Category: Business

20:46:25 BST • 6 October 2025

Which Treatments Does Holistic Therapy Insurance cover?

25 March 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Get therapist insurance from Protectivity

As a therapist it is important to understand what your therapy insurance policy covers. As well as including a range of differing benefits most policies will include coverage for a large number of therapy treatments.

These activities stretch far and wide and aim to deal with client’s issues and grievances with a variety of different techniques.

At Protectivity, our Therapist Insurance policy can provide cover for over 250 different treatments. These can generally be grouped together by treatment types, to best illustrate the cover we can provide.

Here are just some of the treatment types available with our cover:

Massage therapy

The most common type of massage practised by the therapists that we cover, with a wide range of varieties in itself. From Thai Massage to No Hands Massage, we can provide cover for massage therapists providing dozens of different services.

Each policy provides public liability cover in case of injury caused to a client, perhaps through a over-zealous massage or due to a negative reaction to the oils you choose to use.

Yoga therapy

The popularity of yoga in this country is growing. One source estimated that up to 460,000 people participate in the exercise on a regular basis in the UK, and it appears that the power of yoga is now being embraced by therapists.

Using yoga to help alleviate aches, pains and other ailments, yoga therapy practitioners are becoming commonplace.

Variants covered under Protectivity’s Therapy Insurance product include laughter yoga, baby yoga and Thai yoga, as well as the more traditional method.

Spiritual therapy

A huge group of therapy practices, therapists that focus on the spiritual side of things make up a large portion of Protectivity customers. Activities that fall into this therapy type include angel card reading, mediumship and treatment using chakra healing stones.

Under our policy, we provide cover for professional indemnity. This would protect a therapist should any of the advice they give lead to a client suffering an injury to themselves.

Counselling

When we say the word ‘therapy’, counselling may be the immediate practice that springs to mind. Talking through our problems is something that is being encouraged more and more prominently in everyday life, and those who provide these services should ensure they have adequate cover.

A range of different counselling techniques such as addiction counselling and psycho-therapeutic counselling can be covered by our counsellor insurance policy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Another therapy type that is more focused on mental health is cognitive behavioural therapy. Like counselling, CBT can be implemented to help clients deal with a huge range of stresses in their day-to-day lives, through a variety of techniques and therapy treatments.

Activities such as mindfulness therapy, stress management and smoking cessation can all be covered under Protectivity’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Art therapy

The use of art therapy is another way that could help their clients. Implementing art based activities in a therapeutic environment, art therapists provide a safe space for individuals to express their problems and stresses in the form of art.

Other arts that can be used in a therapy environment include dance therapy and play therapy which helps people to express themselves in a way that helps their mental well-being.

With over 250 individual therapy treatments covered under Protectivity’s policy we haven’t listed them all in this blog. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

Get Therapist Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

09:32:43 GMT • 14 January 2025

Insurance Requirements for Event Organisers

By Mandy Czyz

11 March 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Get event insurance from Protectivity

As an event organiser there are sure to be plenty of things on your to-do list. From choosing the right venue, to selecting suppliers, to picking the best date, there is a lot to consider. One of those things that shouldn’t be forgot is cover for event cancellation.

But knowing exactly how insurance for event organisers protects you can be confusing. We’ve broken down the types of one off event cover and what makes up a typical policy.

Public Liability

This is the main aspect of many insurance policies designed to cover event planners. Public liability insurance for events is designed to cover you should a third-party suffer property damage or accidental injury.

Of course, most events should be set up to ensure the safety of its visitors, but accidents do happen. This could involve someone tripping on wiring and injuring themselves, or some unsecured stage design falling on a visitor.

If something of this kind occurred at your event, that third party may opt to sue you. Having event liability insurance in place will ensure that your defence costs are taken care of by your insurance policy. Should you and your event be found to be liable, the cover will handle the settlement that follows.

Employers’ Liability

As well as the event attendees it is also important to ensure the safety of those working on the day. Should a member of staff suffer an injury and blame it on the negligence of the event organiser, legal proceedings could ensue.

With employers’ liability in place not only will the costs associated with defending you as an organiser be covered, but so too will any compensation payout that is deemed necessary to the staff member.

