Pet sitting in France: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in France typically earn €344–€1032 per month. Sitters who lean into overnight boarding and house sitting reach the top of that range, while drop-in and dog-walking-only sitters sit in the lower half. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-15%.

A common pattern: 3–5 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 1–2 drop-in visits in the evenings, and one overnight stay across the weekend. That's roughly 12–15 hours of actual paid time per week and clears €95+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays €10–€18 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.

Boarding at the sitter's home pays €25–€50 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €35–€60 per night. Boarding is where most full-time Petme sitters concentrate their income because the per-booking value is the highest.

Petme takes 10-15% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. There's no signup cost, no monthly subscription, and no charge to keep your profile live. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

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.

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to 20,000 in veterinary expenses if something happens to the pet in your care. It's automatic on every reservation: no separate purchase, no claim paperwork upfront. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

No formal qualifications are required to apply 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.

Most new sitters in France go live within 24–48 hours of submitting verification. Your first booking typically lands within 1–2 weeks if your profile has at least 4 good photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate for your city. Sitters who add availability over a major holiday (Christmas, summer break) often book their first stay within days.

Yes: most Petme sitters in France start while working full-time elsewhere. Dog walking fits into lunchtime windows; drop-in visits work around evenings; weekend boarding stacks on top of a Monday-to-Friday office job. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit your schedule.

Paris dominates by booking volume. Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse are the next tier. Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, and Nice are growing fast: sitter supply is thinner there so new applicants book their first stay quickly.

For regular pet sitting income, yes. The micro-business self-employed scheme is the standard path: quick to set up online, with low monthly social-security contributions (around 22% of revenue) and a €77,700 annual revenue ceiling for services. Below that, no VAT paperwork.

Yes. Once self-employed, you declare revenue monthly or quarterly to the social-security agency and they collect contributions automatically. You also report annual revenue on your income tax return under the simplified non-commercial regime. Individual expenses are not deductible in the micro scheme; instead there is an automatic 34% allowance applied to taxable income.

Uber Eats and Deliveroo riders in Paris and Lyon report €8-11 per hour after costs. Petme pet sitting clears €12-20 hourly and the work environment is dramatically better: you are in parks and apartments, not stuck in traffic on a bike in winter.

Paris sits at €35-55 per night, Lyon at €30-50, Marseille and Toulouse at €25-45. Apartments with a small terrace or a private garden command the upper end. Bordeaux and Nantes book at €28-45.

August is the single biggest month (the long summer holidays). The end-of-year holiday window is the second peak. May bank-holiday bridges and the All Saints holiday in late October are smaller but reliable.

For most sitters, yes. The French minimum wage sits at around €11.88 per hour gross (2025). Petme dog walkers clear €13-18 hourly effectively, and boarding sitters earn more on a per-night basis. Self-employed status also means a flexible schedule and tax simplicity.

Rates are similar in euros but Belgian sitters in Brussels often work across French- and Dutch-speaking client bases, which broadens the pool. French sitters tend to specialize more by neighborhood. The Belgian self-employed tax structure (secondary self-employment) is different from the French micro-business scheme.

French Bulldogs, Labradors, Border Collies, and Bichons are the most common Petme bookings. French Bulldogs need careful summer-heat management (asthma risk). Bichons need brushing. Border Collies need real exercise, not just a casual park walk.

Yes: Paris, Lyon, and Marseille have active sitter WhatsApp groups. Members trade self-employment paperwork tips, recommend 24-hour vets, and share summer-holiday bookings when overbooked. We connect you after your application is approved.

"Register as self-employed from day one, not after your first few dogs. The social-security agency does not appreciate finding an undeclared activity." (Sophie L., Paris)

Apply at petme.social/fr/become-a-pet-sitter. The form takes 5 minutes and verification typically returns within 48 hours.