What Age Can I Petsit? Pet Sitting Guidelines

Legal Age for Pet Sitting

Technically, by law, your not even allowed to stay home by yourself. You can start babysitting or pet sitting at 14.

  • Various ages: Pet sitting can be an appropriate job for various aged kids, including younger children.
  • Your child can remain close by: She can pet sit for neighbors and relatives that you know and feel comfortable with.

Pet Ownership Demographics

In terms of pet ownership, APPA found that Millennials are the largest segment of pet owners at 32%, with Baby Boomers close behind at 27%, Gen X at 24% and Gen Z at 14%. Gen Z’s ownership is expected to grow as many become adults in the coming years.

Minimum Legal Age for Activities

In response to these requests we created this quick reference list for parents of New Zealand children showing the minimum Legal Age for Activities between ages 5 to 25 years.

Appropriate Age for Pet Care Responsibilities

Children as young as five or six years old can have basic responsibilities like feeding and grooming small pets, under adult supervision.

Pet Sitting Without Insurance

Pet sitting can be a risky business, as there are certain liabilities to consider before hiring someone to watch pets. Many experts recommend getting pet sitter insurance to mitigate risks.

Pet Sitting and Age Considerations

As a general rule, no child under the age of 10 should be permitted to walk a large dog due to potential control issues.

Starting a Pet Sitting Business

To start a pet-sitting business, some essential steps include forming an LLC, obtaining licenses, and doing a competitive analysis.

Average pet sitting income:

  • $30 per day
  • $75 for overnight pet sitting, which generally includes one daytime visit and an 8-12 hour overnight stay.

Business Licensing and Costs

You need to have a basic setup when running a pet-sitting business from home. Charges can range from $10 to $60 per visit, averaging around $25 for a 30-minute service.

Youth Entrepreneurship

Starting a pet sitting business as a kid can teach valuable life skills such as responsibility, time management, and money handling.

For detailed steps on how to start a pet sitting business, refer to our comprehensive guide updated in April 2023.

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