Bookings, deposits and client texts for a pet sitting business, with these forms ready to sign on your phone.
Pet Sitting Business: BookingBookings, deposits and client texts for a pet sitting business, with these forms ready to sign on your phone.
How to start a pet sitting business in Tennessee
Pet sitting and dog walking need no degree or state exam, but a few registrations come up in every state. Here is what Tennessee's own agencies say, checked October 7, 2026. Rules change, so follow each link before you file.
1. Register the business
LLCs register with the Tennessee Secretary of State, and an LLC using another name files an assumed name there. A sole proprietor registers for business tax and gets a business license from the county clerk (and city, if it applies) once gross receipts pass $3,000. Ask your county clerk about using a trade name.
Source: TN Department of Revenue: Business Tax Registration and Licensing
2. Sales tax on pet sitting
Depends on the service
The Tennessee Department of Revenue says pet boarding is not subject to sales tax (SUT-177). Charges for bathing an animal are taxable, while separately charged grooming is not. Check with the Department about pet sitting visits.
Source: TN Department of Revenue: SUT-177 Pet Boarding Is Not Subject to Sales Tax
3. Licenses for boarding and pet care
We found no statewide license for pet sitting or boarding in Tennessee. You need a business license from your county and/or city clerk: a $15 minimal activity license for gross receipts over $3,000 and under $100,000, and a standard license above that.
Source: TN Department of Revenue: Business Tax Registration and Licensing
4. Also worth checking
- Your city or county: a local business license, and home-business (zoning) rules if dogs stay overnight in your home.
- Insurance: ask an agent about liability coverage and bonding for pet sitters.
- Paperwork: a written service agreement, a veterinary release and a key agreement for every client.
Free forms for your first clients
Pet Sitting Contract TemplateThe agreement a client signs before the first booking: services, rates, deposit, cancellations, vet care, home access and behavior.Dog Walking Contract TemplateFor regular walks: schedule, leash and equipment, solo or group walks, bad weather, cancellations and payment.Pet Sitting Client FormEverything to collect from a new client before the first visit: contacts, feeding, medications, vet, behavior and routine.Veterinary Release Form for Pet SittersLets the sitter get a pet seen by a vet when the owner can't be reached, with a spending limit the owner sets.Key Release Form for Pet SittersHow keys and entry codes are handed over, stored, used and returned, and who pays if one is lost.Pet Sitting Meet-and-Greet ChecklistWhat to cover when meeting a new client and pet: the walk-through, health and safety, and the paperwork.Pet Sitting Invoice TemplateA one-page invoice: services by date, fees, the deposit received and the balance due.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.