Petme sitter guide · Bulgaria

Become a pet sitter in Bulgaria and set your own rates

Sofia's pet sitting market is small but growing fast: early sitters are building repeat books while competition stays light.

Bulgaria's pet sitting market is in early-growth mode. Sofia dominates but Plovdiv and Varna are emerging. This guide answers what new Bulgarian sitters need to know.

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Up to 90%
of every booking kept by the sitter
20,000
Protection Plan maximum for eligible vet costs
200k+
pet parents on the platform
4.9 / 5
average sitter rating
Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Bulgaria

You keep up to 90% of every booking one of the strongest take-home rates in the industry. The numbers below are the live rate bands in Bulgaria. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn €172 to €602 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

ServiceRate rangePer
Dog walking€5 to €12walk
Drop-in visit€5 to €12visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)€15 to €30night
House sitting (at owner's home)€20 to €35night
Doggy day care€12 to €25day

Top Bulgaria cities for sitter demand right now:

SofiaPlovdivVarnaBurgas

Ready to set up a profile and pick your rates? Start your application.

The practical side

Everything sitters in Bulgaria need to know before signing up

Earnings are only half the picture. Below are the tax, scheduling, protection, and payout realities of running a Petme sitter profile in Bulgaria. We've written them out the way an experienced sitter would explain them to a friend.

Cashback for high performers

Beyond the up to 90% you keep on every booking, Petme pays cashback on top. The more you sit and the stronger your reviews, the larger the cashback tier you unlock. High-performing sitters with consistent 5-star reviews and steady booking volume earn the biggest bonus. Automatic, no claim paperwork, paid out alongside your normal weekly payouts.

Apply in Bulgaria

Protection on every booking

The Petme Protection Plan provides up to 20,000 on every reservation. Automatic on every booking. No separate purchase required. The 24/7 support team is there for emergencies, so you are never alone with a problem at 3am.

Seasonal demand

Bulgarian demand peaks during July-August (most Bulgarians take long summer leaves), the Christmas-New-Year window, and Orthodox Easter. Coastal markets (Varna, Burgas) see longer summer demand.

Payouts within 2 days

Petme releases your payout automatically once a booking is marked complete. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. No invoicing, no chasing the owner. The platform takes care of it.

Set your own schedule

Accept only the bookings you want. Pause your profile any time. There are no minimum hours and no schedule lock-in. Most Petme sitters in Bulgaria start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

Compare countries

Sitter earnings differ a lot across markets. See how Bulgaria compares to other Petme countries:

Pet sitting in the USPet sitting in the UKPet sitting in IrelandPet sitting in CanadaPet sitting in AustraliaPet sitting in New Zealand
FAQ

Pet sitter questions about Bulgaria, answered straight

These are the questions Petme sitters in Bulgaria actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Bulgaria, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Bulgaria?
Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Bulgaria rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about €172 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about €602. Overnight boarding and house sitting pay the most per booking, drop-ins and walks the least. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-20%.
What does a typical week look like for a Petme sitter in Bulgaria?
You set the week yourself. One example: 4 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 2 drop-in visits in the evenings and one overnight stay at the weekend. At the lowest Bulgaria rates that week comes to about €50. Taking more overnight stays is the quickest way to raise it, because they pay the most per booking.
How much do dog walkers make in Bulgaria?
Dog walking pays €5–€12 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.
How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Bulgaria?
Boarding at the sitter's home pays €15–€30 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €20–€35 per night. Overnight care pays more per booking than any other Petme service, so a few stays a month move your income the most.
How does Petme's service fee work?
Petme takes 10-20% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan for eligible vet costs.
How fast do payouts arrive in Bulgaria?
Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.
What protections do sitters get on every booking?
The Petme Protection Plan, which can contribute up to €20,000 toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.
What do I need to start as a Petme sitter?
You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.
How quickly can I get my first booking?
It depends on the services you offer, your rates and how many owners near you are looking, so there is no fixed wait. What you control is the profile owners choose from: at least 4 clear photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions and rates in line with Bulgaria. Opening your calendar over school holidays and Christmas, when owners travel, puts you in front of more requests.
Can I pet sit alongside my regular job?
Yes. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit, so sitting in Bulgaria can run alongside a full-time job: dog walks fit lunchtime windows, drop-in visits fit evenings, and weekend boarding fits around a Monday-to-Friday week.
What are the busiest cities for pet sitting in Bulgaria?
Sofia dominates. Plovdiv and Varna are growing fast. Burgas has lighter competition outside peak summer.
Do I need to register as self-employed for pet sitting in Bulgaria?
For regular income, yes. Register with the tax authority. Pet sitting is a freely pursuable activity.
Do I need to declare pet sitting income for tax in Bulgaria?
Yes. Bulgaria's 10% flat tax on personal income simplifies the calculation. Social-security contributions apply separately.
How does pet sitting in Bulgaria compare to other gig work?
Foodpanda and Glovo couriers in Sofia report €4-6 (BGN 8-12) per hour after costs. Petme pet sitting clears €5-9 (BGN 10-18) per hour effectively.
What is the going rate for boarding in Sofia vs Plovdiv?
Sofia sits at €20-41 (BGN 40-80) per night, Plovdiv at €18-36 (BGN 35-70), Varna at €18-38 (BGN 35-75), rising to €26-46 (BGN 50-90) in peak summer.
When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Bulgaria?
July-August summer holidays, Orthodox Easter, and the Christmas-New-Year window. Coastal cities have a longer summer stretch.
Is pet sitting more profitable than retail or service work in Bulgaria?
Yes for most sitters. Bulgarian retail hourly equivalents sit at €3-4 (BGN 6-8). Petme dog walkers clear €5-8 (BGN 10-15) per hour effectively.
How does pet sitting in Bulgaria differ from Romania?
Bulgarian rates are similar to Romanian in absolute terms but the market is smaller and more centralised in Sofia. Bulgaria's 10% flat tax is simpler than Romania's self-employed-plus-health-insurance structure.
What is it like sitting for popular Bulgarian dog breeds?
Labradors, Bulgarian Shepherds (large local breed), and rescue mixes dominate. The Bulgarian Shepherds need real space and experienced handlers.
What is one thing Bulgarian sitters wish they knew before starting?
"Registration with the tax authority is easy: do not delay it. The 10% flat tax is worth the formalities." (Ivan G., Sofia)
Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Bulgaria?
The application lives at petme.social/bulgaria/become-a-pet-sitter. It asks about your pet-care experience and which services you plan to offer. With verification complete, owners in your area can find and message you in the app.
Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Bulgaria

The full apply page has the signup form, service-by-service rate setting, and ID verification flow.

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Pet sitter income by city

Become a pet sitter in your Bulgarian city

Rates, demand, NRA registration rules, and seasonal patterns vary across Bulgarian metros. Each city guide answers questions specific to that market. Browse the 10 largest Bulgarian pet sitting markets below.

All across Bulgaria

Other Bulgarian pet-sitting pages

Browse the Bulgarian pet-owner hubs from here to see how the platform works on the transactional side.