Pet sitting businesses report revenue growth in North America

Average pet-sitting business revenue in the US reached $112,423 (€96,916) in 2025, up 11% from $100,537 (€86,670) in 2023, according to Pet Sitters International (PSI), an educational association for professional pet sitters. 

In Canada, the figure rose to CA$166,118 ($116,283/€102,993) from CA$100,764 ($70,535/€62,474) in 2023.

Of the respondents, 94% were pet sitters in the US, about 5% were based in Canada, and nearly a dozen were from other countries.

Nearly 7 out of 10 (68%) respondents said they expect their business revenue to grow in the coming year, while 78% said they have a somewhat positive or very positive outlook for their business in 2026.

The findings come from the association’s 2026 State of the Industry Survey, which polled nearly 4,000 active PSI members between 20 January and 11 March 2026.

Rates

Average pet sitting rates in the US range from $20.64 (€17.79) to $46.26 (€39.88) for visits lasting 15 minutes to one hour, while rates in Canada range from CA$20.73 ($14.51/€12.85) to CA$47.66 ($33.36/€29.55). Dog walking services have very similar average ranges for services lasting 15 minutes to one hour in both countries.

Most respondents said 30-minute pet sitting visits (63%) or dog walks (70%) are the most requested duration. Respondents also noted that pricing is influenced primarily by competition (36%), cost of living (25%) and overhead costs (12%).

For pet sitting visits, more than half (52%) of professionals charge for additional pets, while 48% base their rates solely on the length of service, regardless of the number of pets. 

Overnight visits

For longer visits, overnight services cost an average of $110.43 (€95.20) in the US and CA$113 ($79.10/€70.06) in Canada, while live-in or 24-hour services cost $167.62 (€144.50) in the US and CA$217.67 ($152.37/€134.96) in Canada.

Among members who offer overnight services, 62% said a midday visit is not included in their overnight rate, which means clients pay separately for the additional visit.

Client demographics and behavior

PSI found that pet sitting services are most commonly used by pet owners aged 36 to 50 (35%) and 51 to 65 (31%). Notably, 75% of clients are described as having “middle-to-high” or “high” incomes.

In addition, 98% of respondents have senior clients, 62% have clients with physical disabilities, and 27% have clients with mental and/or developmental disabilities.

“Pet owners increasingly view professional pet sitters as more than someone who simply feeds or walks a pet. Pet parents are seeking professional, educated pet-care providers,” Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President, tells GlobalPETS.

Cats lead

Cats are the most commonly serviced pets, with 96% of PSI members offering cat care, compared with 92% offering dog services. Cats have remained the leading pet category since 2018.

More than half of members also provide care for small animals, such as rabbits and hamsters (71%), birds (65%), freshwater fish (62%), and reptiles and amphibians (57%). Less than half offer care for saltwater fish, farm animals, horses and exotic pets, such as big cats and primates.

Opportunities for growth

Most PSI members operate small businesses without employees. More than half (52%) work independently, while a further 9% operate with a business partner. However,  employing staff is becoming more common, with 39% of respondents reporting that they have staff in 2026, compared with 31% in 2024.

Technology adoption remains relatively limited across the sector, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents saying they do not currently use AI or automation tools in their businesses. Meanwhile, 46% use dedicated pet-sitting software and 40% use accounting software.

Among respondents who adopted AI and automation, 17% use these tools for customer communication, 14% for marketing and 8% for scheduling.

For digital marketing, 63% of respondents list their businesses on PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator, while 61% use a Facebook business page and 51% use a Google Business listing or Google Search. Social media is also widely used, with 71% of respondents using Facebook and 54% using Instagram.

“We expect continued growth alongside greater professionalization, with increased emphasis on education, clearly defined standards, technology and scalable business practices,” Stultz-Hairston says.

“PSI sees tremendous opportunity for businesses that combine new tools and innovation with the professionalism, trust and personalized care pet owners increasingly expect.”