Losing a job can be a pivotal moment, and for Kevin Liu, a 28-year-old in Texas, being laid off from his tech position three times spurred a desire for greater financial security. This need for a stable income stream led him to explore various side hustles, ultimately discovering a passion and profitable venture in pet sitting. While initially seeking only to supplement his income, Liu’s journey with pet sitting has evolved into a highly successful endeavor, demonstrating the potential for significant earnings and personal satisfaction. This narrative explores his transition from a tech professional to a sought-after pet sitter, highlighting the strategies he employed to build his business and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
From College Dreams to Rover Reality
During his college years, the concept of “side hustles” was a common topic of discussion. Liu recalled seeing a YouTube video about pet sitting, which planted a seed. The idea of earning money by doing something enjoyable resonated with him. This initial inspiration eventually led him to join the Rover pet-sitting app in June 2020. Unlike some platforms that operate on unpaid placements, Rover connects pet sitters with paid opportunities for a 20% booking fee, which includes insurance. Liu’s initial goal was modest: to supplement his income within a six-mile radius of his Austin, Texas, home.
His first booking, a lively puppy in a one-bedroom apartment, came within a month. Despite lacking prior pet-care experience, the owner was drawn to Liu’s work-from-home status, ensuring the pet wouldn’t be left alone for extended periods. However, Liu quickly realized his initial pricing strategy was unsustainable. Charging $26 for a full day of pet sitting, which netted him only $15 after fees and taxes, proved insufficient, especially after incurring grocery expenses for his own meals. This early experience highlighted the need to re-evaluate his pricing and business approach.
Scaling Up: Increasing Prices and Enhancing Visibility
To make pet sitting a more viable income source, Liu strategically began to increase his rates as he gained more experience. He also recognized the importance of prompt communication, responding quickly to all inquiries, whether he could accept the booking or not. This high response rate and fast response time significantly improved his ranking in Rover’s search results, leading to more frequent bookings. His clientele grew to include families on vacation and couples enjoying weekend getaways. Beyond the financial rewards, Liu cherished the opportunity to meet new people and their pets, and he experienced the unique perk of staying in luxurious homes, from five-bedroom houses with infinity pools to cliff-top residences with breathtaking views.
Balancing Tech and Pet Sitting
By August 2020, Liu had re-entered the tech industry full-time. However, his remote work status allowed him to continue house-sitting. He transitioned away from offering dog walking and drop-in services due to time constraints, focusing instead on house-sitting gigs that involved caring for multiple pets simultaneously, maximizing his earning potential. While most of his clients were dog owners, he also gained experience caring for less conventional pets, including a snake and five geckos. He described this particular pet sit as one of his easiest, noting the snake’s infrequent feeding schedule and the geckos’ simple daily misting requirements.
A Record-Breaking Year and Passive Income
Last year marked Liu’s most successful period in pet sitting, with earnings of $26,110 before taxes and fees. He currently has bookings secured for six months in advance. While his tech job remains his primary income source due to its higher pay, he views pet sitting as a significantly passive and rewarding side hustle. The fulfillment he derives from assisting people and their beloved animals is a strong motivator.
Overcoming Challenges: From Falling Trees to Online Learning
Liu encountered only one significant challenge during his pet-sitting career, and it had nothing to do with the animals themselves. While he learned to navigate interactions with untrained dogs by giving them space and remaining vigilant for distractions like squirrels, a more serious incident occurred when a tree fell on a house where he was staying. Fortunately, no one was harmed, and the owner arranged for the tree’s removal.
His learning curve was also influenced by online communities. He found valuable insights on Reddit but identified a need for more specific guidance on benchmarking prices and setting income goals. This realization inspired him to share his own experiences. In August 2022, he posted a TikTok video detailing his first year as a pet sitter. The video unexpectedly garnered over 500,000 views overnight, attracting numerous questions from viewers and even offers to fly him to various cities for pet-sitting jobs. However, due to his full-time tech commitments, he has not pursued these long-distance opportunities.
The Luxury Pet-Sitting Experience and Maintaining Routine
Liu now commands a daily rate of $170, with clients frequently scheduling their vacations around his availability, particularly during the busy summer months and festive seasons. Last summer, he was house-sitting almost every night. His longest engagement involved caring for a docile, elderly Shih Tzu for 28 days while the owner traveled for work. Liu emphasizes providing a luxury service, aiming to make the entire experience seamless for the client. Upon their return, they find their pet well-cared for, their home tidy, plants watered, and any deliveries collected.
Caring for pets in beautiful homes can feel like a “staycation,” which Liu acknowledges can disrupt one’s daily routine, especially with a demanding day job. To counteract this, he maintains a consistent schedule. He wakes around 5 a.m. to feed and let the dogs out, followed by a 90-minute gym session. He returns to the house for a dog walk before his typical 9 or 10 a.m. work meetings. After finishing work around 5 p.m., he feeds and walks the dogs again. He balances his pet-sitting duties with social activities and personal time, usually retiring by 10 p.m. Despite paying $950 monthly for his apartment, which is only 4 miles away, he chooses not to rent it out, valuing it as a familiar sanctuary to return to.
Demystifying Pet Sitting: It’s a Job, Not Just a Hobby
Liu stresses that a common misconception about pet and house sitting is that it’s an easy job. He highlights that not all clients are easygoing, and not all pets are well-behaved. Transparency in pricing is crucial, ensuring both clients and fellow pet sitters understand realistic costs. While it’s a rewarding profession, he cautions against burnout. He now avoids looking after too many puppies due to their demanding and irregular sleep schedules, which conflict with his need for consistent rest while managing his full-time employment.
If you have a lucrative side gig and want to share your story, email Jennifer Eum at jeum@insider.com.
