Starting a private dog training business: a checklist

Decide what you offer

• Which services: private lessons, behavior cases, group classes or virtual sessions.
• Where you train: clients’ homes, a rented space, parks or video calls.
• Your travel area, and what you charge beyond it.
• Who you won’t take on yet, and who you refer them to.

Sort out the paperwork

• Register your business name and structure as your state requires.
• Check whether your city or county needs a business license.
• Talk to an insurance agent about liability cover for dog training.
• Open a separate bank account for the business.
• Ask an accountant how to set aside tax on what you earn.

Requirements differ between states and cities, so check the rules where you work.

Write your policies

• A cancellation and no-show policy.
• Your package terms: what is included and when it expires.
• A service agreement or waiver, reviewed for your state.
• How clients can reach you, and when you reply.

Set up how clients book and pay

• A way for clients to see your availability and book.
• Reminders before each session.
• Online payment, and a way to take cards in person.
• An intake questionnaire sent with every first booking.

Plan your client records

From the first client, keep notes for every session, the homework you set and any incidents clients report. Decide where these records live and how you’ll find them later. A folder of loose documents works for a handful of clients, but it gets hard to manage as you grow.