If you like animals and want flexible income that doesn’t require a desk, a degree, or a car, Rover might be the best side hustle you haven’t tried yet. Here’s what it actually pays and how to get started.
What Rover Is
Rover is a platform that connects pet owners with local dog walkers, pet sitters, and boarders. You create a profile listing your services, pet owners find and book you through the app, you provide the care, and Rover handles payment.
It’s one of the few side hustles that requires no startup cost, no car for most services, and no prior professional experience – just a genuine comfort around animals and a reliable, communicative personality.
What Services You Can Offer
Dog walkers on Rover can offer dog walking, boarding (watching pets overnight in your home), house sitting (caring for pets and the owner’s home overnight), doggy daycare, and drop-in visits.
Here’s what each service pays:
| Service | Typical Rate |
|---|---|
| Dog walking (30 min) | $15-25 per walk |
| Drop-in visit | $10-20 per visit |
| Overnight boarding | $35-75+ per night |
| Doggy daycare | $25-40 per day |
Part-time Rover workers typically earn $200-500 per week. Those treating it as a full-time business can reach $700-1,200+ per week.
Rover takes 20% of your earnings. Factor that into your pricing from the start.
Who It Works Best For
Rover is ideal if you work from home, have a fenced yard, or live in a walkable area. It’s a particularly good fit for work-from-home professionals who can board dogs while working remotely, students who can walk dogs between classes, and retirees looking for companionship and supplemental income.
You don’t need a car for dog walking, drop-in visits in your neighborhood, or boarding at your home. House sitting requires traveling to the client’s home, which can be done on foot, by bike, or transit.
Getting Your First Booking
The main challenge on Rover as a new sitter is the same chicken-and-egg problem every gig platform has: you need reviews to get bookings and bookings to get reviews.
Ask people you know first. Rover allows new sitters to invite up to 3 people to leave testimonials before you have any paid reviews. Friends, neighbors, anyone whose dog you’ve watched – ask them to vouch for you. Those early testimonials make your profile look credible to strangers.
Price competitively at first. Check what sitters with 50+ reviews in your area charge, then set your rates 10-15% lower. As reviews accumulate, raise them.
Accept all dog sizes early on. Many sitters don’t accept large dogs – which means owners of big dogs are desperate for sitters. When you’re starting out, try to have as few requirements as possible until you have at least 10 reviews.
Send photos during every service. Pet owners love updates. A photo mid-walk or a quick check-in message builds trust and almost always results in a five-star review and repeat bookings.
Stacking Services for More Income
The most efficient Rover earners don’t just walk dogs – they combine services. For example, walking two dogs for one client three times a week at $30 per walk plus one dog for another client twice a week at $25 per walk adds up to roughly $600 per month. Add in a couple of overnight boardings on weekends and you’re approaching $1,000.
Holidays are the highest-earning periods by far. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, spring break – demand spikes and you can charge holiday rates. If you’re available during these windows, make sure your calendar is open and your profile is up to date well in advance.
The Realistic Picture
Rover isn’t a get-rich-quick platform. Building a full client roster takes 2-3 months of consistent, excellent service. But once you have a base of repeat clients, bookings become predictable and the income is genuinely reliable.
Ready to sign up? Create your profile at Rover and have it live within a few days.