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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 ...
When Clients Cancel: How Professional Dog Walkers Can Stay Sane, Strategic, and One Step Ahead
cancellations don’t have to be a catastrophe. With the right systems and a dash of creativity, you can turn them into opportunities. This…
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jul 19, 20255 min read
The Booking & Client Management System
If a system relies on you remembering things, it is not a system. Only let appropriate clients into your business, with the correct expectations....
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jul 13, 20255 min read
Business Guide – The Dog House
Running a dog walking or pet care business isn’t just about loving animals—it’s about systems, planning, professionalism, and legal compliance. This guide covers the fundamentals to help you run a safe, sustainable, and profitable business while keeping dogs and clients happy.
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jul 10, 20255 min read
Adding a Cat Sitting Service to Your Dog Walking Business
Cat sitting is a natural complement to dog walking. Many dog owners also have cats, and cat owners often need reliable care while away. Offering this service keeps your business busy even when dog walks are quiet and positions you as a versatile pet care professional...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jun 1, 20255 min read
Boost Your Monthly Recurring Revenue as a Professional Dog Walker: 50 Sustainable Ways to Build Stability (Without Burning Out)
Professional dog walking is often sold as a “lifestyle business”, but anyone doing it properly knows the truth: income can fluctuate wildly if your business relies solely on ad-hoc walks. One school holiday, one run of client annual leave, or one injury can expose how fragile a purely session-based model really is...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jun 1, 20255 min read
Running a Dog Walking Business: Legal and Regulatory Essentials
Before you open your doors—or strap on that lead—it’s crucial to make sure your business is legally compliant. Not only does this keep you safe, it builds trust with clients and gives your business a professional edge...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Apr 17, 20254 min read
Why Cancellation Policies Matter and How to Bring One In To Your Business
juggling busy schedules, unpredictable weather, and the occasional last-minute change of plan. While flexibility is part of the job, frequent short-notice cancellations can quickly chip away at your income and create unnecessary stress. That’s why having a clear, cancellation policy...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Mar 8, 20254 min read
Client Red Flag Detector Guide
No difficult client has ever turned up to a meet-and-greet wearing a sash that says “Hello, I will emotionally drain you and argue about invoices.”
They arrive smiling.
They bring treats.
They tell you how amazing you are.
Sometimes they even say:
“I’m just really easy-going.”
Tori Lynn Crowther
Feb 21, 20256 min read
Knowing When to Let Go: How (and Why) to Release Difficult or Draining Clients
there are clients whose name on your schedule makes your shoulders tense before the day has even started.
Most dog walkers assume this tension is just “part of the job”. It isn’t. It is usually a sign that a client is no longer aligned with your business — or never truly was.
Releasing clients is not failure. It is not unkind. And it is certainly not unprofessional. In fact, knowing when and how to let clients go is one of the clearest markers of a mature, sustainable busin
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jan 31, 20254 min read
How to Communicate Price Rises with Your Dog Walking Clients
Many walkers worry about upsetting clients or losing bookings—but the truth is, most clients understand that costs increase and professionals adjust their fees accordingly. The key is communicating the change clearly, confidently, and with plenty of notice....
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jan 25, 20253 min read
New Year, New Prices: Why It’s Time to Raise Your Dog Walking Rates
January. The month of dark mornings, soggy leads, and that lingering guilt about last year’s chocolate stash. It’s also the perfect time to talk about something a lot of dog walkers quietly dread: raising your prices...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Jan 1, 20253 min read
New Year, New Prices: How Raising Your Rates Protects Your Business, Your Energy, and Your Future
January is not just a reset of calendars and routines — it is the most strategic time of year to review pricing. Yet it is also the time when many quietly promise themselves: “I’ll deal with that later.”
Later, of course, becomes never...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Dec 30, 20245 min read
Self Assessment for Dog Walkers: Everything You Need to Know (A Complete Guide)
this guide breaks down everything you need to know: dates, forms, registration, record keeping, allowable expenses, and how to use resources like the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub calculators to make the whole process easier...
Tori Lynn Crowther
Dec 21, 20245 min read
Adding Aquarium Cleaning to Your Pet Care Business: A Serious Side Service, Not a Side Hustle
Business needs with TLC Canine Crusaders Back To The Dog House Adding Aquarium Cleaning to Your Pet Care Business: A Serious Side Service, Not a Side Hustle For many professional dog walkers and pet care providers, expanding services is a natural next step. You already have trusted access to clients’ homes, a reputation for reliability, and experience caring for animals when owners are not present. Aquarium cleaning and maintenance can sit well alongside dog walking or pet si
Tori Lynn Crowther
Dec 15, 20246 min read
What Dog Walkers Can Claim as Business Expenses – A Complete Guide for UK Dog Walkers
Many of those costs can be claimed back as business expenses, helping you reduce your taxable income and run a more efficient, profitable business.
Whether you’re a solo dog walker or running a full team like I do at TLC Dog Walking, keeping track of your expenses is essential. Below is a clear guide to what dog walkers can usually claim as expenses in the UK, including how logoed clothing and branded kit fit into your allowable business costs.....
Tori Lynn Crowther
Dec 1, 20244 min read
Adding Home Help & Companionship Care to Your Dog Walking Business
Home help and companionship care can include tasks like checking in on a client while they’re out, assisting with errands, or simply spending time with pets or elderly clients who need company. Offering this service keeps your schedule full, strengthens client relationships, and positions you as a versatile, trusted...
Tori Lynn Crowther
May 4, 20245 min read
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