Pet sitter: average revenue, profit and margins

This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a pet sitter.

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The Dojo Business Team

A team of financial experts, consultants, and writers

We're a team of finance experts, consultants, market analysts, and specialized writers dedicated to helping new entrepreneurs launch pet sitting businesses. We help you avoid costly mistakes by providing detailed business plans, accurate market studies, and reliable financial forecasts to maximize your chances of success from day one—especially in the pet sitting market.

What is the average annual revenue today for independent sitters vs. established companies?

Independent pet sitters typically gross $70,000–$100,000 per year, while established companies cluster around ~$100,500 and can scale higher with staff.

These figures assume a steady 60–80 visits per week, standard urban pricing, and normal seasonality. Established teams lift coverage, expand service hours, and cross-sell, which increases billable volume and stabilizes utilization.

Solo operators often live in the mid-range because capacity is capped by personal availability and travel time.

Set your first-year goal near the midpoint and increase targets as you add sitters and repeat clients.

You’ll find detailed market insights in our pet sitter business plan, updated every quarter.

What are the average hourly or per-visit rates in major markets right now?

Per-visit pricing for 30-minute sessions in large U.S. cities is commonly $25–$40, with national hourly averages around $16–$26.

Overnight stays typically range from $50 to $150 per night depending on market and service depth. Some East Coast metros (e.g., Boston) post top-tier hourly quotes, and West Coast cities trend toward the upper band for per-visit fees.

Use tiered pricing by visit length (20/30/45/60 minutes) to raise average ticket while matching client needs.

Benchmark locally but avoid undercutting—hold rate integrity and justify with responsiveness, reliability, and reviews.

How much revenue comes from repeat clients vs. new clients?

Expect around 75% or more of annual revenue from repeat clients, with 20–25% from new clients.

This split reflects the recurring nature of daily visits, weekly walks, and travel-season bookings. Strong retention compresses marketing costs because satisfied owners rebook, refer, and fill the calendar.

Measure repeat rate monthly and by cohort to spot churn early and intervene with reminders and bundles.

Build membership packs and holiday pre-booking to lock in future visits and cash flow predictably.

This is one of the strategies explained in our pet sitter business plan.

What is the average annual profit after expenses?

Solo pet sitters typically net $15,000–$35,000 per year; multi-sitter firms commonly net $25,000–$60,000+.

Actual profit depends on utilization (booked hours/visits), labor model (W-2 vs. 1099/contractors), and how tightly you control route density and mileage. Higher-priced overnights and add-ons raise contribution without much extra cost.

Track contribution per service (price minus direct time/mileage/fees) to prioritize the most profitable work.

Use a simple monthly P&L—gross, direct costs, overhead, marketing, and owner pay—to stay disciplined.

We cover this exact topic in the pet sitter business plan.

What profit margin is standard, and how does it change by business size?

Net profit margins of 15%–35% are common, with solo sitters near the lower end and well-run teams/franchises near or above 30%.

Larger groups benefit from route density, dispatcher scheduling, and standardized SOPs that lift utilization. Software and light admin staffing spread fixed costs across more visits, improving margin as volume grows.

Watch credit-card fees, mileage, and under-priced off-peak visits—they erode margins quietly.

Run a quarterly pricing review to keep pace with wage, fuel, and insurance inflation.

What fixed and variable costs should a pet sitting business expect?

Your main fixed costs are licensing, insurance, software, and any admin or office overhead; variable costs are labor/contractor pay, mileage, supplies, and payment processing.

Fixed costs barely change with visit volume, so spreading them over more bookings lifts margin. Variable costs move with each job, so monitor them per service type and per route.

Use mileage reimbursement targets and cluster scheduling to keep travel cost per visit low.

Adopt card-fee minimums or pass-throughs for micro-transactions to protect contribution.

How many clients does a full-time pet sitter handle per week or month?

A full-time sitter typically serves 20–35 client households per week and 90–130 households per year, translating to roughly 60–80 visits weekly.

Busy seasons can double that visit volume, especially around summer and major holidays. Capacity depends on route density, visit length mix, and whether overnights replace multiple short daytime visits.

Track billable visits per day and miles per visit to identify route optimization opportunities.

Use small delivery zones and time-window batching to increase daily capacity.

Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our pet sitter business plan.

