How to Start a Dog Training Business

Many dog owners either don’t know how to effectively train their dogs or don’t have time to. A dog training business offers dog owners a convenient, safe and effective place to have their canines trained. A business may be located in a home or in a commercial space, or a trainer may go to clients’ homes.

You may also be interested in additional home business ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

 Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a dog training business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Dog Training Business
  2. Form your Dog Training Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Dog Training Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Dog Training Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Dog Training Business
  7. Get Dog Training Business Insurance
  8. Define your Dog Training Business Brand
  9. Create your Dog Training Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your dog training business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Dog Training Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a dog training business?

The startup costs associated with opening a dog training business are relatively minimal. Business owners need to have a phone and computer so they can effectively communicate with clients and market online.

Aside from this, they either need a place to train dogs or transportation to clients’ homes. Those who don’t want to sign a long-term lease may be able to rent space a few days a week in a pet store, use a local park or train dogs in a fenced-in yard.

What are the ongoing expenses for a dog training business?

A dog training business has two primary ongoing expenses. Unless training dogs in a home, the business must continue to lease or rent space for training dogs. How much this cost amounts to depends on where the business is located, how much space it uses and how often the business uses the space. The business must also pay to renew any certifications that expire. Renewing certifications usually doesn’t cost as much as initially becoming certified.

Who is the target market?

An ideal client is someone who has at least one dog, has discretionary income and is busy. People who have little discretionary income are less likely to pay someone to train their dog. People who have many obligations and discretionary income are less likely to have time to train their dog themselves and have income to pay a training business.

How does a dog training business make money?

Dog training businesses are paid for training dogs. Businesses may offer multi-week classes people can sign their dogs up for, one-on-one lessons and remedial behavior correction sessions. Additionally, some dog training businesses also offer dog walking, dog sitting and dog grooming, which provide additional income sources.

How much can you charge customers?

The cost of dog training varies widely, depending on a trainer’s expertise, the number of dogs in a class and the location of a business. Group classes typically cost $50 to $125 and run between four and eight weeks. Private lessons typically range from $30 to $100 per hour, with most dogs requiring at least several hours of training. The higher ends of these ranges are usually earned by trainers who have at least one certification.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Dog training businesses can increase profits by opening more classes, encouraging people to sign up for individual sessions, getting trainers more certifications or adding other services. Starting more classes and signing clients up for one-on-one sessions increases how many hours dogs are being trained, and thus increases revenue. Getting more certifications gives trainers more expertise, allowing a business to charge more for the amount of time they spend training dogs. Adding other services, such as dog walking, dog sitting or dog grooming lets a business continue to serve clients after their dogs have been trained.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your dog training business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your dog training business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an dog training business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Service Agreement

Dog training businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example service agreement.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your dog training business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Dog Training Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Dog Training Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a dog training business

The most effective way to promote a dog training business is usually via referrals and word of mouth. Business owners can build relationships with veterinarians, dog walkers, or pet sitters who can provide referrals. Owners may even want to offer these people compensation for referring clients. Owners can also incentivize clients to tell other dog owners they know about the business by offering free lessons to anyone who refers a family member or friend.

How to keep customers coming back

A dog training business can set itself apart from similar businesses by offering convenient lesson times and locations, and by having more highly-trained trainers. Getting certifications from dog-training agencies demonstrates expertise.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

People who love dogs and other people may be well-suited for owning a dog training business, as the work involves interacting with both dogs and their owners. Patience is another valuable attribute, because training dogs often requires repeating the same drill multiple times. Dog training businesses usually operate during the day, which can make it difficult to run a business while keeping a traditional day job.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a dog training business?

Dog training business owners usually work with dogs on a daily basis, which often requires moving about a lot (sitting, standing, walking, running, throwing, etc.). Business owners also spend time interacting with dogs’ owners, teaching them how to interact with their dogs and providing training updates. Marketing, which is essential to growing a dog training business, can also take up a lot of time.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful dog training business?

Dog training business owners need to be familiar with the various techniques used to nonviolently train dogs. Dogs of different ages, breeds and personalities may respond differently to training, so owners should have several techniques they can use with any given dog.

The most sought-after trainers have certifications that show their credentials. Many associations provide certification programs that teach different dog training techniques. These programs may be offered through local or regional schools, or online.

What is the growth potential for a dog training business?

Dogs usually only need to be trained once, so the need for a dog training business in any geographic area is dependent upon the amount of untrained dogs in that area. Many dog training businesses start out with just one, or at most a few, trainers who serve a local area. Some businesses remain small, while others open up satellite locations to reach more potential clients. Few dog training businesses become larger than a local chain with programs situated around a city.

Not sure if a dog training business is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

How and when to build a team

A dog training business can be run by one person, but it can also grow to include a team of trainers. Having multiple trainers can let a business offer lessons in several locations at the most popular lesson times, such as Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Building a team requires a considerable investment of time, as owners must ensure employees are suited for this business.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading