Pawshake takes 19% of every booking. The Pet Sitter is free for sitters and owners, with no subscription, booking commission or client limit.
| Metric | The Pet Sitter | Pawshake |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue model | Free — no subscription or commission | 19% commission per booking |
| Sitter cost structure | Free — no subscription or commission | Scales with your revenue |
| Client relationship | Sitter-owned | Platform-intermediated |
| Stage | Available worldwide — bring your own clients | Established in Europe |
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.
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% 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 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 19% rate, annual commission is A$1,824. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 19% rate, annual commission is A$4,560. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 19% rate, annual commission is A$9,120. 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 Pawshake
€4,104
19% 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
€4,104
Based on fee difference only
Pawshake 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 | €21,600 |
|---|---|
| Estimated net on Pawshake | €17,496 |
| Estimated net on The Pet Sitter | €21,600 |
In some regions, Pawshake charges pet owners a “Member Service Fee” on top of the sitter's rate.
The amount 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
Platform may influence pricing
Sitter sets all pricing
Same commission on every booking
No incremental cost per booking
Limited profile visibility in search engines
Search-engine indexing after profile approval and opt-in
Client data stays on platform
Sitter builds portable reputation
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.
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.
You set your care prices and receive payments directly. The Pet Sitter deducts no commission and charges no software subscription; your business expenses, taxes and external provider fees are separate.
Neither model is universally better. The right choice depends on where you are in your pet sitting career and what you are optimising for.
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.
Pawshake has an established presence in parts of Europe. If you need bookings in their active markets, their existing client base is an advantage.
An established marketplace may help you reach owners when you do not yet have your own clients. Weigh that access and its terms against its fees; The Pet Sitter is free at every booking volume.
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.
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.
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 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% on every booking. If that aligns with where you are heading, we would like to build this with you.
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.
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 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.