If you’re looking for a retirement gig that doesn’t feel like work and you consider yourself a friend to all animals, pet sitting could be your next move. You get paid to hang out with furry friends while their owners are away, giving them all the love and affection they crave.
And you don’t need a fancy degree or tech skills to succeed in the pet-sitting world. Show up when you say you will and give the animals the best care possible.
Learn why pet sitting is a must-try gig for retirees and find out what you need to get started.
In This Article:
Why Pet Sitting Is a Natural Fit for Retirees
Miss the routine of having a job but not the daily grind? Pet sitting might be your answer. You pick the days and hours you work with no boss to answer to — just you and the animals you’ve always loved.
Retiree Bernadine Swale did just that, traveling the world as a pet sitter during retirement. In an article for The Guardian, Swale said, “I have the best retirement there ever was.”
Animals don’t care about your age or work history; they just want your attention and care. The structure can give you the routine you might be used to, but without the unnecessary pressure many traditional jobs pose. You’ll have purpose without punching a clock.
Pet sitting might even help you combat the loneliness some retirees feel, especially if they don’t have lots of family around. Pet sitting can improve mental health by giving you companionship and naturally reducing anxiety (any animal lover knows how easy it is to feel calm and loved in the presence of pets!).
Starting Small: Helping Neighbors, Earning Trust
Before jumping in with both feet, test out the pet-sitting landscape to make sure it’s something you’ll truly love doing more long-term. Start with the terrier next door whose owner works late on Thursdays. Or feed your friend’s cats while she visits her grandkids. You’ll gain valuable experience and build your confidence as you decide if pet sitting is the right path for you.
As you take on new furry clients, take notes about each pet’s quirks. Does Max hide under the bed until you shake the treat bag? Or, maybe Jules needs to take medicine with every noon feeding. These details matter to pet owners and show you have what it takes to turn pet sitting into a viable business.
Once you have some experience under your belt, your side hustle could grow quickly and, eventually, give you enough money to get through retirement comfortably. One paralegal reports averaging $3,750 a month from pet sitting. “When I did my taxes last year, I realized [my side hustle] was like a second salary,” Alison Chan told CNBC Make It.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
Turning your hobby into a post-retirement side business is an excellent way to thoroughly immerse yourself in what you love to do most. Still, you should treat your pet-sitting venture like a legitimate business to make it successful. Write a business plan that includes:
- A market analysis of your competitors and potential customers;
- The services you want to offer;
- A unique selling proposition;
- Your goals for the business;
- A pricing strategy.
Check what other sitters charge in your area to help you set pet-sitting rates. A 30-minute dog walk in suburban areas might fetch $25, while the same service in Manhattan could command $30+. Overnight stays typically run $45-75 per night, depending on your zip code. You should also consider charging more for puppies, seniors, or additional pets in the same household. Be upfront about extra fees for holiday bookings or last-minute requests.
Spreading the Word, One Paw Print at a Time
Ready to build your pet-sitting brand? Join sites like Rover or Care.com where pet owners actively search for sitters. These platforms handle bookings and payments, and they sometimes even offer protections and reimbursement if incidents happen on your watch.
Tack up flyers on bulletin boards at your library, local coffee shops, and pet stores. Leave a stack of business cards at vet offices, where it’s common for pet owners to ask for pet sitter recommendations.
Consider using free sticker giveaways to market your business. Pet owners can place your stickers on water bottles and laptops, building customer loyalty while boosting brand awareness and customer engagement.
Most importantly, remember that being the best pet sitter you can be beats fancy advertising any day. Pet owners want someone dependable who genuinely loves caring for animals. Your reputation for trustworthiness will spread faster than a paid ad.
Make Pet Sitting Your Next Chapter
Even if you don’t need a job or side gig in retirement, pet sitting can be an excellent way to earn a little extra money while spending time with animals.
Pet sitting gives you daily doses of wet noses and wagging tails while keeping you connected to your community. You’ll walk more, laugh more, and fill your time doing something that makes you happy. What better way to spend your retirement years?
