Leave Rover & Wag in 4 Weeks (Without Losing Your Clients)

If you're reading this, you've probably realized that giving 20% of every booking to Rover or Wag isn't sustainable. The good news? You can transition to independent pet sitting in about 4 weeks—and most of your clients will follow you. Here's exactly how to do it.

Before You Announce (Week 1-2)

Payment Processing

You need a way to get paid that isn't Rover/Wag. Options from simple to professional:

• Cash / Check - Simple, no fees, but harder to track and awkward to ask for
• Venmo / PayPal / Zelle - Easy to set up, clients already have these. ~2.9% fee for business transactions. Works great for 1-5 regular clients
• Square or Stripe - More professional. Send invoices, accept cards, automatic receipts. ~2.9% fee. Worth it once you have 5+ clients
• Integrated with booking software - Tools like PawReserve have payments built in, so clients pay when they book. No chasing money

Pro tip: Start with what's easy (Venmo), upgrade later. Don't let "setting up payments" delay you.

Booking System

Clients need to know your availability and a way to request time with you. Options:

• Text/Phone - Free and personal. Works if you have <10 clients and good boundaries. Can get chaotic fast with back-and-forth scheduling
• Google Calendar + Google Forms - Free. Share your calendar for availability, form for booking requests. Manual work but $0 cost
• Calendly (free tier) - Clients self-book from your availability. Great for simple services (dog walking, drop-ins). Limited customization
• Pet-specific software (PawReserve, Time To Pet, etc.) - Built for pet sitters. Handles overnight stays, multiple pets, custom services, recurring bookings. Worth it if you have 10+ clients or complex scheduling

Pro tip: Start simple, but if you're spending more than 30 min/day on scheduling texts, you need a system.

Service Agreement / Contract

Protects you AND sets client expectations. Doesn't need to be fancy. Include:

• Services offered - What's included, what costs extra (meds, extra pets, holidays)
• Cancellation policy - How much notice? What's the fee? (48-72 hours is standard)
• Payment terms - When is payment due? (Upfront is best for new clients)
• Liability waiver - What happens if a pet gets sick/injured? (Consult a local template)
• House rules - Key handling, alarm codes, who's authorized to contact you

Where to get one: Google "pet sitting contract template" (free, generic), Pet Sitters International members get templates, or check out our Independence Starter Kit which includes a lawyer-reviewed template.

Set Your Independent Rates

This is the fun part—you get to decide what you're worth now.

• Research local rates - Check what other independent sitters in your area charge (not Rover/Wag prices—those are artificially low)
• Factor in your experience - 2+ years? Specialized skills (meds, puppies, reactive dogs)? Charge for it
• Don't undercut yourself - Most sitters going independent charge 10-20% MORE than their Rover rate and still save clients money (no booking fee on their end)
• Consider your costs - Gas, insurance, software, taxes (you're a business now)

Example Rate Comparison

Service	Rover Rate	Your Independent Rate
30-min walk	$18 (you keep $14.40)	$20 (you keep ~$19.40)
Overnight	$55 (you keep $44)	$65 (you keep ~$63)

Client pays a bit more. You keep WAY more. Everyone wins except Rover/Wag.

Insurance

Rover/Wag provide some coverage while you're on their platform. Going independent means handling this yourself.

• Check your renters/homeowners policy - Some cover in-home business activities, most don't
• Pet Sitters International - ~$200/year for liability insurance, includes business resources
• Pet Care Insurance (PCI) - Another popular option, similar pricing
• Business Owner's Policy (BOP) - For established sitters, more comprehensive

Pro tip: Don't skip this. One vet bill or liability claim can wipe you out. $200/year is cheap peace of mind.

Prepare Your Client Comms (Week 2)

Identify Your VIP Clients

Not all clients are equal. Focus your energy on the ones who matter.

• List your top 10 repeat clients - The ones who book regularly, pay on time, and are easy to work with
• Note their communication preference - Some prefer text, some email, some like a quick chat at pickup
• Identify flight risks - Anyone who might be loyal to the platform specifically? (rare, but worth noting)

Reality check: Most clients chose YOU, not the platform. They'll follow you.

Draft Your Message

The goal: Make it easy to say yes. Don't overthink this.

