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Maddie Hale initially began dog walking to get out of the house after studying at home all day as a teenager. School had long been a source of anxiety — she describes having “awful, awful panic attacks” that made traditional classrooms feel impossible — and spending time outside with dogs became a way to cope. Now, the 20-year-old has turned that hobby into a six-figure business.
“I sort of molded my job around myself,” she says.
A turning point came in 2023 when Hale bought a van for the business. “That was sort of my switch,” she says. “That was like, 'Oh my God — this is a real business.'” The company now brings in roughly 15,000 pounds (about $20,232) per month. Although all of Hale's friends chose to attend university, she says she works for herself — not just for freedom, but also for her mental health." It has given her a 'second boost in life.”
Maddie Hale, professional dog walker. Courtesy Maddie Hale /Handout via REUTERS
Building the business involved a steep learning curve: She dealt with burnout after scaling too quickly and had to build trust with customers whose house keys she handled — something that paid off as word of mouth spread. Today, her team of five employees serves more than 200 dogs each month across a 5-km (3-mile) stretch of northwestern England.
The Wider Trend
As AI threatens to transform the job market, more than half of Gen Z and Gen Alpha believe traditional employment may become obsolete, according to a global survey of 12,000 by freelance marketplace Fiverr, with 38% of respondents saying that they are already freelancing or plan to.
“For them, entrepreneurship feels like taking control of their own risk — which, frankly, is a healthy instinct,” says Joshua Brooks, a Texas-based certified financial planner. However, he adds that the purpose of establishing a business needs to be clear from the beginning. “The concerning part is when someone launches a business purely out of desperation without any financial foundation. That's not entrepreneurship — that's a financial emergency wearing a business-plan costume.”
Key Takeaways
Entrepreneurship is a response to job uncertainty. Some young people are choosing self-employment to regain control amid layoffs and economic instability — but it still requires clear planning and a solid financial foundation.
Have personal savings as a backup plan. Advisers typically recommend saving three to six months of living expenses before pursuing a business full-time. “I’d say that’s the floor, not the ceiling,” says Brooks.
Independence isn't only financial. For some, like Hale, choosing their own work environment can reduce stress and improve well-being more than traditional paths.