Pet sitting is one of the most accessible service businesses you can start in the UK. The startup costs are low, you do not need qualifications (though they help), and the UK's love of pets means demand is consistent year round. But "low startup costs" is not the same as "no startup costs". There are licensing requirements that catch people out, insurance that is non negotiable, and running costs that eat into what looks like an easy hourly rate.
This guide covers everything you need to budget before you take your first booking, plus realistic income figures so you can judge whether the numbers work for you.
Starting a pet sitting business costs £300 to £800. The biggest cost is insurance (£150 to £300 per year). If you offer home boarding (overnight stays), add a local council licence at £100 to £200. Many people start for under £500.
Total Startup Cost Summary
| Cost Item | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability and pet care insurance | £150 to £300/yr | Non negotiable. Get this before you take any bookings. |
| DBS check (basic) | £18 | Builds client trust. Some insurers require it for home entry. |
| Council licence (home boarding only) | £100 to £200 | Only needed if dogs sleep at your home. Annual renewal. |
| Pet first aid course | £80 to £150 | Not legally required but differentiates you and may reduce insurance cost. |
| Equipment (leads, bags, first aid kit) | £50 to £150 | Leads, poop bags, a basic first aid kit, an ID tag for client pets. |
| Website or Bark profile | £0 to £300 | Free on Bark, Rover, PetPals. A basic website adds credibility. |
| Business bank account | £0 to £10/mo | Starling and Monzo Business are free for sole traders. |
| Company registration (if going Ltd) | £12 to £50 | Sole trader registration is free via HMRC self assessment. |
Realistic minimum to get started: £280 to £500 (insurance plus DBS plus basic equipment, sole trader setup).
With home boarding licence and first aid course: £500 to £800.
Licensing: What the Law Requires
This is where many new pet sitters get caught out. The rules changed significantly in 2018 under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018, and not everyone who should know about them does.
What requires a licence:
- Home dog boarding: If dogs sleep overnight at your home, you need a licence from your local council. This applies even if you only board dogs occasionally. No licence, no legal home boarding.
- Dog day care: If you host dogs at your home during the day while owners are at work, this is also licensable activity.
What does NOT require a licence:
- Pet sitting in the client's own home: You visit or stay at the owner's house. No licence required.
- Dog walking: No licence required, regardless of how many dogs you walk.
- Cat sitting: No licence required for any type of cat care.
Home boarding licence process:
- Apply through your local council. Find yours at gov.uk.
- An officer visits your home to check space, safety, fire exits, and welfare standards.
- The licence specifies how many dogs you can board at once (typically 1 to 3 for a standard home).
- Licence costs vary by council: typically £100 to £200 for the initial licence. Annual renewal is usually the same price.
- An enhanced DBS check may be required as part of the application.
Insurance: Do Not Skip This
Public liability insurance covers you if an animal in your care injures someone or causes property damage. Care, custody, and control insurance covers vet bills and compensation if an animal in your care is injured or dies. You need both.
| Insurance Type | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Combined pet business policy (PL + CC&C) | £150 to £300 |
| Narps UK member policy (includes membership) | £120 to £200 |
| PL only (for dog walkers who do not board) | £80 to £150 |
Narps UK (National Association of Registered Pet Sitters) is worth considering as a member body. Membership gives you access to discounted insurance, a listing on their directory, and credibility with clients. Annual membership costs £65 to £100 on top of the insurance premium.
Do not start taking bookings without insurance. If a dog bites someone's child on a walk, or a cat in your care needs emergency veterinary treatment, being uninsured could cost you tens of thousands of pounds.
Qualifications and Training
No qualifications are legally required to start a pet sitting business in the UK. However, qualifications signal professionalism, give you confidence in emergencies, and can differentiate you from the person down the road who just likes dogs.
| Course | Cost | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Pet first aid (one day course) | £80 to £150 | Yes. Every pet sitter should do this. |
| Level 3 Animal Care diploma (online) | £200 to £600 | Useful if you want to charge premium rates or expand into grooming. |
| Dog behaviour and body language (online) | £50 to £150 | Valuable, especially if you walk multiple dogs together. |
| Narps UK foundation course | £65 | Good starting point. Covers basics plus the legal framework. |
Setting Your Rates
Pet sitting rates vary significantly by location and service type. London and major cities command higher rates than rural areas. These are typical UK ranges for 2026:
| Service | Typical Rate (UK average) | London Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minute dog walk | £12 to £18 | £15 to £25 |
| 60 minute dog walk | £18 to £28 | £25 to £40 |
| 30 minute pet visit (cats, dogs in own home) | £12 to £18 | £15 to £25 |
| Home boarding (dog overnight) | £25 to £50/night | £40 to £75/night |
| House sitting (staying in client's home) | £35 to £70/night | £50 to £100/night |
| Group dog walk (3 to 5 dogs) | £10 to £14/dog | £14 to £20/dog |
Do not undercut to win clients in your first month. Low rates attract price-sensitive clients who are difficult to retain and are the hardest to raise rates on later. Start at the local market rate and compete on reliability and communication.