It’s also important to remember that anyone working on the event, whether they are a paid employee or a volunteer, can take action and it is a legal requirement to have employers’ liability in place. The only exemption in this case is if the workers are bona-fide sub-contractors that hold their own public liability insurance.

Cancellation Cover

The most obvious thing that could see you suffering financial loss is if you have to cancel the day altogether. As organiser, it is likely that you will have paid deposits (or possibly even the full amount) to secure your event; and sometimes this money is non-refundable.

Thankfully, having event cancellation insurance in place will ensure that you are not left out of pocket if your event is cancelled, postponed or abandoned for adverse weather scenarios.

With many events taking place in the notoriously untrustworthy British summertime we can include adverse weather protection in the cancellation section of your policy.

Equipment Cover

The value of equipment used a different events will vary wildly. For example, a local craft fair will usually not need to protect as much equipment as a small music festival. Regardless of the type of event you are organising it is always worth taking out protection for it.

Most insurance policies will protect you against accidental damage, loss and theft of the equipment that is vital to the smooth operation of your event.

And with many events hiring equipment such as sound systems, marquees and other expensive items, having event equipment cover that includes hired equipment is also advised.

Whenever insuring equipment it is vital that event organisers do not under insure their equipment. In the event of loss this could mean you are not able to recoup the full value of your equipment.

How can you get event insurance?

Protectivity’s One Off Event Insurance can include cover for all of the above and is available with instant, competitive quotes. If you’re not the event organiser, but someone selling at an event, then our Stallholder Insurance might be more suitable.

Get Event Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

20:52:30 BST • 6 October 2025

Dog Walking Safety and Protecting Yourself

8 March 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

As a pet business professional the well-being of the animals entrusted to you should be number one priority. However, that doesn’t mean you should neglect your own safety when dog walking.

It’s important to take a number of steps to give yourself the best possible chance of not suffering an injury whilst carrying out your business activities.

Safety starts at home

Dog walking safety starts before you’ve even left home. Good preparation is the foundation of avoiding accidents when caring for your canine clients.

A recent guide introduced by the Pet Industry Federation includes the following advice:

“The dog walker should meet with the dog prior to taking them for a walk so that the walker can become familiar with the dog’s needs and that a pre-assessment can be made to evaluate their personality and behavioural characteristics.”

Not only will a pre-walk meeting allow you as a professional dog walker to make a judgement of how best to protect the dog, it will also allow you to protect yourself.

For example, a on-lead only walk for an animal that has a history of chasing other animals will reduce the chances of running away and causing itself an injury. On the other hand, if on a pre-walk assessment you discover that certain situations triggers an aggressive response in the dog you can either decline to walk that dog or ensure you avoid putting yourself in such a situation.

Other dog walking injuries

It’s not just aggressive dogs that can see dog walking injuries occur. A study in the USA discovered that between 2004 and 2017 injuries to dog walkers over the age of 65 had more than doubled. The most common injury cited in the report was a broken hip, with injuries to an upper limb following in second.

However, being younger than 65 obviously doesn’t preclude dog walkers from suffering an injury.

Protectivity’s Dog Walking Insurance has an additional Personal Accident benefit which can provide a lump sum payout should a walker suffer an injury whilst carrying out professional dog walking activities.

Under that benefit, we have seen a number of claims from our protected walkers. These have ranged from broken legs after being knocked down by runaway dogs (the most common injury), to thumb injuries caused by a lead, to trapped nerves.

Taking out suitable pet business insurance can ensure that if you were to suffer a serious injury whilst walking, you wouldn’t face serious financial implications of not being able to run your business.

Walking precautions

There are other things that dog walkers can do to ensure their own safety whilst on walks.

Firstly, and perhaps most obvious, is to ensure that you always carry a fully-charged mobile phone on you at all times. That way, if you come into any trouble whilst out on a walk, particularly if you are in a more rural location, you can phone for help.

Dog walking apps are becoming more and more common and are another great way to ensure your safety whilst dog walking. Not only will you be able to manage your business via these apps but you can also set a tracker. That way your clients will know exactly where you are when walking their dogs, and therefore will have an insight to your location should you get lost or injured.

