Dog walking and pet sitting are among the most accessible side hustles — no experience required, startup costs are minimal, and demand is year-round. Rates of $20–$30 per walk and $30–$75 per night of pet sitting are standard in most markets.
How much can you make?
A dog walker doing 4–5 walks per day at $20–$30 each earns $80–$150/day — $2,400–$4,500/month working weekdays. Add weekend pet sitting at $50–$75/night and you’re looking at a very solid side income. Many professional pet sitters earn $3,000–$5,000/month or more.
Starting with Rover and Wag
Rover and Wag are the two biggest platforms connecting pet sitters and walkers with clients. Rover takes about 20% of each booking, Wag takes 40%. Both provide insurance and background checks, which builds trust with pet owners. Start here to build reviews, then move toward private clients to keep more of your earnings.
Building private clients
Once you have a few good reviews, word-of-mouth is powerful. Tell neighbors, post in local Facebook groups, put up flyers at dog parks and vet offices. Private clients mean no platform fees — you keep 100% of what you charge.
What you need to get started
Create a Rover or Wag profile with clear photos, a warm description, and your availability. Get a few neighbors’ pets to sit for cheap (or free) to get initial reviews. Make sure you’re comfortable with the types of animals you’re offering to care for. That’s genuinely all it takes to start.