Pet sitting pays between $15 and $75 per visit depending on your location, the pet's needs, and how many clients you take on

Pet sitting is straightforward work: you visit someone's home while they travel, feed and exercise their pet, and collect payment. Most pet sitters charge per visit rather than hourly, which means a 30-minute dog walk or cat feeding typically costs the owner $20 to $40 in urban areas, less in rural ones. You keep all of that money minus any platform fees if you use a booking site like Rover or Care.com.

The work scales quickly because you can stack visits in the same neighborhood on the same day. A sitter who takes five 30-minute dog walks in one afternoon at $25 each makes $125 before expenses. There is no employer, no shift schedule, and no cap on how many clients you can take. The trade-off is that you handle your own taxes, insurance, and cancellations.

Key Takeaways

  • You can start with zero experience by building a profile on Rover or Care.com, where pet owners search for sitters and pay through the platform.
  • Pricing depends on location and service type: dog walks typically cost $15–$30, overnight sitting $50–$150, and drop-in visits $20–$40.
  • Your first clients often come from existing networks (friends, neighbors, coworkers) before you rely on booking platforms.
  • You are self-employed, so you must track income, pay self-employment tax, and carry liability insurance if you want protection against injury claims.
  • Repeat clients and good reviews compound over time, turning a side gig into a steady income stream with minimal marketing effort.

Start by building a profile on a booking platform or your own network

The fastest entry point is Rover, which is the largest pet-sitting marketplace in the United States. You create a profile with photos, a bio, and your rates. Rover handles the booking and payment, then takes a 20% commission on each job. Care.com has a similar model with a lower commission (around 10%) but smaller traffic. Wag is focused on dog walking and pays sitters directly rather than taking commission, though you pay a small monthly subscription.

Before you list yourself on a platform, tell people you know. Text friends, post in neighborhood Facebook groups, and mention it to coworkers. Many pet sitters find their first five clients this way, which means no platform fees and direct payment. Once you have reviews and experience, you can list on platforms to reach people outside your when ready circle.

Whichever route you choose, you need a profile photo, a clear description of what you offer (dog walking, cat sitting, overnight care), and your rates. Platforms let you set your own price, so research what other sitters charge in your area before you list. Underpricing early to get reviews is common, but raise your rates once you have them.

Decide what services to offer and how much to charge

Pet sitting breaks into a few service types, each with different pricing. A dog walk is usually 20 to 30 minutes and costs $15–$30 depending on location and dog size. A drop-in visit for cats or small pets is 15 to 20 minutes and costs $15–$25. Overnight sittingBoarding, where the pet stays at your home, costs $30–$75 per night.

Urban areas support higher rates because pet owners have more disposable income and fewer free options. A dog walker in San Francisco or New York charges $35–$50 per walk; the same walk in a small town might be $15–$20. Check what established sitters in your zip code charge by searching Rover or Care.com for your area, then price yourself slightly below them if you are new.

Many sitters offer discounts for repeat bookings or multiple pets. For example, you might charge $25 for one dog walk but $40 for two dogs in the same household, or $20 per walk if someone books five walks per week. These discounts encourage clients to use you more often, which is better than a single high-priced walk.

Handle the logistics: insurance, taxes, and cancellations

You are self-employed, which means you pay self-employment tax on your income. The IRS expects you to report all pet-sitting earnings, whether you receive a 1099 form or not. Set aside 25% to 30% of what you earn for taxes, or pay quarterly estimated taxes if you make more than $400 per year. A tax professional or free software like IRS Free File can walk you through this.

Liability insurance protects you if a pet is injured while in your care or if you accidentally damage the owner's home. Most homeowner or renter policies do not cover business activities, so you need a separate policy. Pet sitters' liability insurance costs $300–$600 per year and covers injury claims up to a set limit. Rover and Care.com offer optional coverage through their platforms, though it is more expensive than buying your own.

Cancellation policy matters because owners will cancel or reschedule. Decide in advance whether you charge if someone cancels within 24 hours, or if you offer one free reschedule per month. Write this in your profile so clients know the rules before they book. Most sitters charge a cancellation fee to protect against last-minute losses.

