For instance, a 퍼블릭 알바 self-employed dog walker could make $17.00 an hour (about 12.5% higher than someone working at another business). While those cities boast higher hourly rates, dog walkers in some other areas of the country can expect to have lower base pay on average.
In New York, dog walkers typically command higher fees, with median costs between $30 and $40 per 30-minute average walk, and $60 an hour for an hour-long stroll with your pup. Dog walkers charge on average $0.50 to $1.00 per minute, meaning that a medium 20-minute walk will run you $10 to $20, and a longer 30-minute walk will cost $15 to $30. Most dogs will receive a single 20- to 30-minute walk a day, costing $20 to $30, while younger, more active dogs may require two or three. Depending on your dogs size and age, the cost for behavior training starts at $10 more per 20-minute walk, and total costs vary depending on how much training is needed.
Your daily costs will vary depending on how many walks you have, how long each one lasts, and whether your dog is sharing a walk with another clients dog. Some dog walkers will establish a weekly or monthly fee with their clients instead of charging for individual walks. While per-walk rates can be lower, this is how dog walkers can be more consistent in how they are paid, a critical factor for everyone with recurring bills.
For a more accurate picture of the going rate for an hourly dog walking service, you can explore current average rates based on location and hours per week using our Pet Sitting Rate Calculator. You might even find the paid rates fluctuate depending on whether you are working weekdays or weekends, in peak hours or non-peak hours, and by how many dogs you are walking at a given time. Volume is variable, and you never have any certainty about a certain amount of hours that you will work every week.
A lower hourly rate is not a deterrentajust something to keep in mind when you are determining whether pet sitting is a good option for you. If you choose to strictly pursue dog walking, think about the range of hours you are able to offer, whether that is 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour or more. With dogs, you need to be available in the morning, at night, and maybe at lunchtime to break up the longer days.
You would only be doing a couple of pet sittings here and there, and you would still get to spend quality time with family and friends. Plus, you will get an extra payoff from doing pet sitting visits or overnight stays. You could also earn additional income if you are a dog trainer or provide other pet-care services.
Many dog walk apps will take a cut from your earnings, but in return, they provide you with ongoing opportunities for dog walking and pet care, and they have simplified systems that will make your job easier. You will still have to put some effort into making these apps work for you.
Whether you are looking to get started walking dogs or are ecstatic about a different pet-care business idea, Huckleberry is here to help get you covered with the coverage you need to start the business you want. Letas look at what you could make as a dog walker, along with other important business considerations you should consider before you decide that dog walking or pet sitting is the right business for you. In this guide, weall look at average dog walker salaries, and discuss factors that could help you maximize your earnings as the owner of a Fido-approved dog walking business.
You might have to hold down two jobs or find other sources of income before you can truly begin making a living from dog walking. If you need a little time to develop your clientele, figure out what services you actually want to offer, and you would like to be financially stable as you are learning, consider starting out with dog walking as a side gig. If you are a pet owner or a lover of dogs, becoming a professional dog walker could be an excellent career path for you.
While walking dogs is the main source of income for a professional walker, the dog owner might require other services, like sitting, boarding, or even pet pampering. Where you live, what extra services you offer (for instance, if you are also a pet sitter or offer other pet services), and even what type of dogs you walk can affect these prices. Some dog walking services charge around $0.5-$1 per minute for services combined, sitting your pet or walking your dog for up to three 20-minute visits per day. Many newer dog walking services offer updates on the dogs walking, as well as pickup and drop-off — When your dog needs some exercise, you are not even limited to finding a dog walker to take your dog for a lap around the neighborhood; you may even find a few that will take your dog out to a park off-leash or to a gated, larger dog park for an hour or two, and drop them back home.
Once you are clear on the scope of what your dog walking services will cover, list them on somewhere that customers will easily find them, like your website or business page.
Create a referral program for your customers, in which they receive a discount on each dog they bring in your direction. For example, you could give clients 10% off when they prepay for ten walks. You can still also increase revenue by walking more than one dog at a time (if your clients are OK with that).
Generally, the poop bags and treats will be provided by the dog parents, but according to Jacob Hensley, you need to invest in extra things – such as pet sitting insurance, and medical coverage for yourself.
If you are working a solid job in New York, walking as many dogs as possible a day, you could take home an income of around $800 per week — or $41,600 if you are working all 52 weeks a year — and that is if you are not working for a business and pocketing every penny that you earn, says Heather Doll.