Sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting — Enrolled Agents for self-employed professionals
Trusted by 12,000+ self-employed pros

Walk Dogs All Day. Your Bookkeeping Shouldn't Chase You All Night.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps dog walkers and pet sitters organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

Download Free TemplateSee Deductions You're MissingTry the Calculator
$5,000+
Avg. Missed Deductions
12,000+
Templates Sent
30 Min
To Get Organized
$0
Always Free

Deductions Most Dog Walkers Miss

Every unclaimed deduction is money left on the table. These dog walker expenses are pre-loaded in your template — you just fill in the amounts.

🦮

Supplies

Line 22

Leashes, poop bags, treats, toys, harnesses, first aid kit.

🚗

Mileage

Line 9

Driving to client homes, dog parks, vet visits.

💸

Platform Fees

Line 10

Rover/Wag platform fees (20-40%), payment processing.

📣

Advertising

Line 8

Rover boost, business cards, Nextdoor, vet office flyers.

🛡️

Insurance

Line 15

Pet care liability insurance, bonding.

📱

Software

Line 18

Scheduling app (Time To Pet), phone.

📋

Certifications

Line 27

Pet CPR/first aid, training courses, background check.

🔑

Keys & Lockboxes

Line 27

Key copies, lockboxes, cleaning supplies.

The Dog Walker's Guide to Schedule C Deductions

If you earn self-employment income as a dog walker, the IRS treats you as a sole proprietor (or single-member LLC) and you report that income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. Every ordinary and necessary business expense you track lowers your taxable net profit — which directly reduces both your income tax and your 15.3% self-employment tax. Most dog walkers leave money on the table simply because they never recorded the expense in the first place.

Which Schedule C lines matter most for dog walkers

Our free dog walker template pre-loads the categories below and maps each one to the correct Schedule C line, so you never have to guess where an expense belongs:

  • Supplies (Line 22): Leashes, poop bags, treats, toys, harnesses, first aid kit.
  • Mileage (Line 9): Driving to client homes, dog parks, vet visits.
  • Platform Fees (Line 10): Rover/Wag platform fees (20-40%), payment processing.
  • Advertising (Line 8): Rover boost, business cards, Nextdoor, vet office flyers.
  • Insurance (Line 15): Pet care liability insurance, bonding.
  • Software (Line 18): Scheduling app (Time To Pet), phone.

How to fill out your Schedule C, step by step

Start by entering every deposit you received for dog walker work as gross receipts (Line 1). Then categorize each business expense using the dropdown in the template's transaction tab — the Schedule C Summary tab totals each line automatically. The difference between your income and expenses is your net profit (Line 31), which flows to your Form 1040 and Schedule SE. Keeping these records current also makes it far easier to calculate quarterly estimated taxes and avoid underpayment penalties.

Record-keeping tips for dog walkers

The IRS expects you to be able to substantiate every deduction. Keep digital copies of receipts, log business mileage contemporaneously, and keep business and personal spending in separate accounts wherever possible. A few minutes of bookkeeping each week is far less stressful than reconstructing a year of expenses in April.

This guide is educational and does not constitute tax advice. For preparation and IRS representation, our sponsor Arc & Ledger Accounting is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

📊

Don't Have Excel? No Problem.

Download the file → Open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Done. All formulas, dropdowns, and formatting transfer perfectly.

See full Google Sheets instructions →
S

Download Your Free Dog Walker Template

Every deduction pre-loaded. Works in Excel or Google Sheets. No signup. No email required.

📥 Download for Excel

For Google Sheets: download the file, then open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Full instructions →

Need help filing?

Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents prepare Schedule C returns from $300 — and are authorized to represent you directly before the IRS.

Book a Free 15-Min Call

Mention ScheduleC.App for $50 off

See what the template looks like →
SPONSORED BY ARC & LEDGER ACCOUNTING

Want It Done Right?
Hand It to an Expert.

Most CPAs charge $500-800 for a Schedule C return. Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents do it from $300 — and they're authorized to represent you directly before the IRS if anything comes up.

Guarantee: Not happy with the quality? Full refund — no questions asked. You keep any work product.
✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300 (CPAs charge $500-800)
✓ Monthly bookkeeping from $200/mo
✓ S-Corp election & tax planning
✓ Authorized to represent you before the IRS
✓ Enrolled Agents — passed rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
arcandledger.com | (310) 876-0249
bookkeeping@arcandledger.com | Culver City, CA

Get Your Price in 30 Seconds

Question 1 of 4

What income did you have in 2025?

Other Free Schedule C Templates

📦Hair Stylist & Barber📦Tattoo Artist📦Dog Groomer💐Florist & Floral Designer📦Tutor & Online Teacher📦Wedding Planner📦Life Coach📦Nanny & Babysitter

Browse all 70+ business types →

🇺🇸

Need to File for Free? The IRS Can Help.

If you earned under $84,000, you may qualify for IRS Free File — free tax preparation software provided through an IRS partnership. No cost, no catch.

✓ IRS Free File — guided software for income under $84,000
✓ Free File Fillable Forms — for any income level
✓ VITA — free in-person help for income under $67,000
✓ TCE — free tax help for seniors aged 60+
Visit IRS Free File Options →

Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can dog walkers claim?+
Self-employed dog walkers and pet sitters may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include supplies (Line 22), mileage to client homes (Line 9), Rover and Wag platform fees (Line 10), advertising (Line 8), pet care insurance (Line 15), and certifications (Line 27). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Dog walkers and pet sitters use Schedule C to report income from Rover, Wag, and private clients. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed dog walkers pay?+
Self-employed dog walkers generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. All Rover and Wag payouts are taxable whether or not a 1099 is issued. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as a dog walker?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Underpayment may result in penalties. Our template helps you track income and expenses so you can better estimate what you may owe.
Are Rover and Wag platform fees deductible?+
Platform fees charged by Rover (20%) and Wag (40%) may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses on Schedule C Line 10 (commissions and fees). These fees can represent a significant portion of your gross earnings. Keep records of all platform statements. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For dog walkers with platform income, mileage deductions, and insurance costs, an EA can help ensure compliance. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.
Is the Schedule C template really free?+
Yes. Every template on ScheduleC.App is completely free to download, with no signup required. The site is sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting, a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents, which is why we can offer the templates at no cost.
Do I need accounting software to use the template?+
No. The template is a spreadsheet that opens in Microsoft Excel or imports directly into Google Sheets (File → Import → Upload). All formulas, dropdown categories, and the Schedule C summary work in both.
When is the Schedule C filing deadline?+
Schedule C is filed with your Form 1040, which is generally due April 15. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS also requires quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, typically due in April, June, September, and January.
What records do I need to keep for my deductions?+
Keep documentation that substantiates each expense — receipts, invoices, bank and card statements, and a contemporaneous mileage log for vehicle use. The IRS expects you to be able to prove that each deduction was an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRC Section 162.
Can someone prepare my Schedule C for me?+
Yes. Our sponsor, Arc & Ledger Accounting, is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents authorized to prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS. You can send them your completed template and they handle the filing.

Every Day You Wait, You Risk Missing Deductions

Your free Dog Walker template has every deduction pre-loaded. No signup. No email. Just download and go.

Download Free Template