Mad Paws takes approximately 20% commission per booking. The Pet Sitter is free for sitters and owners, with no subscription, booking commission or client limit.
| Metric | The Pet Sitter | Mad Paws |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue model | Free — no subscription or commission | ~20% commission per booking |
| Sitter cost structure | Free — no subscription or commission | Scales with your revenue |
| Client relationship | Sitter-owned | Platform-intermediated |
| Ownership | Independent | Acquired by Rover / Blackstone |
Commission marketplaces generate revenue by taking a percentage of each transaction processed through the platform. This model aligns platform growth with transaction volume — the more bookings that flow through, the more revenue the platform earns.
Commission models lower the barrier to entry for new sitters — you pay nothing until you earn. This helps build marketplace liquidity quickly. For casual sitters or those exploring pet care as a side activity, this can be a reasonable trade-off.
Mad Paws was the leading Australian pet care marketplace before being acquired by Rover (Blackstone). It now operates within the Rover ecosystem with commission rates aligning toward the Rover standard of approximately 20%. Post-acquisition, the platform's economics and governance are increasingly directed by global marketplace priorities rather than local market needs.
The scenarios below show the platform cost at different booking volumes. The Pet Sitter costs zero at each level; other business costs are outside this comparison.
The Pet Sitter has no subscription cost or booking commission, so there is no paid-plan break-even threshold. Your own business expenses, taxes and any external payment-provider fees still apply.
At the modelled 20% rate, annual commission is A$1,920. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 20% rate, annual commission is A$4,800. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 20% rate, annual commission is A$9,600. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
New and repeat bookings carry no The Pet Sitter fee. Your revenue does not change the software price: it stays free. This comparison covers platform fees, not your total business profit.
Estimate your annual platform costs based on your monthly booking revenue.
Annual platform cost on Mad Paws
€5,280
20% commission on your booking revenue
Annual cost on The Pet Sitter
€0+ VAT
Free software, no commission
Estimated annual fee savings with The Pet Sitter
€5,280
Based on fee difference only
Mad Paws figures are converted from their published price at an approximate rate, for comparison only. The Pet Sitter price shown here is the amount Checkout charges in euros (EUR).
| Annual gross booking revenue | €26,400 |
|---|---|
| Estimated net on Mad Paws | €21,120 |
| Estimated net on The Pet Sitter | €26,400 |
Mad Paws' own help pages confirm owners pay a booking fee on every booking, and that the fee scales with the length of the booking (long-standing legacy accounts excepted).
The rate isn't published — owners only see it at checkout. Every price we charge is on this page.
The Pet Sitter charges neither side of a booking.
Structural differences between the two business models.
Percentage of each transaction
Free — no subscription or commission
Your booking revenue
Free — no subscription or commission
Platform-intermediated
Sitter-owned, direct
Subject to parent company priorities
Independent, sitter-focused
Same commission on every booking
No incremental cost per booking
May be influenced by platform
Sitter sets all pricing
Transaction volume
Revenue scales with bookings processed, incentivising maximum transaction throughput.
New client acquisition
New clients generate new transactions. The platform benefits from constantly adding demand.
Corporate objectives
Post-acquisition platforms may optimise for parent company metrics rather than local sitter success.
Organise your work
Keep bookings, client details, care updates and invoices together. The tools are free, and you decide whether they fit your day-to-day work.
Direct client relationships
Set your own rates and share your booking link with the clients you bring. You manage the relationship directly; a profile does not guarantee new bookings.
Room for your client list
Add clients without a paid tier or client-count cap. Import client records by CSV; historical bookings, invoices and payment credentials do not transfer.
Mad Paws' acquisition by Rover means its commission structure and product direction are now governed by Blackstone-backed global marketplace priorities. Sitters on the platform may see changes driven by corporate strategy rather than local market needs.
Neither model is universally better. The right choice depends on where you are in your pet sitting career.
Commission marketplaces let you start with zero upfront cost.
Mad Paws has an established Australian client base. If you need bookings now, their liquidity is an advantage.
If your volume is low and irregular, a per-transaction cost may be more proportional.
The Pet Sitter has no subscription cost or booking commission, so there is no paid-plan break-even threshold. Your own business expenses, taxes and any external payment-provider fees still apply.
New and repeat bookings carry no The Pet Sitter fee. Your revenue does not change the software price: it stays free. This comparison covers platform fees, not your total business profit.
Build direct relationships and a portable reputation that is not tied to a single platform.
The Pet Sitter has no subscription cost or booking commission, so there is no paid-plan break-even threshold. Your own business expenses, taxes and any external payment-provider fees still apply.
Your profile, booking link, date-range bookings, messaging, report cards, unlimited client records and CSV client import are free. Share your profile and booking link with your own clients from day one. Owner-side search, team and facility workflows are on the roadmap.
If you need access to a large existing client base today, Mad Paws and the broader Rover network may serve you better in the short term.
What we are building is infrastructure for professional sitters who want to own their business economics. Predictable costs, direct client relationships, and growth that is not taxed at 20% per booking. If that aligns with where you are heading, we would like to build this with you.
Mad Paws was acquired by Rover (backed by Blackstone). Post-acquisition platforms typically align commission structures and product strategy with the parent company over time. This is common in marketplace consolidation.
The Pet Sitter has no subscription cost or booking commission, so there is no paid-plan break-even threshold. Your own business expenses, taxes and any external payment-provider fees still apply.
Yes. Many professional sitters use multiple platforms. There are no exclusivity requirements.
We believe professional pet care should be infrastructure-enabled, not commission-gated.
Your tools. Your clients. Your business.