Full-Service house sitting agency

Owners of second homes, snowbirds, frequent travelers, busy professionals and families with pets or larger properties.

Daily or nightly rates for sitting, plus extras such as pet care, plant care, mail handling and property check reports. Regular clients may pay for seasonal packages.

• Scheduling and managing people
• Marketing and relationship building
• Handling complaints calmly
• Basic bookkeeping or willingness to hire help

• Employee versus contractor rules for sitters vary by state, and getting this wrong can be costly, so check with your state agencies or an attorney
• Workers' compensation and payroll taxes once you hire, and registering with the IRS (EIN) and your state
• Insurance that covers damage, theft claims and pet incidents, and whether sitters need a bond
• State or local licensing for employment or placement agencies, and local business license rules
• Keys and alarm codes need a strict handling process
• Seasonal demand can make income uneven, so plan your cash flow

Estimates are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how you recruit and train sitters, your insurance, marketing and any bonding or payroll setup. Costs rise if you hire sitters as employees.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of your sitter team, the length of stays you book and seasonal demand. Estimates assume at least about 30 hours a week.

Check employee versus contractor rules for sitters in your state, workers' compensation and payroll taxes, and EIN registration. Also check insurance and bonding, state or local agency licensing, and local business license rules.