How to start a dog-walking business in Canada
Discover everything you need to know about starting your own dog-walking business in Canada.

Setting up a dog-walking business in Canada isn’t as complicated as you may think. However, there are a few necessary steps to take to ensure you do it correctly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from permits and licensing to taxes, business structures and banking.
In Canada, you don’t need a federal or provincial/territorial license to be a dog walker. However, you might need to be licensed at the municipal level – especially if you live in a highly populated city.
For instance, you need a permit if you plan to walk dogs on a commercial basis in Toronto, and you can only walk up to six dogs at a time. Similarly, you must get a dog walker’s license and renew it yearly to walk more than three dogs in Montreal, Quebec or simply walk dogs for compensation in Vaughan, Ontario.
Acquiring a permit or license may require:
You don’t need any formal training or educational qualifications to start a dog-walking business. But, if you have qualifications in fields such as animal first aid, animal behaviour or veterinary care, this could enhance your reputation in the eyes of customers and build your business more quickly.
Your business type determines how much tax you’ll pay on the money you make and how personally liable you’ll be for business debts and lawsuits. If you operate solely under your own legal name, you don’t even need to register your business. However, if you add any words, like “Jane’s Dog Walking”, you must register, choosing one of the following business structures:
Incorporating is more expensive and complicated to set up. If you’re launching a dog-walking business, you may not see it as worth the hassle. You could launch as a sole proprietor or partnership, then incorporate later.
If you’re wondering, do I need a business bank account? The answer is that legally, you must have one if you’ve registered your business as a corporation or formed a partnership.
Even if you’re operating as a sole proprietor, opening a business bank account is still smart, as you can separate your personal and business income and expenses. This makes bookkeeping easier, simplifies tax filing and gives you a clearer picture of how your business is actually performing.
So, if you want to open a business bank account, your two main options are traditional banks and fintechs.
Traditional banks typically offer in-branch service, established reputations and a range of financial products like loans, credit lines and merchant services. Fintechs are digital-first (sometimes digital-only) alternatives that often provide streamlined, lower-cost financial services and bank accounts you can open online.
Here are some of the best business bank accounts to consider:
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, account fees and features across 20+ business bank accounts and 15+ lenders are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account - simple.
How taxes work depends on the business type you choose. If you register your dog-walking business as a sole proprietorship or partnership, you have to report your business income on your personal tax return. If your business is incorporated, you need to complete a corporate and personal tax return.
You must file your personal and/or corporate tax returns between April and June, but pay what you’ll owe in monthly or quarterly installments throughout the year.
And, since you’re self-employed, you’ll have to contribute both the employer and employee percentages to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). For 2025, the total contribution rate you’ll pay is 11.9% of your net income to a maximum of $8,068.20.
So, to figure out how much you need to set aside, let’s look at 2025’s tax rates.
Also, if you make $30,000 gross income or more in four consecutive calendar quarters (a period of three months beginning on the first day of January, April, July or October in each calendar year), you’ll have to charge your dog-walking clients GST/HST. Then, you’ll be assigned a monthly, quarterly or annual reporting period to file your GST/HST return.
Here are the GST/HST rates you’d charge based on your location:
This means, if your net income is $35,000, you live in Ontario and your dog-walking business is a sole proprietorship, you’ll need to pay the following:
Most small business owners will find it essential to invest in the following types of insurance:
Some insurance companies offer dog-walking insurance, which protects you against all of these potential outcomes while also covering the cost of lawsuits if a dog gets hurt or injured in your care.
To get insurance tailored for dog walkers, you may need to ensure the dogs you walk are vaccinated and that you have a record of each one’s medical history.
Unless you plan to apply for financing, you don’t need to create a business plan to start a dog-walking business. But doing so can still be helpful. Laying out your plan clearly will allow you to spot potential obstacles to your success or reasons why you might want to reconsider starting a business or explore other options.
A great business plan should include:
Things change quickly in the world of business, so you might want to review and amend your business plan at least once every three months.
On average, dog walkers in Canada make between $20 and $40 per walk. 30-minute walks and group walks will be on the lower end of the pay scale, and private walks or walks lasting an hour or more will cost on the higher end. Dog walking in more populated cities like Toronto or Vancouver typically costs more than the same services performed in suburban regions.
As with any service-based business, the amount you charge can potentially be adjusted based on the demand for your services or the amount of competition in your local region. If you offer a better service, have more experience and/or qualifications, you may be able to ask for more.
You can bring in a little extra business by offering related services such as letting dogs out for potty breaks when their owners aren’t home, visiting pets to play with them and keep them company and handling pets at major events such as weddings.
These services will need to be individually priced, with smaller services costing at, or around, minimum wage and more complicated or time-consuming services costing up to hundreds of dollars.
Consider offering a discount for second and third pets in the same household, although you should make sure the money you’re making covers your costs and adequately rewards you for your efforts.
Here are some great ideas for marketing your dog-walking business.
If you want to earn extra income but aren’t sure whether dog walking is right for you, consider these alternatives:
Starting a dog-walking business in Canada doesn’t mean just grabbing a leash and heading to the park. You need to set up the right legal foundation, understand your tax obligations, choose a solid business structure, and stay on top of municipal regulations to succeed.
By taking the time to get these details right from the start, you’ll not only protect yourself and your clients, but you’ll also build a professional reputation that can help your business thrive. If you want to grow your profits even more, check out our guide on investing for the future.
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