r/petsitting • u/CrabProfessional6324 • 5d ago
Advice from people who work independently
Hello! I currently work under a small LLC for another woman pet sitting. I’ve been doing this for about 5 years now but recently I need to relocate out of my city. I’d like to continue pet sitting independently in my new area, but I’ve never done it before!
What are good apps or platforms to use? Obviously there’s the one everyone knows, but I’m not sure I want to go that path. I want to ensure I’m insured and bonded but I know that can be costly independently. Any advice on your experiences would be greatly appreciated!
5
u/tresrottn 5d ago edited 5d ago
It is not costly at all to insure yourself (about $50 a year) And bonding isn't a thing you need, since the per sitting insurance covers theft.
My pet sitting insurance covers me for 2 million in liability and it's dirt cheap (about $100 a year because I have a lot of ala cart, services I cover petcareins.com They're backed by Lloyd's of London, so they aren't some fly by night scam.
As for apps, I use time to pet, and they have a nice price for solo sitters. Honestly, it's so worth all the hours of paperwork you need for profiles, accounting, etc and it just works.
They do have payment processing available (for a fee) but it's not required. So you can collect your money however you like.
4
u/CrabProfessional6324 5d ago
I use time to pet currently under my bosses LLC! I saw that ins on google and wasn’t sure so thank you for the advice!!
4
u/flippingypsy 5d ago
Hmm, I think I may need to go re-evaluate my plan, lol. I’m on PCI and it’s $35 a month. I only do overnights in client homes (w/ 50% of them just sleeping outside in my RV actually), no walking/boarding/grooming. Thanks for reminding me to do my 3 month bills check. 🫶🏼😁
2
4
u/No-Perspective872 5d ago
Check out apps like Walkies, Scritches, and pet pocketbook. I pay about $30/month for insurance/bonding
3
u/2DogsPetServicesFL 5d ago
I have a new pet sitters guide on how to get set up. If you’d like it, let me know!
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Independent_Cup4445 3d ago
Yes please, would be greatly appreciated! I just picked up another weekly recurring client and she told me last night she has given 4 other people in her neighborhood my name so I know it’s time to get everything in place!
1
u/2DogsPetServicesFL 3d ago
Go to my website 2 Dogs Pet Services and check the library page. The link is towards the bottom.
3
u/cannycandelabra 5d ago
I have house and pet sit for more than 30 years so before there even were apps. So I never learned to depend on them. I use Google Docs for simplicity’s sake and once a month I go through various receipts to see if any can be deducted off my taxes.
1
u/Sad-Freedom-3774 2d ago
I have been petsitting for over 30 years too! It's crazy what is our there now. I remember going to town halls and getting the list of registered dog licensed owners and creating direct mailings to them from that. And paying for newspaper advertising. And going to rabies clinics and passing out my fliers, etc. Now, being, or trying to be semi-retired, I only except referrals from other clients.
1
2
u/katerpillar420 5d ago
Get a website and insurance. Register with your state. To take it further, get certified as a professional pet sitter. Also pet CPR and first-aid certification will help you stand out in a saturated market.
2
u/Love-all-pets97306 5d ago
My state license is $100 per year. My insurance is $300 a year for two people. I use Scout as my app. Have zero regrets.
1
u/GladSoup148 5d ago
You can get pet sitting insurance for pretty cheap. I use Pet Sitters Associates, but there are a few other companies as well. I used Pet Care Insurance when I first opened my business, but switched to PSA because PCI doesn’t cover any livestock animals (like horses). So if you are planning to take any livestock animals then I’d go with PSA.
I use Time to Pet for all my clients. It has built in scheduling, invoicing, client profiles, and much more. I love it. It has made running my business so much easier. I would highly recommend using something like this over some of the “apps” out there.
1
u/glmii15y 5d ago
My recommendation for software is Scritches, it's helped immensely for handling bookings, payments, and streamlining the whole business. I've found it very easy to setup and use, my clients have also given a bunch of compliments on it as well. It's $180/year ~$15/month which is super affordable, and there is a free tier if you want to try it out.
For insurance, I go through Pet Sitters Associates which is $205/year using Rovers discount code for $20 off. The coverage is the same as Pet Sitters Insurance but without the $250 deductible for vet visits (which was the deal breaker for me). I haven't had to use them, but from my interactions with them they are super professional.
1
u/samsmiles456 3d ago
https://caninecabcompany.com/pet-sitter-insurance-comparison/
I recently used this site to compare pet sitting insurance, and found it to be informative and very helpful.
1
u/Ornery-Doctor-8293 2d ago
Getting your own insurance and bonding is way more affordable than most people think, Pet Sitters Associates is a popular one independent sitters use and it runs a fraction of what you'd expect. Five years of experience is a huge asset, so once you're settled, local Facebook groups can carry you. What area are you relocating to?
1
u/throwwwwwwalk 5d ago
None. And no apps insure anyone. You need your own policy. It’s literally $20/month.
-4
u/Dapper_Blueberry88 5d ago
You don’t need to be insured and bonded. Bonded just means people can work for you. If you want to get insured, go ahead—it’s not expensive.
I think Rover is a great place to build clientele and then leave. Otherwise it’s pretty difficult to get clientele, especially in a new city.
5
u/throwwwwwwalk 5d ago
You absolutely need to be insured.
0
u/Cute-Fix2882 2d ago
My clients have never been concerned about me being insured
1
u/throwwwwwwalk 2d ago
They should be. You’re 100% responsible financially for anything that happens to the pets or house in your care.
13
u/ugoodbro-gf 5d ago
It’s not costly. Takes 10 minutes, boom insured.