Part-time sitter (A$800/month)
Wag!A$1,920/yr
100% free software€0/yr
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.
Business Model Comparison
Commission Marketplace vs Ownership Model for Professional Pet Sitters
Wag! does not publish a caregiver commission rate. The 20% used below is a modelled marketplace-standard figure, not a quoted Wag! rate. The Pet Sitter is free, with no subscription or booking commission.
| Metric | The Pet Sitter | Wag! |
|---|---|---|
| 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-controlled |
| Focus | Professional pet sitters | On-demand dog walking + sitting |
How Commission Marketplaces Work
Commission marketplaces generate revenue by taking a percentage of each transaction processed through the platform. This model aligns platform growth with transaction volume.
- The platform connects pet owners with sitters/walkers 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.
- The platform controls pricing, assignment, payment flow, and client communication.
- On-demand platforms like Wag! often assign jobs algorithmically rather than letting clients choose specific sitters.
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 risk. On-demand models particularly benefit from this structure because they need a large pool of available workers.
Wag! publishes its owner-side booking fees but no caregiver-side percentage anywhere on its own support site (checked 6 September 2026), so the 20% modelled throughout this page is the standard marketplace rate and not a Wag! figure — check your own statements. Wag! is focused primarily on the US market. It emphasises on-demand dog walking alongside pet sitting, with algorithmic job assignment. Wag! has operated as a publicly listed company and faces the pressures of quarterly earnings reporting, which can influence platform economics and sitter experience.
The 12-Month Economics
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.
Regular sitter (A$2,000/month)
Wag!A$4,800/yr
100% free software€0/yr
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.
Full-time professional (A$4,000/month)
Wag!A$9,600/yr
100% free software€0/yr
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.
Fee Breakdown Calculator
Estimate your annual platform costs based on your monthly booking revenue.
€
per month€200€12,000
Annual platform cost on Wag!
€4,800
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
€4,800
Based on fee difference only
Wag! does not publish a caregiver-side commission percentage on its own support site (checked 6 September 2026); the owner-side booking fees below are published. The 20% used here is the standard rate across pet-care marketplaces, shown as an illustration rather than as Wag!'s published rate — check your own Wag! statements for the rate you actually pay.
Wag! 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 | €24,000 |
|---|---|
| Estimated net on Wag! | €19,200 |
| Estimated net on The Pet Sitter | €24,000 |
What pet owners pay on Wag!
Wag! charges pet owners a flat booking fee: US$2.99 per walk-type service and US$14.99 for sitting and boarding.
The Pet Sitter charges neither side of a booking.
Model Comparison
Structural differences between the two business models.
Revenue model
Commission / Platform Model
Percentage of each transaction
Ownership / Subscription Model
Free — no subscription or commission
Cost scales with
Commission / Platform Model
Your booking revenue
Ownership / Subscription Model
Free — no subscription or commission
Client relationship
Commission / Platform Model
Platform-controlled, algorithmic
Ownership / Subscription Model
Sitter-owned, direct
Job assignment
Commission / Platform Model
Often algorithmic / on-demand
Ownership / Subscription Model
Client chooses sitter directly
Repeat client economics
Commission / Platform Model
Same commission on every booking
Ownership / Subscription Model
No incremental cost per booking
Business building
Commission / Platform Model
Limited — you are a worker in the platform
Ownership / Subscription Model
You are building your own business
What Each Model Optimises For
What commission models optimise for
Transaction volume
Revenue scales with bookings processed. The platform is incentivised to maximise throughput.
Worker fungibility
On-demand models benefit from interchangeable workers. This prioritises availability over individual sitter relationships.
Public market metrics
Publicly traded platforms must report quarterly growth. This can influence pricing, commission rates, and sitter experience.
What the free tools help you do
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.
Who Should Use Which Model?
The choice depends on whether you want gig-style work or are building an independent business.
An on-demand commission platform may suit you if
You want gig-style flexibility
On-demand platforms let you pick up walks and sits when you have free time without building a client base.
You are in the US and want immediate work
Wag! has significant demand in US cities. If you need bookings today, their existing client base is an advantage.
You prefer not to manage client relationships
If you prefer to show up, do the work, and leave the client management to the platform, on-demand models handle that.
The Pet Sitter may suit you if
You are building a professional business
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.
You want to build your own client base
Direct client relationships mean repeat bookings, referrals, and a business that grows under your control.
You want to set your own prices
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.
You are thinking long-term
Building a personal brand and client base creates long-term business value. Gig work on a platform does not.
An Honest Note on Where We Are
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 immediate gig-style work in the US today, Wag! and similar on-demand platforms may serve that need better right now.
What we are building is infrastructure for professional sitters who want to own their business. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wag! better for getting immediate work?
In US cities where Wag! is active, yes. Their on-demand model provides quick access to jobs. The trade-off is ongoing 20% commission and limited ability to build your own client relationships.
What is the difference between gig work and building a business?
Gig platforms assign you work and take a cut. You are a worker in their system. A business infrastructure model gives you tools to find, serve, and retain your own clients. You build equity in your reputation and client relationships.
Does The Pet Sitter have a booking fee 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.
We believe professional pet care should be infrastructure-enabled, not commission-gated.
Your tools. Your clients. Your business.