

Your starting checklist

Tell Inland Revenue you're self-employed, using your personal IRD number
Track turnover against the $60,000 GST threshold
Check your council's dog walking rules, approvals and dog limits
If boarding or running a day care, read the MPI codes of welfare and check council rules
Get public liability and care, custody and control insurance
Write a privacy notice and plan how you'll handle IPP 3A
Set up direct debit and card payments
Write simple terms for clients to agree to

Our startup checklist covers more of the practical side, and the terms and conditions guide can help with payment terms and cancellations.

How Trusthound can help

Trusthound handles the day-to-day once you're set up: bookings and recurring schedules, card payments and BECS Direct Debit through your own Stripe account, daily care records, vaccination reminders, and walk updates for owners with photos and GPS routes. Clients agree to your terms in the app, so you have a clear record. See the dog walking software page to find out more.

Sources

Checked 20 October 2026.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules vary between areas and change over time, so check with your local authority or an adviser.

How to start a dog walking business in New Zealand