In conclusion, ensuring your own safety whilst walking dogs is as important as protecting the dog’s. By undertaking these simple steps you can ensure you put yourself at as little risk as is possible when running your pet business.

Get Dog Walking Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

09:31:51 GMT • 14 January 2025

5 Great Apps for Professional Dog Walkers

5 February 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Whether you’re a professional dog walker, groomer or trainer, using mobile apps can have a beneficial impact on the way in which you run your business.

From management software, to marketing help, to something that’s just a bit of fun, there are apps to fill all of your operational needs.

We’ve picked out five apps pet business owners and dog walkers in particular shouldn’t be without.

Tractive Dog Walk – Cost: Free

While Strava, is the go-to tracking software for cyclists and runners, Tractive Dog Walk is the one if you’re exploring with a canine companion.

With GPS tracking, you can keep tabs on exactly where you’ve walked for both your own benefit and that of the dog’s owner. A handy extra feature is the ability to share photos from your walks and the locations they were taken with the pooches ‘parents’.

iFootpath – Cost: £1.99

Though not exclusive to dog walkers, iFootpath is an app that those heading outdoors with their (or someone else’s) pooch should not be without. Whether you’re looking to change up your routine, or you’re branching out into a new location, simply input your postcode and iFootpath with throw up a number of great walk options.

Users are presented with photos, terrain guides and the option to add a walk or two of your own. A great choice for those who don’t have a set number of walks planned out already.

Scout – Cost: Free

There are plenty of apps out there that can help you plan your schedule and track your appointments. Where Scout stands out is that is has been designed specifically for pet care professionals.

Business owners can add and move appointments, adding specific notes about the dog’s requirements along the way. If you employ any staff, users can even assign a staff member to that particular walk. And for that added special touch, dog owners can be messaged via the app, and can also track where their precious pooch is at all times when with their walker.

Wave – Cost: Free

Once you have attracted all of those clients and their dogs, walkers need a way of managing the payments being made to them.

Wave is a great invoicing and accountancy web tool designed for small businesses. You can not only issue invoices via the system, but users can also add Smart Pay by Wave to their website, allowing visitors to pay for dog walking or grooming services without the need for generating an invoice.

With payroll options and receipt tracking software, this initially free tool is great for your pet business.

Puppr – Cost: Free (many in-app purchases)

Not every dog you walk will be the most well-behaved, and sometimes a little extra training wouldn’t go amiss. With Puppr, users can watch videos of training drills to hopefully improve the behaviour of even the most difficult of dogs.

Led by a previous America’s Got Talent finalist renowned for her dog training tricks, there are few better apps of this kind on the market. While it’s not cheap to get the full range of features, with the ability to learn new tricks, track a dog’s progress as well as having the option for a live helpline, it’s a price well worth paying.

There are many other apps for dog walkers and pet service providers, but these five are some of the highest recommended. Another thing that is very much recommended is Protectivity’s Dog Walking Insurance in order to cover you and your business should something go wrong that not even one of these apps can fix.

Get Dog Walking Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

09:31:19 GMT • 14 January 2025

How Many Dogs Can a Dog Walker Walk?

28 November 2018

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

As a dog walker, taking out several of your canine clients at one time is a great way to maximise income. However, there is often confusion as to how many dogs walkers can walk at one time.

Maximum dogs allowed

The answer to this quandary is not a straightforward one. This is because the limit is not set by central government or any one body. Instead, the Control of Dogs Act 2010, allows local authorities to set their own restrictions and maximum number.

Some council areas will have no set limit, while others will see a complete ban on dogs. This is true on some beaches in Devon, Essex and Lincolnshire in the summer months.

Local authority PSPOs

What is becoming more common is local councils lowering the number of dogs permitted to be walked at any one time.

Gosport Borough Council were one of the earlier authorities to take advantage the remit of Public Space Protection Orders when announcing that the maximum number of dogs one person could walk would be lowered from six to four in March 2017.

Other councils have since followed, with consultations regularly being announced. Wandsworth in London sees the council limit the number of dogs that can be walked to four. However, there is the possibility to apply for a licence to walk up to eight dogs in specified areas of the borough.

