Pet Sitters International

Name

Pet Sitters International

Legal name

Pet Sitters International, Inc.

Website

https://petsit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

King

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees with tiered pricing: U.S. $155, Canadian $135, International $85 USD, plus $5 application fee first year only. Membership provides access to credentials, continuing education, community, group-rate insurance, and business tools.
2. Certification Exam Fees: CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter Exam fee of $275 USD for initial application, $85 USD retake fee. Certification valid for 3 years with continuing education requirements.
3. Products and Contracts: Digital products including pet sitting service contracts ($80/$60 member), dog walking contracts, emergency forms bundles, employment form bundles, greeting card templates, and profile sheets. Member discounts of 25% apply.
4. Online Courses and Subscriptions: Courses sold through Teachable platform including Professional Pet Sitting as a Career, Pet First Aid & CPCR, PETSIT PRO monthly subscription, staff certificates, and mini courses on various pet-care topics.
5. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising options including magazine ads in Pet Sitter's World, banner ads in weekly e-newsletter, sponsorship of monthly member toolkit, and event sponsorships for Pet Sitter World Conference and FOCUS Online Summits.
6. Conference Registration: Annual in-person Pet Sitter World Educational Conference with registration fees, plus virtual summit recordings and event sponsorships. PSW26 scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2026 in Albuquerque, NM.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pet Sitters International (PSI) is a membership-based educational association founded in 1994 that serves professional pet sitters and dog walkers. It sells tiered annual memberships (U.S., Canadian, International), the CPPS knowledge-assessed certification exam, online training courses and subscriptions, downloadable business contracts and forms, and hosts an annual conference plus virtual summits. Supporting offerings include the Pet Sitter Locator directory, Pet Sitter's World magazine, group-rate insurance access through preferred providers, and trademarks like Professional Pet Sitters Week.

