According to PetBusiness, about seven in ten millennials own a pet.
Since they are currently the largest demographic of pet owners, they also spend the most money, including on training a dog.
So if you’re thinking about how to start a dog training business, now is the perfect time to set up your business while also doing something that you love.
Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through all of the technical steps to follow when it comes to starting a company.
Plan Your Business
When running a business, it helps if you have a clear business plan to guide you along the way. This business plan will help you map out any specifics.
This is when you’ll decide what you’ll name your business, what your startup costs will be, your target market, how much you’re going to charge, and how you’re going to be successful.
Choosing the right name is important because you want it to be memorable and also recognizable. However, it can be challenging. You might want to pick something that means something to you, or you could do something as simple as using a business name generator.
Take the time to choose the right name because whatever you choose, you’ll be operating under that business name. You’ll need to register it, so you’ll also want to do some research beforehand.
Make sure that the website domain is still available and that it’s also not taken by anyone else on federal or state trademark records.
Get the Right Licenses
Once you’ve decided on a business name, you’ll need to get the right permits and licenses to do business in your state. The guidelines are different for each state, so check with yours.
You will need to file for some licenses to comply with regulations before starting your business. You can check with the clerk’s office in your city or county.
Register Your Business
Next, you’ll need to register your business. You’ll have to get an EIN, which is a business tax number. You can use this for all of your state and federal taxes.
You’ll need to decide what business structure you want to have and then apply for your EIN with that structure. You can actually get an EIN for free.
Open a Business Bank Account
Before you can open a business bank account, you’ll need to have a registered agent and business address. This is where the bank will send all important documentation.
You’ll also want to open a business bank account to keep it separate from all of your other accounts and personal assets. To open a business bank account, you can go to any local business and start an account.
Next, get a business credit card. This is where you can add all of your business expenses and start building your business’s credit history. This can be useful later on if you need to take out a loan to keep your business running.
Get Business Insurance
Next, you’ll want to ensure that you have business insurance to protect you and your business. This will allow you to operate your business safely, but it will also cover you in case there is a covered loss.
There are a few different insurance policies that businesses can get, and they all come with different risks. You’ll need to decide what risk level you’re comfortable with. Since you’ll be working with other’s pets, you do have a higher risk than most businesses.
You should start with getting general liability insurance. This is the minimum amount of coverage you need, but you may also want to get workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re going to hire employees, you’ll be required to get this insurance as well.
Get Your Dog Training Certifications
You’ll also want to also ensure that you have your dog training certifications. This is also important for operating your business safely, but it also gives you credibility.
For example, you might want to consider getting the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Certification. There are four different membership levels that you can apply for, and they are also tailored to different experience levels.
To pass this certification, you’ll have to collect references, have time spent training dogs, do hundreds of hours of coursework, and also pass exams. This can be a challenging certification to get, but it’s one of the most esteemed.
You can also try getting a Council for Professional Dog Trainers Certification. This is one of the only certifications that you can get where you take a live dog training test in front of an evaluator.
Lastly, you can also consider the Karen Pryor Dog Training Certification. This is actually a course as well, so you’ll learn all about how to train dogs for six months and then earn your certification afterward.
Start Marketing Your Business
Now that you’ve done a lot of the legwork for your business, you need to start marketing to bring in customers. As we mentioned earlier, millennials might be a good demographic to market to, but you can develop all of this in your marketing plan.
You’ll want to think about both online and offline marketing to spread the word. You’ll need to set up a website and also create a page on Google My Business and Yelp.
This way, you can even collect reviews about your business so others can learn about all the good work that you do!
Learn More About How to Start a Dog Training Business
Learning how to start a dog training business is easy, but carrying out these steps can be the challenging part.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to run a successful business, we’re here to help you. Check out some of our other articles to learn more about running a business.
