Local house sitter matching service
Connect vetted local house sitters with homeowners heading away, and earn a fee on each booking.
- C$600-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small local service that recruits and vets house sitters, then matches them with homeowners who are travelling. Sitters stay in or visit the home, look after pets and plants, and keep the property secure. You run it from home with a simple website and a spreadsheet or booking tool.
Your first three steps
- Pick your area and a niche, such as pet owners or winter snowbirds, and check what local pet sitters charge per night
- Create a vetting process: application form, references, interview, and a criminal record check through your local police service
- Set up a simple website and sitter agreement, then recruit your first 5 to 10 sitters and offer homeowners a first booking
Who pays
Homeowners going on holiday, snowbirds away for the winter, and families with pets who prefer not to board them.
How it makes money
A booking fee or a share of the nightly rate for each placement. Some agencies also charge sitters a small vetting or membership fee. Check that the way you charge is clear to both sides.
Skills that help
- Organized and good at matching people to needs
- Good judgment when screening people
- Clear, friendly communication
- Basic website and booking tools
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, and ask a broker about crime or bonding cover in case of theft or damage claims
- Homeowners should check their home insurance for vacancy or unoccupied-home clauses
- Whether sitters count as independent contractors or employees under your provincial employment rules
- Privacy rules for storing sitters' ID and background check results, check federal and provincial privacy laws
- Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
- Winter risks such as frozen pipes or snow clearing, so write clear duties into every booking
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: local house sitter matching service
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a house sitter matching service?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $600 to $3,000, depending on your website, booking tools and how you screen and recruit sitters. It can be run from home, which keeps overheads low.
How much can a house sitter matching service earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on how many sitters and homeowners you sign up and the fee you charge per booking. It can start part-time at about 8 hours a week.
What should I check before starting a house sitting service?
Check commercial general liability insurance and ask a broker about crime or bonding cover. Also check whether sitters count as contractors or employees in your province, privacy rules for storing ID and background checks, and any home-based business licence your municipality requires.
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