Realistic Income Expectations
Here is what a solo pet sitter can realistically earn working different patterns:
| Work Pattern | Estimated Annual Revenue |
|---|---|
| Part time (10 to 15 hours/week alongside other work) | £6,000 to £12,000 |
| Full time solo (30 to 40 hours/week, no home boarding) | £15,000 to £22,000 |
| Full time with home boarding (up to 3 dogs simultaneously) | £22,000 to £35,000 |
| Premium urban market with established client base | £35,000 to £50,000 |
The cap on solo income is time. Once you are fully booked, the only way to grow beyond £35,000 is to bring on employed or self-employed staff, which adds a whole different layer of cost and complexity.
Running Costs After Launch
The startup costs are low, but factor these ongoing costs into your monthly budgeting:
- Insurance renewal: £150 to £300 per year. Do not let it lapse.
- Council licence renewal: £100 to £200 per year (if you do home boarding).
- Fuel and transport: If you drive to clients, fuel and vehicle wear costs £50 to £150 per month depending on your radius.
- Consumables: Poop bags, treats, basic first aid supplies — budget £20 to £40 per month.
- Booking software: Apps like PetPocketbook, Time to Pet, or Pawfinity cost £15 to £30 per month. Many start with a simple spreadsheet or Google Calendar.
- Professional development: A short animal behaviour or first aid refresher course every 1 to 2 years. Budget £100 to £200 per year.
- Tax and accountancy: As a sole trader you will complete a Self Assessment tax return. Budget £150 to £300 per year for an accountant or use free HMRC tools if your accounts are straightforward.
Platforms to Start Getting Bookings
Most new pet sitters combine platform listings with local word of mouth in the first six months:
- Rover: The largest UK pet sitting marketplace. Free to list. Rover takes 25% of each booking. High traffic but competitive.
- Bark: Lead generation platform. You pay per lead (£3 to £15 per lead). Use selectively.
- PetPals UK: Franchise model. Costs £5,000 to £7,000 to join but gives you an established brand, territory protection, and their booking system. Worth considering if you want to scale quickly.
- Local Facebook groups: Free and often the fastest source of first clients in most towns and villages.
- Google Business Profile: Free. Appears in local searches for "pet sitter near me". Set it up on day one.
- Your own website: A simple one page site with your services, rates, and a booking form costs £200 to £500 to have built. Pays for itself within weeks once Google starts sending you local traffic.
Is a Pet Sitting Business Worth Starting?
The numbers work if you are in the right area and willing to build consistently. Pet sitting is not a get rich quick business, but it is one of the most flexible solo businesses you can run in the UK — genuinely low cost to enter, recurring clients, and no employer to answer to.
The risks are real too. A dog in your care being injured is a devastating situation personally and financially if you are uninsured. Burnout from physically demanding outdoor work in all weather is common among those who scale too quickly. And income is inherently variable — school holidays and Christmas are busy, January and February are quiet.
If you enjoy animal care, are reliable and communicative, and live in an area with disposable income pet owners (commuter towns are ideal), this is a genuinely viable business that can be profitable from month one.
Starting a pet sitting business in the UK costs £300 to £800. Get insured before you take any bookings, get licensed if you board dogs at home, complete a pet first aid course, and set your rates at the market level from day one. Full-time solo income sits at £15,000 to £35,000 depending on services offered and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a pet sitting business in the UK?
Starting a pet sitting business in the UK costs £300 to £800 in total startup expenses. The biggest fixed cost is insurance at £150 to £300 per year. Adding a home boarding council licence and first aid course brings the total closer to £500 to £800.
Do I need a licence to run a pet sitting business in the UK?
You need a local council licence if you offer home boarding (dogs sleeping overnight at your home). Visiting pets in their own home and dog walking do not require a licence. Home boarding without a licence is illegal under the 2018 Animal Welfare Regulations.
What insurance do I need for a pet sitting business?
You need public liability insurance and care, custody, and control cover. Combined pet business policies cost £150 to £300 per year. Do not start taking bookings without this in place.
How much can a pet sitter earn in the UK?
A full-time solo pet sitter earns £15,000 to £35,000 per year depending on services and location. Premium urban markets with home boarding can reach £50,000. Part-time earns £6,000 to £12,000.
Do I need a DBS check to start a pet sitting business?
A DBS check is not legally required for standard pet sitting, but builds client trust and may be required by your insurer if you enter clients' homes. A basic DBS check costs £18 online. An enhanced check (required by some home boarding council licences) costs £38.