For an animal lover, becoming a pet sitter or dog walker sounds like the ideal job, but how much do they actually earn?
At Pet Sitter Dashboard we are in a unique position with access to hundreds of pet businesses around the world so we know exactly what they are charging, and the results might surprise you!
What services do pet sitters and dog walkers offer?
Although the basic role of a pet sitter and dog walker is probably obvious, they actually offer many different services. Each service has its own charge and therefore allows them to offer ‘upgrades’ to a basic appointment which can increase their income significantly.
Pet sitter often offer overnight sittings, which will obviously cost owners more than daily visits. Other examples of add-on services include pet transport, animal reiki and medication visits.
If the owners are on holiday they might include simple household tasks such as watering the plants as part of the standard fee, or this could be an added extra. They could open and close curtains and/or turn lights on and off to give the impression that the property is occupied. The premium service could include emptying the bins before they return, bringing in all the mail and packages, running a hoover over the carpet and organising milk and bread.
Dog walkers could offer worming or flea treatments, therapeutic massages and nail trims.
For all pets, a grooming session might include a bath, brush, nail trim and file.
How much do pet sitters charge?
For a standard one hour pet sitting appointment, the average amongst our users is £14 in the UK, and $26.05 in the US.
Overnight stays obviously cost more, and the UK average is £40.83 with US sitters charging $59.55. Our users also offer shorter visits, just to ‘feed and fuss’ the pet.
If owners need pet transportation, maybe to a vet’s appointment, then the basic charge is £11 or $10 on average, plus a mileage fee.
For an extra such as a nail trim, UK pet sitters charge £5, and in the US it’s $10.40.
How much do dog walkers charge?
On average our users charge £12.55 / $21.66 for a one hour dog walk. This is for just one dog, so more dogs will incur a higher rate.
Extra fees also apply to ‘young dog’ walks, basic training services and some businesses offer longer and shorter walk options.
How much can a pet sitter or dog walker earn in a year?
For many of our users, pet sitting is their full time job and many employ team members too.
In the UK, our users earn an average annual income of £10,514, with one of our customers earning over £45,000 per year.
In the US, the average annual income is $17,932 with some pet businesses earning well over $100,000 per year.
How to charge premium rates for your pet business
We always advise our users against competing on price, because there will always be someone prepared to undercut you.
On some ‘find a pet sitter’ websites you might notice that rates seem very cheap, but pet owners are risking their fur babies with potentially uninsured, unchecked pet professionals.
When advertising your services we always recommend that you are transparent with your prices and list them on your website. Also showcase what credentials you have, including business insurance and any DBS checks you have. Do you have animal first aid training? That kind of qualification gives owners reassurance that they are in good hands.
If you position yourself as the premium option and answer any enquiries quickly and professionally then you will build up trust with the owners and give them confidence that you’re the right person to look after their precious pets.
How do I get started as a pet sitter or dog walker?
If you’d like to become a pet sitter or dog walker then you can get started really quickly, for free. It’s a perfect side hustle which you can try out without giving up your day job.
We built Pet Sitter Dashboard to take the hassle out of running a pet business, with online bookings and less admin to worry about, leaving you more time to grow your business. It works on all devices and the free version is all you need to get started.
We’ve also recorded a series of short YouTube videos to take you through all the steps you need to set up the app for success.
You can find out more about Pet Sitter Dashboard on our website including all the features which are included.
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