In short: To start doggy day care from home in England, get a council licence before you take regular bookings, set up your home for a small number of dogs, meet every dog before its first day, and set a day rate you are happy with. In London, Petme hosts list a typical £30 a day.
Doggy day care is the busiest weekday service for working owners: their dog spends the day with a host instead of alone at home. Running it from your own house is a real way to earn, but it is also a licensed activity in England, and the licence is the first thing to sort.
The licence: what England requires
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 list "providing day care for dogs" among the activities that need a licence when they are run as a business (Schedule 1, Part 3, paragraph 4, on
legislation.gov.uk). The licence comes from your local council, which inspects your home before it issues one. Owners who check licences will ask to see it, so keep it to hand.
There is no exemption for doing it part time. Whether it counts as a business depends on things like whether you charge a fee and do it to make a profit, so if you are paid, plan for a licence.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the rules are not the same as England's. Ask your council before you take your first booking. Our
home boarding licence guide covers the overnight side.
Setting up your home
Before the inspection, think through a day with someone else's dog in it:
- A secure garden or outdoor space, with no gaps a small dog could squeeze through.
- A quiet room where a tired or nervous dog can rest away from the others.
- Somewhere safe to keep food, leads and any medication owners leave with you.
- A plan for walks, and for what happens if a dog is unwell during the day.
Start with a small number of dogs while you learn how different dogs behave together, and check your licence conditions before you take more.
Meeting a new dog first
The first day is not the first meeting. Meet the dog and its owner beforehand, watch how the dog settles in your home and how it reacts to your own pets, and agree drop-off and pick-up times. The RSPCA says dogs at a fully licensed daycare are "Assessed before they can go to the daycare provider to make sure they're not scared, anxious or stressed around other dogs and people." (
RSPCA)
Ask the owner about vaccinations too. PDSA notes that reputable kennels and catteries "will all want to know that your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date", and owners expect a day care host to ask the same.
What to charge
Set a day rate per dog. In London, Petme hosts within 15 km of the centre list a typical £30 a day, and half of the 12 hosts we counted charge between £25 and £35 (rates as listed in the app, November 2026). Outside London there are not yet enough hosts in any one city to quote a fair figure, so look at what hosts near you charge before you set yours.
On Petme you set the rate yourself and keep up to 90% of each booking. Owners pay in the app when they book.
Tax and getting started
If your income from casual work like this stays at £1,000 or less in a tax year, the
trading allowance means you do not need to declare it. Above that, register as self-employed with HMRC. Our
pet sitter tax guide walks through it.
To start, get your licence, create your profile with photos of the space dogs will use, and list doggy day care with your day rate. You can see how hosting works on the
doggy daycare jobs page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to run doggy day care from home?
In England, yes once you do it as a business. Schedule 1 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 lists providing day care for dogs as a licensable activity, and the licence comes from your council. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the rules differ, so ask your council before you start.
How much do doggy day care hosts charge in the UK?
Each host sets their own price. In London, Petme hosts within 15 km of the centre list a typical £30 a day, with half charging between £25 and £35, based on 12 hosts in November 2026. Rates elsewhere vary, so check what hosts near you list before you set yours.
How do you assess a dog before day care?
Meet the dog and the owner first and see how the dog copes with your home and with other dogs. The RSPCA says dogs at a fully licensed daycare are assessed before they go to the provider, to make sure they are not scared, anxious or stressed around other dogs and people.
Do I pay tax on doggy day care income?
If your total income from casual work like this is £1,000 or less in a tax year, the trading allowance means you do not need to declare it. Above that you register as self-employed with HMRC and file a Self Assessment return.
What experience do I need to start doggy day care?
Owners book on trust, so time spent caring for dogs counts: they look for reviews, a clear profile and a host who meets their dog first. In England the council inspects your home before it issues the day care licence, and Petme checks every host's ID and runs background checks before a profile goes live.
Is home day care different from a dog day care centre?
Yes. A centre is a business premises with staff and many dogs. Home day care means a small number of dogs spend the day at your own home. In England both need a council licence when run as a business.
