How To Start a Pet-Sitting Business (2025): A Complete Guide

It’s no secret that people love their pets. Some 97% of US households count pets as part of their family. And while many of these pets would be happy if their humans never left their sight, most of us have jobs, trips, and social obligations that pull us away from our furry friends. 

Enter: pet sitters.

The number of pet-sitting businesses, and the overall pet care industry, has exploded in recent years—and it’s not set to slow down anytime soon. Experts estimate that the pet-sitting industry will be worth $5.1 trillion by 2030.

If you’re exploring the idea of launching a pet-sitting service, now is the time. Whether you’re interested in starting a dog walking service or staying overnight at pet parents’ homes, here’s how pet-sitting services work and how to start your own business.

What is a pet-sitting business?

A pet-sitting business offers pet care services, typically in the client’s own home. It differs from dog day care or boarding, in which the pet is taken care of at a dedicated facility by a larger team. Most pets tend to thrive on routine, so taking care of clients’ pets in their own homes can create a more stable experience for the animals, since they’re able to stay in the place that’s most familiar to them. 

Common tasks for pet sitters include: feeding animals, cleaning up after them (e.g., litter boxes), administering medication, making sure they get exercise, going for walks, and playing with them when their owners are away. Cats and dogs are the most common types of pet-sitting clients, but you may also market to people in need of care for their birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, or various reptiles or amphibians. 

Pet-sitting visit lengths vary, depending on the pets’ needs and how long the client will be away. For example, you could book daily drop-ins or walks while the client is at work, or you could book extended overnight stays while clients are on vacation.

How much does it cost to start a pet-sitting business?

Pet-sitting is a great way to start a business on a tight budget. You can get your micro business up and running for less than $500, with a handful of ongoing operational expenses which you can cover by selling your services. 

Startup expenses breakdown

Startup expenses for pet sitters include: 

• Business registration. If you’re a sole proprietor, there is no fee to file an official registration. If you go for an LLC, filing fees range from $35 to $500. 
• Business license. A license gives you legal permission to run your pet-sitting business in a particular jurisdiction. Costs depend on your state, ranging from $10 to $1,000.
• Basic equipment. Leashes, poop bags, and toys—it helps to have a basic tool kit if clients aren’t willing to lend theirs, or in case their stock runs out while you’re working. Visit a discount pet store to stock up on the essentials.
• Business insurance. This covers you in the event of an accident. Costs range from $600 to more than $1,200 per year, depending on the size of your business and the level of cover required.
• Bonding. A surety bond protects clients in the event of theft or property damage caused by the pet sitter. It’s not an essential expense, but offering some type of bonding—even just $100—can help establish your credibility, especially when you’re just starting out.

Ongoing operational costs

Once you’ve got your pet-sitting business up and running, there are some ongoing expenses to be aware of:

• Website setup. Create a basic website for as little as $29 per month with Shopify, which includes website hosting, an SSL certificate, and pre-made templates. Add a custom domain from just $10 per year.
• Marketing. Whether it’s social media advertising or printing business cards, set some cash aside to promote your services. The average small business spends between 7% and 10% of their annual revenue on marketing.
• Software. This includes website hosting, appointment scheduling apps, or accounting software. Check for any introductory discounts—many platforms offer significant discounts if you’re a new customer or pay for your first year upfront.
• Travel costs. How much you’ll spend on transportation, fuel, and vehicle insurance depends on how far you’re traveling. Bake this into your service fee to ensure you’re not losing money before you’ve even begun a shift.
• Continued education. From pet first aid training to professional memberships, set a budget for how much you’ll spend on training and development. 

How to start a pet-sitting business in 6 steps

Becoming a professional pet sitter entails many of the same steps as launching any other small business venture. These include choosing a business name, conducting market research on potential clients, selecting the right business structure, getting relevant business licenses or permits, and setting long-term goals. Here’s an overview of what to expect.

