Starting Your Own Pet Sitting Side Hustle
Do you love dogs, cats, and pets in general? Pet parents everywhere are busy! This is where you come in by offering your services to help with walking, washing, feeding, playing with, and cleaning up after people’s pets. This makes you an invaluable resource, and people are willing to pay for those resources, and this is how you get started with your own Pet sitting or Pet Care side hustle.
There are a few basics that apply to starting any side hustle.
- Identifying a problem.
- Solving the problem.
- Selling your solution, by obtaining clients
Let’s chat about obtaining clients.
Create an ad. This could be a graphic image or just a short blurb about the services you are offering. Remember you could have the best service business in town but if people don’t know you exist you can’t sell your service.
Seek out local Pet Forums, Facebook groups, Craigslist, and post about your services.
Flier gyms, parks, pet stores, feed stores, and any other place you often see people walking, feeding, or playing with dogs.
Network. You never know when you’ll overhear a conversation, or be asked for advice on a subject that will lead to a sale. Keep your business cards on you at all times.
Word of mouth will eventually be your best marketing strategy. Happy clients who would like their friends to also utilize your services. So make sure you keep HAPPY clients!
There’s An App For That: Pet Sitting
There are several apps available that connect pet owners with pet sitters. Some popular options include:
- Rover: This app allows pet owners to find and book dog walkers, pet sitters, and dog boarders in their local area. Pet sitters can create a profile and list their qualifications, experience, and availability. Pet owners can also read reviews from other pet owners before making a booking.
- Fetch!: This app connects pet owners with local pet sitters, dog walkers, and dog boarders. Pet owners can view pet sitter’s profiles and reviews, and book them directly through the app.
- TrustedHousesitters: This app connects pet owners with pet sitters who are willing to house-sit while the pet owners are away. Pet owners can read reviews from other pet owners and message potential pet sitters to ask questions or schedule interviews.
- PetBacker: This app connects pet owners with pet sitters, dog walkers and pet boarding services in their local area. Pet owners can view pet sitter’s profiles and reviews, and book them directly through the app.
- BarkHappy: This app connects pet owners with pet sitters and dog walkers in their local area. Pet owners can view pet sitter’s profiles, reviews, and availability, and book them directly through the app.
It’s worth noting that most of these apps have a free version and also a paid version that grants access to more features and benefits, and many of them have the option to pay the pet sitter through the app.
Even though these apps exist many locals won’t be aware they exist. Some may also prefer someone they’ve met in person before hiring them for this type of service. These apps could also work to your benefit, you may be able to contact them and offer your services through the apps.
As with every side hustle make sure to keep your receipts. Track your supplies, mileage, and other expenses. You’ll also need to track your income from your side hustles so that you can file your taxes appropriately at the end of the year. Please consult your local tax professional for details.
Pet sitting as a side hustle can be lucrative many pet sitters’ rates start at $25 per half hour. Or $35+ daily for drop-in rates. So if you love pets, and have experience caring for multiple types of animals this might be a great side hustle to add to your bag of tricks.
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