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Starting a Pet Sitting Business the Easy Way
The easiest way to starting a pet sitting business is by signing up with Rover. Pet sitting through Rover offers the perfect business for people who love dogs and want to earn extra money from home. Whether you own a dog or not, you can be a host family for people looking to have someone watch their dog in a loving home while they’re away.
With Rover, Everyone Wins
Starting a pet sitting business at home offers a win-win-win scenario. The dog wins because they get to stay in a real home with a qualified pet sitter (Host) who will give them lots of love and attention. It’s like their own mini vacation! The dog parents (Guests) win because every reservation includes 24/7 customer support, daily updates, and premium pet insurance. In addition, Guests can schedule and make payments online, AND there is a 100% money-back guarantee. The Host wins because they earn extra income (maybe even a living) watching dogs. Hosts create a free profile at Rover and they have a no-hassle way of getting paid.
A Pet Sitting Company That Supports You
My sister originally signed up to be a pet sitter through DogVacay which is now part of Rover. She talks very highly about their service! As a Host, she sets her own rates and decides what types of dogs will fit best in her home. When she thought of starting a pet sitting business, she had small dogs of her own and an older cat. She decided to only pet sit smaller or elderly dogs. She has a full-time job which she states in her profile. As such, her overnight rate is lower than some other dog sitters since she’s not at home during the day.
Since all Hosts create a free profile on the website, you would list all the benefits you can provide a Guest in watching their dog. This would include how many times a day you provide walks, if you have a fenced yard, or if you let the dogs sleep in bed with you. If you know how to administer pet medications, or are good with rescue dogs, these are benefits also worth listing. You also want to include whether or not you’re out of the house for more than several hours at another job.
Rover provides you with online training and one-on-one support to get you started. They want you to succeed! In addition, they share marketing tools to help you promote your business.
Earn REAL Money From Home as a Pet Sitter
According to one source, there are full-time pet sitting business owners on Rover making as much as $90,000/year…maybe more. Of course, it depends on where you live, how much you charge, how many dogs you’ll watch at one time, and how often you’ll pet sit. My sister is a part-time dog sitter and makes anywhere from $200 to $2,000 per month. You’re able to set your own services and rates. For instance, you can charge a lower rate for doggy daycare vs. boarding a dog overnight. Rover’s service fee is 20% of your rate.
One Frustration as a Dog Sitter with Rover
My sister mentioned that one frustrating aspect of Rover is the ability for Guests to contact you without reading your profile in full. Guests will sometimes ask her to watch their big dogs even though her profile clearly states she only watches smaller dogs. Apparently many Hosts complain that their profiles aren’t always read. Guests with an immediate need for a pet sitter, might just look at price and location and contact a Host without understanding the Host’s terms and conditions. This is a minor inconvenience but worth noting.
Advice to Future Rover Pet Sitters
Rover makes it really easy for you to set up a Meet-n-Greet to meet a potential Guest and their dog. If during a Meet-n-Greet, it looks like the dog will not fit in well at your home, you need to tell the pet owner. If you meet a dog that will not get along with your children and/or other pets, refuse the offer. It’s OK. Don’t feel bad about doing this. You want to make sure everyone feels comfortable with the situation, including the dog. In addition, make sure your calendar is always up-to-date. You don’t want one of your wonderful repeat customers completing an “Instant Book” for the same week you’re out of town on a Caribbean cruise!
Be a Great Host
Your repeat customers hopefully will become your bread and butter. It will be more enjoyable and easier for you, the Guest and the dog when you have “history” with the dog.
My sister has 66 repeat Guests so she must be doing something right! She also has 94 reviews, all of them 5 stars. Her Guests like how she is flexible, responsive, and makes their pet feel at home. My sister provides text updates daily including pictures of their pet. She gives the dogs lots of love and cares for them as if they’re her own.
She explains that she makes sure the owners bring their pet’s favorite toys, bowls, food, bed and anything else to make them feel at home. However, there are some items she always makes sure she has in stock like these pet training and puppy pads since her little dog guests sometimes have an accident. In addition, it helps to have pill pockets soft dog treats like these Greenies pill pockets for her doggie guests that have pills to take.
My sister does keep an extra dog bed like this small dog bed and inexpensive dog bowls in case the owners forget to bring their pet’s bed or bowls.
Still thinking that starting a pet sitting business is right for you? Check out Rover.com and set up your free profile now!
wonderful idea here! i know so many would be perfect to offer their love and attention for a few days. thanks for posting.