1. Planning and preparation 

Before you legally register your pet-sitting business, it’s wise to research existing pet care services in your area. With a better sense of your local competition, you can carve out your own niche. 

Think about the kind of pet owners you want to target. Perhaps you want to focus specifically on dogs, whether this means establishing a dog-sitting business, a dog boarding business, a dog-walking business, or an all-in-one service. Alternatively, perhaps you’ll target exotic pets if you find this market underserved in your area.

Skills assessment for pet sitters

By knowing what you’re good at (and what you’re not so great at), you can build a pet-sitting business that plays to your strengths. 

For example, if you’re great at staying calm under pressure, perhaps you could specialize in pet-sitting for anxious dogs. If you have experience administering medication to your own pets, offer a service for senior animals or those with special needs. 

Market research strategies 

Startup market research strategies to shed light on your new business venture include:

• Surveying potential customers. Ask local pet owners to share the reasons why they’d hire a pet sitter, how much they’d pay for the service, and the challenges they’ve faced recruiting a sitter in the past.
• Talking to your competition. Many local pet stores have bulletin boards where pet sitters advertise their services. A web search might also reveal your local competition. Reach out and network with them. 
• Social listening. Scour Facebook community groups to figure out who’s looking for pet-sitting services and what they say about existing providers in your area.

A SWOT analysis looks at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as a new business. Use the framework to organize your market research and create a business plan to capitalize on what you find. 

2. Choose a legal structure for your business

When you’re ready to legally establish your pet-sitting business, choose a legal structure:

• Sole proprietor. With this option, a business is considered a legal extension of their owners. This means that your business assets are the same as your personal assets, which isn’t ideal if your business should ever be sued or if you take on business debts.
• Limited liability company (LLC). This offers a crucial advantage that sole proprietorship doesn’t: separating personal and business assets. You’ll need a business bank account that keeps personal and business assets separate. You’re also responsible for bookkeeping and year-end financial statements to the IRS. 
• Corporation. A corporation is a business structure owned by a group of shareholders. A corporation’s cash and assets are separate from those of its shareholders, just like in an LLC. They also limit their shareholders’ personal legal liability in the event of a lawsuit or bankruptcy, and have different tax filing rules.

💡Reminder: You may need to apply for a “Doing Business As” name if you operate under a different name from the one registered to your pet-sitting business’s legal entity. 

3. Get insurance and licenses

Once you’ve established your business, see if you need a business license or sales tax certificate to operate in your state or locality. You may also need to carry insurance to protect you and your clients. 

Insurance coverage essentials

Insurance gives you and your clients extra protection if something unexpected happens. For example, if you’re walking a client’s dog and they cause damage or injury to somebody else, you could be held legally and financially responsible. Insurance helps cover legal fees, compensation claims, or medical bills so you’re not left out of pocket. 

Here’s a breakdown of the types of business insurance you can get and the estimated cost of each, according to provider Insureon:

• General liability insurance ($42 per month), which covers common risks like pet injury or property damage. 
• Commercial vehicle insurance ($147 per month), which covers the cost of repairs, theft, or damage to the vehicle you use for work. 
• Professional liability insurance ($61 per month), also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, covers legal expenses if a client sues you for negligence. 
• Workers’ compensation insurance ($45 per month), which is a mandatory requirement in most states if you have employees. It covers employee medical expenses and injuries that happen on the job. 

Note that you can sometimes get a discount on pet-sitting insurance if you complete a pet first-aid class. 

Pet-sitting certification options

While not required by law, certificates convey a degree of professionalism to pet owners who will be trusting their beloved furry companions to your care and judgment. 

Some pet sitters choose to burnish their résumés with a certification from a trade industry group like:

• Pet Sitters International (PSI). Recognized as one of the top certifications in the pet care industry, the PSI offers an online course that covers topics like pet health and safety and disaster planning. The exam costs $275 with an annual membership cost of $90 (including the application fee).
• National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). This self-paced online course covers animal behavior, nutrition, and emergency procedures. It costs $245 for members, or $395 for non-members. The certification must be renewed every three years.
• The American Red Cross. This nonprofit offers a free 35-minute online course covering the basics of first aid for cats and dogs. 

