Pet Care Business Insurance: What Dog Walkers, Groomers, and Sitters Actually Need

The pet care industry is growing by leaps and bounds. With that growth comes more risk, more responsibility, and potential for more lawsuits.

If you’re in this industry, it’s time to shop for pet care business insurance. And if you’re wondering, “Do I need insurance as a dog walker?” The answer is YES.

This article is aimed at pet care professionals. We’re talking about dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters, and everyone else that handles other people’s pets for a living.

Today, we’ll help you explore the types of business insurance a pet sitter or dog walker could need, and the types of risks you face if working uninsured.

Remember, your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy does not cover pet business done at home.

We at Einsurance.com know pet care is a genuine, valuable industry and a practical business model. We’re here to help you get the pet sitter / dog walker business insurance you need.

Let’s begin with a quick overview of the pet care and grooming business growth in the US. Then we’ll talk about exposure and insurance options.

The Pet Care Business is Booming

The pet care industry has doubled in size over the last decade. In 2024, Americans spent $13 billion on services for their pets, including dog walking, pet sitting, grooming, doggie daycare and the like. The industry is projected to grow by at least 10% in 2026.

Why the Pet Care Industry is Growing

Part of this growth is attributed to Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — and their passion for providing pets with a high quality of life.

We hate to lump a whole generation together. Everyone is an individual. Still, one might argue that most of our pets are living better today than ever before. Custom bedding, fresh food, access to medication and thoughtful care are the standards today.

Another factor at play may be the pet adoption boom during the COVID years. According to the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), roughly 23 million Americans acquired a new pet during the pandemic.

Of course, when the pandemic ended and people returned to work, they felt guilty about leaving their pets alone all day.

And thus, the need for pet sitting, dog walking, doggie daycare and grooming has grown.

Types of Insurance You Might Need in the Pet Care Industry

The pet care business insurance you need depends on the type of business you run. Now, let’s talk about the liabilities and insurance options for each.

Business Insurance for Dog Walkers

For the sake of this piece, we’ll describe a dog walker as a person who leaves their home, visits other homes mainly to exercise dogs and provide potty breaks. They may work with one or many dogs at a time, usually walking busy urban streets.

Liability Coverage

At minimum, a dog walker needs a liability policy.

Some states have leash laws, and most major cities have them. The laws vary, but essentially, the person who is in control of a dog handles any damage they may cause.

This could include a dog:

• Biting a person
• Biting another pet
• Jumping into the road and causing an accident
• Causing property damage to a fence or landscaping

Of all those, we imagine the most expensive lawsuit would happen when a dog bites a child and causes term physical scarring and psychological damage.

Dog Bite Lawsuits Are Expensive

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), minor dog bite lawsuits usually settle for $5,000 to $30,000. Catastrophic dog bite cases settle for about $4.2 million. Facial injuries and young victims typically get the biggest settlements.

If you are walking a dog and it attacks someone, you will likely be responsible for all the medical costs, which can total tens of thousands of dollars.

A liability policy would help the dog walker pay medical bills, court costs, attorney fees, and cash settlements.

Other Ways a Liability Policy Might Help

Besides the damage a dog might cause, let’s remember that dogs themselves can be very valuable.

A dog walker is responsible for the wellbeing of the animal while in their care. If Fido were to cut his toes on some sharp glass, or ingest some random trash while out walking, the dog walker might be on the hook to pay for vet bills.

In a worst-case scenario, a very valuable champion show dog might endure a career ending injury while on a walk. The dog’s owner could potentially sue for tens of thousands of dollars.

So, if you’re wondering, “Do I need insurance as a dog walker?” We believe the answer is a strong YES.

Business Insurance for Visiting Pet Sitters

A pet sitter might visit a home several times daily or even spend the night at the client’s home.

They might:

• Feed the pets
• Provide water
• Medicate them
• Clean litterboxes or clean the yard

And ensure the pet makes it to another pet care specialist, the groomer.

If you are spending time in other people’s property to care for their pets, a liability policy is the minimum coverage you need.

That way, if something happens to a pet while in your care, you know the lawsuit and settlement are covered.

You May Need Extra Auto Coverage if You Use Your Car for Business

If a major selling point for your business is that you transport pets to the groomer or vet while pet sitting, you should ensure your auto policy is up to date. A business auto policy would help cover your liability if a pet got injured in the car with you.

Don’t expect a personal auto policy to cover issues stemming from your business. In fact, we have heard of insurers who try to deny claims when they discover a personal auto is being used for business at the time of a wreck.

