All side businesses
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Anyone can start

Pet Sitting / Dog Walking

Income / yr

$3,000-$30,000

Startup cost

$100

Time

10 hrs/wk

First dollar

1-2 weeks once your profile is live.

Board pets, house-sit, or walk dogs through an app. Easy to start and genuinely flexible.

Why it fits shift work

Boarding fits your off-days; walks fit gaps. Great if you like animals.

How to launch it

  1. 1Create a profile on a pet-care marketplace.
  2. 2Start with drop-in visits or walks to build reviews.
  3. 3Add overnight boarding once you have 5-star reviews.
  4. 4Encourage repeat clients to book you directly.

Where to start

Rover / WagMarketplaces with insurance and built-in demand
NextdoorNeighbors looking for trusted local pet care

The tax win

Once this earns 1099 income, these expenses become deductible on Schedule C, lowering the tax on your day-job income too.

Pet supplies
Mileage
Platform fees
Portion of home for boarding
Marketing
See what that saves you

Honest reality check

Lowest skill floor here, so rates start low. Reviews and repeat clients are everything.

Time to first dollar: 1-2 weeks once your profile is live.

Want RyzeFi to set this up for you?

Join the waitlist for the done-for-you version: EIN filing, sole-prop registration, and expense tracking wired to this exact business.

Join the waitlist

Educational starting point, not legal or tax advice. Confirm licensing and scope-of-practice rules for your state and profession before starting.