Product overview

Pet Sitters International operates as a membership-based educational association offering a unified platform of products and services for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. The core offering consists of tiered membership programs (U.S., Canadian, and International) that provide foundational access to resources including the Monthly Member Toolkit, Pet Sitter's World Magazine subscription, and listing on the Pet Sitter Locator directory. Above the base membership, PSI offers the CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter Exam as the industry's only knowledge-assessed certification, delivered through ClassMarker. Educational offerings are expanded through online courses hosted on Teachable, including certificate programs (Pet First Aid & CPCR, Health & Sanitation, Disaster Preparedness, Staff Certificate) and the PETSIT PRO monthly training subscription. PSI further supports members with downloadable contracts and forms products, and connects the community through annual events including the Pet Sitter World Educational Conference and FOCUS Online Summit Series. Observances like Professional Pet Sitters Week, Thank Your Pet Sitter Day, and Pet Sitter Safety Month provide recognition and promote industry standards, while the Pet Sitter of the Year Award recognizes excellence. The 2025 release of Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses established public baseline best practices for the global industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSI Membership (U.S.) Annual membership program for U.S. professional pet sitters and dog walkers, providing access to group-rate insurance through Business Insurers of the Carolinas, educational resources, Monthly Member Toolkit, Pet Sitter's World magazine subscription, and listing on PSI's Pet Sitter Locator. Priced at $155/year plus $5 application fee.
• PSI Membership (Canada) Annual membership program for Canadian professional pet sitters and dog walkers, providing access to group-rate insurance through Jones DesLauriers, educational resources, and PSI member benefits. Priced at $135 USD/year plus $5 application fee.
• PSI Membership (International) Annual membership program for international professional pet sitters and dog walkers outside U.S. and Canada. Provides access to CPPS certification, educational resources, and PSI member community. Priced at $85 USD/year plus $5 application fee.
• CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter Exam The industry's only knowledge-assessed certification exam for professional pet sitters, testing on pet care, health/sanitation/safety, and business operations. Consists of 100 multiple-choice/true-false questions with 80% passing score. Administered online via ClassMarker. Exam fee is $275 USD.
• Pet Sitter Locator Online directory service allowing pet owners to search for PSI member professional pet-sitting and dog-walking businesses by ZIP/postal code. Includes CPPS-certified sitters marked with special icon. Free for pet owners to use.
• Online Courses and Certificate Programs Collection of online certificate programs and courses for pet-care professionals delivered via Teachable platform, including Professional Pet Sitting as a Career, Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals, Health & Sanitation Certificate Course, Disaster Preparedness, Staff Certificate, Cat-Sitting Fundamentals, Dog-Care Fundamentals, and various Mini Courses. PSI members receive discount pricing.
• PETSIT PRO Online Training Subscription Monthly learning subscription offering access to a new mini course each month plus dozens of past mini courses. Two plan options: individual or unlimited staff. Available through Teachable platform.
• Pet Sitter Contracts and Forms Digital downloadable products including Pet Sitting Service Contract ($80/$60 for members), Dog Walking Service Contract ($80/$60 for members), Emergency Forms Bundle ($9.95/free for members), Employment Forms Bundle ($49.95/$37.46 for members), Dog/Cat Care Profile Sheets ($10/$5 for members), Social-Media Post Templates, Canva Greeting Card Templates, and The Professional Pet Sitter's Startup Guide.
• Pet Sitter World Educational Conference (PSW) Annual multi-day in-person conference for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. Features general sessions, networking activities, exhibitor area, and educational programming organized around themes of People, Pets, or Profits. PSW26 scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2026 in Albuquerque, NM.
• FOCUS Online Summit Series Virtual one-day online learning summits held multiple times per year, offering education on specific topics to help pet-care professionals improve services and business operations. Sessions cover areas like safety, communication, marketing, and pet enrichment.
• Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses First publicly available comprehensive standards document establishing baseline best practices for professional pet-sitting and dog-walking businesses worldwide. Covers business legitimacy, contracts, insurance, animal care, health/safety, emergency preparedness, client security, professional ethics, communications, and sustainability.
• Pet Sitter's World Magazine Print and digital publication included with PSI membership, providing expert pet-care insights and business strategies for professional pet sitters and dog walkers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average gross revenue for U.S. members increased to $100,537 in 2023 from $94,563 in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Clyde HotelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2026Host hotel for PSW26 conference in Albuquerque, NM (Nov. 6-8, 2026). Group rate of $159/night plus taxes for conference attendees. Features Pueblo Deco design, 386 guest rooms with mountain views, rooftop pool, fitness center, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
• Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992PSI's preferred insurance provider for U.S. members since 1992. BIC provides General Liability Insurance specifically designed for pet sitters with Care, Custody and Control coverage, bonding, workers' compensation, and commercial auto coverage. PSI members access special group rates (saving at least $160 annually). BIC is located in NC but writes policies in all 50 states.
• Jones DesLauriers (formerly Binks Insurance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Exclusive insurance broker for PSI's Canadian members administering comprehensive insurance program tailored to Canadian pet sitters. Located in Ottawa office. Provides liability and bonding coverage at group rates for PSI members.
• KONG CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for PSW26. Pet toy and treat company sponsoring PSI's annual Pet Sitter World Educational Conference.
• Pet PocketbookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for PSW26. Pet industry company supporting PSI's annual educational conference.
• Tiny Paws BookkeepingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for PSW26. Bookkeeping services for pet-sitting businesses.
• CritterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of May 2026 FOCUS Online Summit focused on safety topics. Pet industry company supporting PSI virtual education events.
• J. LaCour PhotographyminorOthersConference photography services for PSI's Pet Sitter World Educational Conference.
• TeachablecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning platform hosting PSI's courses including Professional Pet Sitting as a Career, Pet First Aid & CPCR, PETSIT PRO subscription, and mini courses. Platform processes course enrollments and subscription management.
• ClassMarkercoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline exam administration platform for CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter certification exam. Candidates take 100-question multiple-choice/true-false exam via this platform with proctor oversight.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC): U.S. pet industry trade association focused on legislative and regulatory advocacy for pet care businesses; broader than PSI's pet-sitter specialty but operates a similar membership and advocacy model across the wider pet industry.
• World Pet Association: Long-standing pet industry trade association producing SuperZoo, one of the largest pet retail trade shows; broader industry focus but shares an overlapping member base of pet-care service providers and a similar educational and standards mandate.
• American Pet Products Association (APPA): The leading U.S. trade association for the broader pet products industry; overlaps with PSI in serving pet industry businesses and operates the Global Pet Expo trade show, but is not specialized in pet-sitting services.

Emerging players

• Rover: Largest online marketplace connecting pet owners directly to pet sitters and dog walkers; adjacent rather than directly competing with PSI, but operates in the same professional pet-sitting space and represents a different delivery model competing for the same labor pool.
• Wag!: Public pet-sitting and dog-walking marketplace platform; operates a different business model than PSI's membership association but serves the same professional pet-sitter labor pool and competes for consumer mindshare in pet care services.

Direct peers

• National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS): The other major U.S. professional pet sitter membership association offering similar educational resources, certification programs, and member benefits; directly competes with PSI for the same pool of professional pet sitters and dog walkers in North America.

Regional players

• Pet Industry Federation: U.K.-based trade association for pet care service businesses including pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, and boarding operators; runs a comparable membership, training, and standards model but serves a different geographic market than PSI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PetSittersIntl
• Facebookfacebook.com/petsittersinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pet-sitters-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/petsittersinternational
• Xx.com/petsittersintl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pet Sitters International