I am interested in Starting a dog walking business and I am 17. I dont want to try and start a huge business but I do want to make as much money as I can. I do not want to be held responsible if a dog were to get in a fight or something like that so should I get insurance?
7 Responses
2009 Jun 12
If you do not want to be held responsible, I would advise getting something to protect you.
My opinion, if you are walking my dog, and i trusted you to care for her during the walk, something happens, then you are the responsible party.
2009 Jun 13
yh i thnk you should just incase you lose a dog or something.x
2009 Jun 14
at LEAST liability. There is also mortally and another kind (i forget the name) that protects you if a dog you were walking bites someone or another dog.
2009 Jun 17
Its always better to go the safer route. Usually you can get insurance for fairly cheap just shop around.
2009 Jun 17
All dogwalkers *should* legally be bonded and insured, trained/certified in some manner as far as dog behavior and training, and require a small business license in most cities. If you do not have insurance and a dog gets injured or injures someone while you are walking them, you WILL be held legally liable for all damages. It’s dangerous and in some areas illegal to try to start an animal-related business without proper insurance and licenses.
2009 Jun 20
No Way.. Im assuming that you will be doing this on a small scale with animals/people you are familiar with. You should know that WITH or WITHOUT insurance….you can still be sued for damages. Its just part of doing business.
I dont have the figures…but i know that if you are only earning a “certain” amount, then you dont have to have any tax documentation… you would be considered a day laborer.
Have pet owners sign a waiver of liability for you. Also, make copies of city license and vaccinations for the dogs and keep them on file with the waiver.
If you go the insurance route.. you are looking at more overhead and then you will have to have a federal and state tax i.d. number. You dont want to go this route unless you plan on doing this long-term and high volume with employees.
The Liability waiver will not protect you from any and all claims, but it will cover you better then nothing.
**Things that will make your life easier: Walk dogs in low foot/traffic volume. Walk during cool off-peak hours of the day. Carry canine pepper spray to ward off stray dogs. Gud Luck
2009 Jun 21
You need to talk to your parent or guardian - until next birthday, they would be responsible. And then - yes- you should have professional insurance, which starts at around $600 a year but covers things you never imagined could be sued for.
Keep in mind that if anyone is ever hurt - especially a child- by a dog you should have control over, they can sue you not only for what you have now, but inthe case of long term medical expenses that impair their ability to work, they can garnish your wages. That means they can wait until you make some money, and then take it. It isn’t just that they’ll sue you for what you have, and you don’t have much - they’ll wait.