Domestic & pet services
MTD software for dog walkers and pet sitters.
Out with the dogs. On top of the books.
Daily walks, holiday boarding and pet visits bring different booking and payment patterns. Avona helps independent pet carers organise route income and business spending without taking over the evening.
- Who it is for
- Dog walkers and pet sitters working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
Walking fees and boarding receipts combine into annual turnover. Running costs and insurance come off later, so a growing roster can reach an MTD threshold before your take-home income does.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your dog-walking visits.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your dog-walking visits, shared purchases and a prepaid dog-walking block.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £280 for your dog-walking visits £45 spent on business leads and waste bags | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for business leads and waste bags. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £280 as the sale and the £45 cost separately. The £235 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for waste bags for client walks; £20 for pet supplies for your own dog | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify waste bags for client walks separately from pet supplies for your own dog. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £240 paid for a block of sessions Payment received before all sessions take place | Keep the booking and payment evidence for a prepaid dog-walking block. Reconcile the receipt with the bank entry and retain any later refund details. | A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid. |
Keep supporting documents alongside your figures, review business use and apply your accounting method consistently. HMRC: keeping business records ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for dog walkers and pet sitters. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Pet-care liability insurance
Boarding licence fees
Business leads and supplies
Client-care consumables
Eligible business mileage
Booking software
One thing to watch
Business miles need more than a fuel receipt
Keep a log of qualifying journeys, including purpose and distance. Separate private trips and choose the permitted vehicle method rather than claiming mileage and the same fuel costs together.
HMRC: car, van and travel expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your dog-walking visits.
Match regular client transfers, record boarding payments and keep route evidence with receipts for the animals in your paid care.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for business leads and waste bags. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish waste bags for client walks from pet supplies for your own dog.
How document capture works →Reconcile your dog-walking visits payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a prepaid dog-walking block available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
How bank review works →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your dog-walking visits income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a prepaid dog-walking block ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from dog walkers and pet sitters.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers dog walkers and pet sitters working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
Can I claim every trip involving a dog?
Record the purpose of each business journey and distinguish your own pet's outings. Review eligible travel under a consistent cost method, without duplicating mileage and covered costs.
How do I record a prepaid dog-walking block?
Example: £240 paid for a block of sessions (payment received before all sessions take place). A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Business miles need more than a fuel receipt. Keep a log of qualifying journeys, including purpose and distance. Separate private trips and choose the permitted vehicle method rather than claiming mileage and the same fuel costs together.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your dog-walking visits income records and evidence of business leads and waste bags into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development for Avona. Confirm support for your own income sources and circumstances before relying on Avona for the annual return.
Built for the way you earn
Keep your pet-care records on the right track.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.