Full-Service house sitting agency

Snowbirds, seniors, busy professionals and owners of larger homes or cottages who want a reliable, accountable service.

Nightly or visit-based rates charged to the homeowner, with sitters paid a set rate and the agency keeping the difference. Add-on services and long-stay packages can raise the value of each booking.

• Scheduling and managing people
• Customer service and building trust
• Basic bookkeeping
• Marketing to local homeowners

• Employment rules: whether sitters are employees or contractors, and WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire, which varies by province
• Insurance that covers the sitters in client homes, and keys or alarm codes security
• Safe key handling and a clear emergency plan, for example for burst pipes or power cuts
• Registering for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, check with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements if you operate there
• Seasonal demand, with busy winter and summer periods and quieter months

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on sitter training, insurance, your website and the marketing you do to reach local homeowners. It can be run from a home office.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of your sitter team and how many homeowners you serve. Demand is seasonal, with busy winter and summer periods and quieter months.

Check whether sitters are employees or contractors and what WCB or WSIB coverage applies in your province. Also check insurance that covers sitters in client homes, safe key handling, GST/HST registration with the Canada Revenue Agency, and Quebec's rules if you operate there.