Make a fortune walking dogs
Since the pandemic, dog walkers have been making money in New York, with salaries that can reach six figures .
With its 600,000 dogs, New York City represents an El Dorado for an increasingly popular and, above all, increasingly lucrative profession: walker of dogs.
In Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Michael Josephs walks two dogs: his own and Remi, who belongs to a couple of young professionals who work from their nearby home but are overwhelmed with their daily routines.
Michael Josephs admits it, becoming a dog walker was the best decision he made three years ago, having just obtained his real estate agent's license in the Big Apple.
I started in July 2019, just before the pandemic. We grew really fast, and then I had 95% of my clientele leave New York during the lockdowns. Everything stopped, he says.
Gradually, his customers got back in touch, and in 2022, when everyone started moving back into the offices, his business rebounded strongly.
Michael Josephs runs Parkside Pups, which employs nine dog walkers.
Today, at his company Parkside Pups, he manages a team of nine dog walkers. He even hopes to create a comprehensive payroll system and provide benefits for his walkers.
How much does this service cost? Half hour is US$20, hour is US$25 and two hour is US$35. People always ask me why you have to pay $5 more for the extra 30 minutes. I think all dogs deserve time outdoors, even if they only want a 30 minute walk. They probably want to stay outside for another 30 minutes, if they have the option, he claims.
By the way, walking dogs for $20 US half hour, is it paying?
Michael Josephs replies with a big smile: I made US$120,000 in 2022. The last two years we've grown 250%. Last year we grew by 150%. I think this shows you that we are on the right track and I predict that this year my goal is to reach between US$180,000 and US$200,000.
Remi's owners, Prashanth Selvam and Lucy Seery, did not hesitate to use the services of Michael Josephs to get their 2-year-old dog out. They adopted him during the pandemic, says Prashanth, and since moving to Brooklyn, it's easier to walk their dog.
He just likes to see d& #x27;other dogs and he loves taking these walks so much. Look how happy he is, says Lucy Seery.
Bethany Lane became a dog walker 12 years ago, starting her company Whistling Wag. I needed to pay my bills, my rent, my student loans. I posted a classified ad and saw that someone was willing to pay me to walk dogs, which in my mind was the craziest thing I've ever heard talk, because I like to walk dogs for fun, for free, she recalls.
Bethany Lane offers personalized dog sitting and walking services.
Since then, she has hired six employees and mainly does business management. I had to take a step back from the walks. Which is a bit of a shame, because it's actually my favorite part of the job, says Bethany Lane.
She focused on a very personalized service, with one or two dogs maximum for each walk. Her hourly rate remains confidential, she says, because it all depends on the needs and personality of the dog and its handlers.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals, more than 23 million U.S. households — or nearly one in five nationally — have adopted a dog or cat during the pandemic. With Americans back in the office, someone has to walk all those pandemic puppies.
No wonder, then, that the profession has attracted a lot of people. But, according to Bethany Lane, you have to be very reliable, because it's a very demanding job. You have to be ready to go out every day, whatever the weather.
Michael Josephs and his wife, with whom he works at Parkside Pups, are full of projects. We want to open a daycare for dogs in New York, and we dream of opening a kennel on ten hectares of land in New Jersey so that we can bring my customers there from New York, for longer stays, he explains. .
Michael Josephs' business has grown exponentially since the pandemic.
Bethany Lane , she has raised enough money to buy a house in New Jersey, to spend her weekends there. His other cash cow remains the care of dogs for those who go on vacation. With these two assets, she ensures good income growth, even if she wants her business to remain on a human scale.
When asked if she ever thought of doing her livelihood, Bethany Lane responds bluntly: It was my dream. That's what I wanted. A dream with financial success as the key.
