PetBacker publishes a service fee of 15-25% per booking, and says new providers start at 25%. The Pet Sitter is free for sitters and owners, with no subscription, booking commission or client limit.
| Metric | The Pet Sitter | PetBacker |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue model | Free — no subscription or commission | 15-25% commission per booking |
| Sitter cost structure | Free — no subscription or commission | Scales with your revenue |
| Client relationship | Sitter-owned | Platform-intermediated |
| Geographic focus | Building locally, multiple markets | Asia-first, expanding globally |
Commission marketplaces generate revenue by taking a percentage of each transaction processed through the platform. This model aligns platform growth with transaction volume.
Commission models lower the barrier to entry and help build marketplace liquidity quickly. For casual sitters or those starting out, paying only when you earn reduces initial risk.
PetBacker's own help centre publishes a service fee of 15-25% deducted from each booking, and states that new Backers start at 25%; pet training is a flat 35% (checked 6 September 2026). The 15% floor — lower than many competitors — is the figure the calculator below uses, so treat it as the best case rather than the rate a new joiner pays. The platform started in Asia and has expanded internationally. The Pet Sitter is free for sitters and owners, with no subscription, booking commission or client limit.
The figures below use PetBacker’s published 15% floor. New Backers start at 25%, within its published 15–25% range. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription.
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 15% rate, annual commission is A$1,440. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 15% rate, annual commission is A$3,600. The Pet Sitter charges no commission or subscription; your business costs, taxes and external payment fees are separate.
At the modelled 15% rate, annual commission is A$7,200. 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 PetBacker
€3,240
15% 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
€3,240
Based on fee difference only
PetBacker's own help centre publishes a service fee of 15-25% per booking and states that new Backers start at 25%; pet training is a flat 35% (checked 6 September 2026). This calculator uses the published 15% floor, so treat the result as the best case rather than the rate a new provider pays.
PetBacker 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 PetBacker | €18,360 |
| Estimated net on The Pet Sitter | €21,600 |
PetBacker's own help center confirms pet owners pay a service fee in a number of countries, introduced in April 2023, and publishes the rate by country: 7% in Australia, 8% in most other listed countries, 15% in Colombia. Accounts created before 1 April 2023 are exempt.
The Pet Sitter charges neither side of a booking.
Structural differences between the two business models.
Percentage of each transaction (15%)
Free — no subscription or commission
Your booking revenue
Free — no subscription or commission
Platform-intermediated
Sitter-owned, direct
Same 15% on every booking
No incremental cost per booking
Limited profile visibility
Search-engine indexing after profile approval and opt-in
Client data stays on platform
Sitter builds portable reputation
Transaction volume
Revenue scales with bookings processed. The platform is incentivised to maximise transaction throughput.
New client acquisition
New clients generate new transactions. The platform benefits from constantly adding demand.
Payment intermediation
The platform needs to stay in the payment flow to capture its 15%.
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.
PetBacker's 15% commission is lower than many platforms, which is a genuine advantage within the commission model category. However, the structural pattern is the same: your costs scale with your success. At $4,000/month in bookings, PetBacker earns $600/month from your work.
PetBacker's lower commission rate makes the comparison closer at low volumes. The structural difference becomes clear as your business grows.
Commission marketplaces let you start with zero upfront cost. PetBacker's lower rate makes this even more accessible.
PetBacker has established presence in parts of Asia and select international markets.
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.
Build direct relationships and a reputation that is not tied to a single platform.
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.
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 established marketplace liquidity in PetBacker's active markets today, they may serve you better in the short term — particularly at low booking volumes where their 15% rate is competitive.
What we are building is infrastructure for professional sitters who want predictable costs and business ownership. If that aligns with your goals, we would like to build this with you.
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.
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. There are no exclusivity requirements. Many sitters use multiple platforms during their growth phase.
We believe professional pet care should be infrastructure-enabled, not commission-gated.
Your tools. Your clients. Your business.