When you want to get started on an animal care career, a good place to begin is through dog walking. However, when you’re trying to start your own dog walking business, it can be difficult to know what to do first. That said, with the correct level of knowledge and motivation, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to make a success of things.
So, with this in mind, we now look at 3 tips for you to use to get your animal care career off to a flyer! By reading to the end, aspiring dog walkers everywhere will have a better idea about what needs to be taken care of in order to start your business and then gain more clients.
Tip #1 - Research, Research, Research
To begin with, there are a number of things you’ll need to do in terms of registering your dog walking business, such as giving it an official name, setting up a business bank account and establishing precisely how much you’re going to be charging for your services. You’ll also need to do as much online research as you can to see what the role requires and what’s expected of you.
It pays to know things like where dogs can and can’t be walked, how many dogs it’s legal to walk at once, what insurance you might need, how to administer first aid to dogs and whatever else you think might be pertinent. It certainly does pay to be fully prepared.
Tip #2 - Marketing Your Dog-Walking Business
Next, if you want your animal care career to get off to a good start, you’re going to need some clients. And whilst you may already have one or two dogs you walk already, you’re still going to need to get the word out about the services you offer. Marketing comes in many forms, some of which are either free or very low-cost. So, whether you want to create yourself a website or put an ad in your local paper, you’ll need to do something to publicise yourself. How you do it is up to you.
Having some animal care experience or credentials can certainly give you an edge, but it’s not essential. There are plenty of online courses that can support a successful career in animal care, though they’re not a requirement to become a dog walker. However, showcasing your expertise in animal care can definitely make you more appealing to clients and enhance your credibility.
Tip #3 - Building a Customer Base
Something that all dog walkers need to concern themselves with, regardless of how long they’ve been operating, is building a customer base, as it’s the key to long-term success. Rather than hoping that you gain business through simple word of mouth, you can do several proactive things to boost your client numbers.
You could:
- Introduce yourself to your local vets and give out some business cards
- Attend local pet events to hand out flyers
- Attend networking events and ask the people you meet to recommend you
- Create an introductory offer to entice clients to try you out
- Promote yourself on social media
Of course, these are just a few ways to promote yourself and the services you provide. There are countless routes you can take to spread the word, but don’t be too concerned if things are slow to begin with, as it’s often the case with startup businesses.
So, there you have it, three useful tips on how to get your dog walking business off the ground. While they may be basic tips, if followed, you give yourself a great chance for success. Did you know that there are flexible, affordable courses online to help your startup business even more?
Online, Flexible, Cost-Effective Courses
If you’re currently trying to get your dog walking business or any other type of business started, you could benefit a great deal from taking a How to Start a Business course with Online Courses Australia. This 36-hour study course will teach you how to master your use of time, as well as everything else you need to know to launch your business successfully.
We also have a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced vet nurse courses relating to a variety of different business disciplines. All of our courses can be taken at your own pace and paid for in instalments if necessary. If you’d like to know more about the courses available, click here.
