Launch League

Full guide · Ohio

How to start a dog walking business as a teenager

Dog walking is a weekday business, which makes it awkward with school and valuable because of it. Owners who work all day need someone at lunchtime, and there are far more of those owners than there are walkers. If you can do after-school walks reliably, you have a business.

Nothing to startFrom age 13First dollar: A few days, once one neighbor says yes.

What it costs

What you actually need

A sturdy leash of your own
$20–$35

Use the owner's for their dog, but carry a spare. Leashes break.

Waste bags
$8 a roll

Carry twice what you think you need.

Treats
$10

Ask the owner first. Some dogs have allergies and some owners have rules.

A phone with the owner's number saved
$0

And your own emergency contact, visible on the lock screen.

Borrow before you buy

Do your first three jobs with equipment you already have access to. Buy your own out of money a customer has already handed you, never out of money you are hoping to make.

What to charge

Pricing, honestly

Start at the lower end of each range. Raise it once five people have paid you without hesitating.

30-minute walk, one dog
$12–$20

Check what adult services near you charge, then sit below it. You are starting out.

60-minute walk
$20–$30

Worth offering for high-energy dogs.

Second dog, same household
+$5–$8

Only take two at once if you have walked each one alone first.

Five walks a week, booked
10–15% less

Regular beats occasional. Chase the standing booking.

These are what people commonly charge, not what you will make, and they were first written for a Canadian market. Look up what adults near you charge for the same job, then start a little under it and raise your price once you have five happy customers.

Your first five

Exactly who to ask, in order

Warmest first. Your first attempt should be with someone who will be kind about it, because you will be bad at it.

  1. Person 1

    The dog on your street you already know by name.

  2. Person 2

    Anyone in your family who works full time and owns a dog.

  3. Person 3

    Your neighbors' dog-owning friends — ask your first customer to mention you to one person.

  4. Person 4

    The local vet or groomer's noticeboard, with an adult's permission and a real phone number.

  5. Person 5

    A neighborhood group your parent is in. Ask them to post it, not you.

Send this

“Hi — I'm Sam from number 14. I walk dogs after school, Monday to Friday, and I have room for one more. I'd take Bruno out for 30 minutes for $15. Could I do a free first walk this week while you're home, so you can see how he does with me?”

Change the names and the price. Keep the shape: who you are, how they know you, what you do, the price, and an easy way to say yes.

Not optional

Staying safe

  • Meet every dog with the owner there before you ever walk it alone.
  • Never wrap a leash around your hand or wrist. A startled dog can break a wrist.
  • Know what you will do if another dog comes at you. Decide before it happens, not during.
  • Never take a dog somewhere the owner has not agreed to.
  • If a dog growls at you at the meeting, say no. There will be other dogs.

Tell a parent or guardian where you are working and when you expect to be finished, every time.

The actual business

Getting them to book you again

  • Send one photo from every walk. It is the whole reason people stay.
  • Be the same time every day. Dogs and owners both run on routine.
  • Say something specific about their dog each week. It proves you were paying attention.
  • Tell the owner about anything odd — limping, not drinking, off their food.
  • Ask for a referral only after a month of not missing once.

Two things to know in Ohio

If someone hires you. Ohio generally requires a minor work permit (an age and schooling certificate) for ages 14 through 17 during the school year, and in summer break only for ages 14 and 15. It is not required in some common teen jobs, including snow shoveling, newspaper delivery and family farm work. See the Department of Commerce and the Legislative Service Commission.

If you work for yourself, that is a different situation, and the sources I read do not spell out how the permit rules treat a teenager running their own small business. If you are unsure, ask the Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour.

Taxes. Money you earn counts. Net self-employment earnings of $400 or more usually mean self-employment tax, and in Ohio lawn care, landscaping and snow removal become taxable services once your sales reach $5,000 a year. The Ohio starting guide explains both.

Checked October 9, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules change.

More ideas are on the full list. Ready to make it a real business? Read how to start a business in Ohio.

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