Local managed house sitting agency

Local homeowners, second-home owners and landlords who want a reliable person in the property, often paying more for a personal service.

A fixed fee per booking or a daily rate, with you paying the sitter and keeping the margin. Add-ons such as pet visits or key holding bring extra income.

• Good judgement of people
• Reliable and calm under pressure
• Local networking
• Managing a small team of self-employed sitters

• Public liability insurance, plus check cover for key holding and for sitters working in other people's homes
• Check employment status carefully: whether sitters are self-employed or workers depends on how you run things
• Basic DBS checks for sitters, and how to request them through a registered body
• Some activities, such as pet boarding in your own home, may need a council licence, so check before offering them
• Home insurance policies may have conditions about unoccupied homes, so advise clients to check theirs
• Last-minute cancellations by sitters, so keep a reserve list

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £300 to £2,000, depending on your insurance, your marketing and how you recruit and check sitters. A small pool of sitters at the start helps keep costs manageable.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £4,000, depending on how many bookings you place and whether you add extras such as pet care and plant watering. Check your own figures, as revenue is not profit.

Check your public liability insurance, including cover for key holding and for sitters working in other people's homes. Also check employment status for sitters, how to request basic DBS checks, and whether activities such as pet boarding at home need a council licence.