Rover doesn't pay sitters a set wage. You set your own rates, and Rover's US help centre says it takes a 20% service fee per booking, so you keep 80% of what you earn. Payments appear in your account 2 days after you finish a service, then Stripe sends them to your bank, which can take up to 5 business days.
Rover is a different animal from delivery apps, if you'll excuse the pun. Nobody hands you a rate: you build a profile, choose your services and decide what to charge, and Rover takes a cut of each booking. So the real question isn't what Rover pays, it's what you'll keep once the fee comes off. Everything here comes from Rover's own help centre.
What Rover takes from each sitter booking
Rover's US help centre says it applies a 20% service fee per booking for sitters, which means you take home 80% of your earnings. So if a pet owner books you at the rate you've set, a fifth of that goes to Rover and the rest is yours.
There's one caveat worth knowing. Rover notes that US residents may be part of a pilot program where fees are different. If your numbers don't match the 20% you expected, check the fee article in your own account, because your profile may sit in that pilot.
Rover says the service fee also covers the Rover Guarantee, a reimbursement program primarily intended to protect pets. It's part of what you're paying for, so read its terms so you know what is and isn't covered when you're caring for someone's dog or cat.
How Rover sitters set their rates
This is where your income is decided. Rover's help centre says you're always in control of your rates and can change them at any time from your sitter profile. You set a base rate for each service, and you can add extra rates for things like:
- Holidays.
- Extra pets in the same booking.
- Extended stays.
- Puppies, which usually take more work.
Rover lets you advertise list prices up to 250 US dollars per unit for boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, day care and walks, so the ceiling leaves you plenty of room. In practice, your rate needs to make sense for your area. Rover's own pricing tips suggest looking at what your neighbours charge by searching for sitters on the site when you start out.
Rover's tips also mention a neat trick for later on: you can lock your rates at the original price for existing owners and raise them for new ones. That lets you grow your income without upsetting regular clients who booked you early.
What decides how much you make on Rover
Because Rover takes a fixed share, your take-home follows your rate and your bookings. The things that move it most:
- Your rates. Higher rates mean more per booking, but pricing well above local sitters can mean fewer requests.
- Which services you offer. Boarding and house sitting are longer bookings than drop-ins or walks.
- Extra rates. Holiday, puppy and extra-pet rates lift the value of the bookings that need more care.
- Repeat clients. Regular owners give you steady bookings, and locked rates help keep them.
- Tips. Owners can add a tip, and it lands on top of your booking pay.
How Rover pays sitters
To receive payments, Rover asks for two things through its payment processor, Stripe: your social security number and your bank account details. You add them in the Payments section of your profile or the app.
After that, the timing is fixed. Rover says payments for bookings appear in your Rover account 2 days after you successfully complete a service. Two days after the service, the funds show in the Processing Payments section of your dashboard, and Stripe then transfers them to your bank by direct deposit. Most banks deposit the money as soon as they get it, but Rover says it can take up to 5 business days to appear.
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Tips work on their own clock. If a client tips after you've already been paid for the booking, Rover says the money is added to your account within 24 hours of the tip.
Tax records and other things to watch on Rover
Your payment history shows all your completed bookings, payments, withdrawals and your withdrawal history by year, and Rover points out that this matters for tax purposes. Download it regularly, and keep receipts for anything you spend on the job alongside it. Rover isn't your employer, so you're responsible for reporting what you earn, and an accountant can tell you what applies where you live.
A few other things I'd keep in mind:
- Your costs aren't covered: treats, poo bags, travel to drop-ins and any supplies come out of your 80%.
- Bookings change. If a booking is modified, check the new total before you accept it.
- Rates you change apply to future bookings, so update them before busy holiday periods rather than during them.
Pet sitting is a lovely way to earn around other work. If you want something that keeps earning while you're out walking dogs, my guide to passive income with digital products is worth a look, and my list of fun careers that pay well has more ideas for animal lovers and beyond.
| What | How Rover handles it | Source checked |
|---|---|---|
| Rover's cut | 20% service fee per booking, sitter keeps 80% | Rover help centre: service fees |
| Who sets rates | You do, and you can change them any time | Rover help centre: editing rates |
| Payment timing | In your account 2 days after the service | Rover help centre: getting paid |
| Bank transfer | Via Stripe, up to 5 business days | Rover help centre: getting paid |
| Late tips | Added within 24 hours of the tip | Rover help centre: getting paid |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Rover take from sitters?
Rover's US help centre says it applies a 20% service fee per booking, so sitters keep 80%. Some US sitters may be in a pilot program with different fees.
Do Rover sitters set their own rates?
Yes. Rover says you control your rates, can change them at any time, and can add extra rates for holidays, extra pets, extended stays and puppies.
When does Rover pay sitters?
Payments appear in your Rover account 2 days after you complete a service. Stripe then transfers them to your bank, which can take up to 5 business days.
What does Rover need to pay you?
Your social security number and bank account information, entered through Rover's payment processor, Stripe.
What does the Rover service fee cover?
Rover says its fees also fund the Rover Guarantee, a reimbursement program primarily intended to protect pets.
