Small business ideas
New Zealand
Canterbury
Dog walking and pet sitting

Pets No experienceSide hustleRepeat customers

How to start a dog walking and pet sitting business in Canterbury

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Canterbury asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for New Zealand: researched US figures converted to New Zealand dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are New Zealand's own.

To startNZ$344–1.4kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$4.4k–12kOnce established

Profit margin70–85%After insurance, fuel and app fees

First customer1–3 weeksFrom today

DifficultyStart in days if you know dogs

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you love dogs and like being outside

Dog walking is one of the cheapest businesses to start: no shop, a few leashes, insurance and a phone. Most clients book the same walks every week, and pet sitting while owners travel fills the calendar around them.

You'll like it if

You're calm and confident with dogs of all sizes
You like walking in every kind of weather
You're reliable: owners count on you every weekday
You live where many people work long days

Think twice if

You're nervous around big or excitable dogs
Walking several miles a day is hard for you
You can't be on call over holidays
You want to work from a desk

02What it costs

From NZ$344 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startNZ$344

What	Cost
InsuranceFirst year of liability cover that includes pets in your care	NZ$270
Leashes and walking gearSpare leashes and slip leads for every walk	NZ$25
Pet first aid courseA short online course you can show clients	NZ$35
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Key lockboxKeeps client keys safe at the door	NZ$0
Booking and billing appScheduling, visit reports and invoices for the first three months	NZ$0
Cards and flyersBusiness cards, flyers for the neighborhood and a branded shirt	NZ$14
BondCovers theft claims; worth it once you hire walkers	NZ$0
Total	NZ$344

Once you're running: about NZ$80 a month, plus about 10% of what you earn. Insurance and a booking app every month, plus fuel, waste bags and card fees for each walk.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per walk NZ$30 NZ$10NZ$80

Walks a week 40 1100

Monthly costs NZ$80 NZ$0NZ$320

Typical in Canterbury: NZ$20–NZ$40 per walk, 10–60 walks a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$1.1k–2.2k

10–20 walks a week around another job

Full-time, on your ownNZ$4.4k–6.7k

40–60 walks a week, plus pet sitting

With a teamNZ$6.9k–12k

Two or three walkers working for you

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

Look at who already walks dogs near you and what they charge. Busy neighborhoods with apartments and long commutes are the best places to start.
- Search "dog walker near me"
- Note 5 walkers and their prices
- Ask dog owners you know what they'd pay
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a friendly name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Canterbury already uses it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Canterbury
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
4
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Inland Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Inland Revenue
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Care of pets in your custody
- Lost key cover
- A bond, once you hire walkers
7
Learn pet first aid
1 day NZ$35

A short course teaches you to spot an emergency and what to do until you reach a vet. Clients like to see it.
- Online pet first aid course
- Save the nearest emergency vet
- Write down each dog's vet and needs
8
Get your gear
1–2 days NZ$40–320

You need very little: spare leashes, waste bags, treats, a way to keep keys safe and a few cards to hand out.
- Spare leashes and slip leads
- Waste bags and a treat pouch
- Key lockbox and key tags
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by the length of the visit, with a small charge for each extra dog. Weekly plans keep your calendar full. See the prices below.
- Potty breaks, walks and overnights
- Extra dog and holiday charges
- A weekly plan for regulars
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Owners want to see who'll have their keys. A site with your photo, prices and reviews, and a way to book a free meet and greet, builds that trust.
- Website with your prices
- Meet-and-greet booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 clients
2–4 weeks Up to NZ$140

Neighbors, friends and local groups come first. Every happy owner tells another one at the dog park.
- Neighborhood groups and flyers
- Vets, groomers and pet shops
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Keep each dog's routine, keys and vet details in one place, and know who has paid for the week.
- Client and pet list
- Weekly invoices
- Repeat bookings
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CAN

What Canterbury asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Inland RevenueFree

Home-business rules

If you run the business from home, check what your area allows, especially if clients' dogs will ever stay with you.

Your city or countyVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Leashes and slip leadsKeep spares in your bag

NZ$12–NZ$50Must have

Pet first aid courseOnline, about 35 minutes

NZ$35Must have

Key lockboxOver-the-door-knob style

NZ$60Later

Business cardsTo hand out at parks and vets

NZ$14–NZ$35Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Potty break

NZ$25 per visit · 15 minutes

Out for a quick break
Fresh water
A photo and a note

Daily walk

NZ$30 per visit · 30 minutes

A solo walk around the neighborhood
Paws wiped, water topped up
A photo and a note

Overnight stay

NZ$120 per visit · Evening to morning

Dinner, evening and morning walks
Company through the night
Mail in and lights on

30-minute walk prices in CanterburyTypical: NZ$20–NZ$40

Average NZ$30

NZ$0NZ$14NZ$30NZ$40NZ$55

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Owners search "dog walker near me". A free profile with photos and reviews puts you in front of them.

Free

Neighborhood groups

Nextdoor and local Facebook groups are where owners ask for walker recommendations.

Free

Vets, groomers and pet shops

Leave cards and offer to cover their clients; they're asked for walkers every week.

Partnership

Reviews

Trust is everything when you hold someone's keys. Ask every happy owner for a review.

With PressUp Reviews

Weekly plans

A set walk every weekday is steady income, and those clients book you for sitting when they travel.

Repeat income

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Buy insurance

Week 2

Get ready

Take a pet first aid course
Get spare leashes and a lockbox
Write a simple service agreement

Week 3

Go live

Website with your prices
Google Business Profile
Flyers in your neighborhood

Week 4

First clients

Do free meet and greets
Aim for 5 weekly regulars
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to walk dogs in Canterbury?

Usually not, beyond registering your business. A few cities require a permit to walk several dogs at once, and keeping pets overnight in your own home can need a kennel license. Check with your city or county.

Do I need insurance?

Yes. Pet care insurance covers you if a dog is hurt, bites someone or damages property while in your care, and many clients ask to see it before handing over keys.

Should I start on a pet sitting app?

Apps can bring your first clients, but they charge fees. Many walkers start there, then build their own regular clients who book them directly.

How many dogs can I walk at once?

Start with one household at a time. Group walks earn more per hour but take more skill, and some cities limit how many dogs one walker can take.

Can I do this part-time?

Yes. Midday walks fit around early or late jobs, and weekend and holiday pet sitting is in demand when other walkers are busy.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources