The 5 Things I’d Do This Year to Build a Thriving Dog Sitting Business

The 5 Things I’d Do This Year to Build a Thriving Dog Sitting Business

If you’re thinking about starting a dog-sitting business… Or you’re already dog sitting and wondering why it still feels messy, underpaid, or exhausting… This episode is for you.

Because here’s the thing...

Dog sitting absolutely can become a full-time, reliable, profitable business — but only when you stop treating it like a casual side hustle and start building it with intention.

 2026 is not the year to wing it.

It’s not the year to say yes to everything. And it’s definitely not the year to undercharge and hope it works out later.

In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the five things I would do if I were starting my dog-sitting business again in 2026 — and what I’d do differently, faster, and with far more confidence.

These are the foundations I now teach inside Paws to Profit, and they’re the exact shifts that took my own business from “busy but chaotic” to fully booked, profitable, and sustainable.

So let’s get into it.

Find the Paws to Profit program here https://pawstoprofit.com.au/ 

Transcript

anya williams
Hey, it's a Tanya here, host of the Pause to Profit podcast and Chief Pawson at Three Sport Dogs, a thriving dog-sitting business based in Brisbane, Australia.

00:12.86
Tanya williams
Happy New Year, everybody. um Yeah, i mean, I guess it depends on when you're listening to this episode, if you're listening to it in January 2026 when it comes out or at some other time. It doesn't matter, the information that I'm going to share today is going to be still relevant for you. And today I want to talk about the five things I would do this year to build a thriving dog sitting business. So if you're starting out or if you've been doing it a while, it's just not getting where you need it to be. These are the five things that will make a big difference to your year.

00:46.01
Tanya williams
So grab a pen and paper and take some notes and re-listen to the episode multiple times if you need to, to get all the information. um And let's dive into it because you're going to get so much stuff from from this episode. So let's go, shall we? Um, yeah, you know, if you're thinking about selling your dog sitting biz, um, and you're just going, you know, i don't know how to do this properly. or I've got a a biz and it's just feeling really messy. You feel like you're not getting enough money, or you're just totally exhausted, then keep listening.

01:20.51
Tanya williams
Uh, because dog sitting can absolutely become a full-time, reliable, profitable business because I've done it myself. I know i i did it. Um, but you've got to stop treating it like a side hustle.

01:32.28
Tanya williams
And start building it with intention. And that's a big thing that you need to be thinking of because 2026 is not a year to wing it, right? It's a year. It's not a year to say yes to everything either, okay? But it's definitely not the year to undercharge and hope that it works out later, okay? You've got to have a strategy and you've got to have a system and processes to build a proper business,

01:55.64
Tanya williams
So I'm going to walk through the five things that I would do if I was starting my business again. um You know, these are the foundations that I teach in Pause to Profit. um And then the exact shifts that took my own business from busy, ah like from yeah just busy but chaotic to actually fully booked, profitable and sustainable. There's a big difference, right?

02:15.77
Tanya williams
So let's get into it. So most people get into dog sitting for the same reasons, right? They love dogs. They want flexibility. Right. They want to get out of the nine to five because they hate their job and they want to earn money doing something they actually love. And that's all fantastic.

02:31.22
Tanya williams
But what when things fall apart is when dog sitting is treated as a favour-based business or a favour-based job instead of an actual real business. because you end up replying to messages at all hours, you juggle you know juggle food instructions across text, emails, conversations, notes, and it gets super confusing. You feel awkward about telling people your prices.

02:54.84
Tanya williams
You're saying yes when you really should be saying no to some dogs. And you're wondering why exhausted, even though you work for yourself and you're not earning what you should be earning. So Let's start with number one, shall we?

03:06.87
Tanya williams
Build systems before you build demand. Now, this is one of the biggest mistakes I see dog sitters make. They focus on getting but bookings first and then they worry about systems later. Now, I made this mistake myself so I know firsthand how it feels like.

03:22.65
Tanya williams
So what actually happens is you get busy and then everything becomes reactive because you're chasing information, you're double handling admin, you're relying on your memory going, oh my God, whose bed was that? Whose bowl was that? Like someone said something about feed, not not giving a dog eggs and you can't remember stuff because you're so crazy and chaotic trying to learn how to do this dog sitting stuff. but also figuring it all out along the way. So your business starts running you, okay? And that's when you get exhausted.

03:53.14
Tanya williams
So if I was starting out again, I would set up systems from day one because then when I got busy, I'm already in the groove, I've already got systems and processes and the whole thing becomes much more manageable.

04:06.90
Tanya williams
And that means you have clear booking booking processes, you have structured onboarding, you have, you know, one place for all your client information. You've got defined policies around cancellation, payments, medication, food prep, care, all that sort of stuff.

04:22.14
Tanya williams
Systems don't make your business cold or impersonal. They make it safer, smoother and more professional for you and your clients. So when clients can't can see that you're organized and you're confident and you're structured, trust increases.

04:38.04
Tanya williams
And when trust increases, so does demand. So there's a reason we do all this stuff, guys. Okay. Number one, build systems before you build demand. The second one is around pricing. Now you want to price for sustainability, not popularity. Because you can be the cheapest and be as busy as everything, but if you are not making any money from that and you're so busy and you're exhausted, then that whole thing is just like a waste of time. Like why are you running a business?

05:05.21
Tanya williams
I see this question about pricing all the time in dog sitting groups and it drives me mental. Stop asking other people what you should charge for Because your price pipe pricing should be should not be based on what other people charge.

05:20.86
Tanya williams
And if you're doing that, then you're already setting yourself up to struggle, okay? Because only you like because more ah when it comes to pricing, you don't know their costs, their capacity, their lifestyle, their experience, whether they're profitable or not.

05:33.72
Tanya williams
So stop asking other people what you should charge, okay? I wouldn't be asking, what are you charging? I'd be asking, what do I need to earn for this to be sustainable business?

05:45.56
Tanya williams
um ask yourself, how many dogs can I realistically care for at a high standard? you know, what does a dog sitting week look actually cost me in time, energy and responsibility?

05:56.31
Tanya williams
So a thriving dog sitting business is not built on being the cheapest option. Okay. It's built on being the right option, which comes back to specialization, which we're going to talk about next.

06:07.19
Tanya williams
But when your prices reflect the level of care you provide, then you attract clients who respect your time, your boundaries and your expertise. And that changes everything. I see this on these groups, especially some of these, um you know, third party apps where people are undercharging, they're getting ridiculous demands from clients where people are expecting them to do all these extra things and they don't know how to respond.

06:29.27
Tanya williams
And, you know, there's, and people are giving them bad advice. So, you know, you are in charge of your business and you need to remember that. So I'm planning a whole episode on pricing. So make sure you're subscribed um to Pause the Profit and you can hear that one when it comes out shortly.

06:47.53
Tanya williams
Now, the third thing is to stop trying to look like everybody else. Now, it's all well and good to just go, I'm just going to copy what someone else is doing. And I've got someone that's near me that's done exactly that. And I think that just by copying, they're they're going to be successful. And that's not the case.

07:03.91
Tanya williams
Posting cute dog photos is fun and whatever, but it's not an actual strategy. So you've got to get very clear on positioning early. So you need to define who you work like who your ideal client is, who's not an ideal client, why is your service different from someone else's and why should someone choose you over someone else's.

07:26.49
Tanya williams
Okay, you need to be super clear. Now we are super clear. We look after oodles and small dogs. We do get inquiries for other so other types of dogs, but I say, sorry, can't help you. Not a right fit for us. But hey, go and check out such and such.

07:42.33
Tanya williams
So specialization creates the clarity. It creates confidence. It attracts the right people. So the people that you want, right? You don't need to be everything to everyone. And that's something that you need to shift your mindset on because this is a mistake that I see so many people making. Oh, I have to take dogs and cats and all sorts of dog like this and that and different breeds. And no, you don't.

08:05.85
Tanya williams
You don't have to do all that. And there's a whole episode based on that. So listen to episode five, which is all about the power of specialization. So if you've missed it, go back and listen to it.

08:17.27
Tanya williams
The fourth one is turn one-off bookings into repeat income. Now, again, there is a another episode dedicated to this, a full episode. But one of the biggest shifts I would be focusing on is stop trying to always be finding new clients and think about how you can turn the existing clients you have into repeat business. Now, this is not hard to do, okay? um Because chasing new bookings all the time, will takes you more time, it costs you more money, You know, there's because you've got to do meet and greets and there's a whole bunch of stuff that you should be doing. So that it's there's so much more involved.

08:53.43
Tanya williams
But if you can build a predictable income on repeat business because you can encourage repeat stays, you can offer a structured service option, you can create premium experiences and deliver a great service that clients i don't even have to consider an alternative, right?

09:11.26
Tanya williams
Because a full calendar doesn't come from luck. It comes from loyalties. Now, when clients trust you with your dog, they want continuity, right? I have clients who will literally contact me and ask me for my dates of when I'm not available because they will book their holidays around me.

09:28.92
Tanya williams
And then they say, my dog's not going anywhere else. So if you're not available, we're like, we're not going on holiday. So, and I've had, even I've even had people change their holiday dates because I wasn't available for part of that time. That says a lot.

09:41.98
Tanya williams
They trust me. Their dogs love me. They know that their dogs have a great time here. So they don't want to go anywhere else and confuse the dogs and have to deal with someone else that might have totally different processes and systems. Okay.

09:56.05
Tanya williams
It is important. Your job is to make it easy for them to come back time and time again. That's how becomes stable stable and reliable, not a roller coaster. Okay. So go back and listen to EP12 because I talk a lot more detail about that.

10:12.76
Tanya williams
Now, the last one is to treat it like a business from the start. So if you're just doing this as a hobby or a side hustle and thinking maybe one day I want to grow this into a business, then stop treating it like a side hustle or a hobby, okay? And start asking those questions, you know, as if you're doing it for free, like that drives me crazy. You shouldn't be doing it for free. No, what you're you're providing a valuable service to someone.

10:37.46
Tanya williams
If someone wants you look after their dog for free, they're not valuing the service that you provide. I bet you they don't ask their accountant if they can do their tax for free or when they go to the doctor, say, oh, I, you know, i don't want to pay for it. Is that okay? Like you're just going to, you know, do a consult for free? No, they don't.

10:54.04
Tanya williams
So why are you thinking that it's okay to do that for dog sitting? It's not. So, you know, stop asking, oh, is it okay if I charge this? Will people mind if I set this boundary? Am I allowed to say no? You know, and start thinking about what supports your business long-term, what perfects ah protects the quality of care that you can provide, what allows you to show up consistently without burning out.

11:19.13
Tanya williams
Because running a dog sitting business isn't just about loving dogs, it's about making clear decisions, setting expectations and leading your business with confidence. The moment you treat it like a business, it will start paying you like one.

11:34.78
Tanya williams
So if you're listening to this and thinking, I love dog sitting, but I want it to feel easier. I want it to feel more profitable. I want to be more professional. Then you're not alone and you don't have to do it alone either. Okay. You're probably not doing things wrong. You probably just need some structure, some strategy and support.

11:52.22
Tanya williams
And that's exactly why Pause to Profit program exists. It's designed to help you move from side hustle to full-time income Turn that chaos into calm.

12:03.38
Tanya williams
You know, instead of undercharging, be confident about your pricing and turn those busy busy days into sustainable access. It's not about doing more.

12:14.06
Tanya williams
It's about doing it properly. So if you're ready to do that, you want to build that thriving dog sitting business this year that actually supports your life, not consumes it. then you're in the right place.

12:26.52
Tanya williams
Pause to Profit is the program that will help you step by step to create a thriving dog sitting biz this day, this year. I've done it. Um, so I know how it works. And of course someone decides they want to ring me as I'm ending an episode.

12:49.85
Tanya williams
Sorry about that guys. Having trouble turning that off. Um, Pause to Profit. It's a program, right? You'll find it at paustoprofit.com.au. So, yeah i never get I feel like sometimes I never get through with a full episode without a dog barking, a phone ringing somewhere, a crew driver showing up. like It always seems to happen that way with timing. So my deepest apologies. it's One of my pet peeves is phones ringing in the middle of stuff and it's on silent, but it comes through my laptop. So ah yes, I digress. So ah let's back to what we're talking about. Pause to Profit. It's the program that's going to help you do that this year. You'll find it at paustoprofit.com.au. If you have any questions, please reach out to me. um This is a low cost, low barrier, easy to um follow program. That's not going to take you weeks, months, and so you know years to complete. It's short, sweet. um You can do it in your own time. and it's going to make a massive difference to your business and the money that you're making as a dog sitter in 2026. So that's me for now, over and out. Have a fantastic day. I should say have a porsome day wherever you are in this beautiful world of ours.