【2009 Archives】

Since 2019009 Archives I have made $17,000 through the Roverapp and an additional $10,000 in earnings by doing freelance pet-sitting. My lifelong love of animals has transformed into a sustainable way to supplement my income, and has helped me pay off debt, save money, and fund my goals.

Pet adoption boomedin 2020 due to higher levels of social isolation and increased time spent at home. In 2024, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, and that year the U.S. pet industry market brought in $152 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association. With $13 billion reportedly allocated to pet boarding and walking, now is the perfect time to explore whether this side hustle is right for you.

The good news? Making money as a pet sitter or walker has never been easier.

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I got started on Rover

Rover, the world's largest online booking service for pet care, was my first step into making this side gig a reality. Founded in 2011, Rover is operational in 17 countries and is used by over two million pet parents, according to their website. I found that using Rover as an independent contractor was the quickest way to build my clientele and get my services shown to a network of people in my local area.

When you sign up for Rover, you pay $25-35 for your background check, wait a few days for it to clear, then set up your profile.

Your Rover profile is the first thing potential clients see, so how you craft it matters. Use a clear, well-lit, professional picture as your profile picture and create a concise, engaging bio showcasing your skills, experience, and personality. Your profile is about making a good first impression and sharing with potential clients why they should hire you.

The author's Rover profile. Credit: Vee Weir

In my bio, I share my history as an animal lover and pet sitter, my availability, my medical experience, and a little blurb showcasing my quirky, relatable humor. Look at other sitter profiles in your area and try to make yours stand out.

The author's bio on Rover. Credit: Vee Weir

Important things to remember

Set competitive pricing. Do this by analyzing your competition. If you're just getting started, lowering your prices is a great way to gain new customers.

Testimonials are gold. The more of them you have on your Rover profile, the more likely potential clients are to trust you. Always ask for a testimonial after a job. If you don't have any testimonials from past clients, you can email friends and family members to get your first reviews on your page.

Keep your services accurate. Nothing is worse than when a potential client tries to book a service or time and you have to tell them you're unavailable. Keeping your availability accurate creates a seamless experience for you and your clients.

Your Rover calendar matters

On apps like Rover and Wag, everything runs on an algorithm. Because of this, keeping your services, communication, and calendar up-to-date is rewarded by being shown to a larger group of potential clients in your area.

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My success on Rover has been due in part to being a remote worker with wide availability. While other sitters may not be able to take jobs in the middle of the work week, I can. This flexibility gives me an edge over the multiple sitters in my area. Update your calendar daily, and respond to inquiries as quickly as possible. These statistics can penalize you or reward you.

Be realistic about how much you will be able to make. I live in an area of the country where spending money on pets is not only accepted but encouraged and expected. You may not live in the same demographic. Your geographic location and availability are heavy factors in the success of Rover and pet sitting in general.

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Pet care non-negotiables

While ensuring a positive client experience should be a top priority, your own safety and security are paramount. Scheduling a meet and greet or brief meeting where you meet your potential client and their pet is a non-negotiable. During this meeting, you can assess the reactiveness of an animal, communicate with the owner about their quirks and needs, learn about the pet's details, and decide if you want to take on the job. I never skip meet and greets; I advise anyone in this job to make them a standard operating procedure.

A second non-negotiable is sending clients photos and/or videos during your stay with their pets. Communication is key for Rover, and this action will result in higher rates of testimonials and rebookings. An extra I like to throw in for new clients is a handwritten note and a treat for their pet. Always ask about allergies or restrictions before gifting!

The pros of using Rover

I prefer Rover to other pet care booking services for a few reasons. Rover offers a 24/7 support line, which I've used before and found very helpful in an emergency. They also provide insurance for pet owners who book through them.

Through Rover, you are eligible for up to $25,000 reimbursement in vet care with a claim related to injury to either the pet owner's or sitter's pets, property damage to the pet owner's home caused by a sitter or dog walker, and certain out-of-pocket medical costs for third-party injuries.

On the marketing side of things, using Rover means you have a built-in customer base without doing any marketing or paying for exposure. It's a ready-made network to tap into and start making money immediately.

Rover also offers a slew of services that aren't just limited to dog walking. You can board dogs in your home, house-sit in someone else's, do drop-in visits, and do dog training and grooming if you're qualified. If staying overnight in other people's homes isn't your thing, you can focus on building a drop-in-based business.

Remember that gigs and side hustles are easier to maintain if you like what you're doing. If you are burnt out on house-sitting because you're away from your bed, take a break. Don't run yourself into the ground when there are options for you to make money in other ways on one app.

The cons of using Rover

While there are plenty of pros to Rover, there are a few concerns to be aware of. First, the market is often saturated with other dog sitters. It may take time to book a job initially, even if you have several verified reviews. As I mentioned earlier, the pet industry is in a sustained boom, and people are jumping on the opportunity.

Since Rover is popular and has a built-in network, the app charges pet sitters 20% for each pet care job. This is a fee I gladly pay because of the benefits I reap from booking through Rover; it's just the cost of participating in this industry when you're just getting started. As you become more reputable, you might start getting referrals outside of the app as well, or can offer your services in other community forums.

Speaking of costs, keep in mind that Rover does not automatically set aside any money for taxes. I am not a tax expert, but over the last six years I've saved 30% of my dog-walking profits in an Ally high-yield savings account, and I've never had an issue paying my independent contractor bill come tax time. No matter what side gig you decide to try out, always save money for taxes. The IRS wants a piece of that income, too.

Pet sitting has been one of the most rewarding jobs I've done

Having a side hustle or learning a trade outside of your primary profession has many benefits, including pursuing a different skill while getting paid for it. While the last few years of my professional life have been unpredictable, pet care has been a constant. Being a Rover sitter has provided me with money to pay my bills and continue my standard of living throughout turbulent economic times.

Give dog sitting a try if you want to make extra money and get paid to hang out with animals you love.