May 29, 2023
Editor
Kari is a writer for SideHustles.com. She previously managed a website in the privacy and digital compliance industry and earned money on the side by working as a pet sitter for 7 years.
Earn
$12-$19/hrLocation
NationwideRequirements
Background CheckAnimal lovers and side hustlers rejoice—pet sitting is on the rise as a fun and lucrative means of earning extra income (up to $19 per hour or even higher).
When you first become a pet sitter, the easiest way to get started will probably be to sign up to work through a pet-sitting service or app. We’ve rounded up the best ones so you can start making money as soon as possible.
Here are our top picks for pet-sitting apps:
One of the most popular apps, Rover is the first place most people start their pet-sitting careers. You can sign up as a sitter (where you watch an animal at their home) or a boarder (where you watch the animal at your own home), as well as a drop-in pet sitter, doggy daycare provider, or simply a dog walker.
Rover grants sitters a lot of flexibility in setting their own preferences, schedules, and rates, but the site will take a 20% cut of what you earn for your services. Tips, however, are 100% yours.
We talked with one Rover sitter who prefers to remain anonymous, who told us that the platform is good for those who want to make money from home (rather than trek to owners’ houses). She dog-sits exclusively from her house, an option she says isn’t always available on other platforms.
Originally a dog-walking app, Wag! has expanded to include dog-sitting, cat-sitting, and dog-boarding services. Both Wag! and Rover have extensive application processes for caregivers, so be prepared to fill out a thorough application, submit to a background check, and even pass a pet care quiz.
Wag! claims dog sitters on their site can make up to $500/month by just sitting 3 times per week. 1 However, pet sitting rates vary, and Wag! will take a staggering 40% of your earnings.
Fetch! Pet Care is a pet care franchise that operates local branches around the country. You’ll need to check their website to see if Fetch! operates in your area. If it does, be prepared to undergo a thorough vetting process, including an in-person or video interview.
Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to verify how Fetch! payments operate, so we can’t confirm what cut of your earnings they’ll claim as commission. One Fetch! employee claims on Indeed that the company takes a 50% cut of what you earn. 2 If this is true, it’s the highest commission of any platform on this list.
A one-stop-shop caregiver service, Care links up those in need (parents, the elderly, pet owners, and more) with qualified caregivers. Pet sitting is among their many services, connecting pet sitters with pet owners looking for help.
Unlike many pet-sitting services, Care doesn’t take a cut of what you earn through your jobs. Instead, you have the option to pay for a monthly subscription ($10 or $20 per month). Free plans are also available for sitters, though you’ll get access to more job opportunities with a paid membership.
If you’re a bona fide cat person, consider pet sitting through Meowtel, where you can access cat-only sitting gigs. Meowtel doesn’t mess around when it comes to cats, so prepare for a tough application process. The company claims to only accept 10% of applicants, but also offers a guide to submitting the “purrfect” application. 3
A huge pro for Meowtel is that they’re very transparent about their commission system and offer some flexibility. Commissions are tier-based and range from 15%–30%, determined by how often you cat sit for that particular client. 4
A hidden gem among pet-sitting services, Holidog allows you to sign up as a walker, sitter, or boarder. Best of all, they don’t take a commission, so everything you earn will be yours to take home. The downside of a non-commission-based service is that it doesn’t come with the same built-in resources—like training, insurance, and payment processing—that other services offer.
With a foothold in 50 countries, PetBacker is a great international platform for pet sitting. Services seem to start at $20/visit, but likely vary based on location, time, and circumstance.
PetBacker charges standard commissions on a sliding scale from 15%–25%. When you first start out, you’ll owe 25% of your earnings to PetBacker, but you can lower that rate as you establish yourself as a pet sitter.
How to sign up with PetBacker: Download the app on Google Play or the App Store.
Another option for pet sitters who don’t want to pay commissions or service fees, PetSitter is an international pet-sitting site with a presence in the US, UK, and Canada. The service offers sitting, boarding, grooming, walking, and training, so you have plenty of opportunities to flex your range if you have more to offer than pet sitting alone.
While the service doesn’t charge a commission, this means it lacks certain resources and protections, leaving you to set your rates and manage your payments independently.
Similar to Care, Sittercity is a broad-range care-providing platform that hooks up different caregivers (pet sitters, nannies, tutors, etc.) with people in need of those services. The site doesn’t charge commissions on your profits, but does state that you’re responsible for arranging the payment with your client, including the amount and form of payment. 5
In other words, regardless of how you want to get paid (cash, Venmo, etc.), you’ll have to negotiate that with each client.
Signing up for Sittercity as a caregiver is free, though they also offer a featured sitter subscription plan. The plan will cost you $14.99 per month, but makes it 4x more likely you’ll land a job. 6
This service diverges from the others on our list, as Trusted Housesitters cannot be used as a source of income. Instead, the site matches up pet parents with sitters who can stay at their homes while they’re away. As a sitter, you won’t earn any money (unless the homeowner privately compensates you); rather, you’ll have a place to stay for the duration of the owner’s vacation.
While this isn’t a good way to make money, it’s a great way to travel on the cheap, have a temporary home while you’re relocating, or meet pet owners in your community. If you’re trying to become a dog walker or professional pet sitter, Trusted Housesitters is a great way to drum up a client base.
How to sign up with Trusted Housesitters: On the homepage, click the button in the top right corner that says “Join Now” and click “Choose sitter membership.”
How much you make as a pet sitter will vary based on your experience, training, place of residence, and job parameters. As we mentioned, based on online data sources, the average pet sitter makes $12–$19 per hour. 7 8
Other sources indicate the average pet sitter charges $10–$30 per visit, $20–$30 per day, and $45–$75 per night. 9
If you’re ready to pad your bank account a little more, consider these methods of increasing your earnings as a pet sitter:
As you can see above, there are lots of options for pet-sitting apps and services. Why limit your options with just one service when you can try your hand at a few? Working with multiple platforms lets you:
Certifications aren’t necessary to become a pet sitter, but having specialized training is always a huge plus. Completing certain coursework and obtaining certifications or even getting licensed can make you a more appealing candidate and justify a higher pay rate.
Most pet-sitting services allow you to act as a visitor (doing visits, walks, or tuck-ins), but you can net more cash if you’re willing to stay as an overnight pet sitter.
Although staying overnight nets higher pay, it doesn’t require much more work. In fact, most of your time will be spent sleeping (assuming no pet needs arise in the night), and you’ll still be reaping the extra rewards.
Assuming you have the qualifications, offering additional services will increase your pay rate and your desirability. Additional services could include:
Having positive reviews on the sites you pet sit through will land you more clients and justify raising your rates.
To secure rave reviews, make sure you’re going the extra mile, and don’t be afraid to ask your current clients to leave a note on your profile. Also, consider letting them know that you’d appreciate any personal recommendations if they have friends and family in need of your services.
