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Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing scaling your outsourced dog walking business.

Before We Get Started Here’s Your News Recap:

🚀 Wall Street Hits Record Highs, Traders Price in Fed Rate Cut
The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow closed at fresh all-time highs as investor sentiment surged on signs the Federal Reserve is near a rate-cut cycle. The CME FedWatch Tool now indicates a nearly 100% probability of a 25 bps cut in September, a massive leap from just under 90% last week.

🤖 Apple Unveils AI Push—Stocks Climb 1.6%
Apple gained ground after news emerged it plans to expand into AI-powered robots, home security systems, and smart displays—signaling its next growth frontier. Healthcare stocks, long off investors' radars, also bounced back—rising 1.6%, emerging as one of the top-performing sectors.

💼 Record Inflows into Non-U.S. Equities
Investors redirected capital outside the U.S., with ex-U.S. equity funds recording their largest monthly inflows in over four-and-a-half years. This reflects concerns over stretched U.S. valuations and a softer dollar environment.

🔥 Bessent Hints at Steeper Rate Cuts, Markets React
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's suggestion that a 50 bps cut could be on the table amplified pressure on the Fed and further buoyed markets—driving expectations into overdrive.

📉 Layoffs Spread Across Tech, Energy, Retail & Beyond
2025 continues to see widespread job cuts with major firms like Oracle, Intel, Microsoft, UPS (20,000 cuts), and Retailers (e.g., Adidas, Starbucks) downsizing amid inflation, AI shifts, and economic recalibration.

📈 Global Stocks Rally, Volatility Evaporates
Global equities soared—Nikkei reached 43,000, MSCI All Country World hit new highs—as inflation cooling signaled potential policy easing. Crypto thrived, with Ether notably climbing, while oil prices dipped amid supply concerns. Yet, concerns linger over the Fed's credibility amid political pressure.

How To Grow The Leash

Dog walking isn’t just for high schoolers and hobbyists anymore—it's now a highly scalable business model with massive income potential when done right. What starts as walking pups in your neighborhood can quickly become a $10K+ monthly business if you learn how to grow it strategically, automate operations, and hire the right team.

If you already have a few clients or just started your journey, this guide will show you how to maximize income, delegate operations, and create a business that runs without you holding the leash.

🧠 Step 1: Think Like an Owner, Not a Walker

If you’re still doing all the walking yourself, you're trading time for money. To scale, you must shift your mindset from being the doer to being the manager and marketer. Your role becomes:

• Acquiring new clients

• Managing schedules and logistics

• Hiring and training walkers

• Ensuring excellent customer service

Your profit comes from the spread—charge $30 per walk, pay your walker $20, and you net $10. Multiply this across dozens of walks daily.

🔁 Step 2: Build Repeatable Systems

You can’t grow what you can’t systemize. Start with clear SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for:

• Client onboarding: Automate this with forms and email flows (Google Forms + Mailchimp)

• Walker training: Use recorded videos or guides to train on leash handling, dog behavior, emergency procedures

• Scheduling: Tools like Time To Pet, Precise Petcare, or even Google Calendar with automation can manage multiple walkers and routes

Add a CRM (like HubSpot or Zoho) to manage leads and keep follow-up consistent.

💼 Step 3: Hire for Fulfillment AND Growth

You don’t have to scale alone. There are two key hires you should consider to step out of the daily grind:

1. Dog Walkers

   • Hire part-time gig workers or pet lovers from Indeed, Facebook Groups, or Craigslist

   • Pay them per walk or hourly and have clear guidelines/expectations

2. Business Growth Manager

   • This person oversees onboarding, scheduling, and walker coordination

   • Frees you up to focus on marketing, sales, and strategy

3. Sales Team or VA Outreach Reps

   • Hire a virtual assistant or salesperson to do cold outreach to pet owners, apartment complexes, and local vet clinics

   • Pay per lead closed or offer commission-based incentives

With these roles in place, your business can run without you, 7 days a week.

📣 Step 4: Master Marketing & Outreach

To consistently fill your client pipeline:

• Google My Business: Optimize your profile and get reviews—this is gold for local SEO.

• Facebook & Instagram Ads: Run $5/day campaigns targeting local pet owners with cute dog content and irresistible offers (e.g., first walk free).

• Referral Programs: Offer $15 credit for any referral. People love recommending great dog care.

• Partnerships: Collaborate with vets, groomers, or doggy daycares to cross-promote services.

Also, create a monthly newsletter with pet tips, special offers, and local dog events to keep clients engaged.

💸 Add High-Margin Services

To raise your average order value (AOV), upsell or bundle services:

• Pet Sitting

• Poop Scooping

• Dog Training Referrals

• Puppy Check-ins

• Weekend Adventure Hikes

You can also create monthly subscription plans for recurring clients, like:

• $299/month for 5 walks/week (adds predictability and loyalty)

🧮 Realistic Income Potential

Let’s say:

• You manage 5 dog walkers

• Each does 5 walks/day at $30/walk

• You pay them $20/walk and keep $10

That’s:

• 25 walks/day x $10 = $250/day profit

• $250/day x 22 working days = $5,500/month

Add weekend coverage, subscriptions, and upsells, and you’re looking at $10K–$15K/month in profit, potentially more.

🧠 Automate with Smart Tools

• Time To Pet / Precise Petcare – CRM + GPS tracking + invoicing

• Slack / WhatsApp – Communicate with walkers and staff

• Stripe or Square – For client payments

• Canva / Buffer – For content creation and social media scheduling

• Zapier – Connect tools to automate onboarding, scheduling, and feedback collection

✅ Pros of Scaling a Dog Walking Business

• High demand in cities and suburbs

• Predictable recurring revenue

• Low startup costs

• Easy to delegate and automate

❌ Cons

• Staff turnover (make training and onboarding easy)

• Weather-dependent

• Liability risks (get insured!)

• Can be admin-heavy without the right systems

📋 Requirements

• Pet care insurance (e.g., PetCareIns)

• Local permits/business license

• Smartphone with data for GPS tracking

• Walker contracts & waivers

• Reliable walkers with availability

🔁 Summary: How to Grow a 5-Figure Dog Walking Business

• Shift your role from walker to owner

• Create and automate systems for scheduling and communication

• Hire reliable walkers, a manager, and sales support

• Master local outreach and referral marketing

• Upsell services and offer subscription packages

• Use automation tools to stay hands-off

• Focus on retention and building a strong brand presence

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.