Employing Dog Walkers vs. Using Self-Employed Walkers
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Dec 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Employing Dog Walkers vs. Using Self-Employed Walkers
PLUS: Should You Franchise Your Dog Walking Business?
(And why VAT matters no matter which route you choose)
Growing a dog walking business is exciting, but it also brings major decisions that shape how your business will operate long-term.
Should you hire employees? Should you use self-employed walkers? Or should you expand by franchising your business model?
Each path affects your income, workload, legal responsibilities, branding, and quality control. And importantly — each one changes your financial thresholds, including how close you come to VAT registration. (Most solo walkers never hit the VAT limit, but expansion can push you there quickly.)
This guide breaks it all down.
1. Hiring Dog Walkers as Employees
What It Really Means
You take full responsibility for tax, payroll, training, safety, and conduct. Employees work for your business, under your structure, following your professional standards.
This is the only model that legally allows you to:
Set their schedules
Enforce your dog handling methods
Control safety protocols
Insist on equipment and procedures
Require uniformity
Train them to your standard
Appoint team leaders
If you want consistency, professionalism, and long-term brand protection, employees give you the most control.
Benefits of Hiring Employees
✔ Consistency & Professionalism
✔ Reliable Team Structure
✔ Safe handling for reactive and complex dogs
✔ Stronger brand reputation
✔ Ideal for long-term expansion
Drawbacks of Hiring Employees
✘ Higher costs
✘ More management responsibilities
✘ More admin
✘ Must comply with employment law
VAT Factor: Employees push you toward the VAT threshold
When you build a team, your turnover increases quickly. Once you hit £90,000, you must register for VAT — which can instantly reduce profit unless your pricing structure adapts.
Many walkers don’t plan for this and are shocked when VAT wipes out margins.
2. Using Self-Employed Dog Walkers
What It Means
Self-employed walkers run their own business. HMRC is strict: if you control their hours, methods, or procedures, they are employees.
They decide:
their hours
their prices
their methods
their equipment
their clients
Benefits of Using Self-Employed Walkers
✔ Lower financial pressure
✔ No holiday pay, Sick Pay or NI
✔ Flexible cover
✔ Less admin
✔ Great for early-stage growth
Drawbacks
✘ You cannot control them
✘ Inconsistent standards
✘ Brand risk
✘ They can legally walk your clients privately (unless contracts forbid it)
VAT Factor: Self-employed walkers rarely push you into VAT
Because they invoice you as contractors and often take on some of their own clients, your turnover increases slowly. This model keeps you under the VAT threshold longer — but you sacrifice control and consistency.
3. Franchising: The Third (and Often Overlooked) Option
Franchising allows others to buy into your brand and run their own branch using your systems.
They pay for:
your methods
your name
your procedures
your training
your expertise
Benefits of Franchising
✔ Massive growth potential
✔ Lower overhead than employing
✔ Methods stay consistent (legally enforced)
✔ Ongoing royalty income
✔ Loyal, invested partners
✔ You become the mentor, not the walker
Drawbacks
✘ Requires full systemisation
✘ Legal agreements needed
✘ Franchise manual required
✘ You step into a leadership and training role
✘ You must monitor brand standards
VAT Factor: Franchising almost always triggers VAT registration
Franchising scales faster than any other model. Between:
franchise fees
royalties
training fees
branded services
…you can hit the VAT threshold quickly.
Once you register for VAT, every franchise fee and royalty payment becomes taxable — which directly affects your profit.
Be sure your pricing structure accounts for VAT before you franchise, or you can accidentally undercharge and lose margin.
4. Legalities You Cannot Ignore (UK-Specific)
Employment Status (HMRC)
Self-employed walkers are only self-employed if:
they set their own hours
they can send a substitute
they choose methods/equipment
they invoice
they take financial risk
you do not control them
Misclassification is costly — HMRC will reclassify them as employees.
Insurance
Employees: must be covered under Employer’s Liability Insurance
Self-employed: must hold their own Public Liability Insurance
Franchisees: responsible for their own insurances per the franchise agreement
Contracts
Client contracts need clarity about:
who they are hiring
who holds liability
how cover is arranged
confidentiality and GDPR
cancellation processes
5. Which Model Should YOU Choose?
Choose Employees If You Want:
✔ total control
✔ brand consistency
✔ safety for reactive dogs
✔ long-term professional growth
Choose Self-Employed Walkers If You Want:
✔ flexibility
✔ low commitment
✔ occasional support
✔ minimal admin
Choose Franchising If You Want:
✔ to expand rapidly
✔ to step out of daily walks
✔ to build a national brand
✔ to earn through royalties and training
✔ to keep overheads low
Final Thoughts
There is no “one right way” to expand — but there is a best way for the future you want.
But remember this:
VAT changes everything.
Most solo dog walkers never hit VAT and never need to think about it. But the moment you:
employ a team,
operate across multiple areas,
add training services,
or franchise the brand…
…you grow your turnover fast.
And when VAT kicks in, your profit margins shrink unless your prices rise with it.
Choosing your expansion model isn’t just about how you structure your team — it’s about how you structure your finances, your brand, and your long-term future.
If you want help deciding which model fits your vision, I can break down the numbers, workload, and growth options for each path.
NEXT SATURDAY What Expanding Your Dog Walking Business Really Looks Like Behind The Scenes
(The honest version no one puts on Instagram)
About Tori & TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub
I’m Tori, founder of TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub and The Dog House, where I help dog walkers and dog owners build confidence, clarity, and success. With years of hands-on experience running a busy dog walking company and training academy, my mission is to make the industry easier to navigate. Whether you're growing your business or supporting your dog at home, you’ll find practical guidance, community support, and resources designed to help you thrive.
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