Starting a Dog Sitting Business

Dog sitting offers a low-investment entry into the pet care industry. Whether you want a flexible side income or a full-time business, caring for dogs while their owners are away can be rewarding work. This guide covers everything you need to start a dog sitting business.

As your client base grows, pet sitting software helps manage bookings and client relationships, but first you need to understand the fundamentals.

Is Dog Sitting Right for You?

Skills and Qualities Needed

Essential qualities:

• Genuine love for animals
• Reliability and trustworthiness
• Good communication skills
• Patience and calm demeanour
• Physical fitness for active dogs

Helpful experience:

• Previous pet ownership
• Animal care training
• Customer service background
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Business experience

Types of Dog Sitting

In-home sitting: You stay at the client’s home caring for their dog.

• Dogs stay in familiar environment
• Requires travel to client homes
• Often includes house-sitting duties
• Premium pricing possible

Your-home sitting: Dogs stay at your home while owners are away.

• More convenient for you
• Multiple dogs possible
• Requires pet-appropriate space
• May need insurance/licensing considerations

Drop-in visits: Regular visits to feed, walk, and check on dogs.

• Lower time commitment per client
• Can serve more clients
• Suitable for dogs comfortable alone
• Less income per client

Market Assessment

Research your area:

• How many pet owners live nearby?
• What services already exist?
• What are competitors charging?
• What services are underserved?

Legal and Business Setup

Business Structure

Options:

• Sole trader (simplest, personal liability)
• Limited company (more admin, limited liability)

For most starting out: Sole trader is simplest. Consider limited company as you grow.

Registration Requirements

Essential steps:

• Register with HMRC for self-assessment
• Notify local council (some require licensing)
• Check home insurance implications
• Verify any lease/HOA restrictions

Insurance

Types needed:

Why insurance matters:

• Protects you from claims
• Builds client trust
• Often required by clients
• Professional credibility

Contracts and Policies

Create written agreements covering:

• Services provided
• Pricing and payment terms
• Cancellation policy
• Emergency procedures
• Liability limitations
• Pet information requirements
• What’s included (and what’s not)

Startup Costs

Minimal Startup

For in-home sitting:

Your-Home Setup

Additional costs if hosting:

Total your-home startup: £1,130-£3,450

Pricing Your Services

Market Research

Find out:

• What competitors charge
• What clients expect to pay
• Premium service pricing
• Discount expectations

Pricing Models

Common approaches:

Pricing Strategy

Setting your rates:

• Start competitive, raise as demand grows
• Consider your costs and desired income
• Factor in travel time and expenses
• Premium for holidays and last-minute bookings

Holiday pricing: 25-50% premium for bank holidays and peak travel times.

Example Income Potential

Part-time (weekend boarding):

• 2 dogs/weekend × £35/night × 2 nights
• = £140/weekend × 48 weekends = £6,720/year

Full-time (your-home boarding):

• Average 2 dogs/day × £35/night × 300 days
• = £21,000/year (before expenses)

Marketing Your Business

Online Presence

Essential elements:

• Professional website or profile
• Google Business Profile
• Social media presence (Instagram, Facebook)
• Online review profiles

Pet Sitting Platforms

Consider listing on:

• Rover
• PetSitter.com
• Trusted Housesitters
• Local directories

Platform pros:

• Immediate visibility
• Booking infrastructure
• Payment processing
• Initial credibility

Platform cons:

• Commission fees (15-25%)
• Less control
• Competition within platform
• Limited branding

Local Marketing

Effective strategies:

• Partner with vets and groomers
• Community notice boards
• Local Facebook groups
• Word of mouth and referrals
• Flyers in pet-friendly locations

Referral Programme

Encourage referrals:

• Discount for referring clients
• Free night or visit for referrals
• Thank-you gifts for referrers

Operations

Meet and Greet Process

Before accepting clients:

1. Initial contact — Phone or email discussion
2. Meet and greet — Meet dog in their environment
3. Assess compatibility — Is this dog right for your service?
4. Gather information — Vet details, feeding, medication, behaviour
5. Book and confirm — Schedule, payment, key exchange

Information to collect:

• Vet contact details
• Vaccination records
• Feeding instructions
• Medication requirements
• Behaviour notes
• Emergency contacts
• Routine preferences

During the Stay

Daily tasks:

• Feeding on schedule
• Regular potty breaks
• Exercise and play
• Medication if required
• Clean-up and hygiene
• Photo/video updates for owners

Communication:

• Daily updates with photos
• Respond promptly to owner questions
• Report any concerns immediately
• Clear check-in and check-out process

Emergency Preparedness

Have plans for:

• Veterinary emergencies
• Escape or lost dog
• Natural disasters
• Your own illness or emergency
• Aggressive behaviour incidents

Keep accessible:

• Owner emergency contacts
• Vet contact and authorisation
• First aid kit
• Backup sitter contact

Growing Your Business

Building Reputation

Key actions:

• Request reviews after every stay
• Maintain high standards
• Communicate excellently
• Handle issues professionally
• Build personal relationships

Expanding Services

Natural additions:

• Dog walking
• Drop-in visits
• Grooming referral partnerships
• Training referral partnerships
• Extended stay discounts

Scaling Up

As demand grows:

• Move from platforms to direct bookings
• Invest in better systems (pet sitting software)
• Consider hiring help
• Expand to your-home boarding
• Build repeat client base

Transitioning Full-Time

Indicators you’re ready:

• Consistent booking demand
• Stable income months
• Waitlist developing
• Repeat clients requesting more

Common Challenges

Managing Multiple Clients

Solutions:

• Use scheduling software
• Clear calendar management
• Avoid overbooking
• Have backup arrangements

Difficult Dogs

Prevention:

• Thorough meet and greet
• Honest assessment of your capabilities
• Clear policies on behaviour
• Right to refuse service

When issues arise:

• Contact owner immediately
• Document incidents
• Know your limits
• Have emergency protocols

Work-Life Balance

Strategies:

• Set clear availability
• Block personal time
• Limit overnight capacity
• Build in breaks between bookings

Income Fluctuation

Managing variability:

• Build savings during peak times
• Diversify services
• Develop repeat client base
• Consider complementary income

Professional Development

Certifications and Training

Valuable credentials:

• Pet first aid certification
• Animal behaviour courses
• Business skills training
• Industry certifications (Narps, Pet Sitters International)

Benefits:

• Increased expertise
• Client confidence
• Insurance discounts
• Professional credibility

Networking

Connect with:

• Other pet sitters
• Dog walkers
• Groomers
• Vets
• Pet shops

Benefits:

• Referrals
• Backup coverage
• Industry knowledge
• Community support

Summary

Starting a dog sitting business requires:

1. Genuine love for dogs — Essential foundation
2. Proper setup — Insurance, contracts, policies
3. Clear pricing — Competitive yet profitable
4. Marketing effort — Online and local presence
5. Excellent service — Reliability and communication
6. Business mindset — Systems and growth thinking

Start small, deliver excellent service, and grow organically based on demand and your capacity.

Manage Your Dog Sitting Business

As your client base grows, PetCare.Software helps manage bookings, client communication, and business administration efficiently.

Start your free trial and build your pet sitting business on solid foundations.