Pet sitting in Romania: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Romania typically earn lei860–lei2408 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 lei220+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays lei25–lei50 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 lei60–lei120 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays lei70–lei140 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 Romania 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 Romania 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.

Bucharest dominates. Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara are growing fast. Iași has lighter sitter competition.

For regular income, yes. Register as an authorised individual at the trade registry. Pet sitting is a freely pursuable activity (no professional qualification required).

Yes. The flat-rate self-employed regime is typically the simplest. The tax authority requires an annual declaration; health-insurance contributions apply above the income threshold.

Glovo and Bolt riders in Bucharest report RON 30-45 per hour after costs. Petme pet sitting clears RON 35-55 per hour effectively.

Bucharest sits at RON 100-200 per night, Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara at RON 90-170, smaller cities at RON 80-150.

The July-August school holidays and the December-January window. The Orthodox Easter weekend drives a reliable bump.

Yes for most sitters. Romanian retail hourly equivalents sit at RON 20-26. Petme dog walkers clear RON 30-45 per hour effectively.

Romanian rates are similar to Bulgarian in absolute terms; market growth in Bucharest is faster than Sofia. Hungarian rates are 15-25% higher in absolute terms.

Labradors, Mioritic and Carpathian shepherds (large local breeds), and rescue mixes dominate. Mioritics need real space; they do not suit small apartments. Many Romanian sitters specialise in either small breeds only or large breeds only.

Yes: Bucharest has an active sitter WhatsApp group. We connect you after approval.

"Register as self-employed before your first regular booking. The tax authority does not ask you immediately, but the back-charges add up." (Andrei P., Bucharest)

Apply at petme.social/ro/become-a-pet-sitter. Verification returns within 48 hours.