How do I check a dog-walking company’s route density and travel time?

Ask the seller for a client list with addresses or postal districts, and plot them yourself on a map. Look for tight clusters and for outliers. A handful of far-flung clients may be accepted for the sake of a long-standing relationship, but they cost a walker time. Weather and daylight change routes as well, so ask for logs from different seasons. A dense summer route can look very different in winter, when snow and short days can slow travel between homes.

Next, request schedules, mileage or trip records and time logs for several weeks. Compare the promised walk times with when walkers actually arrived and left. Gaps between visits that look idle on paper are often drive time or parking hunts.

Ask the walkers themselves how their day works. They know which routes are efficient, which clients are hard to reach, and where traffic or building access slows them down. Their answers are as useful as the logs. Then consider your own plan. If growth would come from adding clients in the same areas, the current density is a strength. If it means pushing further out, expect higher costs. Think about vehicle use and who pays for it, and speak to your accountant about the numbers.

Key takeaways

• Map client addresses to see clusters and outliers.
• Compare logged times with the schedule to find travel gaps.
• Ask the walkers which routes work and which do not.