Business for Kids: Petsitting and Plant-sitting

by Grace, and Brent
(CA and IN)

There are two authors for this pet and plant-sitting business idea for kids article: Grace from California and Brent from Indiana.

Grace says...

I'd gladly pay a responsible kid to come check on my pets and plants if I'm going to be held up at work, or otherwise going to be away from home for most of a day, weekend, or on vacation.

I'd also pay even if I was home since my super-friendly, medium-sized dogs get so delighted when they meet children who want to play fetch with them and rub their bellies.

They love walks too. Many adults are busy, so there are plenty of dog owners who'd gladly pay a kid to go walk their dog from time to time. :)

I also have some potted indoor plants, outdoor garden flowers and potted patio plants that get sad without daily watering - or twice-daily watering during hot summer months.

I have watering cans and a water hose hooked up in the backyard so that would be an easy 20-30 minute job for a trustworthy kid. (The front/back lawns, bushes, and trees are on timed sprinklers so they do not need any watering.)

My kitty cat is also very friendly and appreciates being fed and played with as well. I love all of my animals and take pretty good care of them - good food, current vet shots, and plenty of hugs/kisses, but it does get really expensive when I have to board them or hire a professional dog/house-sitter.

All of these are ways that kids who know adults in their neighborhood (and whose parents know the adults) can make a nice income helping out.

Brent says...

When people in your neighborhood go on vacation offer to Pet Sit for them so that they don't have to board their animals.

This usually works best during the summer, especially if multiple visits per day will be required. All you have to do is visit the house once or more a day and take care of any needs the particular pet has.

This could be feeding the fish, bird, dog, etc, or letting the dog into the house for a little while if it stays in the yard and garage the rest of the time, cleaning the litter box, etc.

The exact details and care instructions as well as how to get into the house would be worked out ahead of time.