Starting a Pet Sitting Business in Melbourne: A Local Guide for 2026

Melbourne is one of the best cities in Australia to start a pet sitting business. The numbers tell a straightforward story: roughly 40% of Melbourne households own a pet, the city has one of the highest rates of dual-income households in the country (meaning pet owners who need care during work hours and travel), and the pet services market has grown every year since 2020 with no signs of slowing.

But starting a pet sitting business in Melbourne is different from starting one in Sydney, Brisbane, or a regional town. The regulatory environment, the competitive landscape, the seasonal patterns, and the economics are all specific to this city. This guide covers what you actually need to know.

Legal Requirements in Victoria

Do You Need a Business Registration?

If you are pet sitting as a side income — occasional bookings alongside other employment — you do not necessarily need a registered business name. You can operate as a sole trader using your legal name.

If you plan to treat pet sitting as your primary income, or if you want to use a business name (like "Melbourne Pet Minders"), you will need to register with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This costs about $40 for a one-year registration or $95 for three years.

You also need an Australian Business Number (ABN). This is free and straightforward to obtain through the Australian Business Register. You will need an ABN to issue invoices and, once your revenue exceeds $75,000 in a financial year, to register for GST.

Council Regulations

Victoria does not have specific state licensing for pet sitters. However, some Melbourne councils have regulations about keeping multiple animals on residential property.

If you are boarding dogs at your home, the key regulation is your local council's limit on the number of animals that can be kept on a residential property. Most Melbourne councils allow two dogs without a permit. If you want to board multiple dogs simultaneously (which is common for home-based boarding), you may need to apply for a domestic animal business registration with your council.

Council animal business registration is required if you are keeping four or more dogs over the age of 12 weeks (or 10 or more cats) on your property. The registration process typically involves an inspection of your property, assessment of fencing and containment, and annual renewal. Fees vary by council but expect $200 to $500.

If you are only providing walking, drop-in visits, or sitting at the owner's home, these council restrictions generally do not apply.

Insurance

Pet sitting insurance is not legally required in Victoria, but operating without it is a significant risk. If a dog in your care bites someone, escapes and causes a car accident, or is injured while with you, the liability can be substantial.

Public liability insurance for pet sitters typically costs $300 to $600 per year and covers third-party injury or property damage. Several insurers offer pet-sitter-specific policies in Australia, including Pet Sitter Insurance Australia and BizCover.

Care, custody, and control insurance covers veterinary costs if a pet in your care is injured or becomes ill. This is a separate policy from public liability and costs an additional $200 to $400 per year.

Many pet owners now specifically look for insured sitters. Carrying insurance is both a safety net and a competitive advantage.

What You Can Earn in Melbourne

Earnings in pet sitting are not a salary — they vary enormously based on your location, services offered, availability, reputation, and the platform you use.

Realistic Earning Scenarios

Casual side income (5–10 hours per week): $200–$500 per week. This typically means a few dog walks per week plus an occasional overnight boarding. This is where most Melbourne sitters start.

Committed part-time (15–25 hours per week): $500–$1,200 per week. At this level, you are likely offering multiple services (walking, drop-ins, boarding), have a base of repeat clients, and are booking several days per week.

Full-time professional (30+ hours per week): $1,200–$2,500+ per week. This requires a strong reputation, a full calendar of repeat clients, premium pricing, and typically a combination of boarding and walking services. A small number of Melbourne sitters earn above $3,000 per week, but this usually involves boarding multiple dogs simultaneously.

Platform Fees Matter

The platform you use has a direct impact on your take-home earnings. Traditional platforms charge 15–25% commission on every booking. On a $60 per night boarding job, that is $9 to $15 going to the platform — per night.

Over a year with regular bookings, commission fees can add up to thousands of dollars. The Pet Sitter operates on a flat annual subscription model — you pay a fixed fee and keep 100% of every booking. For sitters doing consistent volume, the maths is straightforward.

Best Suburbs for Demand

Pet sitting demand in Melbourne correlates with three factors: pet ownership density, household income (which correlates with willingness to pay for professional pet care), and the proportion of dual-income or travelling households.

Highest demand areas:

• Inner north (Fitzroy, Northcote, Brunswick, Carlton): high pet density, young professionals, strong cafe culture that drives dog walking demand
• Inner south (St Kilda, South Yarra, Prahran): affluent, travel-oriented population with high demand for boarding and house sitting
• Bayside (Brighton, Sandringham, Hampton): families with higher budgets, strong demand for regular dog walking
• Inner west (Williamstown, Yarraville, Seddon): rapidly growing pet population, underserved by sitters relative to demand

Growing demand areas:

• Outer west (Point Cook, Werribee, Tarneit): massive population growth, young families getting first pets, relatively few established sitters — opportunity for early movers
• South-east (Berwick, Cranbourne, Pakenham): similar dynamics to the western growth corridors

Getting Your First Clients

The first 10 bookings are the hardest. After that, reviews and word of mouth start working for you. Here is how Melbourne sitters typically build their initial client base.