• Keep it positive - Frame it as an upgrade, not an escape
• Focus on them - "Easier to book me" not "I'm leaving Rover"
• Don't bash Rover - Stays professional, and some clients don't care about the backstory
• Include clear next steps - Exactly how to book you now

Example Message

"Hey [Name]! Quick update—I'm now taking bookings directly through my own system. Same me, same great care for [Pet Name], just easier to schedule.

You can book me anytime at [link/method].

Let me know if you have any questions! Looking forward to seeing [Pet Name] soon."

That's it. Simple.

Prepare for Questions

Clients might ask. Have answers ready:

• "How do I book you now?" → "Just text me / use this link / etc."
• "How do I pay?" → "I'll send an invoice / card on file / Venmo works"
• "Is the price the same?" → "Similar—and no booking fee for you either"
• "What if I need to cancel?" → "Just give me [X hours] notice, same as before"
• "Are you still on Rover?" → "I'm transitioning to direct bookings, but happy to help either way"

The Transition (Week 3-4)

Contact Sequence (Order Matters)

Week 3: VIP clients first (personal outreach)

• Text or call your top 10 individually
• Give them "early access" to your new booking system
• Ask if they have any questions

Week 3-4: Other regulars

• Email or text your remaining repeat clients
• Use your drafted message (copy/paste is fine)

Ongoing: New inquiries

• When new clients find you on Rover, mention you're booking directly
• "I actually have more availability on my direct calendar—want me to send you the link?"

Keep Rover Active (For Now)

Don't burn the bridge until you've crossed it.

• Keep your profile up - It's a safety net while you transition
• Stop accepting NEW Rover clients - Redirect them to your direct booking
• Complete existing Rover bookings - Honor what's already scheduled
• Don't violate TOS - Don't explicitly tell clients ON Rover to leave the platform (do it outside the app)

Optional: Loyalty Incentive

A small nudge can help clients make the switch faster.

• Discount on first booking - "10% off your first direct booking"
• Free add-on - "Book direct and I'll add a free 15-min walk"
• Waive convenience fee - If you charge one

Not required—most clients will switch without an incentive. But it speeds things up.

After the Switch

Build Your Social Proof

You don't have Rover reviews anymore. Build your own.

• Ask happy clients for testimonials - After a great booking: "Would you mind sharing a quick review I can use?" Make it easy: "Even a few sentences helps!"
• Screenshot positive texts (with permission) - "OMG Max is so happy when you come!" = real testimonial
• Google Business Profile (free) - Clients can leave reviews here. Shows up when people search for pet sitters in your area

Set Up Referrals

Your clients know other pet owners. Make it easy for them to send people your way.

• Simple ask: "Know anyone who needs a pet sitter? I'd love a referral!"
• Incentivize it: "$10 off for you and $10 off for them"
• Make it shareable: Give them a link or message they can forward

Deactivate Rover (When Ready)

There's no rush. But eventually:

• 4-6 weeks stable? → Safe to deactivate
• Fully booked from direct clients? → Definitely deactivate
• Want a backup? → Keep it dormant (just don't update availability)

Celebrate

Seriously. You did it.

• You now keep 100% of what you earn
• No more 20% disappearing to a platform
• No more racing to the bottom on price
• You OWN your client relationships

You didn't just leave Rover/Wag. You built a real business.

Quick Math: Why This Is Worth It

	On Rover/Wag	Independent
$50 booking	You keep $40	You keep ~$48.50
10 bookings/week	$80/week lost to fees	~$15/week in payment processing
Annual platform cost	~$4,160 in fees	~$500 for software + processing
Annual savings	—	$3,500+ back in your pocket

That's not a side hustle upgrade. That's a real raise.

And it compounds: more bookings = more savings. At 15 bookings/week, you're looking at $5,000+/year difference.

TL;DR - The 4-Week Plan

Week	Focus	Key Actions
Week 1	Setup	Payment method, booking system, contract
Week 2	Prepare	Set rates, draft client message, FAQ ready
Week 3	Launch	Contact VIP clients, get first direct bookings
Week 4	Expand	Contact remaining clients, redirect new inquiries

You don't have to do everything perfectly. You just have to start.

Ready to Make the Switch?

This checklist shows you what to do. If you want tools to make it easier:

PawReserve gives you everything you need to run your independent pet sitting business:

• Your own booking page (live in 30 minutes)
• Clients self-book (no more text tag)
• Payments built in (get paid when they book)
• $39/month flat (one booking covers it)

You don't need us to go independent—this checklist proves that. But if you want a system that makes it easier, we're here when you're ready.