When some councils announced a consultation on the subject, a furore followed. For example, Blackpool Council faced stiff opposition this year when they announced plans to reduce the number to four dogs. While other restrictions made it through, the limit remained at six dogs at a time.

Kennel Club opposed to limit

The drive to restrict the number of dogs any owner can walk at a time is not something that the Kennel Club sees as viable. The organisation has previously released a statement arguing the setting of an arbitrary number:

“The maximum number of dogs a person can walk in a controlled manner depends on a number of factors relating to the dog walker, the dogs being walked, whether leads are used and the location the walking is taking place,” a statement read.

People must use their own initiative to make a judgement for themselves the press release implied. By assessing the risks of walking a larger number of dogs, walkers, both professional and non, can best judge how many dogs they should walk at one time.

How many dogs does insurance cover?

Local rules are there to be followed, with fines of over £100 in operation for anyone walking more than the maximum number of dogs. However, the limit to the number of dogs set by your council, and the number of dogs covered by a professional’s Dog Walking Insurance can vary.

At Protectivity, we cover dog walkers for up to six dogs at any one time. Therefore, if no local authority restrictions are in place, this is the limit you should stick to. However, if the local council says no more than four, this is the figure to adhere to.

There can often be confusion when it comes to walking your own dogs and Dog Walking Insurance. Our policy is designed to cover dogs not owned by you, however if you take your own canines out with your clients’ dogs, they count towards your six-dog maximum.

For example, if you walk two of your own dogs with four client-owned dogs, this is fine, however only the latter four would be covered by your insurance policy.

It’s important to remember that your own dogs wouldn’t be covered by the insurance policy should they get injured or cause injury to another dog, but they could send you over the limit of six dogs at a time, rendering your insurance cover invalid in the event of a claim.

The subject can be a confusing one for dog walkers, but our advice is always to check with your local council. If a PSPO is in place limiting the number of dogs you can walk, stick to that. Otherwise we advise you to walk no more than six dogs at any one time.

About Us

We’re one of the leading providers of insurance for pet businesses, and we offer a variety of tailored products such as Dog Walking, Pet Sitting Insurance and Dog Grooming Insurance policies.

Get Dog Walking Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

09:30:57 GMT • 14 January 2025

12 Awesome and Unusual Wedding Cake Ideas

By Bee Ingram

19 November 2018

•

5 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

The cutting of the cake symbolises a key part of every couple’s wedding day. Having that cake to remember is likely to be a consideration that everyone will encounter during the planning stages.

Some will opt for a traditional approach of a two or three-tiered sponge or fruit cake for their showstopper. Others though will opt for an alternative approach.

We’ve searched Instagram for 12 of the most unusual wedding cake ideas that really stand out on your big day.

The Compromise Cake

It may be that you and your significant other have very different ideas of what you want for your wedding cake, or you may agree but are undecided on whether to go traditional or wacky.

In that case, this half and half wedding cake is the perfect compromise!

We especially love the creativity of this one, with diagonal splits rather than a straight split down the middle. For the couple wanting some photos of a traditional cake, the split can instead be shown only at the back of the cake.

The Split Flower Cake

The obvious choice for a flower loving couple, the split flower cake trend is popping up on both Instagram and Pinterest feeds with various takes on it.

We loved this pastel coloured version on a two-tier split flower cake. Perfect for when you want your cake to tie in with your wedding flowers in an extra special way!

The “Is-it-really-a-cake?” Cake

Whether it is Harry Potter themed like this one inspired by the memory Cabinet in Dumbledore’s office, or just something significant to you both, there are some wedding cakes out there that make you go “Wow, can we really eat that thing?”.

This example is one of them, obviously from a super skilled baker!

The Cheese Lovers Cake

This trend has been around for a few years now but can be done in so many ways.

Perhaps you’ve had a sweet dessert as part of your dinner and don’t want to give your guests an even bigger sugar rush, or maybe you just love cheese (lets be honest, who doesn’t?).

Decorate with fruits and berries as above or go even more rustic with twigs and mixed nuts.

The Sheep Herder’s Cake

We are not quite sure what to say about this cake.

It obviously requires some serious skills to make this, and I think another element required would be a fun-loving couple who wants a talking point at their wedding.

Maybe the next one will be a horse, or a dog?