Build a Strong Profile

Your profile is your shopfront. Melbourne pet owners are savvy consumers who compare multiple sitters before booking.

Photos: include clear photos of your home (if offering boarding), your outdoor space, and ideally photos of you with animals. Avoid stock photos or heavily filtered images — authenticity performs better.

Bio: be specific about your experience and what makes your space suitable. "I have a fully fenced backyard in Northcote" tells an owner more than "I love animals." Mention your suburb, nearby parks, and any relevant experience.

Services and rates: be clear about what you offer and what you charge. Melbourne owners appreciate transparency. If you offer dog walking, specify the areas you cover and the walk duration options.

Your First Reviews

The review gap is the biggest hurdle. Owners want to book sitters with reviews, but you need bookings to get reviews.

Strategy 1: offer a modest introductory rate (10–15% below your target rate) for your first five bookings. This is an investment in reviews, not a permanent price.

Strategy 2: if you have friends or family with pets, offer to sit for them and ask for honest reviews. Most platforms allow this as long as the reviews are genuine.

Strategy 3: be exceptional with your first clients. Send detailed updates with photos during every booking. Go above and beyond on communication. A glowing, detailed review from an early client is worth far more than the booking revenue itself.

Local Networking

Melbourne's dog community is social and interconnected. The regulars at your local off-leash park know each other, share recommendations, and talk about their sitters.

Becoming a known face at your local park — Edinburgh Gardens, Albert Park Lake, Merri Creek Trail — is marketing that costs nothing but time. Bring business cards. Mention what you do. Word of mouth in Melbourne's dog community is remarkably effective.

Seasonal Patterns

Melbourne's pet sitting demand follows predictable seasonal patterns that you should plan around.

Peak seasons: Christmas/New Year (by far the busiest — book out weeks in advance), Easter, school holidays (April, July, September), and long weekends (Melbourne Cup, Australia Day, ANZAC Day).

Shoulder seasons: February to March (back from holidays but before Easter) and October to November (spring travel season). Steady demand but not peak.

Quieter periods: May to August (winter, less travel). Dog walking demand remains steady year-round, but boarding dips in winter.

Melbourne-specific: the Australian Open (January), Melbourne Cup Carnival (November), and Formula 1 Grand Prix (March) bring visitors who need pet care covered while they attend events.

Setting Up Your Space for Boarding

If you are offering home-based boarding, your space is your product. Melbourne owners will often visit before booking, and what they see matters.

Fencing

Secure fencing is non-negotiable. Most Melbourne councils require fencing of at least 1.2 metres for dog containment, but in practice, you want 1.5 to 1.8 metres for larger or athletic breeds. Check for gaps at the bottom (dogs dig), weak sections, and gates that can be pushed open.

Indoor Setup

Designate a pet-friendly area with easy-to-clean flooring. Carpet and long-stay dogs are a bad combination. Provide a bed or crate in a quiet area away from household traffic. If you are boarding cats, ensure they have a separate, enclosed space away from any dogs.

Outdoor Space

A yard is a significant advantage in Melbourne's pet sitting market. It does not need to be large, but it needs to be secure, free of hazards (toxic plants, accessible sheds with chemicals, swimming pools without fencing), and provide shade in summer.

Temperature Management

Melbourne's temperature swings are extreme — 40 degrees in summer, near freezing on winter mornings. Ensure your boarding space is temperature-controlled. Air conditioning or fans in summer and adequate heating in winter are basic expectations.

Standing Out in a Competitive Market

Melbourne has a large number of pet sitters, and standing out requires more than just being available.

Specialise: if you have experience with specific breeds, reactive dogs, senior pets, or exotic animals, highlight this. Generalist sitters compete on price. Specialists compete on expertise.

Communication: the single most common complaint about pet sitters is poor communication. Send updates with photos at least twice daily during boarding. Respond to enquiries within an hour. Communicate proactively about any concerns. Owners who feel informed are owners who rebook.

Offer report cards: detailed booking summaries — what your dog ate, how they slept, highlights of their walks — differentiate you from sitters who hand back the dog with a "yeah, all good." The Pet Sitter has built-in report cards with photo sharing and GPS walk tracking that make this easy.

Invest in your profile: update your photos regularly. Respond to every review. Keep your calendar and availability current. A stale profile signals a sitter who is not engaged.

Build repeat clients: acquiring a new client costs time and effort. Retaining an existing one costs almost nothing. Prioritise building long-term relationships. Remember pets' names, preferences, and quirks. Small personal touches compound into a loyal client base that provides predictable income.

Ready to start pet sitting in Melbourne? Join The Pet Sitter — keep 100% of your earnings with our flat annual subscription. No commission, ever.