Are you an animal lover who wants a fun way to make money? Dog sitting can be a great side hustle to help you pad your bank account.
Rover is a popular dog sitting and dog walking platform. Using the company’s app or website can help you launch a lucrative side gig depending on how much time you have.
Our review will explain how the platform works so you can determine if it’s a good option for you to make extra money each month.
Summary
If you love animals and are looking for a way to make extra money, Rover can be a great place to find clients. The platform offers the flexibility to set your own schedule and rates while offering added support for pet sitters.
Pros
- Schedule and income flexibility
- The Rover Guarantee offers support and backup pet sitters
- Rover.com is a well-known platform that connects pet sitters with pet owners
Cons
- Rover takes a 20 percent cut from your earnings
- Negative reviews of other sitters can affect your business
- Must be 18 or older to sign up
What is Rover?
Rover.com is a website and app that connects pet owners with pet care professionals. The service is available in 10 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The platform is the largest online marketplace that connects pet sitters with dog owners.
Here are some services you can offer on Rover:
With so many services sitters can offer, Rover is a great platform for finding side gigs.
You can use the extra money you earn to pay off debt, build up your emergency fund, save or invest.
Is Rover Legit?
Yes, Rover is legit! Rover was founded in 2011 and completes a background check on all sitter applicants.
In addition, they thoroughly screen both pet owners and pet sitters to help ensure a safe and pleasing environment for all who use Rover.
Who is Rover For?
Rover is an excellent side hustle for anyone who loves animals and wants to make extra cash. There’s no set schedule, so you can work whenever you’re available.
It can be a great way to make extra money on the side for a college student or anyone who wants to earn additional income.
Some people even turn dog sitting and related services into a full-time business.
This gig is best for people who love dogs and will invest special consideration in caring for other people’s furry companions.
Before you sign up with the platform, you’ll have to meet some basic requirements.
To provide services on Rover.com, you must
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Complete a background check
- Take a safety quiz
Dog sitters and dog walkers who sign up to use the Rover platform are independent contractors.
This means they don’t receive any salary or benefits. They are also responsible for their own taxes and insurance.
While this is great for people who want to be their own boss, it’s not ideal for those looking for the stability of full-time employment with benefits.
Ready to get started? Here are the steps you need to take to use Rover to launch your dog sitting side hustle.
Create Your Profile
First, you’ll need to create a profile to tell pet owners more about yourself.
You’ll include information like:
- Your name
- Location
- Pet care experience
- Any pets you own
- Services you offer
- A bio
Pet owners want to know that they can trust you with their pups, so make sure to be thorough with your descriptions.
While you don’t have to upload photos, including them will increase your likelihood of getting hired.
Using photos of yourself with other pets will show pet owners you love animals.
You will need to complete a background check and take a safety quiz. If you have any pet-care-related licenses or certifications, make sure to list them.
Also, be sure to check with your local government to find out if there are any licensing requirements or other regulations.
The Rover team will manually review your profile to determine if it meets their standards. If you’re a good fit for the platform, your profile will be approved.
Keep in mind that it can take between five and 10 business days to review your profile.
Accept Requests
Once your profile is approved, it will be visible to pet owners looking to book dog sitters and dog walkers. If a pet owner likes your profile and wants to book your services, they will contact you through the platform.
Make sure you include your availability when creating your profile. If you get a request from a pet owner, you can review it to decide if it’s a good fit.
The pet owner may request to meet you before entrusting their pet to your care. They might also ask for references. Have a few references ready and let them know that someone may reach out to them to ask about you.
Be professional and polite in your interactions with clients. Ask questions, get to know the dog you will take care of and provide frequent, clear communication with the pet owner.
Going above and beyond will ensure you get excellent reviews, receive recommendations from others and get more bookings. It can also help you charge higher prices to make this a more lucrative gig economy job.
Get Paid
Rover will deposit your money two days after you’ve completed a service. Once you get paid, you’ll be able to see the funds in the payments section of your profile.
Before you can withdraw any money from your account, you need to add a payment method.
There are two ways you can get paid, including:
There are no fees if you use PayPal, and the funds are available on the same day once the transaction is processed. Keep in mind that it may take longer with the first transaction.
If you decide to get paid by check, it can take five days to release the funds, then up to 20 days for you to get the check. There is also a $5 fee.
Rover Features
Using Rover.com to list your dog sitting and dog walking services comes with some extra perks.
The Rover Guarantee
The Rover Guarantee is the company’s commitment to help pet sitters when something goes wrong during a booking. It offers coverage for sitters who use the Rover platform to book and get paid for services.
Rover will reimburse up to $25,000 in vet care costs arising from certain injuries that occur during a booked service. This allows pet care providers to act quickly in case of an emergency.
Sometimes, it may even cover vet care for a provider’s pets or damage to a pet owner’s property.
There is a $250 deductible for eligible claims, and care will be covered for up to 30 days.
The guarantee also includes access to 24/7 support, including during emergencies. This gives pet sitters the peace of mind of knowing that they have access to around-the-clock support.
Schedule Management
Rover lets you make your own schedule and includes your availability on your profile. This means if you have extra time on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings, you can list those as open for services.
They also help you manage your calendar and availability. You can even offer specific services on certain days. Rover helps you manage that function through the Calendar section in your account.
