Starting a dog walking business can give you the freedom to be your own boss, while doing something you enjoy. However, as with all businesses, there is an element of risk.
It’s important to understand what those risks are, and what you can do to protect you and your business if something goes wrong.
What are the main risks of starting a dog walking business?
The most obvious risks involve something happening to, or with, a dog in your care, e.g. losing a dog while out walking, or a dog suffering an accident or injury.
There is also a chance that a dog could cause injury to another person or animal, or damage to a third party’s property or your personal belongings.
How likely are these risks to occur?
It is easy to think that, by operating in a safe and sensible manner, these types of incidents will never happen to you. However, despite good training, dogs can be unpredictable, and incidents outside of your control can suddenly occur without warning.
If your dog walking business is found to be the cause of an accident or incident, you could face a significant financial claim for damages and compensation as well as liability for legal fees and vet bills.
Depending on the circumstances, the cost of a compensation claim could multiply if the person making the claim was seriously injured, and you were at fault.
Are there other potential risks to consider?
Exposure to certain risks can vary according to how your business is set up. For example, if you have a volunteer who helps you walk the dogs, there is always a possibility they may suffer an injury as a result of their work.
Even if they’re just helping you out for free, any compensation claim that arises from an incident will still be your responsibility.
Some other potential situations to be mindful of include:
- losing a client’s house keys (if you are responsible for collecting a dog from the client’s home)
- losing your licence (if you have animals board with you)
- losing a vehicle you use for work, or other equipment (due to theft or an accident)
How can I protect against these risks?
There are a number of sensible measures you can take to protect your dog walking business and minimise exposure to certain risks.
Consider your business structure
How you set up your business can be a factor. Setting up as a sole trader is relatively straightforward, but it means your personal and business assets will be treated as one. If you are sued and can’t pay the damages, your personal assets could be at risk.
Setting up as a limited company is a bit more complex, but it means any liabilities will be recovered from your business assets only, not your personal assets.
Have robust knowledge, systems, and policies from the start
While you don’t need formal qualifications to be a dog walker, it’s important to give careful consideration to the way you will operate while working.
You should consider gaining some form of experience in dog walking or training in practical aspects of canine care and management before opening for business.
One of the most important practical aspects will be how you conduct the dog walks, e.g.
Make sure you are properly insured
An important and effective way to protect your business is to have pet business insurance in place.
A good pet business insurer will be able to provide you with a comprehensive insurance package that covers the specific risks your business is likely to face.
When it comes to dog walking, certain types of insurance are essential. Always check that any potential insurance package you may be offered contains the following:
There may be other types of optional insurance that your business will require, due to its operating circumstances. For example, if you have any employees (whether part-time or volunteers) it is a legal requirement to have employers’ liability insurance.
Getting the best insurance for your dog walking business
Finding an insurer you can trust, and who understands your business, is important when deciding on dog walking insurance.
For almost two decades, Pet Business Insurance has specialised in the provision of tailored cover for small- and medium-sized pet and animal businesses, including professional dog walkers.
Our comprehensive dog walking insurance includes public liability and pet accident and injury insurance, alongside other essentials such as cover for loss of keys and equipment.
We also offer important options that certain businesses may need, depending on their circumstances, such as employers’ liability cover and professional indemnity insurance.
To discuss your dog walking business insurance requirements, get in touch with Pet Business Insurance today. Call 01284 736 874, or complete our online enquiry form.