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You shouldn’t just head-first into a dog walking business without weighing the pros and cons. Like with all types of businesses, there are both advantages and disadvantages to starting your own dog walking business. While you may already know some of them, others will likely surprise you. By familiarizing yourself with the following pros and cons, you can determine whether a dog walking business is the right venture for you.

Pro: Little or No Overhead

Dog walking businesses have little or no overhead. Overhead, of course, refers to business-related expenses that aren’t directly associated with the production of products or services. Common examples of overhead expenses include rent or lease payments, utility bills, supplies and equipment. With a dog walking business, you won’t need to rent or lease a commercial space, nor will you incur many other overhead expenses.

Pro: Exercise

You’ll get plenty of exercise when walking clients’ dogs. Research shows that the average person burns about 40 to 80 calories per every half-hour of walking. As a dog walker, you’ll inevitably spend a lot of time on your feet. All of this walking will allow you to burn calories while staying fit and healthy in the process.

Pro: Recurring Revenue

Another advantage of starting your own dog walking business is recurring revenue. Assuming a client is satisfied with your service, he or she may continue to choose your dog walking business over your competitors. Some clients, in fact, may request regular dog walking services, such as once a day or twice a week. These returning clients will bring recurring revenue to your dog walking business.

Pro: No Formal Education Required

You don’t need any formal education to start your own dog walking business. Dog walkers don’t perform medical services. To become a veterinarian, you’ll have to complete a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at an accredited college. You can become a dog walker — or start your own dog walking business — without this or any other formal education. Dog walking businesses have a low barrier of entry that makes them a popular choice among dog and pet lovers.

Con: Requires Schedule Flexibility

Starting a dog walking business requires schedule flexibility. You can’t just show up at a client’s home to walk his or her dog at any time of the day. Most clients request dog walking services at specific times, such as the middle of the day when they are at work. If you’re not available at this time, clients probably won’t choose your dog walking business. Turning your dog walking business into a successful commercial enterprise requires schedule flexibility.

Con: Unexpected Situations

You’ll have to deal with unexpected situations as a dog walker. Dogs, for example, may break free from their collar or leash while you are walking them. If this occurs, you’ll need to retrieve and retrain them. Alternatively, the weather may turn south while you are walking a client’s dog. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a park or recreational area when it begins to pour rain. While you can’t control the weather, you can bring an umbrella to shield you from the rain. These are just a few unexpected situations that you may encounter after starting your own dog walking business.

Con: Unruly Dogs

Another potential disadvantage is unruly dogs. Not all dogs are friendly towards strangers. While some of them may walk up to greet you, others may cower or even exhibit signs of aggression. For your personal safety, you must calm these unruly dogs before handling them. One solution is to introduce yourself to clients and their dogs beforehand. If a client wants you to walk their dog on Tuesday, for example, schedule a meeting at the client’s home on Monday. During this initial meeting, you can introduce yourself to the client’s dog. Dogs are typically calmer around their owners. Therefore, an initial meeting will help break the ice so that they feel more relaxed and less aggressive.

Con: Competition

There’s competition in all types of businesses — and dog walking businesses are no exception. Regardless of where you live, there are probably dog walking businesses nearby that offer services to local clients. When starting a dog walking business, you must convince clients to choose your services rather than the services of a competitor. Stiff competition can make it difficult to attract clients. There are ways to overcome stiff competition, but it requires strong branding and marketing skills.

Con: Requires Insurance

You’ll need insurance for your dog walking business. Insurance is designed to protect your dog walking business from financial loss involving legal claims. You may never need to use it. Nonetheless, most states require dog walking businesses to have public liability insurance to protect against such claims. Before starting a dog walking business, you’ll have to purchase an insurance policy.