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Running A Business
The Running a Business blog category is your go-to hub for everything you need to build, manage, and grow a successful dog-based business. Whether you're a dog walker, trainer, groomer, sitter, or pet-care professional, this category is packed with practical guidance to help you stay organised, profitable, and compliant.
Inside this category, you’ll find:
Business Foundations – How to set up your business properly, choose your structure, register with HMRC, and understand essential legal ...
The Pet Care Business Monthly Management System
This monthly system helps a UK pet care business stay organised, compliant, and running smoothly by breaking essential tasks into four simple focus areas completed across the month or in one admin day. It covers finance and tax (including recording income and expenses, keeping Making Tax Digital records up to date, checking VAT if applicable, and setting aside money for tax), admin and client management (invoicing, payments, contracts, bookings, and availability), operations
Tori Lynn Crowther
May 15 min read
Monthly Tasks to Keep a Pet Care Business Running Smoothly (UK)
Running a pet care business isn’t just about caring for animals — it also requires consistent admin, financial, legal, and client‑care tasks. This monthly checklist helps ensure nothing important slips through the cracks.
Tori Lynn Crowther
Apr 65 min read
Pricing for Experienced Dog Walkers: Charging What Your Business Is Truly Worth
Many experienced dog walkers quietly undercharge not because they don’t know better, but because prices have “always been that way”. Over time, this leads to long hours, little flexibility, and a business that depends entirely on you never being ill, unavailable, or...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Apr 45 min read
Holiday Placeholder Policy Guide for Dog Walkers & Day Care Providers With Template
A holiday placeholder policy explains what happens when a client goes away and how their dog’s place in your schedule is handled. It helps you to maintain a clients regular space, ensure all dogs receive suitable care, help plan your business and your income...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 306 min read
HOW TO AUTOMATE DOG WALKING LEADS
Automate Dog Walking Leads. What you should do and when to stay organised and professional using either Google or Microsoft...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 225 min read
Sole Traders Free UK MTD Resources and Business Banks
If you are a sole trader in the UK, Making Tax Digital (MTD) is something you need to prepare for properly.
There is a lot of noise online, but this guide focuses only on genuine, useful, and free resources, along with business bank accounts that actually make MTD easier. Here are a list of Free Resources to help...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 205 min read
Limited Companies Free UK MTD Resources and Business Banks
If you run your dog business through a limited company, your responsibilities around tax and compliance are slightly different to sole traders. Making Tax Digital (MTD) is part of that shift, but it is important to understand what applies to you now, what is coming, and how to set yourself up properly using free tools where possible.
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 205 min read
Making Tax Digital: A Simple Guide for Dog Walkers
Running a dog walking business is often refreshingly straightforward. Dogs need walking, clients need help, and your day is spent outdoors doing something genuinely worthwhile.
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 205 min read
Price Rise Strategy for Long-Term Dog Walking Clients
Raising prices is not just about money. It is about safety, continuity, and professionalism. How Established Businesses Increase Prices Without Undermining Authority or Stability…
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 155 min read
Dog Walker’s Guide to Scaling Back Clients
At some point, many professional dog walkers reach a stage where they need to scale back on clients. This can feel uncomfortable, especially if you pride yourself on being reliable and supportive to pet owners...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 96 min read
Building Systems That Hold
This is about intentional system design, not adding more software or paperwork. Most people build systems backwards...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 15 min read
Planning Price Increases: A Strategic Guide
If the thought of increasing your prices makes you feel slightly sick, you’re not alone. Most experienced dog walkers didn’t get into this industry because they love spreadsheets and pricing strategy. You got into it because you love dogs, relationships, and working outdoors — not because you enjoy awkward money conversations.
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 206 min read
Dealing with Non-Paying Clients in the Pet Care Profession
this guide is everything I want you to understand about preventing non-payment, handling it properly, and protecting yourself legally…
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 197 min read
Jotform Guide for Pet Care Providers
Jotform is an easy‑to‑use online form builder that helps you collect information from clients without needing any technical skills. You can use it to create professional enquiry forms, client intake forms, booking requests, and more — all in one place...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 114 min read
How to Advertise Your Pet Care Business for Free (Without Feeling Salesy or Desperate)
Free advertising isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about being visible, credible, and memorable in everyday life. If you work with animals, you already have a huge advantage: your job naturally puts you in front of people. Dog walks, client handovers, petrol stations, cafés, school runs, and even nights out can all lead to new clients—if you know how to handle those...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 106 min read
Comparing Pet Sitter Plus and Other UK Pet Care Booking Solutions
Business needs with TLC Canine Crusaders Back To The Dog House Comparing Pet Sitter Plus and Other UK Pet Care Booking Solutions I have always used Pet Sitter Plus to manage my pet care business, from bookings and scheduling to invoicing and client records. It has been my go-to system for keeping everything organised and running smoothly. Recently, I’ve been looking around at other options available in the UK, to see what else is out there and whether there might be tools bet
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 105 min read
Understanding UK Animal Licensing Star Ratings
Many new home dog boarders worry that a 3‑star licence is a sign of failure – especially sole traders who sometimes need to leave…
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 66 min read
Busy Is Not Successful
Experience creates confidence — but confidence can hide risk. At this stage, the question is no longer “Can I get clients?” It is …
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 36 min read
Adding Online Booking to Your Pet Care Website
Online booking can be a huge asset or a serious liability depending on how it’s implemented. For professional pet care providers, booking…
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 35 min read
Who Is Legally Responsible When You Take Someone Else’s Dog Out?
responsibility for a dog can transfer the moment you take charge of it. Who is legally responsible when walking a dog that does not belong..
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 39 min read
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