How to Start a Dog Training Business

Part 1 - How to start a Dog Training business - Background

Many dog owners either don’t know how to effectively train their dogs or don’t have time to. A dog training business offers dog owners a convenient, safe and effective place to have their canines trained. A business may be located in a home or in a commercial space, or a trainer may go to clients’ homes.

You may also be interested in additional home business ideas.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Dog Training business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a dog training business?

The startup costs associated with opening a dog training business are relatively minimal. Business owners need to have a phone and computer so they can effectively communicate with clients and market online.

Aside from this, they either need a place to train dogs or transportation to clients’ homes. Those who don’t want to sign a long-term lease may be able to rent space a few days a week in a pet store, use a local park or train dogs in a fenced-in yard.

What are the ongoing expenses for a dog training business?

A dog training business has two primary ongoing expenses. Unless training dogs in a home, the business must continue to lease or rent space for training dogs. How much this cost amounts to depends on where the business is located, how much space it uses and how often the business uses the space. The business must also pay to renew any certifications that expire. Renewing certifications usually doesn’t cost as much as initially becoming certified.

Who is the target market?

An ideal client is someone who has at least one dog, has discretionary income and is busy. People who have little discretionary income are less likely to pay someone to train their dog. People who have many obligations and discretionary income are less likely to have time to train their dog themselves and have income to pay a training business.

How does a dog training business make money?

Dog training businesses are paid for training dogs. Businesses may offer multi-week classes people can sign their dogs up for, one-on-one lessons and remedial behavior correction sessions. Additionally, some dog training businesses also offer dog walking, dog sitting and dog grooming, which provide additional income sources.

How much can you charge customers?

The cost of dog training varies widely, depending on a trainer’s expertise, the number of dogs in a class and the location of a business. Group classes typically cost $50 to $125 and run between four and eight weeks. Private lessons typically range from $30 to $100 per hour, with most dogs requiring at least several hours of training. The higher ends of these ranges are usually earned by trainers who have at least one certification.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Dog training businesses can increase profits by opening more classes, encouraging people to sign up for individual sessions, getting trainers more certifications or adding other services. Starting more classes and signing clients up for one-on-one sessions increases how many hours dogs are being trained, and thus increases revenue. Getting more certifications gives trainers more expertise, allowing a business to charge more for the amount of time they spend training dogs. Adding other services, such as dog walking, dog sitting or dog grooming lets a business continue to serve clients after their dogs have been trained.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a dog training business?

Dog training business owners usually work with dogs on a daily basis, which often requires moving about a lot (sitting, standing, walking, running, throwing, etc.). Business owners also spend time interacting with dogs’ owners, teaching them how to interact with their dogs and providing training updates. Marketing, which is essential to growing a dog training business, can also take up a lot of time.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful dog training business?

Dog training business owners need to be familiar with the various techniques used to nonviolently train dogs. Dogs of different ages, breeds and personalities may respond differently to training, so owners should have several techniques they can use with any given dog.

The most sought-after trainers have certifications that show their credentials. Many associations provide certification programs that teach different dog training techniques. These programs may be offered through local or regional schools, or online.

What is the growth potential for a dog training business?

Dogs usually only need to be trained once, so the need for a dog training business in any geographic area is dependent upon the amount of untrained dogs in that area. Many dog training businesses start out with just one, or at most a few, trainers who serve a local area. Some businesses remain small, while others open up satellite locations to reach more potential clients. Few dog training businesses become larger than a local chain with programs situated around a city.

How and when to build a team

A dog training business can be run by one person, but it can also grow to include a team of trainers. Having multiple trainers can let a business offer lessons in several locations at the most popular lesson times, such as Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Building a team requires a considerable investment of time, as owners must ensure employees are suited for this business.

Part 2 - Is a Dog Training business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Dog Training business in 90 days