Guides for running a pet-care business.
Straight, practical answers on what to charge, how to keep more of it, and how to grow — written for solo sitters, walkers, trainers and groomers.
Pricing & rates
Overnight Dog Sitting Rates: What to Charge in 2026
Overnight dog sitting averages around $75–$150 a night for professionals. Here's how overnight rates break down by region, experience, and add-ons — plus how to price yours.
May 30, 2026 · 7 min readHow Much Do Dog Sitters Charge? (2026 Rate Guide)
US dog sitters charge about $25–$45 per drop-in visit and $75–$150 a night for overnight sitting. See typical rates by service and state, and what to charge.
May 30, 2026 · 8 min readHow Much Does Rover Take From Sitters? (2026 Fees Explained)
Rover keeps 20% of what sitters and walkers earn (25% in California), and charges pet owners an 11% booking fee. Here's the full fee breakdown — with a calculator to see your real take-home.
May 30, 2026 · 7 min readDo Pet Sitters Make Good Money? Earnings (2026)
US pet sitters average about $16–$18/hr ($33k–$36k/yr), but the right service mix earns far more. Here's what pet sitters really make, how they get paid, and how to keep more of it.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readDo Dog Walkers Make Good Money? Earnings Explained (2026)
US dog walkers average around $20 an hour, but pack walks, recurring weekday routes and booking direct change the math entirely. Here's what dog walkers really earn — and the levers that earn more.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readDo You Tip Cat Sitters? (How Much, and When)
Tipping a cat sitter isn't required, but 15–20% of the total (or a flat $10–$20 per visit) is a kind gesture for great care. Here's when to tip a cat sitter, how much, and what to do instead.
May 30, 2026 · 6 min readHow Much Do Cat Sitters Charge? (2026 Rate Guide)
US cat sitters charge about $20–$40 per drop-in visit and $75–$150 a night for overnight care. See cat-sitting rates by service and state, what cat sitters make, and how to set yours.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readGrowing your business
How to Start a Doggy Daycare Business (2026 Guide)
Doggy daycare is the most facility-heavy pet business. The 2026 guide — zoning and kennel licensing, square footage and staff ratios, startup costs, pricing, and getting your first clients.
May 30, 2026 · 14 min readHow to Open a Cat Grooming Business (2026 Guide)
Cat grooming is an underserved, high-demand niche. Here's how to open a cat grooming business in 2026 — feline certification, equipment, pricing, vet referrals, and what it costs to start.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readHow to Start a Dog Grooming Business (2026 Guide)
How to start a dog grooming business in 2026 — training, mobile vs salon vs home studio, equipment, licensing, insurance, pricing and clients, plus what each model really costs to launch.
May 30, 2026 · 13 min readHow to Start a Dog Sitting Business (2026 Guide)
How to start a dog sitting business in 2026 — from sitting in clients' homes to boarding dogs at yours (and the kennel licence that can trigger). Costs, insurance, pricing and getting clients.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readHow to Start a Pet Sitting Business (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
You can start a pet sitting business for under $1,500. The complete 2026 guide — licensing and insurance, pricing, services, finding clients, and the systems that keep it professional.
May 30, 2026 · 13 min readHow to Start a Dog Walking Business (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
Dog walking is the lowest-cost pet business to start — often under $1,000. Here's the step-by-step for 2026: licensing and permits, insurance, pricing, finding clients, and what it really costs.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readThe Complete Pet Holidays Calendar for 2026 (100+ Dates)
A month-by-month calendar of 100+ pet holidays for 2026 — National Pet Day, Adopt a Cat Month, and more — with content ideas to delight clients all year.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min read200+ Dog Walking Business Name Ideas (2026)
Catchy, professional, and punny dog-walking business name ideas — organized by style — plus a simple framework for picking a name that's memorable and available.
May 30, 2026 · 7 min readDog Walking Business Cards: Ideas, Tips & Free Templates
What to put on a dog-walking business card, design tips that win clients, and links to free templates you can customize today — plus on-brand examples to copy.
May 30, 2026 · 6 min readDo Pet Sitters Need a License and Insurance? (2026 US Guide)
There's no special pet-sitter license in the US, but most sitters need a business license and should carry insurance. Here's what licensing, bonding and insurance you actually need.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readDo Dog Walkers Need Insurance and a License? (2026 US Guide)
There's no special dog-walking license in the US, but many cities require a business license — and some a commercial dog-walker permit. Here's the insurance, licensing and registration dog walkers actually need.
