Beginner guide for the US

How to become a pet sitter in the US

Pet sitting in the US runs on reliability, being comfortable with animals, and a profile owners can trust. You will be ID verified and you build from your first few reviews. Here is exactly what matters, how to start, and what you can earn.

Do you need experience or qualifications?

Owners look for someone dependable and genuine, and Petme ID verifies every sitter before a booking. Licensing for home pet sitting varies by state, so check what applies where you live. These three things are what the first bookings turn on.

Reliability

Showing up on time, every time, is the whole job. Owners rebook the sitter they can count on, not the one with the longest history.

Clear communication

Reply quickly, confirm details, and send photo updates during each visit. Good communication is what turns a first booking into a regular client.

A complete, honest profile

Real photos, a short bio, and verified ID let a brand-new sitter win bookings without any reviews yet. Authenticity beats polish.

Step by step

How to become a pet sitter, step by step

1. Download Petme and start your profile

Download the Petme app from the App Store or Google Play and start a sitter profile. Add clear photos, a short honest bio, and the services you want to offer.

2. Choose your services and set your rates

Pick the services that fit your home and schedule: dog walking, drop-in visits, doggy daycare, boarding, or house sitting. Set a rate for each. You can start with one and add more later.

3. Verify your identity

Complete identity verification so owners can trust your profile before they book. This is what lets a first-time sitter win bookings without prior reviews.

4. List the neighborhoods you cover

Add the areas you can reach. Owners almost always book a sitter close to home, so local coverage is what surfaces your profile to nearby requests.

5. Accept your first booking and ask for a review

Start with shorter, lower-commitment jobs like walks and drop-ins. Do them well, send photo updates, and ask happy owners for a review. A few five-star reviews unlock higher rates and repeat clients.

What you can earn as a new sitter

Set your own rates

Dog walking runs about $15 to $30 a walk, drop-ins $15 to $35, daycare $25 to $65 a day, and boarding or house sitting $35 to $95 a night. You price each service yourself.

Keep up to 90%

Petme keeps a low service fee, and you keep up to 90% of every booking. The better your reviews, the more you keep.

$22,000 Protection Plan

Every confirmed booking automatically includes up to $22,000 through the Protection Plan for the pet in your care, at no cost to you or the owner.

See real per-city earnings on the dog walking jobs and pet sitting jobs pages.

Rules and taxes

What the rules are in the US

No US state requires a license to walk dogs or do drop-in visits, and most do not license home pet sitting. A few states, such as Missouri, require a state license to board pets overnight in your home for pay, and some cities ask for a basic business registration, so check your own city and state before offering boarding. Pet sitting income is self-employment income, reported to the IRS on Schedule C, and you handle your own taxes as a 1099 contractor. Keep simple records of what you earn.

How to get your first bookings

The first few reviews are the hardest and the most valuable. Start with shorter, lower-commitment jobs like walks and drop-in visits, which owners book more readily from a new sitter. Reply fast, send photo updates, and ask every happy owner for a review. A handful of five-star reviews unlocks higher rates, boarding and daycare requests, and repeat clients.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to start pet sitting in the US?
You need to be reliable, comfortable with animals, and able to pass identity verification. Owners pick a sitter on reviews, availability and a complete profile, so say which services you cover and which areas you work. Most new sitters begin with dog walks and drop-in visits, then add boarding or daycare once they have a few reviews.
Do I need a license or certification to be a pet sitter in the US?
No US state requires a license to walk dogs or do drop-in visits, and most do not license home pet sitting either. A few states, such as Missouri, require a state license to board pets overnight in your own home for pay. Some cities ask for a basic business registration. Always check your own city and state before offering overnight boarding.
How much can a beginner pet sitter earn?
On Petme in the US, dog walking runs about $15 to $30 a walk, drop-in visits $15 to $35, doggy daycare $25 to $65 a day, and overnight boarding or house sitting $35 to $95 a night. You set your own rates, and you keep up to 90% of every booking. New sitters often start part time and scale up as reviews come in.
How do I get my first pet sitting clients without reviews?
Build out a complete profile with real photos and a genuine bio, verify your ID, and start with shorter jobs like walks and drop-ins that owners book more readily. Reply quickly, send photo updates, and ask every happy owner for a review. The first few reviews are what turn a new profile into a steady stream of bookings.
What qualities make a good pet sitter?
Reliability comes first: showing up on time, every time. Add clear communication, comfort handling different animals and temperaments, and good judgment in an emergency. A pet first aid course is optional but builds trust and can justify higher rates.
Do I pay tax on pet sitting income in the US?
Yes. Pet sitting income is self-employment income, reported to the IRS on Schedule C, and you handle your own taxes as a 1099 contractor. Keep simple records of what you earn and any related costs. This is standard for independent sitters and is separate from any Petme earnings.
Is pet sitting a good first job or side hustle?
It works well as flexible income alongside a job, classes, or other gigs. You choose your own hours, accept or decline each request, and there are no assigned shifts or minimum hours. Payouts reach your bank within 2 business days of each completed booking.
How old do I have to be to pet sit on Petme?
You must be 18 or over, based in the US, and able to pass identity verification. Beyond that, a real love of animals and dependability matter more than age or background.

Start pet sitting today

Set your own rates, services and hours.

Become a pet sitter in the US

City pay bands and the full recruitment hub across 75 metros. Keep up to 90% of every booking.

Dog walking jobs in the US

The easiest first service for a new sitter. Set your own routes and hours, keep up to 90%.

Pet sitting jobs in the US

Boarding, daycare, drop-ins, and house sitting across the country. Set your rates, keep up to 90%.

Dog sitting jobs in the US

Board dogs overnight and run a daycare once you have a few reviews. Keep up to 90% of every booking.

How fee-free booking works

Cashback on every booking keeps your clients rebooking, and you keep up to 90%.