The Arty Cake

If we saw this brought out at a wedding, we wouldn’t know if it really was a cake or just a piece of art.

This is fun, unique but also breathtakingly beautiful!

We also love the brave almost royal blue colour which really draws you into this stunning and probably yummy wedding cake!

The Suspended Cake

Another trend that has been growing over the last few years is the suspended wedding cake.

It obviously doesn’t have to be as lavish as the one above, and there are even some suspended upside-down cakes seen out there on the feeds.

It certainly makes for some stunning photos even with a simpler structure, just be careful it doesn’t drop on your feet when you cut it!

The Cinnamon Roll Tower

If you love cinnamon rolls, why not have it as a replacement to your wedding cake?

This mouth-watering creation even set on flames, if that doesn’t call for a WOW from your guests then we don’t know what would.

Make sure to include icing or some chocolate sauce as above to get your guests fighting to be first in line for a piece.

The Cake Pops Tower

If you don’t actually want a traditional cake at all, but you still want the tiered setup, these cake pops that we see everywhere now is a fun and simple idea to replace your cake with.

You can easily tie it in with your wedding theme or colours and can present them in plenty of different ways.

The OTT Cake

The winner in WOW. If there’s any time to go big on a cake it’s at your wedding, right?

So why not have your baker create a magical castle cake twice the size of you. We think it is absolutely amazing, but would you really want to cut the cake?

This masterpiece surely must remain untouched.

The Mini Wedding Cake Tower

Perhaps you still want a cake but not the traditional tiered creation with sugar paste flowers or blingy decoration.

The naked cake first made its appearance a while back, and so did the cupcake towers replacing the full-size wedding cake.

But the above marries the two trends in a new take with semi-naked individual cakes majestically soldiering below the main cake. Clean cut, simple and stunning!

The Donut Wall

Another trend that we have seen increasingly over the last year or two is the donut wall, and who doesn’t love a donut?

Just like with a traditional wedding cake, you’ve got plenty of option here to incorporate wedding theme and colour on the icing and decoration of these delicious soft buns.

And it even makes for a substitute photo booth back drop!

Last updated by

09:40:43 GMT • 11 November 2024

Your Guide to Therapy Courses and Certification

18 October 2018

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Get therapist insurance from Protectivity

If your starting out your journey to becoming a therapist, it’s inevitable that you will planning to undertake some training. There are a plethora of therapy courses out there and knowing which ones you should take can be a daunting decision.

Depending on what type of therapy you will be practising it may be that you don’t need to have any qualifications to legal practice that activity. As most types of therapy are likely to have their own governing body or association, it is worth checking with your relevant body to see what standards they require you to meet.

Reiki practitioners, for example, don’t necessarily need any formal training to operate. However, attempting to market yourself as a reiki therapist may be a bit tricky if you do not have any educational collateral to your name.

Training courses can be found on a number of online databases. These can be searched by your local area and sometimes by your current skill level. HotCourses and UCAS are just a couple of resources that you can find a training module to suit you.

Joining an organisation

Generally, the need for specialist therapist qualifications become strengthen when you wish to become a member of a professional body. The UK Reiki Federation are no different in this case.

Should you wish to join as an ‘Associate’ or ‘Practitioner’ member, you are required to hold a minimum of a Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 certificate respectively.

Similarly to become a ‘Professional’ member of the National Association of Massage Therapists one must hold at a qualification to the level of ITEC Level 3 Massage at the bare minimum.

Perhaps one of the most intensive training processes in the therapy industry is bestowed upon would-be counsellors and psychotherapists. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommends a three step approach to any training.

Introduction

Firstly, they recommend taking an introductory course into the subject of counselling and what becoming a therapist is all about. Here you will get an idea about the level of commitment a career in therapy would require.

Certification in counselling

The BACP then suggests that the next step of counselling training is to seek out a local college, university or adult education centre to learn the required skills to succeed as a counsellor or psychotherapist. These courses will generally give you an understanding of the advice you will be giving, and the theories that surround them.

Core practitioner training

The third step in the transition to becoming a therapist in the eyes of the BACP and many other organisational bodies is to take an accredited course. This is likely to be at a Bachelors or Masters degree level and will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the advice and treatment you should be giving. It will flesh out your understanding and leave you in the best place to deliver your therapy treatment of choice.

