Why We Don't Offer £10 Dog Walks!

There has been a flurry of new people setting up dog walking services in the last few months as people seek a better work life balance and the freedom that working for themselves.Many of whom are saying they will do a 1 hour dog walk for £10 per dog and only £5 if there is a second dog from the same home. Now if you see that and see that we are more than double that when money is tightening thanks to the latest budget and it being the festive season you might thinking why pay more? Below we want to share with you why we charge what we charge and won’t be price matching these walkers.

Firstly, let’s make it clear a 1 hour dog walk is not really an hour of the walkers life, it is nearer 90mins when you take in to account the travel to and from the walk and the behind the scenes admin of planning your day, invoicing etc.

There are costs that all walkers need to cover:

Business insurance approx. £1 per day

Training = estimated at £30 per year (year 1 Pet First Aid, year 2 dog body language, year 3 dog behaviour etc) £0.15 per day.This is a minimum, to be honest we feel that £60-100 per year especially in the first year is more realistic.

Equipment (leads, poo bags etc) £1.00 per walk

Mileage (we are using this at 45p per mile rather than listing all the vehicle expenses) 3miles between each dog assumed = £1.25 per walk

Wages £12.21 per hour (assuming minimum wage take home) so at 90min is £18.31, and most people don’t start a business to work for minimum wage or less.

Without going into any more detail there is roughly £20 per walk in costs. If you are not walking 2-3 dogs at a time you aren’t covering your costs.

Add to this any admin costs like stationery, printers, computers, accountancy fees, membership fees to governing bodies, advertising (leaflets, posters, social media), dog towels, dog shampoo and the costs to wash and dry them.

Yes, we started our businesses because we love to be outside in all weathers with furry four-legged friends, but there are still bills we need to pay at home so that we can live to walk your dogs another day.

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