Surety bond requirements

A surety bond is a financial guarantee that protects your clients if you fail to meet your obligations. It can also cover theft or damage to their property—for example, if you lose the keys to their home or accidentally smash an expensive vase during your visit. 

While they’re not an essential part of doing business, some platforms require you to have a third-party surety bond in place before you sell services on their marketplace. These providers offer the bond and guarantee payout if you fail to meet the terms. 

4. Begin building your business

Once your business is established, you can begin crafting your pet-sitting business plan.

Create a website

A great website lets customers discover your pet-sitting business online and learn what services you offer. 

Unlike building your business solely through social media, you have complete control over the experience someone has when they visit your website. Ecommerce platforms also let you sell services and process payments securely without the need for a third-party processor. 

Shopify offers an integrated platform to open your own online store, which has worked well for pet business startups like Supakit and Little Chonk. Opening an online store alongside your pet-sitting services makes it possible to diversify your pet-sitting business income with related products like pet food, accessories, toys, grooming products, or branded merch.

Plus, you can integrate Shopify with a range of scheduling and booking apps to sell pet-sitting services through your website, such as Meety, Appointly, or Cowlendar.

Pet-sitting software and tools

Rely on the following software and tools to manage your pet-sitting business: 

• Marketing tools. Shopify has a range of built-in marketing tools at no extra cost, including Shopify Email for email marketing and Shopify Inbox for live chat on your website. You can also integrate platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google and YouTube to manage marketing campaigns from your Shopify admin. 
• Scheduling apps. You can set your availability as “public” to help customers see openings in your schedule and reserve a time. Alternatively, you can keep your scheduling process on the back end for your eyes only, so you can more closely keep track of your commitments to new and returning clients. You can use free tools like Google Calendar or Shopify event booking apps for more functionality.
• Client communication tools. Phone and email are the most popular communicating channels for pet sitters. Consider a separate work phone (or a WhatsApp Business account), a professional email address, and a customer relationship management (CRM) tool to keep track of your conversations. 
• Invoice and accounting software. No matter the type of business you’ve chosen, you’ll need to file regular tax returns. Keep track of income, raise invoices for clients, and document expenses with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero.

Marketing platforms

Some pet owners prefer to browse pet-sitters through an online marketplace like Rover, Borrow My Doggy, or Pet Sitters International. Creating an account on these platforms will help you connect with new clients when they’re looking for the services you offer.

Just bear in mind that most marketplaces take a cut of any service you sell. Rover, for example, takes a 20% service fee per booking. If you charge a client $100 for pet-sitting, only $80 will be eligible for payout. Check this is still profitable after accounting for other expenses—such as insurance, licenses, and fuel—before accepting gigs on the pet-sitting marketplace. 

Setting your pet-sitting rates

The average pet-sitting rate in the US is $45 to $75 per night or $270 to $450 per week, according to Rover. This tends to be higher in larger cities like Oakland, California, where the average daily rate for pet-sitting is $87. Rates also vary depending on how many pets you’re taking care of at a time, what types of pets, and special needs that require additional care certifications. 

Fees depend dramatically on your niche and service offering. The owner of a high-energy dog with specialist care requirements, for example, would likely pay more for a pet-sitting service than a cat owner who just needs a daily drop-in. 

Rover gives a rough guide to estimate your pet-sitting rates depending on the service you’re offering:

It helps to know what other pet sitters in your local area charge before setting your prices. Some may post their pet-sitting rates on their website, while others may share them only if you ask. Local pet owners may also be willing to share what they’ve paid pet sitters in the past. Use a free survey app to compile your feedback into one place. 

