Tailster
Tailster is a UK-based two-sided online marketplace founded in 2014 that connects pet owners with vetted, self-employed pet carers for dog walking, sitting, boarding, cat sitting, small animal care, and doggy daycare, monetizing via commission on platform-facilitated bookings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Tailster does
Tailster is a London-based, privately held online marketplace founded in 2014 that connects UK pet owners with self-employed pet carers for services including dog walking, dog sitting, dog boarding, cat sitting, small animal care (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, reptiles, tortoises, ferrets), and doggy daycare. The platform operates as a two-sided marketplace in which pet carers apply through a vetting process (assessment, photo ID, proof of address, and card verification) and, once approved, set their own prices and receive notifications about listings in their local area; pet owners search for carers, request quotes, and book services through the website, with meet-and-greet sessions supported before confirmation. Every booking made through the site is bundled with insurance covering emergency vet care, public liability, and loss of keys.
The company monetizes via a commission on transactions facilitated through the platform, paid by carers on bookings they secure via Tailster; pricing is otherwise set by individual carers with no platform-published tiers. Distribution is primarily self-serve via the tailster.com website, supported by a content marketing blog covering dogs, cats, other pets, and pet business advice, plus an Amazon Services LLC Associates affiliate arrangement and a Tailster.me personalized link feature that lets carers market themselves externally. Adjacent offerings include the Microchipping Pet Database integration and the Tailster Perks benefits program.
Operationally Tailster is a small team (1-10 employees) led by founder and CEO Indy Sangha, with capital raised via an early-stage $640,000 round from Saber Growth Partners in April 2014 and a subsequent 2015 round led by EC1 Capital with Valuta Capital Partners. The platform self-describes as the UK's biggest petcare platform with 30,000 registered carers and 160,000+ pet owners, but no public revenue, GMV, take rate, or later-stage funding has been disclosed.
Tailster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tailster
- Legal name
- Tailster
- Website
- https://tailster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tailster is a UK-based two-sided online marketplace founded in 2014 that connects pet owners with vetted, self-employed pet carers for dog walking, sitting, boarding, cat sitting, small animal care, and doggy daycare, monetizing via commission on platform-facilitated bookings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tailster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pet Care Marketplace
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pet Errands & Pet Care Coordination (HSACAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scheduled Pick-Up/Drop-Off (Recurring Routes) (HSANAIAB)
Keywords
Where Tailster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Tailster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commission on bookings: Tailster charges commission to pet carers for transactions introduced through the platform. Carers quote prices for care services, and Tailster takes a commission from the payments. Bookings made through the site are covered by Tailster's insurance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Carer-set pricing with platform commission |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Tailster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tailster operates an online two-sided marketplace that connects UK pet owners with vetted, self-employed pet carers who provide services including dog walking, dog sitting, dog boarding, cat sitting, small animal care, and doggy daycare. Pet owners search for local carers, request quotes, and complete bookings through the website, with each booking covered by Tailster's industry-leading insurance covering emergency vet care, public liability, and loss of keys.
Product overview
Tailster is a UK-based pet care marketplace platform that connects pet owners with verified pet carers. The platform operates as a marketplace with a portfolio of services including Dog Walking, Dog Sitting, Dog Boarding, Cat Sitting, Small Animal Care, and Doggy Daycare. The company claims to be the UK's biggest petcare platform with 30,000 registered pet carers. Additional offerings include a personalized profile link feature (Tailster.me), included insurance coverage for bookings, a blog content platform, and partner services for microchipping and loyalty perks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pet Care Marketplace
Companies that use Tailster
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tailster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tailster partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Tailster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rover: Rover is the global category leader in pet sitting and dog walking marketplace, now owned by Airbnb. It is a direct comparable to Tailster in the UK pet-sitter/walker marketplace, though at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach and stronger brand recognition.
- Pets at Home: Pets at Home is the UK's largest pet retailer with a growing services arm including grooming, vet practices, and subscription nutrition. It is an adjacent incumbent that touches many of the same UK pet owners and could expand into pet care marketplace/sitting category.
Direct peers
- Wag: Wag is a US dog walking and pet care marketplace offering similar on-demand booking for walks, sitting, and boarding. Operates as a strong functional peer to Tailster, though the UK is not its core market, positioning it more as an emerging/regional threat.
- BorrowMyDoggy: BorrowMyDoggy is a UK-based dog sharing and care marketplace directly competing with Tailster for owner and carer attention in the same geography. It shares the marketplace model, UK focus, and similar customer persona (UK dog owners).
- PetBacker: PetBacker is a global pet care marketplace connecting owners with pet sitters, walkers, and groomers. Direct competitor in marketplace business model with overlapping service categories, though operating across many countries rather than focused on UK.
- Gudog: Gudog is a European dog walking and pet sitting marketplace operating in multiple countries. It is a direct peer to Tailster in marketplace model, services offered, and target customer, with overlapping expansion potential into the UK.
- DogBuddy (Barkibu): DogBuddy is a European dog walking and pet sitting marketplace with operations in Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. Directly comparable to Tailster in product offering and marketplace dynamics, though focused on continental Europe.
- Cat in a Flat: Cat in a Flat is a UK-focused cat sitting marketplace directly competing with Tailster in cat sitting services within the same geography. Strong overlap on cat care segment though narrower in species coverage than Tailster.
Emerging players
- Bark.com: Bark.com is a UK-based local services marketplace spanning many categories including pet care. It overlaps with Tailster as a marketplace connecting UK consumers with pet service providers, though pet care is one category within a broader services portfolio.
Regional players
- Pawshake: Pawshake is a global pet care marketplace originating in Australia with presence in multiple countries, offering pet sitting, walking, boarding, and daycare comparable to Tailster. Regional peer given limited UK presence currently.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tailster social profiles
Digital presenceTailster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tailster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tailster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tailster M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tailster
What does Tailster do?
Tailster operates an online two-sided marketplace that connects UK pet owners with vetted, self-employed pet carers who provide services including dog walking, dog sitting, dog boarding, cat sitting, small animal care, and doggy daycare. Pet owners search for local carers, request quotes, and complete bookings through the website, with each booking covered by Tailster's industry-leading insurance covering emergency vet care, public liability, and loss of keys.
Is Tailster a public or private company?
Tailster is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tailster founded?
Tailster was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tailster based?
Tailster is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Tailster make money?
One revenue line is on record: commission on bookings.
Who are Tailster's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rover and Pets at Home. Direct peers are Wag, BorrowMyDoggy, PetBacker, Gudog, DogBuddy (Barkibu) and Cat in a Flat. Bark.com is listed as an emerging player. Pawshake is listed as a regional player.
Does Tailster have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tailster.
What industry is Tailster in?
Tailster's product category is Pet Care Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAIAJ, Pet Errands & Pet Care Coordination, with a secondary code of HSANAIAB, Scheduled Pick-Up/Drop-Off (Recurring Routes). Its NAICS code is 81291.