When Helen Simpson retired this year, she wanted a quick and easy way to make some extra money.

She decided to turn her dog-walking hobby into a money-making venture that would fund her retirement until she could claim her pension.

Simpson, 57, has a defined benefit pension scheme from her 30 years working in the NHS, which means she will get a guaranteed income for life. But she cannot access this until she is 60. She will also qualify for the full state pension, which pays £11,500 a year at present, when she reaches 67.

To keep her going in the meantime, Simpson and her girlfriend, Saint Ananda, 54, signed up to the dog-walking app Rover in 2022. This is an app where dog owners can hire a pet sitter in their local area. Sitters set up a profile on the app, have their identity verified and go through a screening process that includes a criminal background check.

The couple love spending time with dogs but did not want to commit to owning one, so dog sitting seemed like a good compromise — and it has turned out to be a lucrative one too. Simpson earned £1,500 in her first year using Rover and is on track to earn £6,700 this year. “I’m good with dogs, they like me,” she said. “I like it because it’s a caring job, looking after an animal.”

She charges £35 a dog for an overnight stay, increasing to £38 at peak times such as school holidays. Sitters set their own price, although Rover can make suggestions based on the typical local rate. Rover takes a 15 per cent cut of each booking.

While business is booming — Simpson is usually booked up for five nights a week — her boarders are not always on their best behaviour.

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“One dog bit both of us and urinated on our laptop, which cost £80 to fix,” Simpson said. “Another urinated on my really lovely Axminster rug and now other dogs all want to go in the same place. We have occasionally had dogs go to the toilet in the spare room too.”

Dog sitters should invest in some good quality garden fencing, Simpson said. “Keep a lookout for escape artists — small dogs in particular will find a way through quite a small hole.”

Dog walking can be a great money-maker if you do it regularly. On average an hour-long dog walk costs between £15 and £20 in London, £9 to £14 in the Midlands and £8 to £13 in Yorkshire and the Humber, according to the National Association of Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers.

As well as Rover, you can sign up to apps such as Pawshake and GoWalkies to register as a dog walker or sitter.

However, you do need to carry out some basic admin before you get started. Check with your local council if you need a licence to walk dogs, because this is a requirement for many. You will need a licence if you let dogs stay over.

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Licence costs vary between councils. Lambeth charges £65.26 a year for a professional dog-walking licence for up to two dogs. Bromley charges £200 for a licence that permits walking four or more dogs. Manchester city council charges £195 a year for a dog boarding licence, while Birmingham city council charges £323.

Take out insurance so you are covered in case something goes wrong. Public liability insurance will cover you if a member of the public is injured or property is damaged as a result of a dog in your care. It should also cover you if the dog gets injured, lost or dies. The average cost of a public liability insurance policy with £2 million of cover for a dog walker is £54 a year, according to the personal finance website NimbleFins.

Depending on how much you earn from your dog walking venture, you may have to pay tax.

Everyone gets a £1,000-a-year trading allowance, which means you can make £1,000 in gross income (what you earn before expenses) free of tax.

After that you will need to pay tax at your usual rate and declare your income by filling out a self-assessment form.

Everyone gets a £12,570 personal allowance, which is the amount you can earn each year before paying any tax. That means if you have no other income you could earn £13,570 a year before paying any tax.

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How to choose a dog walker

Make sure you’re hiring an experienced dog walker or sitter who you are happy to leave your pet with.

Ask your friends and family for recommendations. If you are using an app be sure to look at the walker’s reviews.

Once you’ve found a dog walker, arrange a meet and greet. Ask about their experience of handling dogs and ask to see a copy of their insurance policy and licence if necessary.

Take your dog with you to meet your new sitter or walker; if they don’t gel then look elsewhere. If your dog needs to take medication or has any allergies, make sure your dog walker has experience caring for similar dogs and be sure to provide the details of your vet.