Become a pet sitter in Charleston
Keep up to 90% per booking. $42 to $95 a night for boarding in Charleston. Free $20,000 vet protection on every stay.
Earn flexibly with Petme across South of Broad to Mount Pleasant. You set your rate, you choose which dogs and cats you look after, and you keep up to 90% of every booking. Charleston sitters report income becoming predictable in month 2 or 3 once the same repeat clients come back week after week.
Earnings
What you can earn in Charleston
Sitters in Charleston set their own rates. The ranges below reflect typical Petme bookings in the city. Platform data as of June 2026.
Boarding
$42–$95
per night
Dog walking
$18–$40
effective per hour
Doggy daycare
$32–$62
per day
What that adds up to
Three Charleston sitting schedules, in dollars
Straight multiplication of the Charleston rate bands above across a typical month (about 4.3 weeks). Estimates before expenses and taxes; you set your own rates and keep up to 90% of every booking.
| Schedule | Weekly mix | Estimated monthly range |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend boarder | 2 boarding nights a week at $42 to $95 | $361 to $817 |
| Lunchtime walker | 5 hour-long walks a week at $18 to $40 | $387 to $860 |
| Full mix | 2 boarding nights, 5 walks and 3 drop-ins a week | $1,006 to $2,219 |
Estimates only, computed from the Charleston rate bands (verified May 2026), before expenses and self-employment taxes. Actual income depends on your rates, availability, and repeat clients.
How it works
How it works
Apply
Tell us about yourself, your pets, and your pet-care experience. The application takes about 10 minutes.
Get verified
Government ID check and a background check.
Go live, start booking
Set your rate and availability. Owners across South of Broad to Mount Pleasant message you in chat. You decide which bookings to accept.
What Charleston owners care about
Why owners in Charleston book on Petme
Verified sitters get more bookings
Identity verification plus a background check lift your profile above informal listings on Craigslist or Nextdoor. Owners see the verified badge in search results.
$20,000 vet protection on every stay
Every booking includes up to $20,000 in vet expenses at no extra cost, no deductible. Owners book with more confidence, and you can say yes to medical, senior, or large-breed dogs without personal exposure.
Cashback for owners
Owners earn up to 5% cashback on every completed booking, paid into their Petme balance. That drives repeat bookings, your recurring schedule fills faster.
In-app chat, no phone-number swap
Meet-and-greets, key handover, photo updates: all in chat. You never give out a personal number.
Permits + tax
Permits, business setup, and tax
Permits in Charleston
South Carolina does not license pet sitters or dog walkers at the state level. The City of Charleston requires dogs to be leashed at all times when not in an enclosed or fenced area, with off-leash allowed only in city parks the parks director has posted for voice control. Self-employed sitters report earnings on Schedule C and make quarterly estimated tax payments once over the IRS threshold.
Deductible expenses
Common pet-sitter deductions on Schedule C: mileage to bookings (track via Stride or MileIQ), a share of phone bill, pet first-aid certification, leashes, treats, poop bags, and a home-office prorated by square footage if you board at home. Most sitters set aside 25% to 30% of gross for federal + self-employment tax, and add state tax in NY or CA.
Seasonal demand
Seasonal demand in Charleston
Peak windows in Charleston
Tourism and weddings drive a long spring-through-fall season, peaking around the Cooper River Bridge Run, spring festivals, and summer beach travel, with boarding and house sitting in highest demand. Drop-in visits rise for short holiday getaways.
What Charleston sitting actually looks like
Charleston's coastal summers are long, hot, and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and tidal flooding on low peninsula streets, so sitters plan walks around early mornings, evenings, and the tide chart. Heat-sensitive flat-faced breeds get shorter, shaded outings from June through September. The top-of-mind breeds among Charleston Petme clients are Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, French Bulldog, so familiarity with small-breed pickups, large-breed walking technique, and rescue-mix behavioral cues moves you up in search results. Most local owners search by neighborhood first, so listing the parts of South of Broad to Mount Pleasant you cover (especially near The Battery and White Point Garden and Hampton Park) sharpens your visibility.
Pet care services in Charleston
Pet Boarding
Overnight stays at a sitter's home with personalized care and attention in Charleston
Dog Walking
Scheduled walks to keep your dog active, happy, and well-exercised in Charleston
House Sitting
In-home care where a sitter stays at your place with your pet in Charleston
Drop-in Visits
Quick check-ins for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks in Charleston
Doggy Daycare
Daytime supervision and socialization while you're at work in Charleston
Nearby metros
Become a pet sitter near Charleston
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does a Petme sitter actually earn in Charleston?
How do I start booking after applying?
How does payment collection work on bookings?
Can pet sitting on Petme replace a day job?
What if I cancel a booking?
Where do I send my sitter application?
What do pet sitters actually take home in Charleston?
What licensing rules apply to US pet sitters?
Do I need to report pet-sitting income for tax?
Why do sitters switch to Petme from other platforms?
Am I covered if something goes wrong on a stay?
Ready to start sitting in Charleston?
Profile goes live, owners in your neighborhood message you in chat. You decide which bookings to accept.
Apply as a sitter