Pet Care Profits: How Rover Can Turn Your Love for Animals into a Lucrative Side Hustle

“Aren't you scared?!” is the leading question when I tell folks I get paid to stay in other people's houses and care for their animals. But once they get past their initial shock, everybody seems to realize what a great way to make money this is. Pet sitters can set their schedules, establish their own operational flow & pricing, and get compensated for essentially hanging out and eating other people's snacks. That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges with the role. Keep reading for inside scoop to see if this gig is right for you and what to consider when establishing your business.

A Nomad’s Dream

As the workforce changes post-pandemic, Millennials and Gen Zer's crave more flexibility and control over their work schedule. That’s precisely what led me to this opportunity in the first place; I was looking for a side hustle I had almost total control over to plug the gaps between my full-time jobs to pay my bills. I grew up with dogs and have always been an animal person, so when I discovered Rover (there are other alternatives to try as well, like Wag! Or Trusted Housesitters), it seemed like a great fit. And it was!

These applications allow sitters to fully customize their calendar availability, working as frequently or infrequently as needed. So, it's as easy as a click when I want to travel and take time off. Of course, the flip side is the lack of income during off times and missing potential new clients to add to your established regulars. But those are normal parts of establishing work/life boundaries, and I wouldn’t trade the flexibility for anything.

I also get to keep my daily schedule generally, coming and leaving houses as needed if I want to go to the gym or grab a drink with a friend. That was one of the parts of a corporate schedule I loathed the most, being occupied from 8 am to at least 5 pm, forced to go to Trader Joe’s on the weekends when everyone and their mother (including the three volunteers looking for donations or signatures for a very worthy but still overwhelming cause) were already there. Now, I can take a leisurely stroll through every aisle on a Wednesday morning and breathe.

Scalability & Growth

Setting Prices: Another great advantage of pet care is the ability to set your prices. Apps and services will take a percentage of profits, so factor that expense into the equation (or go completely independent!). I recommend starting with a reasonable, middle-of-the-road price (research your target market and competition).

Start Low & Grow: You’ll want to start low enough that your potential pool of customers is maximized, but you also don’t want to be so cheap that you get stuck in some weird situations (a friend of mine once stayed at a house that ended up having a roommate and even more animals than listed on the reservation, yikes). As your reviews and customer base grow, you can incrementally raise your prices to whatever feels more reasonable for your time and investment. Holidays can increase pricing, as can multiple pets and extended stays, even for multiple weeks. My longest visit to date was for two pets over 15 days.

Expand Offerings: Increasing the services you offer, such as dog walks or drop-in visits in addition to housesitting, means you can stack multiple bookings a day, raising profits for a minimal increase in effort. This is especially efficient during high-demand times, like spring break, summer travel, and holidays. When you establish the oh-so-important customer base I keep mentioning, you may find your schedule is booked out, and so far, you have to turn new pet parents away. When people find a pet sitter they can trust, they’ll keep coming back and notify you as early as possible to guarantee your time with their animals. As a pet owner myself, I know how terrible a lousy pet sitter experience can be and what you’ll do to ensure it never happens again.

Houses, Food, and Cuteness, Oh My!

While much more intangible than the scalability of your profits, pet care comes with some fringe benefits that overall lead to a much more enjoyable life. 99% of the animals I have cared for have been adorable. They love to cuddle, explore the outdoors, and pose for sweet pictures. Indeed, a woman’s best friend. I also consider myself a self-proclaimed interior design aficionado (and nosy person), so getting to stay in new and different homes or areas of town and observe what design choices folks have made and what I’d like to copy in my own house is so fun. People are also very conscientious that you’re a guest in their home, so things are usually clean and prepped. Some homeowners even go as far as to buy personal snacks that they asked about ahead of time.

I’ve also never been one to buy a wide variety of products, snacks, or beverages for myself. I keep it pretty basic, so when folks have a Poppi soda or frozen treat, I can try it; it feels like a holiday. And don’t even get me started on a high-end shampoo in a guest bathroom. It’s the small things that can make a big difference.

It Isn’t Always Glamorous

I’ve talked a lot so far about how great pet care is, and it’s the truth. The positives of this gig far outweigh the negatives. However, some elements are unavoidable, and you’ll just have to deal with them. Let’s start with the most obvious:

1. Accidents: I have cleaned up more urine, feces, and vomit than I can keep track of. Honestly, a lot of that isn’t even an accident; it’s just animals being animals the way they’re supposed to. Pets can also act especially weird when their owner is gone, and a new person is around. Luckily, most pet parents know this behavior occurs and will warn you beforehand and be very understanding when it happens.
2. Animal Aggression: Another realistic possibility is that animals become aggressive when their owner isn’t there. This has only happened to me twice, but it is worth mentioning, particularly if you aren’t an avid animal lover or spook easily.
3. Missing Holidays: I’ve also mentioned that holidays can be especially lucrative for pet care but remember that this means you can’t travel during holidays. I’ve stuck around for Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas instead of flying somewhere to be with family. I also live out of a suitcase for quite a few days out of the month, which can feel a bit grueling and frustrating when I forget to pack the phone charger or toothpaste again.

Alright, back to the joys of pet care and how to maximize income.

It’s a Service Business–Your Reputation is Important

A loyal customer base keeps steady profits, and referrals can eliminate any additional marketing costs. To ensure pet owners want to use you again and leave glowing reviews, excel at the basics.

1. Punctuality: Be punctual, send detailed and timely updates while following directions (the more photos, the better), and take care of the home as if it’s your own, leaving it spotless when departing.
2. Attentiveness: Even if you’re taking care of your own schedule and errands, don’t leave animals unattended for more than 3-4 hours if you can help it. It might sound silly, but a lot of your competition won’t be doing this.
3. Reviews: Reviews are vital in service businesses; they are how future customers know to trust you. Not only will this guarantee owners rebook, but happy customers love to refer to other people with pets. It isn’t uncommon for me to have a few houses on the same block I care for. And your rates can reflect the excellent level of service you’re providing, which should be evident in those aforementioned reviews and by word of mouth.

If you’re reading this, there's a high chance you’re an animal lover and already have a pet or two of your own. This isn’t necessarily a problem; I have a dog. Just be aware that sometimes people utilize in-home pet care because their animals need to be separated and in their own environment, so your pet might not be allowed, or you might not feel comfortable asking. If you have a partner, parents, roommate, etc., who can check on your animal during those visits, it makes things easier and leads to fewer potential problems and possibly lower reviews.

I am not scared!

And to answer people’s question–NO! I am not scared because I always tell my partner exactly where I am doing pet care! I recommend you take that little piece of security advice as tip #1.