Giving dog-sled tours can be a rewarding way to make a living.
Dog-sledding -- or mushing, as it is commonly known -- is a fun and fast sport that couples a love of the outdoors with a love of dogs. Deciding to make the leap from recreational musher to professional tour guide is a way to make a living from your love for mushing, but it can also mean a large investment of time and money. Starting a professional dog-sledding kennel is not something to go into without being fully prepared.
Instructions
1. Write up a business plan. Your business plan should detail any other activities you can offer from your kennel when tours aren't possible. Include a marketing plan; expenses like housing, equipment and dog food; and your expected income from giving rides.
2. Call your insurance company and find out how much it will cost to insure you for giving rides and having people come and visit your property. Before you give anyone a ride, have customers sign a waiver preventing them from suing you, should you crash with your client in the sled.
3. Offer other services. Instead of just giving rides, you could offer training for those who wish to put together their own teams, cart rides in the fall and you could write about dog-sledding or give talks to expand your business.
4. Sell equipment or novelties. Many dog mushers make harnesses, lines, dog sleds or other equipment required by mushers. Novelty items like T-shirts and patches from races can also be sold.
5. Create a dog-sledding environment that people will want to visit throughout the year. Just because people can't take a ride in July, doesn't mean they won't want to come and visit your kennel and meet the dogs. Invite people to come all year round. Offer a talk or video about dog-sledding and try to make your business grow that way. People who visit in the summer on a whim will probably be encouraged to come back in the winter for a tour.
6. Develop a system for keeping track of your dogs and their health issues. You will need to be diligent in taking care of your dogs, making sure they have all of the proper vaccinations and that they are taking any medications they need.
7. Develop a system for taking care of your expenses and income. You will need to report all of this to the IRS, so hold onto receipts and write down all income you receive related to your dog-sledding business.
8. Make sure your kennel is always tidy and inviting to your guests. Place a fence around the kennel to keep small animals and people out of the kennel and dogs in the kennel.
9. Warn guests about the dogs before allowing them to enter. Sled dogs are not always obedience-trained because they are encouraged to be exuberant. They often jump on people in a friendly way. Your guests should know this ahead of time.
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