How to Start a Pet Sitting Business (Get Paid to Watch Pets)

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Once just an easy first job for kids, pet sitting has become a major industry.

The market was valued at almost $2.4 billion in 2023, and it’s expected to grow roughly 12% by 2030.

To get in on those profits, though, you’ll have to know how to start a pet sitting business.

Sure, you can find sitting gigs on sites like Rover—if you don’t mind losing a chunk of your pay to commissions, that is.

Running a pet sitting business will allow you to retain more of your hard-earned cash, establish some independence, and call the shots as your own boss.

For all you animal lovers, pet parents, and aspiring entrepreneurs out there, this article will cover everything you need to know to start your own pet sitting business.

We’ll go over the basics of building a client base and, eventually, scaling up your work.

Step 0: Are you qualified to start a pet sitting business?

Before we get started, let’s check whether a pet sitting business will be the right fit for you.

No matter how much you love animals and caring for pets, there’s a world of difference between pet sitting part-time and making it your full-time job.

You might want to consider how much experience you have in animal care and how often (and for how long) you’re available to stay in a stranger’s house.

Have you ever had to deal with a serious emergency while pet sitting?

Or care for an elderly or sickly pet?

If you answered “No” to those questions and you already have limited availability, you may want to stick to part-time sitting instead of starting a business.

But if you love animals and just need more experience, then keep reading—we’ll explain how to buff up that resume.

Step 1: Gather pet sitting experience (if necessary)

When you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to pick up some form of pet sitting history to show clients you can be trusted with their pets.

Owners aren’t going to leave their four-legged friends with a novice sitter, and everyone has to start somewhere.

You can get your first gigs on a platform like Rover or TrustedHousesitters.

These sites vet all users, so clients will be more likely to trust you if you don’t have experience yet.

And while you may not make as much money, getting that experience is more important.

Start by building a strong profile, then apply for job listings, highlighting any certifications or skills to better sell your services.

After a great sit, encourage your client to review your work.

As we’ll discuss in detail shortly, good reviews can lead to many more jobs.

Step 2: Develop a sound business plan

With your now-impressive pet sitting resume in hand, let’s talk strategy.

Ask yourself questions about your target market, like:

• What animals can you care for?
• Who would benefit the most from your business?
• Can you offer in-house pet sitting or services like transportation?

You should also research sitting rates in your desired locale to set competitive pricing.

Of course, don’t undercut yourself too much, but be realistic about what you plan to charge.

And keep in mind that some of your income will need to go toward marketing and promotion.

On that note, think about exactly how you plan to market yourself.

When you’re not on an already-established site like Rover, you might struggle to find clients all over again.

If you’re not ready to hire a professional marketer, dig into options like social media.

Step 3: Obtain necessary licenses, certifications, and insurance

Now, for the paperwork.

Determine your desired business structure—whether a sole proprietorship or an LLC—and find out what steps you’ll take to register.

Having an “official” business to your name will go a long way toward establishing your credibility.

Your homework doesn’t end there.

Depending on where you set up shop, all kinds of different regulations and licensing requirements apply to small businesses.

So, thoroughly look into everything required to operate above board, including liability insurance.

By now, you might be itching to finally launch your new business.

Before you cut the ribbon, check out any additional certifications like animal CPR or First Aid.

These aren’t always necessary, but they will impress future clients and draw customers your way.

Step 4: Build your client base

You might already have a few repeat customers to your name, but building on that client base will boost your business’ reputation (not to mention your income).

To start, ask family, friends, or neighbors about potential leads and be proactive in chasing them down.

Besides word of mouth, businesses also need a major online presence to succeed.

Build a polished website to attract more clients and, as we mentioned, connect with a wider audience on social media (though you might want to check with pet parents before posting pics).

As you work on building your client base, keep raking in those good reviews.

You should approach each gig with customer service top of mind and do your best to ensure your clients—and their pets—leave happy.

All those happy customers will likely bring in more of the same.

Step 5: Provide excellent pet care

To keep clients coming back for more, you’ll have to take excellent care of their beloved animals.

This starts with communicating promptly and thoroughly with pet owners to put their minds at ease—going AWOL for hours when a client has a question isn’t an option.

Many pet owners provide a schedule to follow when watching their animals, but in the rare instance they don’t, you should make your own game plan.

So, if a pet owner asks, you can give them a solid answer as to when you’ll clean Fluffy’s litter box or give Fido his dinner.

That said, don’t get so stuck in your routine that you freeze up in an emergency.

As cliché as it may be, you should expect the unexpected in pet sitting, especially if you’re sitting full-time.

When questions or concerns do arise, reach out to your clients right away.

Step 6: Gather positive reviews and customer testimonials

No matter how many pets you’ve watched, quality is more important than quantity, and testimonials from satisfied clients will be your bread and butter.

Good reviews will prove your trustworthiness beyond a doubt and encourage first-timers to book your services.

Always remind your customers to leave you a review at the end of your sit.

Not a week or two after, mind you, but as soon as the gig ends.

After too much time has passed, your client might forget the details of your hard work or forget to give you a review altogether.

Getting good reviews is all the more important when you’re on your own site rather than a well-established platform.

To that end, some of your previous clients could be willing to give you a new review on your website, so you might want to follow up with them.

Step 7: Scale your business

Once you’ve set a strong foundation, it’s time to build on it.

You might provide additional services like grooming or training, or employ other pet sitters so you can take on more gigs.

Just make sure to thoroughly screen any employees and contractors ahead of time.

To increase traffic to your business, you can reach out to nearby vet clinics or pet stores and start a promotional partnership.

You recommend them to your clients, they recommend you to theirs—it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Additionally, you can implement a referral program or a discount for returning customers.

The ultimate goal here is building your business, so focus on the big picture.

You could spend a little money up-front for a much higher return on investment down the road.

Ready to start your own pet sitting business?

As the demand for skilled, experienced pet sitters grows, you can get in on this thriving industry and create something new.

Now that you know how to start a pet sitting business, you should be well-equipped to set up, land great sitting gigs, and reap the rewards.

Remember, though, that you won’t make millions overnight.

Creating any successful business takes hard work and patience, so when you need a little motivation, think about why you got into pet sitting in the first place.

Hopefully, a serious interest in animal care!

Even if you start with no sitting experience whatsoever, anyone with that sense of dedication can earn a living caring for pets.

There’s no better time than now to turn that passion into a booming business—and help out other pet parents along the way.