The 10 Best Dog Walking Franchises - Pet Business Masters! (2024)

Dog walking franchises exist to help you speed up the process of becoming successful in your dog walking business. Below you'll find a list of the top 10 to look into.

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Pros & Cons

The main benefit that you'll get with the established dog walking franchises is that they'll help you avoid the mistakes that come with inexperience so you can build your business faster.

The main drawback of these ​companies is that it can be expensive to join and expensive to pay monthly royalties.

​Because these dog walking franchises can be so helpful, yet so expensive, I was wondering if there was a way to bridge the gap between the education and support that a franchise provides with a much more affordable solution.

After looking around for a long time, I could not find anything that offered the guidance and support of a franchise but at a cost that anyone could afford. So, I decided to create my own solution.

It's called the Pet Business Masters! Academy. ​

​If you're evaluating dog walking franchises and want the support that they offer for a fraction of the price, then check out what the Academy offers.

Top 10 Dog Walking Franchises​

In no particular order, here are the top 10 franchises to look into:

  1. ​Pet Sit Pros: Based in California
  2. Out U Go!: Based in Chicago
  3. SnaggleFoot: Locations primarily in the midwest and eastern part of the nation
  4. Fetch! Pet Care: One of the largest, if not the largest, dog walking franchises around
  5. Sitter 4 Paws: Mostly in the western US
  6. Walk My Dog: If you're looking for something in the UK, check out this company
  7. Dogs Love Running!: This is the dog walking franchise that I personally started. We have existing franchisees but I would recommend that my Pet Business Masters! Academy is a much better fit than these franchises for 95% of people. Inside the Academy, you'll find the exact training we use in my franchise
  8. Paw Pals: Another for UK residents
  9. In Home Pet Services: Located mostly in New York
  10. Camp Bow Wow: Known more for dog daycare, they also provide dog walking

How Much It Costs

There are two main components of starting these dog walking franchises. You've got your "franchise fee" and your "monthly royalty."

Each company is different but you can expect the franchise fee to be an upfront cost of between about $5000 and $15000 in most cases.

The monthly royalty is typically between 3% and 6% of your gross sales per month. There may or may not be a monthly minimum royalty payment.

There may be other franchise fees for marketing and other related costs. On top of all this, of course then you also have all your other costs of simply running your business.

This all adds up pretty quickly.​

Contrast all this to joining the Pet Business Masters! Academy which has NO franchise fee and the monthly investment is a tiny fraction of what these dog walking franchises require.

How About You?

What's your goal with joining a franchise? To get help? Build a business faster? Have a known name? Leave us a comment below, OK?​

The 10 Best Dog Walking Franchises - Pet Business Masters! (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest dog walking business? ›

The biggest dog walking and pet sitting companies are Wag! and Rover.

How profitable is a dog walking business? ›

To give you a general idea of a dog walker's earnings, HomeGuide reports the following national average rates for low, medium, and high-end dog walkers: Low-end dog walking services: $10 per 30-minute walk. Mid-range dog walking services: $20 per 30-minute walk.

Is it hard to start a dog walking business? ›

Becoming a dog walker is undoubtedly a viable business venture to consider if you're passionate about dogs. Not only is dog walking in high demand, but the business also has a relatively low barrier to entry and is highly profitable, although it does come with its own risks.

Is dog walking a good side hustle? ›

You can make really excellent money as a dog walker. I know dog walkers who walk six, eight dogs a day at $25 - $30 for a half an hour walk, with options for a longer walk at a higher cost. But, those are dog walkers in business for themselves, not working as subcontractors for entities like Wag.

What are the disadvantages of dog walking business? ›

However, there are some important negative aspects of owning a dog walking business that you should be aware of:
  • Dealing with clients directly can be difficult. ...
  • Making your business succeed can be difficult. ...
  • You have to clean up after the dogs. ...
  • You may lose business if you take time off. ...
  • High liability. ...
  • Physically demanding.

How much should you be paid to walk a dog? ›

See how Time To Pet can help your business!

Dog walkers typically charge between $20 and $30 for a 30-minute dog walking service. The average cost across the US for a 30-minute dog walking service is $24.84 in 2022. Want to see other service durations?

How much does Wag make? ›

But here's the kicker: Wag takes a 40% cut of your payout for walks, drop-ins, boardings and sittings. That's twice as much as Rover's fee. The site takes 30% for in-home and digital training services.

How much does it cost to start up a dog walking business? ›

Start-up costs are relatively low for dog walking businesses. Your major expenditures at the beginning will be: Public liability insurance – covers you in case a member of the public makes a claim against you if they are injured. This will probably cost you between £80-£150 per year.

How do I make my dog walking business successful? ›

Here are 5 key biz tips to help you run a successful, thriving dog walking business:
  1. Charge pro rates. Want to get more clients? ...
  2. Protect your income with good policies. ...
  3. Get clients (aka marketing) ...
  4. Be picky. ...
  5. Seek a pro education.

How do I expand my dog walking business? ›

To attract new clients quickly, consider offering promotions and incentives for your dog walking services. Offer discounts for first-time clients or package deals for multiple walks or recurring services. Create referral programs where existing clients receive incentives for referring new clients.

Are dog walkers in demand? ›

"But the demand for dog walkers has also shot up as people have to return to work, so I subcontract that work out to three other women." The number of dogs being adopted surged dramatically during the lockdowns.

Which 29 year old paralegal makes $3750 per month from her dog sitting side hustle? ›

29-year-old paralegal makes $3,750 per month from her dog-sitting side hustle: It's 'like a second salary' In 2021, Alison Chan was looking for a flexible side hustle while studying for the bar. Now, she earns $3,750 per month dog-sitting.

How much does Rover take? ›

As a sitter or walker, Rover takes a 15% cut of your earnings, so it's worth adjusting your rates to account for this if there's a certain amount you'd like to earn per service.

How much do NYC dog walkers make? ›

How much does a Dog Walker make in New York City, New York? As of Jun 9, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Dog Walker in New York City is $19.41 an hour.

Are Wag and Rover the same company? ›

Rover and Wag feature the same services, with a couple of exceptions. Both allow you to walk, sit or board pets for money. But you can run a doggy day care only through Rover, and you'll have to use Wag to work as a trainer. Seeking work that's available through either app?

What is the market size of dog walkers? ›

The pet type segment includes cats, dogs and others. In 2022, the dogs segment dominated the market with the largest share of 83.25% and revenue of 2.06 billion. In 2022, the dog walking segment dominated the market with the highest market share of 57.31% and market revenue of 1.42 billion.

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