Are you an animal lover? If so, you may be interested in learning how to make money as a pet sitter.
Working as a pet sitter can be a great way to make extra money, and in many cases, it can be a low-maintenance side hustle.
Learn about what a pet sitter does, how to get the job done, and more in this article as you decide whether a career as a pet sitter is for you.
What is a Pet Sitter?
A pet sitter is someone who takes care of customers' pets when they are unavailable. Some people hire pet sitters for the day, weekend, week, or more.
As a pet sitter, you may care for the pets of people who are at work and don't want their pets alone for long hours. You can also take care of a pet when its owner is away for work or vacation.
Pet owners often work as independent contractors. This means you'll be self-employed, so you'll need to track income, expenses, mileage, and other details that come with owning a business.
What Does a Pet Sitter Do?
Working as a zookeeper can be one of the best side jobs, especially if you are an animal lover. Depending on the type of pet, the pet sitter is responsible for various tasks.
If you work as a pet sitter, you may find yourself doing tasks such as:
- Walking dogs
- Playing with cats
- Cleaning litter boxes
- Cleaning up doggie doo
- Feeding the animals
- Cleaning reptile cages
- Giving medicine to animals
Usually, you just have to spend time with your customers' pets. You can choose whether to take care of your pets at your own home or at a pet's home.
You can choose short-term or long-term pet care jobs. Pet sitting is a demanding job but it can also be fun.
It is important to know that if you work as a pet sitter, you will likely have access to the pet owner's home.
They will give you a key or access code so you can get in and out to take care of their pet. This part of the animal's accommodation is an additional burden.
Therefore, it is important to leave the house as securely locked as it was when you got it. In addition, you will need to keep a safe eye on the keys or other belongings of the homeowner.
How Does a Pet Sitter Work?
Pet owners find employment in many ways. First, some businesses are dedicated to connecting pet groomers with clients.
Along with that, there are other ways you can get a job as a pet sitter. We'll talk about businesses that connect animal planners with clients first.
The Rover
Rover was founded in 2011 and caters to cat and dog owners. However, you may also be hired to care for other species on the Rover.
Pet owners with pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and more may seek your services at Rover.
When you create a profile on Rover, you set your schedule, prices, and services you will provide.
Reservations are made through Rover. You will also be paid through Rover, and it takes two days after you complete the service for your money to appear in your Rover account.
From there, you can transfer your earnings to your bank account. Rover takes a 20%-25% commission on what you've earned. You keep 100% of any tips earned.
Read more: Rover review
Pawshake
Pawshake offers similar services to Rover but is based in Canada and parts of Europe. With Pawshake, you can take care of dogs, cats, many small animals and horses.
This is a change from Rover, which does not book riders. As a Rover, you can design your profile on Pawshake to include the hours and days you're available, your fees, and the types of pets you care for.
Pawshake charges you a 19% fee on your profits. You will receive your payment within 8 days of completing your services.
Community Facebook pages can be great places to offer pet sitting services. You can expect to earn more money if you advertise yourself and work as a freelancer.
You won't have to share profits with a service like Rover, so 100% of what you earn is yours.
However, it is important to remember that if you are going to work alone and not a service partner, you must understand the risks.
Services like Rover and Pawshake offer insurance, additional security measures and inspections, and more.
So, if you're freelancing and advertising on Facebook, Craigslist, and similar sites, consider safety measures, insurance, and other details.
Around Your Town
You can also advertise your pet sitting business near your city or town. You can make flyers and distribute them locally.
Or you can post your pet boarding information on bulletin boards at local stores and restaurants.
Remember the insurance and safety information listed above. In addition, remember that if you own your own business, you will need to track income, expenses, mileage, and more for tax filing purposes.
How Much Money Does a Pet Make?
One of the great things about pet sitting is that you get to choose your money. The fees you charge will depend on several factors:
- The services you provide
- A place to live and work
- Your reputation as a pet sitter
- What other residents charge for pets
And more. Indeed.com reports that the average salary for a pet sitter in the United States is $15.91 an hour.
If you search online, you will find that pet sitters share their experience and usually charge $20 an hour.
Of course, the more you build a reputation as a pet sitter, the more you'll be able to charge.
Conversely, one of the best ways to attract and retain repeat customers is to keep your hourly rates reasonable and your service top-notch.
Pet Sitter Fees
Yes, you can earn money as a pet sitter. However, some costs are associated with being a pet sitter.
Other costs you'll incur as a pet sitting business owner include fees you'll pay when you create a profile on a site like Rover.
If you are self-employed without a pet sitting service, you will likely need to pay for liability insurance. You will have travel expenses, such as gas for your car when you drive to meet clients.
In addition, if you drive a lot, you will be increasing the cost of car maintenance. You'll need more oil changes, new tires sooner, and more frequent vehicle inspections and tune-ups.
Finally, you may have business ownership costs, such as using Quickbooks for record keeping. Keeping track of these business expenses is important as you can deduct them from your tax return.
Deducting business expenses and declaring your pet income means you'll likely pay less in annual taxes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Living with Pets
Benefits
- Set up your plan
- Choose the services you will provide
- Be your own boss
- Work as much or as little as you want
Evil
- Living with pets can be difficult
- Owning a business requires more work
Frequently Asked Questions
Is working as a zookeeper safe?
Staying safe as a pet sitter involves the same rules as basic safety: Let someone know where you're going, when you'll be back, and how you can be reached. If you feel uncomfortable, it's okay to turn down the job.
What services should I offer as a pet sitter?
You decide what services you offer as a pet sitter. Take care of dogs, cats, or other animals according to your comfort level.
Should I work for a service like Rover or work independently?
Some experienced vets suggest that you start by working for a site like Rover and then become independent after building a strong customer base.
It may be a good idea to work for a service initially to understand how the business works.
Who Should Work as a Pet Sitter?
Are you thinking of working as a pet sitter? If you love animals, pet sitting can be a great part-time job or addition to your side stack.
However, along with loving animals, you will need to be responsible if you are going to be successful as a pet sitter.
Being a successful pet owner includes maintaining a strict schedule, ensuring the safety of the pet's home, and being aware of the pet's physical condition.
Finally, to be successful as a pet sitter, you must be a self-starter and comfortable running your own business.
You will need to be organized to track clients, income, expenses, vehicle maintenance and mileage, and other facts.
Final thoughts
Working as a zookeeper involves work. However, it can involve a lot of fun.
If you love animals, it's like getting paid to hang out with furry friends! Be responsible and honest; Soon, you will have a thriving pet sitting business.
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