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What Will I Need For Dog Walking
Posted By: daddysbrattgirl9* on 7/6/2005 10:20 PM (CST) 250 Points
i just started today and havnt finished the flieres what else will i need for them

Posted by: Papadoc (Steve)* Accepted Answer
7/6/2005 10:35 PM (CST)
A leash and some lazy customers with more cash than brains and a willingness to spend it.

Good luck
 
Posted by: michael Accepted Answer
7/7/2005 8:25 AM (CST)
Here's a novel idea. Bring some with you when you're walking your customer's dogs. When you see other people walking dogs, ask if it is theirs. Give them your card. On a very nice day, you won't make a sale. When its -15 degrees, they'll be all over you.

Michael

PS Papadoc would also probably be against paying someone to go get your mail! :)
 
Posted by: elambert Accepted Answer
7/7/2005 9:13 AM (CST)
If dog walking is something you plan to do for your neighbors as a summer job, you could get away with some flyers and business cards (good name and logo could also help).

If this is business you plan to start and maintain for a longer period of time or if you are going to be walking dogs of strangers, I would approach things a little more formally. Come up with a good name and go online and setup a Limited Liability Corporation (about $300 or so). This will provide you protection from personal liability if a dog gets loose, hurt, or even worse while in your possession. Then
get low cost logo and business cards designed (about $200), create flyers, and go at it.

Happy trails...

Ernie
Ernie
 
Posted by: peanutpeanut Accepted Answer
7/8/2005 6:39 PM (CST)
I would find out where in your community dog obdience classes are being held and then let people know about your service there. Also you could contact breeders, dog clubs, your local spca, pet stores that sell dog food, community bulletin boards.
 
Posted by: Jim Deveau/Catalyst* Accepted Answer
7/10/2005 1:42 PM (CST)
hi daddysbrattgirl9:

Let's be pratical about your business. I am guessing you are doing this alone - that this is your own business. If so - you can walk about 6 dogs at a time - assuming they are compatible. You must know that morning, noon, andevening are the best times, but that mid-day and afternoon walks are fine too. You must also know that at least a 30 minute walk makes sense to an owner.

So - if you want to work an 8 hour day - accounting for a lunch - getting to clients - having a rest time - not walking more than 3 dogs at once - assuming your clients are all VERY close to each other - I would guess AT MOST - you can take care of about 30 clients.

Think QUALITY of your marketing efforts - NOT QUANTITY. Skip the website - there is no need and no one would want you to babysit their child (trust me - this is how a dog owner feels about a dog) based on a website.

People will hire you if they KNOW you - SEE YOU in action - HEAR ABOUT you from a trusted friend OR professional - or READ ABOUT YOU in a credible news story or other communication.

Focus your marketing efforts on your neighborhood - places you can get to easily - with the most dogs.

The best way to advertise is to focus on all the places dog lovers interact in your "marketing area",

Parks and Dog Walk areas.
Vet offices.
Pet Groomers.
Obediance Schools.
Kennels.
Pet Stores.
Grocery Stores with Pet Supplies.
Building Lobbies.

The very best advertising is YOU while you are walking your dogs. Create a unique shirt or hat - something tasteful - and/or a unique "sleeve" that goes on the leashes with a small "flag" for your business name/logo. Talk to other pet owners in the parks and walk areas - let them know you are looking for more clients - and ask if they might know someone they can refer you too.

REWARD people in your network for their referrals and/or advertising of you to others. Bring little pouches of dog treats and/or pet toys with your business name on them as a thank-you for their ideas and/or suggestions. Get to know doormen - ask them about potential clients - have thank-you gifts for referrals. Bulletin boards are fine - but remember - its the personal referral you need.

I hope this helps.
 
Posted by: skoobie99 Accepted Answer
7/11/2005 11:42 AM (CST)
All previous comments are great.

I would focus on the reason why people would want YOU to walk their dogs. Yes, seeing you in action, getting a recommendation from a friend, or picking up your flyer/card all work, but one thing I didn't see mentioned is TIME.

As Jim Deveau/Catalyst mentioned, there are real limitations to how many animals/owners you will be able to handle, so getting the word out to the RIGHT clientale is very important. If people hire you to walk their dogs, they will likley be short on TIME and one group that comes to mind is busy professionals. Targeting your advertising, flyers, etc. to this group will likely generate more "leads" for you. You can do this by looking at specific businesses, specific neighborhoods, or through specific pet-focused associations.

Hope this helps,
John
 
Posted by: Mushfique Manzoor Accepted Answer
7/16/2005 3:14 AM (CST)
hi there

great response from Jim. he has covered everything that you need to know for your business.

also, echoing Skobie, fix your target customers, those who are pressed for time, then advertise in places where they frequent most.

since you have mentioned that you have done the fliers, following is a link to a question on dog walking flyers asked earlier, this might be helpful for you.

http://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstid=7675

hope that helps

cheers!!
 
Posted by: elambert Member Response
7/22/2005 10:56 AM (CST)
For clairification purposes, I did not suggest creating a website.

I did recommend seperating personal and business assets and liability by establishing a Limited Liability Corporation. Sole Proprietership does not provide this protection.

There are many different web sites that let you incorporate for about $300 to $400. (see www.corporation.com www.mycorporation.com www.legalzoom.com www.bizfilings.com www.comaniesinc.com www.quick-inc.com). Attorneys usually charge $1000 or more.

Ernie
 
Posted by: carrie77 Moderator Response
7/26/2005 8:13 AM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question since it's more than 2 weeks old. We do this to reward the contributions of participants in a timely manner + to give increased visibility to the newer questions.

Thanks for participating!
Carrie (Production Editor)
 


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