Although this three step approach is specifically referenced by the BACP, it is a useful approach to take whether you are a psychotherapist, massage therapist or chakra stone healer.

By having specific therapist qualifications to your name, you improve your chances to succeed two-fold.

Firstly you increase your level of knowledge and skill level in your chosen profession. But secondly, you can also put your customers and clients into a better position where they trust you to deliver the service they require. By improving their trust and satisfaction, you also increase the chance of them referring you to their friends and associates.

At Protectivity, we provide a wide range of what we believe are cost-effective insurance solutions for therapy professionals including Reiki Insurance, Counselling Insurance, Massage Insurance and many more. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

Get Therapist Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by

09:29:25 GMT • 14 January 2025

What Clients Look For in a Personal Trainer

By Mandy Czyz

29 September 2018

•

5 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Finding a personal trainer who makes you feel comfortable is priority number one. In order to achieve your goals, whether that’s getting fitter, stronger, or losing weight, you need to be comfortable enough to expose your biggest flaws. It is only this that can ensure future success. The clue is in the title, and they’re called ‘personal’ trainers for a reason. You are investing in the privilege of one to one contact, to have someone there to customise your personal goals and tailor your workouts.

Don’t be fooled by the influence of a trainer’s persuasive personality, bulging biceps, and extensive use of jargon! As an average gym-goer, fitness and training is not your field of education or occupation, so seek advice and help if you need to. With the growth of the PT industry, you are now spoilt for choice, so have a think about your priorities and never forget these when choosing your trainer.

Here are our top qualities that we believe you should look for in a personal trainer:

1. Check for certification

Don’t risk assuming that because a PT is working at a gym that they are certified and check their certification is from a legitimate body. Beyond this, you want to check that the PT is keeping their certification current. The fitness industry is constantly evolving, and to stay ahead of the pack, a trainer should be attending classes, seminars, and continuing their learning. A trainer should also be certified in first-aid, CPR, and automated external defibrillator for medical emergencies.

2. They should ask you questions, LOTS of questions

Before conversations about programs, schedules, and pricing, a PT should simply listen. They need to gather as much info as possible about you, about your medical status, your fitness history, your background, body image, your job, dietary habits, etc. To put together a program that will guarantee success, a trainer must ensure it is tailored to their client’s habits, and they will only come to know those if they keep asking WHY!

3. They don’t promise results too fast

We’re inundated with fitness ‘success’ stories that condition us to believe that results can be achieved at a much faster rate than is actually possible. Losing 70 pounds in a 10-week programme going by the name of something like ‘AbSculpt’ sounds too good to be true – and it probably is, especially if it’s promoted as part of an advertisement for a new product on the market! Similarly, in the ‘reality’ of a gym environment, any drastic weight loss in a short time can likely be attributed to an elixir of supplements and an unsustainable dietary plan. While this may seem great at the time, the rebound effect is just around the corner…

4. They can explain exactly why you’re doing an exercise

You can quickly tell the PTs with genuine know-how apart from those who don’t really know what they’re doing. At any stage during a workout, your PT should be able to tell you about that exercise, in more detail than ‘it works the….’. A dedicated PT will welcome your questions as it gives them a chance to educate you and show how much thought they have put into your programme.

5. They know, love, and use the simple basics

‘Innovative’ new equipment such as wobble boards, Bosu balls, slosh pipes, valslides certainly look good, and do a great job of bringing attention to a PT session. However, trainers using unorthodox, ‘flashier’ methods won’t be on track to achieving faster results, and a lot can be said for simple methods. This signals a sound knowledge base, without trying to disguise any knowledge gaps or trainer deficiencies with ‘cool’ equipment. Particularly if you are in your beginning stages, less is more, and performing complex movements using ‘new’ equipment can be risky.

6. They know when to progress you

You should always leave a PT session having been pushed and challenged…but not injured! To make progress towards your goals, it is important not to stagnate, and a good trainer will know how and when to change up your program. As you get stronger, your workouts need to get harder, and if your trainer does not keep challenging you, your investment is wasted.

