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 Washington
Pet sitting and dog walking need no degree or state exam, but a few registrations come up in every state. Here is what Washington's own agencies say, checked October 7, 2026. Rules change, so follow each link before you file.
1. Register the business
LLCs file a Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State. A sole proprietor using a name other than their full legal name registers a trade name through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service ($5 per name plus the application fee).
Source: Washington DOR: Register trade names
2. Sales tax on pet sitting
Not taxable
The Department of Revenue says training, boarding, walking and grooming dogs fall under the Service and Other Activities B&O tax, and sales tax does not apply. Selling pet supplies is subject to sales tax.
Source: Washington DOR: Dog breeders industry guide
3. Licenses for boarding and pet care
We found no statewide license for pet sitting or boarding in Washington; the state's dog-breeding law exempts boarding facilities. You need a state business license if, for example, you earn $12,000 a year or more or use a trade name, and many cities and counties license kennels.
Source: Washington DOR: Business Licensing FAQs
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.