Keep in mind that if you don’t book requests for the days you’re available, Rover may show some of your services as away.
It’s important to keep your calendar up-to-date and take action on your first few requests when you get started. This will ensure your profile comes up during searches and doesn’t get set to away mode.
It’s also best to confirm your availability every week, even if nothing has changed. If you do this, Rover puts a banner on your profile letting pet owners know you’ve confirmed your calendar is up-to-date.
If you need time off for a short break, like a vacation, you can set your profile to show you are away so you won’t get requests.
Pet Care Education
Rover offers extensive resources to help pet care professionals improve their business and provide better care to pets.
The resources section for sitters includes articles about:
- Dog care
- Cat care
- Safety
- Providing great service
- Growing your business
- Seasonal tips
- Insurance and finance
And more. These articles can help new and experienced sitters take their pet sitting side hustle to the next level.
Promo Codes
For sitters who are looking to expand their business, Rover provides promo codes. These codes can be shared by sitters and used by pet owners who are new to the site.
Promo codes give pet owners $20 off their first booking when they sign up for the site. Rover covers this cost, so any sitter who uses this feature will still receive their full booking rate.
Rover Fees
It is free to create a profile and list your pet sitting services on Rover.com. However, the site does charge certain fees.
Here are the fees sitters can expect to pay when using Rover:
| Fee Type | Cost |
| Booking (profiles created before March 1, 2016) | 15% of the total booking cost |
| Booking (profiles created on/after March 1, 2016) | 20% of the total booking cost |
| Payouts via check | $5 |
Fees are also charged to pet owners who use the site to make bookings.
Taxes
It’s important to remember that if you book pet sitting jobs through Rover.com, you are doing so as an independent contractor. This has tax implications you’ll need to consider.
If you earn more than $600 through the platform in a calendar year, you will need to report your income on your tax return.
Rover will send you a 1099 if you withdraw more than $600 from their platform via check. If you receive your money via PayPal, you’ll need to use PayPal’s tax tools to get the necessary tax documentation.
Rover.com earned a Trustpilot score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. While most reviews were positive, the majority of the negative reviews from sitters revolved around customer service.
Here’s what some of the platform’s users had to say:
“I am a sitter & a user of Rover.com and feel they have the best dog boarding service out there. The site is so easy to use…I get a text every time a Rover.com user wants me to watch their pup.”
Jamah D.
“I’ve been a pet sitter for Rover for a while. Anytime I’ve had an issue, the responses I’ve had from Rover is “oh well.”
Natasha
“I love Rover as a sitter and as an owner. I’ve met many great animal lovers and have always felt comfortable with everyone. Similarly, their technical support and customer service is phenomenal.”
Amanda
“I have to say, I was hopeful of Rover being a decent site, but now that I have used them, I am truly horrified at their lack of good customer service. I was a sitter for Rover for one month.”
Carlie D.
Rover Alternatives
Here are some Rover alternatives you may want to check out if you’re interested in searching out other similar companies or services.
Care.com
Care.com started out as a site that connected caregivers of children with parents who needed babysitters.
Since its inception in 2007, Care.com has grown to serve people in over 17 countries.
In addition, it has expanded its services to include the elderly and pets!!
When you sign up to be a pet sitter on Care.com, you’ll pretty much follow the same process as you do on Rover.
There will be fees when you get jobs on Care.com, and there is a Premium Membership fee you can pay to help your caregiver profile get more exposure.
See the Care.com website for details.
Sittercity
Sittercity works a bit differently than Care.com in that they simply provide a platform for you to connect with potential clients.
You will pay to have a profile on Sittercity, however, payment from clients and all other client-engaged activities are done independently between you and the client.
For that reason, you’ll want to ensure to solidify your terms and conditions with any potential client right up front, including how and when you’re paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about using Rover.com to start your pet sitting business.
It depends on your needs. Using Rover.com as a pet sitter has many advantages. Since it’s a recognized name, people automatically think of searching their database to find pet sitters.
Since you’re an independent contractor, you can choose your own schedule and pricing. Rover also offers around-the-clock support for pet sitters as well as insurance coverage.
However, you will compete with hundreds of other pet sitters in your area, so you will need to put in the legwork to stand out. You’ll also lose some of your earnings to Rover’s fees.
If you take precautions, Rover.com can be safe.
While Rover.com does background checks on pet sitters, there is no vetting process for pet owners. It’s important to do your own research as a pet sitter and trust your gut.
Meeting strangers can be uncomfortable. Schedule a meet and greet with the pet owner and make sure a loved one knows your whereabouts. If you can, schedule the meetup in a public place such as a park.
According to Rover.com, pet sitters can make an average of $1,000 per month working part-time.
If you’re willing to offer other services such as dog boarding, you can make more than those offering only dog sitting or dog walking services.
Summary
Rover.com can be a great place to find pet sitting jobs. You can set your own schedule and prices, which gives you the flexibility to only accept jobs that fit your needs.
With the Rover Guarantee, pet sitters have access to 24/7 customer support and $25,000 pet insurance in case of an emergency. This gives you an added layer of security and peace of mind.
If you enjoy being around animals, Rover could be an excellent option to help launch your pet sitting side gig.