Build your client base through reviews and word-of-mouth

Your first 10 to 20 jobs are the hardest because you have no reviews. On Rover and Care.com, new sitters often get inquiries from owners who are willing to take a chance on someone without history. Accept these jobs, show up on time, send photos or updates during the visit, and ask for a review afterward. Five solid reviews will dramatically increase your booking rate.

Repeat clients are your best income source. Once someone books you twice and trusts you with their pet, they will book you again for every trip. Focus on keeping these clients happy: remember the pet's name and habits, arrive on time, and communicate clearly. A client who books you four times per year is worth more than constantly finding new one-time customers.

Ask satisfied clients for referrals. A straightforward message like "I loved meeting Bella — if you know anyone else who needs a sitter, I'd appreciate a recommendation" often leads to new bookings. Many pet owners talk to each other at dog parks, vet offices, and neighborhood groups, so word-of-mouth spreads quickly in tight communities.

Manage your schedule and avoid burnout

The appeal of pet sitting is flexibility, but it is straightforward to overcommit. If you take 10 dog walks per day at 30 minutes each, you are working five hours plus travel time, and you will burn out fast. Start with a target number of visits per week — perhaps five to ten — and stop accepting new bookings once you hit it. You can always raise rates instead of taking more clients.

Cluster your visits geographically. If you have three clients on the same street, schedule them back-to-back to save travel time and money on gas. Use a straightforward calendar or app like Google Calendar to track bookings and avoid double-booking. Some sitters use Rover's built-in calendar, which syncs with their phone.

Plan for the seasons. Summer and holidays are busy because people travel more. Winter and spring are slower. Many sitters use slow months to take time off or build savings from the busy months. Do not assume every month will be as busy as your best month.

Expand into related services once you have a client base

Once you have steady clients and good reviews, you can offer additional services that pay more. Dog training or behavioral work requires certification but commands $50–$100 per hour. Pet photography during walks or visits is a low-effort add-on that some owners pay extra for. Overnight boarding at your home pays more than dog walking and uses your existing client relationships.

Some sitters start a small group dog-walking service, hiring other sitters to work for them and taking a cut of each booking. This turns pet sitting from hourly work into a business with employees, which is a bigger step but also higher income. This route requires more management and liability coverage.

You can also partner with local vets, groomers, or pet stores to get referrals. A vet might recommend you to clients who need a sitter while they recover from surgery. A groomer might refer clients who want their dog walked on grooming day. These partnerships are free and often lead to steady bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience or certification to start pet sitting?

No. Most pet owners care more about reliability and good reviews than formal credentials. That said, taking a pet first aid course ($50–$100) gives you confidence and something to mention in your profile. Rover and Care.com do not require certification, though some owners prefer sitters who have it.

What if a pet gets sick or injured while I'm watching it?

Contact the owner when ready and follow their instructions. If it is an emergency and you cannot reach them, take the pet to an emergency vet and let the owner know. Liability insurance covers accidents that happen during your care, but not pre-existing conditions. Always ask owners about medications, allergies, and emergency vet contacts before the first visit.

How do I handle payment if I'm not using a platform?

Ask for payment upfront or at the end of each visit. Cash, Venmo, PayPal, and Square are all common. Be clear about your rate and whether you charge for cancellations. Keep a straightforward record of who paid you and when for tax purposes.

Can I pet sit full-time or is it just a side gig?

Both are possible. Some sitters do 15–20 visits per week and earn $1,500–$2,500 per month, which is a full-time income in lower-cost areas. Others do five to ten visits per week alongside another job. The income scales with how many clients you take and how much you charge.

What happens if a client leaves a bad review?

On Rover and Care.com, you can respond to reviews publicly. If the review is unfair, explain what happened calmly. If it is fair feedback, acknowledge it and explain how you will improve. One bad review among many good ones does not tank your business, but multiple bad reviews will hurt your booking rate.