Pet Sitting: How to Start and What to Charge in 2026

By Anna Foster
Digital Income Specialist • Updated: May, 2026

Guide Contents:

1. Types of services you can offer 2. Best platforms to find clients 3. How to set your rates 4. How to get your first clients 5. Realistic earnings

Pet sitting is one of the most accessible ways to earn extra money — especially if you love animals. In 2026, the pet care industry continues to boom as more people own pets and need reliable care when they travel or work long hours.

The pet care market

Over 50% of UK households own a pet. Demand for trusted, reliable pet sitters consistently outpaces supply in most urban and suburban areas — making this one of the easier services to find paying clients for.

1. Types of services you can offer

Service	Description	Typical rate
Dog walking	30-60 minute walks	£10 - £20/walk
Drop-in visits	30-min visits at owner's home	£10 - £18/visit
Boarding (your home)	Pet stays overnight at yours	£20 - £45/night
House sitting	You stay at the owner's home	£25 - £60/night
Doggy day care	Pet stays at yours during day	£15 - £30/day

2. Best platforms to find clients

Rover — the largest pet sitting platform in the UK. Easy to set up a profile and start receiving requests.
Wag — popular for dog walking, especially in urban areas.
Facebook local groups — often the fastest way to find local clients. Search your town name plus "pets" or "dog owners".
Nextdoor — hyperlocal community app. Post your services and let neighbours know you're available.

3. How to set your rates

Research what other sitters in your area charge on Rover before setting your own rates. Start slightly below the local average to get your first bookings and reviews. Once you have 5+ reviews, raise your prices to match or exceed the local average.

Tip

Offer a free 15-minute meet-and-greet for new clients. This builds trust, lets you meet the pet and converts enquiries into bookings at a much higher rate.

4. How to get your first clients

Set up your Rover profile

Add a clear photo of yourself (with pets if possible), write a warm personal bio and list your services and rates.

Tell everyone you know

Post on personal social media that you're now available. Your first client is almost certainly someone you know or someone they know.

Post in local Facebook groups

Join local community groups and post a friendly introduction offering your services.

Ask for reviews early

After every booking, politely ask the owner to leave a review. Reviews are the currency of trust on pet sitting platforms.

5. Realistic earnings

Setup	Hours/week	Monthly earnings
Casual (1-2 walks/day)	5-10	£200 - £500
Part-time (walks + boarding)	15-25	£500 - £1,200
Full-time (multiple services)	30-40	£1,200 - £2,500

Start this week

Sign up to Rover and complete your profile fully.
Post in your local Facebook group and on Nextdoor.
Offer a free meet-and-greet to your first 3 potential clients.
Ask every happy client for a review.

Also read: Mystery Shopping: How It Works and Is It Worth It