Part-time sitter (€800/month)
Pawshake€1,872/yr
Flat subscription€199/yr
Annual difference€1,673
At this level, the commission model costs €1,872/year vs €199/year for a flat subscription. The difference is €1,673.
Business Model Comparison
Commission Marketplace vs Ownership Model for Professional Pet Sitters
Pawshake takes 19.5% of every booking. A flat subscription costs the same regardless of how much you earn. Here is how the economics compare over 12 months.
| Metric | The Pet Sitter | Pawshake |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue model | Flat subscription | 19.5% commission per booking |
| Sitter cost structure | Predictable annual fee | Scales with your revenue |
| Client relationship | Sitter-owned | Platform-intermediated |
| Stage | Early, building locally | Established in Europe |
How Commission Marketplaces Work
Commission marketplaces generate revenue by taking a percentage of each transaction processed through the platform. This model emerged because it aligns platform growth with transaction volume — the more bookings that flow through the system, the more revenue the platform earns.
- The platform connects pet owners with sitters and processes payments on behalf of both parties.
- A percentage of each booking (typically 15–25%) is retained by the platform before the sitter receives payment.
- Many platforms also charge pet owners a separate service fee at checkout.
- The platform controls the payment flow, communication channels, and often the client relationship.
Commission models work well for platforms that need to scale quickly without requiring upfront revenue from their supply side. They lower the barrier to entry for new sitters — you pay nothing until you earn — which helps build marketplace liquidity. For casual sitters or those just starting out, this can be a reasonable trade-off.
Pawshake operates a 19.5% sitter commission model and has been one of the established pet care platforms in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium, and surrounding markets. Pet owners also pay a booking fee at checkout. Pawshake was an early mover in European pet care marketplaces.
The 12-Month Economics
The core economic question is straightforward: at what point does a fixed annual cost become more efficient than a percentage-based fee? The answer depends on your monthly booking volume.
At approximately €85/month in bookings, a €199/year flat fee costs the same as a 19.5% commission. Above that threshold, every additional euro you earn is kept in full under the subscription model.
Regular sitter (€2,000/month)
Pawshake€4,680/yr
Flat subscription€199/yr
Annual difference€4,481
A 19.5% commission at this revenue level is €4,680/year. The flat fee remains €199. That is €4,481 in retained earnings per year.
Full-time professional (€4,000/month)
Pawshake€9,360/yr
Flat subscription€199/yr
Annual difference€9,161
At full-time professional revenue, commission reaches €9,360/year. The subscription model saves €9,161 annually.
The economics become more pronounced over time. As you build repeat clients, your acquisition cost drops but commission stays the same. Under a flat-fee model, repeat clients become more profitable with each return booking.
Fee Breakdown Calculator
Estimate your annual platform costs based on your monthly booking revenue.
€
per month€200€10,000
Annual platform cost on Pawshake
€4,212
19.5% commission on your booking revenue
Annual cost on The Pet Sitter
€199
Flat subscription, no commission
Estimated annual fee savings with The Pet Sitter
€4,013
Based on fee difference only
| Annual gross booking revenue | €21,600 |
|---|---|
| Estimated net on Pawshake | €17,388 |
| Estimated net on The Pet Sitter | €21,401 |
Model Comparison
Structural differences between the two business models.
Revenue model
Commission / Platform Model
Percentage of each transaction
Ownership / Subscription Model
Fixed annual subscription
Cost scales with
Commission / Platform Model
Your booking revenue
Ownership / Subscription Model
Nothing — cost is fixed
Client relationship
Commission / Platform Model
Platform-intermediated
Ownership / Subscription Model
Sitter-owned, direct
Pricing control
Commission / Platform Model
Platform may influence pricing
Ownership / Subscription Model
Sitter sets all pricing
Repeat client economics
Commission / Platform Model
Same commission on every booking
Ownership / Subscription Model
No incremental cost per booking
Profile SEO
Commission / Platform Model
Limited profile visibility in search engines
Ownership / Subscription Model
Each sitter gets an indexable profile page
Business portability
Commission / Platform Model
Client data stays on platform
Ownership / Subscription Model
Sitter builds portable reputation
What Each Model Optimises For
What commission models optimise for
Transaction volume
Revenue scales with the number and value of bookings processed, so the platform is incentivised to maximise transaction throughput.
New client acquisition
New clients generate new first-time transactions. The platform benefits from constantly adding new demand.
Payment intermediation
The platform needs to remain in the payment flow to capture its fee, which can limit direct sitter-client relationships.
What subscription models optimise for
Sitter retention
Revenue depends on sitters continuing to find value. The platform is incentivised to make sitters successful, not just busy.
Repeat client value
When there is no per-transaction cost, repeat clients become more valuable. The model rewards lasting relationships.
Business growth
A sitter earning more does not cost the platform more. Sitter success and platform economics are aligned.
Pawshake's 19.5% commission means its revenue increases as yours does. Under a subscription model, the platform earns the same amount whether you have a quiet month or your best month ever.
Who Should Use Which Model?
Neither model is universally better. The right choice depends on where you are in your pet sitting career and what you are optimising for.
A commission marketplace may suit you if
You are testing the market
Commission marketplaces let you start with zero upfront cost. If you are unsure whether pet sitting is for you, paying only when you earn reduces risk.
You need immediate demand in Europe
Pawshake has an established presence in parts of Europe. If you need bookings in their active markets, their existing client base is an advantage.
You sit casually or seasonally
If your volume is low and irregular, a per-transaction cost may be more proportional than an annual subscription.
A subscription model may suit you if
You are building a professional business
Once you have regular bookings, a fixed cost is more efficient than a percentage. The break-even point is approximately €85/month.
You have or want repeat clients
Under a flat fee, every repeat booking is pure margin. Under commission, the platform takes the same cut every time.
You want to own your client relationships
A subscription model does not need to sit between you and your clients. You build direct relationships and a portable reputation.
You are thinking long-term
The compounding savings of a fixed cost versus a percentage become substantial over months and years.
An Honest Note on Where We Are
The Pet Sitter is early. We are building city by city, community by community. We do not yet have the demand-side liquidity of an established platform like Pawshake, and we are transparent about that.
If you need access to an existing client base today, an established marketplace may serve you better in the short term.
What we are building is infrastructure for professional sitters who want to own their business economics. A place where your costs are predictable, your client relationships are yours, and your growth is not taxed at 19.5% on every booking. If that aligns with where you are heading, we would like to build this with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pawshake better for getting clients in Europe?
Pawshake has an established presence in parts of Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Belgium. If immediate bookings in those markets are your primary concern, their existing client base is an advantage. The trade-off is ongoing commission on all bookings.
When does a flat subscription become cheaper than Pawshake's commission?
At approximately €85/month in bookings, a €199/year subscription costs less than 19.5% commission. Most active sitters pass this threshold quickly.
Can I use both platforms at the same time?
Yes. Many professional sitters use multiple platforms during their growth phase. There are no exclusivity requirements on either side.
We believe professional pet care should be infrastructure-enabled, not commission-gated.
Your tools. Your clients. Your business.