If you have a love and passion for animals and could use some extra cash, pet sitting could be an excellent option for you. Pet sitting can be done either in your home or the client’s home, ranging from quick visits to overnight stays. 

The most common services that pet sitters provide include:

• Taking dogs for walks.
• Playing with pets.
• Feeding and giving water.
• Cleaning up after them.
• Sometimes, you may also need to administer medications to the pets.

If you’re planning to start your own pet-sitting business, keep in mind the following:

Experience is a great asset, but it’s okay if you lack it. If this is your first time working in a pet-related business, you can begin by offering your services for free to friends and family. Additionally, you can volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter to obtain experience and assist dogs needing attention. As you gain experience in the pet care industry, you will better understand the services you want to offer. You can limit your business to cats and dogs, or you may be comfortable caring for all types of animals. 

To determine what services you will offer, consider the following questions:

– Are you willing to walk multiple dogs?

– Can you take pets to the vet if asked?

– Do you want to impose breed or size restrictions?

Consider getting certified if you want to distinguish your pet-sitting business from competitors. You can obtain certification from organizations like Pet Sitters International (PSI) or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). Additionally, you can get liability insurance, which typically costs around $200 per year, to give your clients peace of mind in case of unfortunate incidents. Finally, you can take a pet first aid class to differentiate your business further. These courses cover how to care for pets in medical emergencies, including checking vital signs and caring for wounds or seizures. The American Red Cross offers an introductory online course for $25; you can find more extensive courses from other organizations at a higher cost.

If you’d rather find opportunities through a trustworthy platform, you can use pet-sitting websites. Doing so can make it easier for you to find jobs, and it may even be cheaper than doing it on your own, although you will still have to pay fees. Some of the most popular websites include:

Rover: 

Rover is a platform that allows sitters to customize their schedules, services, and prices. You can offer various pet care services through Rover, such as pet boarding, dog walking, doggy daycare, house sitting, and drop-in visits. When you sign up, there is a $35 fee to review your profile, and Rover takes a 20% commission from your earnings for each job.

WAG:

Another platform to find pet-sitting jobs is WAG. To work for WAG, you must apply and wait for approval, which usually takes around 14 days. Additionally, you must pass a pet care quiz and undergo a background check. The background check costs a one-time fee of $39.95, but the price may vary.

Care.com:

You can also check out Care.com. For a basic membership, you’ll need to pay $18.99 per year for a background check and can only search and apply for jobs. If you opt for a premium membership, it will cost $8.99 per month, and you’ll get access to jobs before others; your profile will show up higher in search results, and you’ll be able to see who has viewed your profile.