7. Are you achieving your goals?

Though aesthetic results may take more time, you should notice changes fairly quickly when training with a PT. You should feel fitter, have more energy, be sleeping better, and generally be feeling good about yourself. A good PT will take responsibility for your goals – it is their job – and if they are unable to meet your goals, they are not doing their job properly and may not be the trainer for you.

Being insured is another important factor to consider when trying to attract clients. Get a quick quote and instant cover today by visiting our Personal Trainer Insurance page.

Last updated by

09:29:03 GMT • 14 January 2025

Employing Staff for Your Dog Walking Business

11 September 2018

•

5 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

The set-up of many professional dog walking businesses is fairly simple. The majority of operators will be working on a sole trader basis, delivering their walks, managing administration and financial matters on their own.

However, as a business grows so too does the need to employ staff. As a dog walker that could be because you have built up a large enough book of clients that in order to grow you need an extra pair of hands or two.

When pondering whether to employ a member of staff there are a number of things to consider.

Financial considerations

First and foremost, you will need to think whether a member of staff is financially sensible. Of course, more walkers in your business means the opportunity to walk more dogs. But it also means another person’s salary that will need to come our of your company’s finances.

Some businesses will opt to pay staff on a ‘per-walk’ basis, giving them a percentage of the money a client may pay for a walk. Other businesses will choose to work on a more traditional hourly wage or salary.

If the latter is your way of working consider this. If you charge a client £10 an hour to walk their dog and your staff member takes two dogs out at a time, that is £20 coming into the business. Based on paying your employee minimum wage (between £5.60 and £7.50 depending on age), that means you would be left with between £12.50 and £14.40 in the businesses bank account before any tax was paid.

Of course, that is an extra amount of money than would have been there if you didn’t have the staff member to call on, but it is not as simple as that.

You will need to consider whether you will be paying your employee petrol costs to get to and from the client’s house, whether you will guarantee them a set number of hours a week as well as any other bonuses.

Taxes and pensions

It’s not only the direct financial implications that having staff will have on your business. There’s plenty of extra administration-based tasks you will need to fulfil.

First of all you will need to ensure that any potential staff members are fully DBS checked, which will confirm whether they have any criminal convictions that you should be aware of. This will cost you £25 per employee to carry out. You will also need to check they have the legal right to work in the UK. This can be done by taking their National Insurance number when you provide them with their contract.

You will also need to inform HMRC that you are taking on staff and register as an employer. By doing this you will receive your PAYE Employer Number, which will allow you to pay tax and National Insurance when you pay the staff member.

Furthermore, if you are likely to be paying your new dog walker over £10,000 a year and they are over 22-years-old, you may need to automatically enroll them on a workplace pension scheme.

Finally you will need to take out Employers’ Liability. This is a legal responsibility when you take on a member of staff. This will cover you for claims against the business should you and your business activities be blamed for an injury suffered by that staff member. Many insurance providers, including Protectivity, will allow you to add Employers’ Liability to an existing Dog Walking Insurance policy for a small fee.

Business operations

With all of legal factors taken care of you need to remember that by having members of staff, you may have to change the fundamental way in which you operate your dog walking business.

Think about things such as:

– Will your new walker have ‘their own’ clients? Or will you share them between you?

– How much training will you provide your new staff member?

– Will you ask them to help with other aspects of your business such as marketing and administration?

One thing that may affect some dog walkers decision to expand is the extra paperwork and administrative duties that having staff entails. By taking on employees you may find yourself having less time to do the thing that made you start the business in the first place, the enjoyment of walking dogs. This diversion away from the act of dog walking may be a reason not to hire a member of staff and keep your clients, their dogs and your business to yourself.

All dog walking businesses and the people that run them will be different. Some will appreciate that in order to grow they need more dog walkers on their books, whilst others will be happy with maintaining a healthy number of clients and dogs without the need for expansion.

If you do opt for the hiring approach, just remember to consider all the added responsibilities that come with it.

About Us

We’re one of the leading providers of insurance for pet businesses, and we offer a variety of tailored products such as Dog Walking insurance, Pet Sitting Insurance and Dog Grooming Insurance policies.

Get Dog Walking Insurance from Protectivity

Last updated by