May 30, 2026 · 10 min read200+ Cat Hashtags for Instagram, TikTok & Reels (2026)
The best cat hashtags for 2026 — 200+ tags by vibe, breed, colour and themed day — plus how many to actually use, where to put them, and a free generator to copy a ready-made set.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readDog Walking Software: A Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide
What dog walking software does, the features that matter (recurring schedules, routes, GPS, photo updates), free vs paid, what it costs, and how to pick the right app for a solo dog-walking business.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readPet Sitting Software: A Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide
What pet sitting software actually does, the must-have features, free vs paid options (honestly), what it costs, and how to choose the right tool for a solo pet-sitting business in 2026.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readHow to Start a Dog Training Business (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
How to start a dog training business in 2026 — certifications, licensing and insurance, startup costs, what to charge for private sessions, group classes and board-and-train, and how to get your first clients.
May 30, 2026 · 13 min readDog Training Software: A Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide
What dog training software does — packages, progress notes, group classes and board-and-train — plus free vs paid, what it costs, and how to choose.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readHow to Become a Dog Walker in the UK (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
How to become a dog walker in the UK in 2026 — licence rules, insurance, DBS checks, how many dogs you can walk, what to charge, and finding clients.
May 30, 2026 · 13 min readPet Sitting & Dog Walking Software vs Rover (2026)
Pet care software vs a marketplace like Rover: one finds you clients and takes ~20%, the other runs them for a flat fee — when to use each, and both.
May 30, 2026 · 11 min readPet Sitting Booking System: How Bookings Actually Work (2026)
What a pet sitting booking system is, the two models — client self-service vs operator-managed scheduling — what it costs, and how to choose.
May 30, 2026 · 11 min readPet Care Business Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
What pet care business software does for sitters, walkers, groomers and trainers — must-have features, free vs paid, real costs, and how to choose.
May 30, 2026 · 12 min readHow to Get More Reviews for Your Pet-Care Business (2026)
How to get more reviews for your pet-care business — the best time to ask, exactly how to ask, and how to turn happy clients into five-star social proof.
May 30, 2026 · 10 min readPet Sitting Contract: What to Include (+ Free Template) (2026)
What a pet sitting contract should include — services, payment, cancellation, vet care, liability and photos — plus a free template to copy and sign.
May 30, 2026 · 11 min readPet care
Summer Shih Tzu Haircuts: 8 Cool, Low-Maintenance Styles
The best summer Shih Tzu haircuts — from the puppy cut to the teddy bear and summer shave — with how-to notes, upkeep, and what to ask your groomer.
May 30, 2026 · 8 min readDo Pet Sitters Stay at Your House? In-Home & Overnight Sitting
Whether a pet sitter comes to your house, stays overnight, or has your pet stay with them depends on the service. Here's what drop-ins, house sitting, overnights and boarding each mean.
May 30, 2026 · 8 min readDo Dog Walkers Walk in the Rain? (And When They Don't)
Yes — professional dog walkers walk in the rain, with the right gear and shorter routes. But pros call it off for lightning, extreme heat and dangerous cold. Here's how a professional handles bad weather.
May 30, 2026 · 8 min readDo Cat Groomers Sedate Cats? Sedation & Safer Options
Reputable cat groomers don't sedate cats — only a vet can prescribe or give sedatives. Here's how safe groomers handle anxious cats, when vet-supervised sedated grooming makes sense, and the red flags to walk away from.
May 30, 2026 · 9 min readWhat Do Cat Groomers Do? A Complete Guide (2026)
Yes, cat groomers exist — and they do far more than baths. Here's every cat-grooming service explained: de-shedding, lion cuts, nail trims, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, flea baths, and whether groomers sedate cats.
May 30, 2026 · 11 min readWhat Does a Cat Sitter Do? (Litter Box & Drop-Ins)
Yes — cat sitters scoop the litter box, feed, play, give medication and send photo updates. Here's everything a professional cat sitter does, drop-in vs overnight, and how often cats need visits.
May 30, 2026 · 8 min readKeep 100% of what you earn.
Pupline runs your whole pet-care business from your phone — clients, scheduling, invoicing and more — for one simple monthly price. No commission on your bookings, ever. Free for 30 days.
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