If you need extra cash or just love hanging out with doggos, on-demand dog walking might be worth doing.
Love dogs? Wag, a Los Angeles–based dog-walking startup, matches people like you with dog owners. The service works a lot like Uber, Postmates, or TaskRabbit — when dog owners request a walk on the Wag app, it pairs them with a “Wag walker” nearby. Then the walker shows up, walks the dog, and drops it off safely at home.
Wag cofounder and CEO Joshua Viner told BuzzFeed News that “on average, a walker makes around $17.50 per walk.” Private, professional walkers, however, can make between $20 and $40 — and, because they don’t need to pay Wag a cut, they keep more of that cash for themselves. Plus, if a professional walker takes on multiple dogs at a time, which they often do, their payment increases with each furry, four-legged creature.
Wag only lets you walk one dog at a time (but you can walk additional dogs from the same household for an extra $5 per dog). And while professional dog walkers do have to purchase their own equipment and transportation, Wag replenishes any equipment needed, such as treats and doggie bags, for no additional charge to their walkers.
And though you might think anyone could walk dogs for Wag, it’s not the easiest job in the world. You have to have skills. Before you can be an approved walker for Wag, you have to pass an online multiple-choice test that includes questions like “How can you tell if a dog is nervous to the point of being aggressive?”
As you grow, so do your expenses
“When we first started out our overhead basically consisted of poop bags and key tags,” says Doll, who left her advertising job in 2007 to start dog walking full time. The business she co-owns now grosses more than six figures a year. “But now we have office rents, software costs, web hosting costs, payroll expenses and liabilities, insurances for employees and insurance for the dogs, etc.”
If you end up hiring employees or contractors so you can run the business side of things, it may end up taking you away from what may be most important to you: the dogs.
“I started because of my love for dogs, and now I don’t get to spend any time with them, but I could talk you in circles about workers comp and unemployment insurance and the payroll side of things,” Doll says. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, I’ll say that. The flexibility [is important].”
How Do Dog Walkers Get Paid On Wag
Wag dog walkers directly collect the payment from their clients. This means that they’re not receiving any salary from Wag itself. However, the downside is that Wag takes 40% of the earnings. And so, how much do people make on wag might be lower. Still, this isn’t a major drawback considering that Wag offers insurance to dog walkers.
We hope that this section answers your question about how much do wag dog walkers make. Proceed reading to the next section to know how much do dog walkers earn on Rover.
Can You Make Real Money On A Dog-Walking App?
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People right now are so crazy about dogs to the point that it’s rare to see not having at least one. And as much as the craze goes, people are now more conscious about how to treat their pets well.
Leave your dog alone in the house without telling anyone, and it’s only a matter of time before someone comes to scold you. Dogs aren’t just pets anymore; they’re family. And for this reason, many go to great lengths to ensure that their poochies grow healthy and bright by providing healthy food, adequate training, and vet care.
Aside from what’s previously mentioned, walking is also essential for dogs as it prevents destructive behaviors. Experts recommend that dogs should be walked for two hours every day. However, many can’t do so due to busy schedules.
Dog walkers offer their services so that dogs can go out even if their owners are busy. It’s true that the global pandemic has made it hard for dog walkers to make an income. But since things are now turning for the better, it’s expected that dog walking services will increase in valuation by about 10.5%.
Are you planning to start a full-time or part-time dog walking career? If you wonder how much you make walking dogs, here is your answer – read this guide to find out.