Local pet taxi

Busy or older pet owners, people without a car, people moving house, and vets, groomers and boarding kennels that offer pickup.

A flat fee or per-kilometre price per trip, with extra for waiting time, multiple pets or after-hours runs. Regular contracts with a vet clinic or groomer give steady work.

• Calm, confident handling of dogs and cats
• Safe, careful driving
• Reliable timekeeping and communication

• Check that your car insurance covers paid transport of animals, as standard policies may not
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for injury or loss of an animal in your care
• Check your state's animal welfare rules on transporting animals and what your local council requires
• Heat is a real danger, so never leave animals in a parked car and plan trips around hot days
• Nervous or aggressive animals, so use consent forms and ask about behaviour before booking

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on the crates, restraints and insurance you need and what your car already has. Check that your car insurance covers paid transport of animals, as standard policies may not.

Things to check: whether your car insurance covers paid animal transport, public liability insurance and cover for injury or loss of an animal in your care, and your state's animal welfare and local council rules. Never leave animals in a parked car.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many trips you take and your pricing. Estimates also suggest at least around 6 hours a week, so it can fit around other work.