Do You Need an ABN to Be a Dog Walker in Australia?

Yes, you need an ABN if you're operating as a dog walker or pet sitter in Australia. Any time you receive money for a service as a self-employed person, the ATO treats that as business income — and operating a business in Australia requires an Australian Business Number. Here's everything you need to know to get set up properly.

What Is an ABN?

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Register (ABR) on behalf of the ATO. It identifies your business in transactions with other businesses, the ATO, and customers.

When you register for an ABN, you are formally registering as a business entity. For a solo dog walker, that entity type is a sole trader — meaning the business and you as an individual are one and the same. You don't need a separate company, a business bank account (though one is useful), or any formal structure. You just need the ABN.

Do I Really Need One for Dog Walking?

The short answer: yes, if you are being paid for a service, you are conducting business, and conducting business in Australia requires an ABN.

The longer context: the ATO does not distinguish between a large company and someone walking dogs on weekends. Any income earned from self-employment is assessable income. The ABN is the mechanism that puts you in the system as a business — it's also how platforms like TruePath report income correctly for tax purposes.

What if you skip it? Platforms may withhold the top tax rate (currently 47%) from any payment to a supplier who doesn't provide an ABN — this is a requirement under the ATO's tax withholding rules. Additionally, if the ATO identifies you as earning business income without an ABN, they can treat that income as taxable regardless and impose penalties.

The registration is free and takes 15 minutes. There is no practical reason to delay it.

ABN vs ACN — What's the Difference?

This trips up a lot of people new to self-employment.

Feature	ABN (Australian Business Number)	ACN (Australian Company Number)
Who needs it	Any entity conducting business in Australia — sole traders, companies, partnerships, trusts	Only registered companies (Pty Ltd, Ltd)
Issued by	Australian Business Register (ABR) / ATO	ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
Cost	Free	~$597 to register a company; ongoing annual review fees
Structure	Sole trader: you and the business are legally the same person	Company: a separate legal entity from you personally
Right for dog walkers?	Yes — virtually all solo walkers register as sole traders with an ABN	No — company structure adds cost and complexity without benefit at solo walker scale

Unless you're planning to employ other walkers or have a specific legal or financial reason to incorporate, do not set up a company. Sole trader with an ABN is simpler, cheaper, and entirely appropriate.

How to Register for an ABN

Registration is done at abr.gov.au through the Australian Business Register's online portal. Here's what to expect:

What you'll need:

• Your tax file number (TFN)
• Your legal name and date of birth
• Your residential address
• A description of your business activity (e.g., "Dog walking and pet care services")
• Your intended start date (use today's date or the date you expect to take your first booking)

The process:

1. Go to abr.gov.au and select "Apply for an ABN"
2. You'll be taken through the ABR's online application wizard
3. Select "Sole trader" as your entity type
4. Enter your business activity description — be specific. "Animal care services" or "Dog walking and pet sitting" is fine
5. Confirm your personal details
6. Review and submit

Most applications are processed immediately. You'll receive your 11-digit ABN on screen and via email within minutes. Some applications are flagged for manual review (usually if there are mismatches in your identity information) and may take a few days.

Registering a Business Name (Optional)

Your ABN allows you to trade under your own legal name immediately. If you want to trade under a business name — say, "Paws & Paths" or "Melbourne Dog Walks" — you'll need to register that name separately through ASIC at asic.gov.au. Business name registration costs $44/year for a one-year registration or $102 for three years.

For most solo walkers starting out, trading under your own name is perfectly professional and saves the cost. You can always add a business name later once you've decided on a brand.

GST: Do You Need to Register?

GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration is a separate question from ABN registration. The rule:

You must register for GST if your annual turnover from all business activities exceeds $75,000.

At current Australian average rates, reaching $75,000/year in dog walking revenue means doing approximately 2,300 one-hour walks per year, or around 44 per week, every week. The vast majority of dog walkers — including many who operate full-time — remain under this threshold.

If you're below $75,000, you do not need to register for GST, do not need to add GST to your invoices, and do not need to lodge a Business Activity Statement (BAS). You simply declare your income in your annual tax return.

If you do cross $75,000, you have 21 days from when you expect to exceed the threshold to register for GST through the ATO's Business Portal. At that point you'll charge GST on your services, collect it from clients, and remit it to the ATO quarterly via a BAS.

How to Quote Your ABN to TruePath and Clients

Once you have your ABN, you'll enter it in your TruePath profile during the onboarding process. TruePath uses this to set up payouts correctly and meet its own ATO reporting obligations.

If you issue invoices directly to clients outside the platform, your ABN must appear on any invoice or receipt you provide — this is a legal requirement for any business-to-business transaction over $82.50 (GST-inclusive). For individual pet owners paying for personal services, it's good practice and adds professionalism even when not strictly required.

What If Your ABN Application Is Rejected?

ABN applications are occasionally rejected if the ATO determines you're not carrying on an enterprise. This is rare for dog walkers, but if it happens:

• Review the rejection reason provided in the email
• The most common cause is unclear business activity description — resubmit with more specific language ("Dog walking, dog boarding, and pet sitting services provided to residential clients in [suburb/city]")
• If rejected a second time, you can call the ABR on 13 92 26 for guidance

Record Keeping From Day One

Getting your ABN sorted is step one. From that point, keep a simple record of every booking — date, client name, service type, amount received. Your TruePath dashboard will capture most of this automatically. Also keep receipts for any business expenses (equipment, insurance, first aid course costs) as these are deductible against your taxable income.

You don't need accounting software at solo walker scale. A spreadsheet is sufficient. The habit of recording income and expenses consistently matters more than the tool you use.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get an ABN?

Do I need an ABN if I'm just doing a few casual walks for extra cash?

Can I have an ABN while employed full-time?

Do I need to charge GST as a dog walker?

What happens to my ABN if I stop walking dogs?

Does TruePath require an ABN to receive payouts?

Want to earn this walking dogs?

TruePath walkers set their own hours and rates. Apply once, pass our verification, and start booking walks in your suburb.

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