Business Insurance for Groomers

A groomer has control of a pet for the purpose of bathing and grooming, typically for a few hours every month or two. Many groomers have a brick-and-mortar storefront. Others work at home or travel using a mobile pet grooming trailer.

Pet grooming liability insurance exists, and it seems to be affordable compared to other industries. A quick internet search suggested that groomers can get a liability-only policy for as little as $30/month.

If you have a storefront for your grooming business, you need more coverage.

For Groomers with a Shop

While conducting your dog groomer business at a storefront, you face the risks of lawsuits for:

• Customers who slip, trip, or fall
• Pets getting sick or injured while in your care
• Advertising or copyright issues
• And employee injuries, if you have staff

After analyzing your risks, speak to your preferred insurance agent about a Business Owner’s Policy for groomers. These can cover more than liability for injuries to pets and people but can include coverage for the property (if you own it), the contents of the shop (like computers and costly grooming tools and tables), theft coverage, advertising injury coverage, and more.

You should also ask about workers’ compensation packages if you have employees.

Fun fact: Not all states require employers to buy workers comp. But if you have employees who could get bitten by a dog, or slip on a wet floor, it’s a good idea to have this type of insurance.

Otherwise, you may face a lawsuit in addition to the loss of a trusted staff member.

And we’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. Your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover your pet business. If a pet or customer gets injured visiting your at-home business, homeowner insurance will deny the claim.

“Doggie Daycares” and Daytime Pet Sitting Facilities

As of June 2026, there are 11,600 registered “doggie daycare” facilities in the US.

At these businesses, dogs are usually dropped off during workdays so they can play and interact with others. It seems to be a wonderful solution for folks returning to a regular 9-5 after leaving a work-from-home situation.

Dogs are very social by nature, and many of them seem to thrive with dog daycare activity.

However, this business is a special risk for insurers. Dogs are known to bite both people and other dogs, try to breed, and even spread diseases among the population. All it takes is one little case of ringworm or conjunctivitis to start a big breakout. And it can happen in the best facilities.

There is also a risk that staff could get hurt. Workers’ comp insurance is a good idea and needed in some states.

Dog Daycare is a Special Sort of Risk

Not every business insurer wants to insure a dog daycare facility. But if you’re looking for one, the professionals at Einsurance.com can help! We invite you to try our handy website.

Just plug in your details online, and we will have insurers call you for the details. It may take an afternoon and a few phone calls, but we’re confident we can help you find the right insurance for your pet care business.

Dog Daycares Which Provide Transportation Need More Auto Coverage

Have you seen those adorable videos of dogs hopping on the daycare bus to head off to their fun day of activities? They’re super cute.

But to insurers, these buses bring a new layer of risk. Not only can a transport van cause a lot of damage to other vehicles and property in a wreck, but they’re also carrying thousands of dollars’ worth of beloved pets.

A major catastrophic wreck could cost an insurer hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars if humans get hurt badly.

So, this type of pet business insurance risk is special, and not every insurer will work with you. But we can help you find the pet care business insurance you need.

Next, let’s explore how to shop for pet care business insurance.

Einsurance.com: We Can Help You Get Pet Care Business Insurance

Whether you’re an individual dog walker, a groomer with a mobile trailer or a shop, a pet sitter, or a dog daycare owner, we can help you find the insurance you need.

Your business is booming, your insurance should be growing to match your risks. Try our website today to get great deals on the insurance you need.

Which Documents Do I Need to get Dog Walker & Pet Sitter Insurance?

Every insurer has different requirements, but it helps if you have these at hand:

• Your business name if using as a DBA, LLC or INC
• A business mailing address
• Your phone number
• Any local licenses you need (these vary by state, county and city)
• Any EIN (employer income tax) number, especially if you have employees
• A copy of your current pet care business insurance policies

Don’t worry if you are missing some of these. You can get the quote process started without them.

How Much Liability Coverage Should I Buy as a Dog Walker?

Commercial insurers will offer you a variety of coverages. An individual who walks 20 dogs per week might be comfortable with $100,000 liability coverage.

A larger organization, like a doggie daycare with a huge facility and a transport van, might be more comfortable with $1 million.

If your business is scaling, and you have multiple locations, dozens of employees, and lots of property/assets, you might want more coverage. It all depends on what you have to lose if someone sues you.

Our Final Thoughts on Pet Sitter, Dog Walker & Groomer Business Insurance

The economy and business environment in the US are constantly changing. Only 100 years ago, people scoffed at the idea of day care facilities for humans, not to mention day care for pets.

Insurance needs to grow and shift to meet the needs of pet care businesses, and the Einsurance team is here to help. Now, plug in your details in our website and let the dog walker / pet sitter insurers compete for your business!