The Dog Business

Insurance
You may need insurance for your business. Home insurance may not cover your business (eg stock, computers, customers visiting your premises). You can find an authorised insurer on the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) website.

However, some of the most popular insurance operators for professional dog-care providers are:-

Bought By Many
https://boughtbymany.com/offers/pet-business-insurance/
03450701064

Cliverton
https://www.cliverton.co.uk/
01328 857921

Jelf
https://www.jelf.com/for-business/associations-and-schemes/pet-insurance/
03458 695342

PBI – Pet Business Insurance
https://www.petbusinessinsurance.co.uk/
01284 736 874

Petplan Sanctuary
https://www.petplansanctuary.co.uk/
0345 070 1064

Protectivity
https://www.protectivity.com/product/pet-business-insurance/
01494 646004

Tax allowances
You can include your business costs in your Self Assessment tax return if you’re a sole trader or part of a business partnership.

You can claim a proportion of the cost of things like council tax, heating, lighting, phone calls and broadband. You can use a flat rate to calculate your simplified allowable expenses starting from the 2013 to 2014 tax year.

You may need to pay Capital Gains Tax on the part of your property you used for your business if you sell your home.

Business rates
Home boarders/Dog walkers

You may have to pay business rates on the part of your property that you use for your business.

This depends on whether the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) (local assessor in Scotland) has given a rateable value to a part of your home.

You’ll still have to pay Council Tax on the rest of your property.

To check if you have to pay business rates, contact the VOA (or your local assessor in Scotland).

Valuation Office Agency (VOA)
03000 501 501 (England)
03000 505 505 (Wales)
Find out about call charges

You may qualify for small business rate relief if your property has a rateable value of £12,000 or less.

Health and safety
You’ll need to manage health and safety as you would with any other business.