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 West Virginia
Pet sitting and dog walking need no degree or state exam, but a few registrations come up in every state. Here is what West Virginia'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 West Virginia Secretary of State, and an LLC trade name costs $25. A sole proprietor registers a trade name (DBA) with no filing fee, through the One Stop Business Portal; name searches for sole proprietors go through the State Tax Department.
Source: WV Secretary of State: Register a Trade Name (DBA)
2. Sales tax on pet sitting
Taxable
West Virginia presumes services are taxable unless an exemption applies. The Tax Division's guide for veterinarians (TSD-368) says fees for boarding, training, bathing and grooming not tied to medical care are taxable. Check with the Tax Division about pet sitting visits.
Source: WV Tax Division: TSD-368 Sales and Use Tax for Veterinarians
3. Licenses for boarding and pet care
Under state law, a kennel where dogs are bred, kept, boarded or sold as a commercial venture must register each year (July 1 to September 30) with the county assessor, for a $10 fee. We found no separate state license for pet sitting in clients' homes. Check with your county assessor and city.
Source: W. Va. Code ยง 19-20-3
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.