Once you’ve found a ballpark range, use the following pricing strategies to increase your income:

• Package discounts. Entice clients to book multiple services by bundling them together in a discounted package. This strategy can also incentivize long-term bookings—you might give one night free when they book a block of seven. 
• Upselling extra services. Your basic pet-sitting package might cost $49 per day, including one daily walk. Clients with high-energy pets can add an extra hour of exercise for an additional $9 or a post-walk groom for $24. 
• “Refer a friend” promotions. Personal referrals are the lifeblood of the service industry, and pet-sitting is no exception. Offer one night free, or a free dog walk, for every client who recommends a friend, to get happy customers marketing your pet-sitting business for you. 

5. Market your business

With your pet-sitting business up and running, it’s time to get the word out to pet owners in your area. This is where marketing and advertising come in. 

You may try the following strategies:

• Create flyers and business cards. Put up flyers at dog parks and in pet stores and hand out business cards to potential clients. You can create these materials yourself or have them made professionally.
• Use online directories and review sites. List your pet-sitting business on platforms popular among pet owners. Try local directories like Google Maps, review sites like Yelp, and pet industry directories like Pet Sitters International.
• Build relationships with local veterinarians and pet stores. Your best connections will likely come from local businesses in complementary pet care areas. Pet food stores, pet grooming companies, and pet health practitioners (including licensed veterinarians) may be your best referral sources.
• Offer promotions and discounts to attract new clients. Depending on your budget and business expenses, you may want to offer introductory discounts or buy-one-get-one-free deals to win over new clients. Ideally, these discounts earn you gigs, allowing you to bond with the pet, and leading the pet owner to ask you back for more sessions at your regular rate.

Stay in touch with clients with an email newsletter that shares updates about your pet-sitting business. If your client roster is small, you can check in with personal emails and requests for referrals. 

6. Ongoing management of your business

Once your pet-sitting business is up and running, focus on maintaining a high standard of excellence in order to secure new client contracts. Be sure to learn how to manage your business as you scale. 

Product and service expansion

Service businesses tend to have higher profit margins because the biggest investment you’ll make is your time. However, time is a limited resource—you’ll likely hit a revenue ceiling once you become an in-demand pet sitter.

Instead of hiring additional employees, some pet sitters supplement their services with products. For example, Wagwell’s founder William Smolen spotted a gap in the market for human-grade dog food that gave pet owners total transparency into what their dog was eating. 

“I just felt like, gosh, it could be so much better in that space,” he says in a Shopify Masters interview. “It’s similar ingredients and similar manufacturing processes, and I just felt like there was so much room for improvement.”

You don’t have to invest your own money into developing new products or buying inventory in bulk to add this income stream to your pet-sitting business. The dropshipping business model lets you sell trending products such as:

• Pet toys 
• Healthy dog treats, supplements, or dental chews
• Odor eliminators 
• Branded accessories, such as custom food bowls or harnesses 
• Custom pet ID tags

Every time you get an order through your ecommerce website, the dropshipping partner will pick, pack, and ship it to your customer—no intervention required on your behalf. 

📚Read more: How This Pet Accessories Maker Expanded by Producing an Online Course

Tax planning for pet sitters

The IRS considers you as self-employed if you’re running your own pet-sitting business. This means you’re responsible for reporting and paying self-employment taxes if your net earnings total more than $400. 

Exactly how much tax you’ll pay (and how often) depends on your business structure. Generally speaking, pet sitters who are registered as sole proprietors or LLCs must use Form 1040 to file a personal tax return and Schedule C to report income and deductions once a year by April 15. You’ll use this to calculate your federal self-employment tax (15.3%), which includes Social Security and Medicare.

Remember to take advantage of tax deductions, which are expenses that the IRS considers “ordinary and necessary” in your industry. For pet sitters, this might include business insurance, pet care supplies, vehicle use, travel expenses, marketing costs, and certifications.