How do you start your own dog walking service?
Introduction
The ultimate guide to
a successful start
Do you dream of being out in nature daily with a pack of happy four-legged friends and turning your passion into your profession? Starting a dog walking service is a dream come true for many. The market for professional pet care is growing rapidly, as dog owners increasingly look for a reliable partner who goes beyond a quick walk around the block.
When I founded Cees & Co in 2020, I did so from one clear vision: dogs deserve not just to be walked, but to be truly seen and to get the attention they deserve. What started as a small-scale initiative has now grown into a successful formula with multiple vans driving throughout the Netherlands, giving more than 96 dogs the day of their lives every day.
Starting a dog walking service is a wonderful adventure, but behind the scenes, there is much more to it than just a love for animals. To rank high in the industry and build a healthy business, you need to make strategic choices. This guide will help you step by step along the way.
Introduction
The ultimate guide to
a successful start
Do you dream of being out in nature daily with a pack of happy four-legged friends and turning your passion into your profession? Starting a dog walking service is a dream come true for many. The market for professional pet care is growing rapidly, as dog owners increasingly look for a reliable partner who goes beyond a quick walk around the block.
When I founded Cees & Co in 2020, I did so from one clear vision: dogs deserve not just to be walked, but to be truly seen and to get the attention they deserve. What started as a small-scale initiative has now grown into a successful formula with multiple vans driving throughout the Netherlands, giving more than 96 dogs the day of their lives every day.
Starting a dog walking service is a wonderful adventure, but behind the scenes, there is much more to it than just a love for animals. To rank high in the industry and build a healthy business, you need to make strategic choices. This guide will help you step by step along the way.
Dog walking service training:
The basis of quality
If you look at what is needed to become successful, one thing stands out immediately: the market is professionalising at a rapid pace. Clients entrust you with their most precious possession. Starting a dog walking service informally without any qualifications is therefore no longer the standard. To win the trust of owners and ensure the safety of the dogs, a solid background is essential.
Completing an accredited dog walking service training programme is the best investment you can make. During a specific dog walking service training course, you will learn vital skills that you will need daily in practice:
Pack behavior and dominance
How do different dog breeds interact with each other and how do you prevent escalations in a group?
First aid for dogs
What do you do in case of a heatstroke,
an insect bite or a fight?
Laws and regulations
What requirements must your transport meet, and where are you allowed or not allowed to walk off-leash with a professional pack?
Obtaining such a certificate (for example, through the Martin Gaus Academy) ensures that you immediately position yourself in the premium segment. You are then not just an informal pet sitter, but a certified professional dog walking service.
The franchise consideration
Are you dreading the search for the right certifications, exams, and modules? When you choose to become a partner at Cees & Co, we fully coordinate and facilitate this high-quality training at the Martin Gaus Academy for you as part of your start-up process.
Dog walking service training:
The basis of quality
If you look at what is needed to become successful, one thing stands out immediately: the market is professionalising at a rapid pace. Clients entrust you with their most precious possession. Starting a dog walking service informally without any qualifications is therefore no longer the standard. To win the trust of owners and ensure the safety of the dogs, a solid background is essential.
Completing an accredited dog walking service training programme is the best investment you can make. During a specific dog walking service training course, you will learn vital skills that you will need daily in practice:
Pack behavior and dominance
How do different dog breeds interact with each other and how do you prevent escalations in a group?
First aid for dogs
What do you do in case of a heatstroke, an insect bite or a fight?
Laws and regulations
What requirements must your transport meet, and where are you allowed or not allowed to walk off-leash with a professional pack?
Obtaining such a certificate (for example, through the Martin Gaus Academy) ensures that you immediately position yourself in the premium segment. You are then not just an informal pet sitter, but a certified professional dog walking service.
The franchise consideration
Are you dreading the search for the right certifications, exams, and modules? When you choose to become a partner at Cees & Co, we fully coordinate and facilitate this high-quality training at the Martin Gaus Academy for you as part of your start-up process.
Dog walking service training:
The basis of quality
If you look at what is needed to become successful, one thing stands out immediately: the market is professionalising at a rapid pace. Clients entrust you with their most precious possession. Starting a dog walking service informally without any qualifications is therefore no longer the standard. To win the trust of owners and ensure the safety of the dogs, a solid background is essential.
Completing an accredited dog walking service training programme is the best investment you can make. During a specific dog walking service training course, you will learn vital skills that you will need daily in practice:
Pack behavior and dominance
How do different dog breeds interact with each other and how do you prevent escalations in a group?
First aid for dogs
What do you do in case of a heatstroke,
an insect bite or a fight?
Laws and regulations
What requirements must your transport meet, and where are you allowed or not allowed to walk off-leash with a professional pack?
Obtaining such a certificate (for example, through the Martin Gaus Academy) ensures that you immediately position yourself in the premium segment. You are then not just an informal pet sitter, but a certified professional dog walking service.
The franchise consideration
Are you dreading the search for the right certifications, exams, and modules? When you choose to become a partner at Cees & Co, we fully coordinate and facilitate this high-quality training at the Martin Gaus Academy for you as part of your start-up process.
Logistics and safety
How do you start your own dog walking service?
Once the basic knowledge is in place, the practical setup of the dog walking service follows. The logistical side is often the largest expense and the most time-consuming part of the startup phase. If you want to start a dog walking service yourself, you need to think carefully about the following matters:
The means of transport
Transporting dogs safely requires a reliable commercial vehicle. Moreover, an increasing number of municipalities are establishing low-emission zones, which means a fully electric van is the most future-proof choice. The van must be equipped with automatic climate control (cooling and heating) for the warm summer months, a fire extinguisher, and a professional first-aid kit.
