Rover is a great way to find clients, but those fees add up quickly. Here's how to maximize your earnings while using the platform or transition to independent bookings over time.

1. Increase Your Rates to Offset Rover's Fee

Since Rover takes 20-25%, build that into your pricing from the start. If you want to earn $50 per visit:

• Set your rate at $62-65 to net $50 after fees

• Stay competitive by checking local market rates

• Communicate value through detailed profiles and reviews

Your clients won't see a difference since they're paying Rover's 11% owner fee regardless of your rate.

2. Transition Repeat Clients to Direct Booking

Once you've built trust with a client through Rover, many sitters eventually move those relationships off-platform. This is the natural evolution from gig work to running an independent business.

Why clients benefit from direct booking:

• No 11% owner fee (saves them money)

• More flexible services and scheduling

• Direct relationship with their trusted sitter

Why you benefit:

• Keep 100% of your earnings (no 20% commission)

• Full control over services and pricing

• Build your own business and client base

Important note: Rover's Terms of Service prohibit soliciting clients to book off-platform, and your account could be flagged. The transition typically happens naturally when clients ask about booking directly, or after they've completed several services through Rover.

When you're ready to manage bookings independently, you'll need tools that handle what Rover currently does: booking requests, scheduling, payments, and client communication. That's where pet care business software becomes essential.

3. Offer Additional Services for More Revenue

Maximize your Rover earnings by upselling services:

• Add extra walks or playtime

• Offer medication administration

• Provide grooming or nail trimming

• Include daily photo updates (some sitters charge extra)

These add-ons increase your per-booking revenue, which helps offset the percentage Rover takes.

4. Use Rover for Lead Generation, Not Your Full Business

Many successful pet care providers use Rover strategically:

• Get new client leads through Rover's visibility

• Build trust with 2-3 bookings on the platform

• Let the relationship evolve naturally to direct bookings

• Maintain Rover for backup bookings during slow periods

This approach treats Rover as a marketing channel with a 20% cost, not as your permanent business model. As you build your independent client base, Rover becomes supplemental income rather than your primary booking source.

When Direct Booking Makes Sense

Not everyone is ready to leave Rover immediately, and that's fine. But it's helpful to know when the transition typically happens:

You're ready when:

• You have 10+ repeat clients who trust you

• Your calendar is consistently full

• You're losing significant income to fees ($500+ per month)

• Clients ask about booking directly

• You're thinking long-term about your business

You might want to stay on Rover if:

• You're brand new and need the visibility

• You only pet-sit occasionally as side income

• You don't want to handle bookings and payments yourself

• The convenience is worth the 20% fee

The decision isn't all-or-nothing. Many providers keep a Rover profile while building their independent business, using the platform for new client leads while managing established relationships directly.

What You Need to Book Clients Independently

If you decide to transition off Rover (fully or partially), you'll need systems to replace what the platform provides:

Essential business operations:

• Online booking system so clients can request services

• Scheduling calendar to manage your availability

• Invoicing and payment processing

• Client and pet information management

• Service agreements and intake forms

• Visit reports and photo sharing

Rover handles all of this, which is why they charge 20%. But when you're losing hundreds of dollars per month in fees, investing in your own systems makes financial sense.

This is where Scritches comes in. We built software specifically for pet sitters and dog walkers who want to run independent businesses without platform commissions.

How Scritches Helps You Keep 100% of Your Earnings

Scritches provides everything you need to manage bookings independently:

• Online booking - Clients can see your services, pricing, and availability, then request care without you losing 20%

• Invoicing and payments - Automatically create invoices from bookings and accept payments (you keep 100% minus standard payment processing)

• Client & pet CRM - Store all client details, pet care notes, emergency contacts, and service history in one place

• Pet report cards - Send professional visit updates with photos and notes, just like Rover

• Digital agreements - Collect signed service agreements at booking

The software is designed around how pet sitters actually work, without forcing you into rigid enterprise workflows. You can start with one client and scale as you grow.

Cost comparison:

• Rover: 20% of every booking forever ($400/month on $2,000 in bookings)

• Scritches: Flat monthly fee, keep 100% of your earnings

Most providers break even after their first few independent bookings, then save hundreds per month after that.