Professional pet-sitting industry bounces back from the pandemic slump
Pet Sitters International’s new survey results reveal promising business growth and an optimistic outlook for the professional pet-sitting industry.
KING, N.C. (July 18, 2023) — Just a few years after the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a financial blow to the professional pet sitting and dog walking industry, new data from Pet Sitters International (PSI) reveals that the average annual revenue for professional pet sitters has not only returned to pre-pandemic levels, but has surged past them.
PSI, the world’s leading educational association for professional pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners, surveyed its members this year to collect data about gross business revenues, types of services most offered, average charges for services and more.
According to PSI’s 2023 Post-Pandemic State of the Industry Survey results, the average gross revenue for PSI member businesses in the U.S. was $94,563 in 2022, compared to $68,699 in 2021 when member businesses were still impacted by COVID-related restrictions.
On average, PSI’s member businesses served 290 households and performed 3,667 visits in 2022, compared to 101 clients and 2,849 pet-sitting visits in 2021.
The association notes that average gross revenue in 2022 also reflects a 25 percent increase from the pre-pandemic average gross revenue of $75,869 in 2019, indicating that not only has the industry rebounded from the pandemic decline, PSI member businesses are more profitable than ever and have exceeded pre-COVID earnings.
"The increase in revenue and households served is a testament to professional pet-sitting business owners, who persevered through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, and to pet parents, who recognize and value the peace of mind that professional pet sitters and dog walkers provide,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston.
“The resurgence of travel, return of pet parents to work, and increased number of pets adopted during the pandemic have all contributed to the increase in average pet-sitter revenue and households served,” added Stultz-Hairston.
PSI conducted its survey of active PSI members exclusively online from January 5, 2023, through February 15, 2023. Twenty-five percent of the more than 4,000 pet sitters contacted completed the survey. PSI typically conducts its State of the Industry Survey—the most comprehensive survey of its kind—every two years (most recently in 2022 and early 2020). PSI decided to conduct a condensed version of the survey again this year to provide members with the most up-to-date information about the industry in the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“With professional pet-care services in high demand, professional pet sitting is a viable career option with significant earning potential for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, a love for pets and commitment to professionalism and hard work,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti Moran. “At PSI, we are dedicated to ensuring our members have the tools they need to succeed in the industry.”
To learn more about PSI or professional pet sitting as a career, visit www.petsit.com.
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About Pet Sitters International
Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, author of Pet Sitting for Profit, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, with member pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and more than 15 other countries. PSI members have access to the widest array of business services and educational resources available in the professional pet-sitting industry. PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is the largest online directory of professional pet sitters, and pet owners can visit petsit.com/locate to find local professional pet sitters.