Secure setup
Putting dogs loose in a cargo area is asking for trouble. Every four-legged friend should have their own safe and comfortable transport box, so that they can fully relax in a safe way during the ride.
Transparency and tracking
Modern dog owners want to know where their dog is hanging out. The use of active GPS trackers on collars has now become a strict requirement in the higher market segment. In addition, it is smart to offer owners peace of mind and transparency through active updates and photos.
Logistics and safety
How do you start your own dog walking service?
Once the basic knowledge is in place, the practical setup of the dog walking service follows. The logistical side is often the largest expense and the most time-consuming part of the startup phase. If you want to start a dog walking service yourself, you need to think carefully about the following matters:
The means of transport
Transporting dogs safely requires a reliable commercial vehicle. Moreover, an increasing number of municipalities are establishing low-emission zones, which means a fully electric van is the most future-proof choice. The van must be equipped with automatic climate control (cooling and heating) for the warm summer months, a fire extinguisher, and a professional first-aid kit.
Secure setup
Putting dogs loose in a cargo area is asking for trouble. Every four-legged friend should have their own safe and comfortable transport box, so that they can fully relax in a safe way during the ride.
Transparency and tracking
Modern dog owners want to know where their dog is hanging out. The use of active GPS trackers on collars has now become a strict requirement in the higher market segment. In addition, it is smart to offer owners peace of mind and transparency through active updates and photos.
Reality check
Operations, administration and marketing
Many people want to become a dog walker because they long for freedom and being outside in nature all day. That is a big part of the job, but starting your own dog walking service also means becoming the manager of your own business. Running a healthy business requires at least 40 hours of commitment per week and a sharp eye for business.
As a self-employed person, you are also responsible for:
Customer relationship management (CRM): Planning and keeping track of contracts, proof of vaccination, and emergency numbers.
Route planning: Daily optimization of your pick-up and drop-off routes to save valuable time and energy.
Bookkeeping and invoicing: Sending out error-free invoices monthly and keeping track of your VAT returns. And following up on unpaid invoices.
Marketing and lead generation: Building an easy-to-find website and running ads to fill up and keep your van full.
If you start a dog walking service from scratch by yourself, in the first 2 to 3 years you will often spend more time building your website, looking for customers, and setting up your administration than actually walking with the dogs. This is exactly the point where many start-ups fail or notice that their turnover lags behind.
Would you like the benefits of wonderful outdoor work and independent entrepreneurship, but you do not want to succumb to the administrative pressure and marketing stress? On our franchise page we explain how our central platform takes all these back-office matters, websites, marketing, and planning systems directly off your hands.
Costs
The costs of starting a dog walking service
Starting independently and franchising involve different investments. At Cees & Co, you pay an entry fee, which includes guidance during the start-up phase and an Edupet training course. In addition, you pay a monthly franchise fee of €624, the lease costs of the electric company van (averaging €800 per month, depending on the model) and some fixed operating costs, such as an accounting program. The van is fully arranged by Cees & Co and is completely fitted out with crates and decals, so you can make a professional start immediately. Below you will find a clear overview of the costs side by side.
Costs
The costs of starting a dog walking service
Starting independently and franchising involve different investments. At Cees & Co, you pay an entry fee, which includes guidance during the start-up phase and an Edupet training course. In addition, you pay a monthly franchise fee of €624, the lease costs of the electric company van (averaging €800 per month, depending on the model) and some fixed operating costs, such as an accounting program. The van is fully arranged by Cees & Co and is completely fitted out with crates and decals, so you can make a professional start immediately. Below you will find a clear overview of the costs side by side.
Cees & Co franchise
€7,500.00
€ 624 per month
€ 75.00
€ 58.50
Included
Included
From € 723.34 per month
Start independently
Entrance fee (one-time)
Franchise fee
Bus interior
Purchase of GPS trackers
Website and marketing
Business software
Operating expenses
€ 0.00
From € 3,000.-
Self-purchasing
From € 7,500.- per year
€ 0.00
From € 1,500.- per year
From € 12,000 per year
Start independently
Cees & Co
franchise
Entrance fee (one-off)
€ 0.00
€ 7,500.00
Franchise fee
€ 0.00
€ 624.-
per month
Bus interior
From € 3,000.-
€ 75.00
Purchase of GPS trackers
Self-purchasing
€58.50
Website and marketing
From € 7,500
per year
Included
Business software
From € 1,500
per year
Included
Operating expenses
From € 12,000.- per year
From € 723.34 per month
Starting independently
Cees & Co franchise
Entrance fee (one-off)
€ 0.00
€ 7,500.00
Franchise fee
€ 0.00
€ 624.- per month
Bus layout
From € 3,000.-
€ 75.00
Purchase of GPS trackers
Self-purchasing
€58.50
Website and marketing
From € 7,500 per year
Included
Business software
From € 1,500 per year
Included
Operating expenses
From € 12,000 per year
From € 723.34 per month
Ready for the next step?
Start your own Cees & Co branch
Do you have a passion for dogs and the ambition to be an independent entrepreneur? Find out if your region is still available and schedule a non-binding introductory meeting. Together, we will see if Cees & Co is a good fit for you and what your future as a franchisee could look like.
Company details
Keizersgracht 482
1017 EG, Amsterdam
Chamber of Commerce no.: 90159683
VAT no.: NL865226829B01
Regulations
Website powered by
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Company details
Keizersgracht 482
1017 EG, Amsterdam
Chamber of Commerce no.: 90159683
VAT no.: NL865226829B01
Regulations
Website powered by
&
Company details
Keizersgracht 482
1017 EG, Amsterdam
Chamber of Commerce no.: 90159683
VAT no.: NL865226829B01
Regulations
Website powered by
&