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Make Money as a Pet Sitter

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Make Money as a Pet Sitter

by Suzann Kale

This is a great money-maker at any age. If you've had experience with animals (and that could mean you live with your own pets, you volunteer at the animal shelter, or you're simply an avid animal lover), this may be your money tree.

Here's the overhead:

1. You must have a dependable car. And a way to get to clients' homes if something should happen to your car.

2. You should have between $300 and $400 that you don't touch except if a pet in your care has a medical emergency. Your clients will reimburse you when they get home (be sure to put that in your contract), but in the meantime your responsibility is to get that cat to the vet if that's what's needed.

make money as a pet sitter 3. You'll need either a taxi driver's knowledge of the area in which you'll be working, or else a GPS.

4. You've got to be super organized. Develop a system for keeping track of each pet you care for, especially their medications. You'll also have house keys to organize, and schedules to follow.

5. Get insured and bonded. Find a local agent who can help you get your best policies for the lowest premiums. This not only protects you, but it's also a fabulous selling point! All else being equal, a client will choose you over someone who is not insured and bonded.

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How to do it:

1. Decide in advance what geographical area you will cover.

2. Print up business cards and leave a stack with your vet if she says it's okay. See if other vets in the area will carry your business cards. Many people call their vet for recommendations for a pet sitter.

3. Decide what animals you will care for. Most sitters do cats and dogs. Some will care for birds if they know birds. Make the decision ahead of time, so you can include that information on your business card. Will you care for ferrets? Snakes? One pet sitter I know only cares for cats because her back is bad and she can't walk the dogs. All of this will set the parameters for your work.

make money as a pet sitter 4. When you get a new client, be sure to visit with the client and her pets - free of charge - before the client leaves. Stay for as long as it takes for you and the pets to feel comfortable together, and for the client to explain her pets' routines.

5. Create a form for the client to fill out detailing each pet, what they eat, what medications they take, and how many visits per day the pets will need. On the form, be sure to get all the client's contact information, and give her yours.

6. Create a contract in duplicate that both you and your client will sign. Each of you keeps a copy.

7. One of my best pet sitters had a firm rule: The client MUST call her immediately upon arriving home, to let her know she got home on time and in one piece. If the client does not call you, and you can't get in touch with her, you must assume she didn't make it home - and continue taking care of the pets. (That can go in your contract, too.)

8. Tell your regular clients in advance about "blackout dates" - those times you won't be available for pet sitting.

How Much to Charge

Most pet sitters charge per visit. My last pet sitter (and this will vary by location) charged $20. per visit, and a visit included 2 pets. You can make up your own rules on this, as long as they are clearly spelled out in the contract you create. If a client needs you twice a day, then you'd get $40. a day, and so on.

Don't take on more jobs at one time than you can handle. Remember, the first priority is the well-being of the clients' pets. If you overbook, the pets will pay the price. And your first priority, even before money, is the well-being of the pets in your care.

A pet sitter can make a lot of money! I've seen it done. But you must love animals - this can't be just a job-job. Only work in this field if you absolutely love and understand animals.

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