What is a typical occupancy/booking rate across the year, and how strong is seasonality?

Average annual occupancy lands around 70%–85%, with off-peak dips and high peaks in vacation/holiday periods.

Peak windows support 25%–50% surge pricing, while slower months may slide below 60% utilization if not proactively managed. Offer bundles and memberships to smooth demand and keep calendar density stable.

Use early-bird holiday deposits and trip-planning reminders to lock premium weeks.

Forecast week-by-week utilization and adjust staffing and marketing spend accordingly.

What is the average cost to acquire a new client, and how fast is payback?

Expect a client acquisition cost (CAC) of $30–$80 depending on channel quality and local competition.

With strong repeat behavior, payback usually occurs within one to three bookings. Tight onboarding, review capture, and referral prompts accelerate LTV.

Measure CAC by channel monthly and reallocate spend to the highest-LTV sources.

Combine welcome offers with bundled rebook prompts to compress payback time.

What share of revenue goes to insurance, licenses, and compliance?

Plan for 4%–8% of annual revenue for insurance, licensing, and compliance costs.

Multi-sitter operations often sit near the higher end due to higher coverage limits and broader geographic footprint. Solo sitters can negotiate lean policies but must maintain adequate coverage for key risks.

Requote annually; bundle general liability with professional liability where possible.

Track claims history and incident protocols to keep premiums in check.

How much should a pet sitting business spend on marketing?

Budget 5%–10% of revenue for marketing, with startups leaning higher during the first 6–12 months.

Repeat-heavy revenue allows you to taper spend as retention and referrals grow. Track cost per lead and cost per booking so you can shift dollars to the most profitable channels.

Automate review requests and referral rewards to compound organic acquisition.

Protect brand pricing by advertising value (reliability, insured care, real-time updates) instead of discounts.

It’s a key part of what we outline in the pet sitter business plan.

Which upsells increase revenue per client, and how much do they improve margins?

Common upsells include dog walking, overnights, medication administration, training add-ons, and pet taxi—often adding 20%–35% to revenue per client.

Because these add minimal extra time or can be scheduled back-to-back, contribution margin per visit usually improves. Price each add-on explicitly and train staff to offer them at booking and during care updates.

Bundle care + walk + check-in photo to lift ARPC (average revenue per client).

Track acceptance rate per upsell and refine scripts with what clients respond to.

FAQ: Quick checks on pricing, volume, and payback (list)

• Target 60–80 visits/week at steady state to approach ~$90k–$100k gross.
• Keep 30-minute visits at $25–$40 in big metros; do not underprice overnights.
• Expect 75%+ of revenue from repeat clients; protect them fiercely.
• Hold marketing near 5%–10% of revenue and shift spend to high-LTV channels.
• Plan for CAC of $30–$80 with 1–3-booking payback in most markets.

What percentage of revenue usually comes from repeat clients versus new clients?

A practical planning split is ~75% repeat and ~25% new revenue over a full year.

This ratio stabilizes cash flow and compresses marketing costs while keeping a healthy pipeline of first-timers. Track repeat rate by month and by season to catch churn patterns early.

Use automated rebooking prompts after every completed service.

Layer memberships (e.g., 8–12 visits/month) to convert casual users into predictable revenue.

How should I set my first-year targets for a pet sitting business?

Set conservative launch targets and scale with route density and referrals.

Month 1–3: aim for 30–40 visits/week; Month 4–6: 50–60 visits/week; Month 7–12: 60–80 visits/week with core clients on recurring schedules. Keep pricing firm, refine zones, and standardize SOPs.

Review P&L monthly and adjust marketing by channel ROI.

Invest in reviews and referral rewards—they compound fast in pet care.

This is one of the many elements we break down in the pet sitter business plan.

Conclusion

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.

Sources

1. Pet Sitters International – Earnings & Benchmarks
2. Dogster – Pet Sitting Statistics
3. Care.com – Dog Sitting Rates
4. Indeed – Pet Sitter Salaries
5. PetSitterDashboard – 2025 Rates
6. Kinship – How Much to Pay a Dog Sitter
7. Dojo Business – Pet Sitter Profitability
8. IMARC – Pet Sitting Market
9. Grand View Research – Pet Sitting Market
10. ZipRecruiter – Dog Sitter Salary