From side gig to spark
When Devon first signed up for Rover, she wasn’t thinking about building a business. She was living in New York City, juggling auditions and acting classes, and needed a flexible way to earn income between gigs.
“Honestly, it was just supposed to be temporary,” she recalls. “But the more time I spent with people’s pets, the more I realized how much I loved it and how happy it made me. It was such a grounding balance to the chaos of city life.”
At first, Rover gave Devon the perfect balance: a way to connect with clients, learn the ropes, and discover what she loved most about pet care. Over time, her profile filled with repeat customers, five-star reviews, and regular bookings. She began to see a future she hadn’t imagined before. Like many sitters wondering how to take their pet sitting business off Rover, she eventually found herself ready for more independence.
“I started to notice how full my schedule was getting and I realized this wasn’t just a side hustle anymore. It was becoming a real business.”
The realization: “why not do this for real?”
Years later, when she moved back to her hometown of Dover, New Hampshire, Devon was ready for her next chapter. She brought her experience and her confidence with her. She knew she loved the work. She still had her Rover clients and plenty of experience, but hadn’t yet imagined pet care as a long-term career, until a friend asked a simple question: “Do you do this full-time?”
That changed everything.
“It had never occurred to me that I could make pet sitting my career,” she says. “Once I started thinking about it seriously, I couldn’t stop.”
The natural next questions were: how do I move my pet sitting business off Rover? Is it legal to take clients off Rover? What tools do I need to run my own pet sitting business?
Those are big questions, and ones that don’t have simple answers. Devon knew she needed time to figure it all out, so rather than quitting Rover overnight, she took her time. She kept serving her existing clients on Rover while laying the groundwork to branch out on her own. She was intentional about building a separate client base outside of Rover – one rooted in relationships she cultivated herself, not ones she'd gained through the platform. One of the biggest shifts was realizing that, as an independent business, she would now be responsible for sourcing her own leads, something Rover had always done for her before. Building a pipeline of clients would come from her own reputation, marketing, and community presence, not from a marketplace algorithm. Little by little, she slowly built her own brand in the Dover community by introducing herself to neighbors, leaning into social media, networking with other local sitters, and strengthening word-of-mouth referrals, all while learning the ins and outs of operating a business.
“I wanted to do it the right way,” she says. “Rover gave me a great start, but I knew if I wanted to grow and build something sustainable, I needed to step out on my own.” Her story reflects what many sitters experience when they start moving from Rover to running their own business—wanting more control, professionalism, and long-term stability.
Once she had a solid foundation of repeat customers who trusted her personally, Devon made the leap to independent ownership, and Devon’s Dog Sitting was born. Making that leap meant learning how to go independent after Rover by setting up the right systems, insurance, and structure to thrive on her own.
Building a foundation of professionalism
Devon began forming the foundation for her new business step by step. She created an LLC, got insured and bonded, and started researching the professional standards of the industry.
She also joined the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), which became a cornerstone in her professional journey. Attending the NAPPS annual conference every year helps her stay connected to a network of other pet professionals, exchange ideas, and stay up-to-date on best practices. (We shared our own highlights from this year’s conference here.)
“Going to the NAPPS conference each year is like hitting reset and refresh,” she says. “You learn from other people who have been in your shoes. It’s inspiring and grounding at the same time.”
Networking wasn’t just about learning, it was also about community. Devon began meeting other pet care providers in the area, swapping ideas, referring clients, and building relationships rooted in collaboration rather than competition.
“We all want the same thing,” she says. “Happy pets, happy clients, and a strong pet care community. Connecting with other sitters has been one of the best parts of this journey.”
Finding systems that supported her growth
As her bookings grew, Devon began to face the “good kind of chaos.” The kind that comes when you’re busy but unorganized. As her client base grew, so did the complexity of managing her business. Between juggling scheduling, payments, and communication, Devon found herself stretched thin.
“I was trying to do everything manually with texts, notes, and spreadsheets. It worked for a while, but it wasn’t sustainable,” she recalls. “Once I started getting busier, it became impossible to keep up. I needed something that could grow with me.”
That’s when she discovered PetPocketbook, a platform designed for sitters ready to manage their business and their team on their own.
“PetPocketbook changed everything,” Devon says. “For anyone thinking about leaving Rover to run their own professional pet sitting company, this is the kind of system that makes it possible. It gave me structure. Suddenly, I had one place to handle scheduling, payments, and client communication. It saved me hours every week and made my business look and feel professional.”
What once felt overwhelming now ran smoothly, allowing her to spend less time on admin work and more time growing her business and serving her clients. But the impact was bigger than just saving time. PetPocketbook gave her the systems and confidence to lead her business like a true professional.
“It made me feel confident stepping into that next level,” she says. “It made me look polished and reliable, which helps clients trust you. Having a platform that reflects your professionalism makes you stand out. It’s like showing the world you take your business seriously.”
Growing a team with structure and purpose
Once her operations were running smoothly, Devon began exploring how to hire employees. “I wanted to grow, but I wanted to do it responsibly,” she says. “I knew I needed structure and a plan before bringing anyone on.”
With PetPocketbook already in place, the transition felt manageable. The platform made it simple to assign visits, share client details, and track compensation, allowing Devon to confidently expand her team. PetPocketbook became a turning point, helping her deliver a smoother, more consistent experience for her clients while empowering her to build a team that could do the same.
To learn how to hire, she turned to Doug Keeling, a.k.a. Doug the Dog Guy. His hiring course helped her understand the difference between hiring contractors and employees and why the latter was the best choice for long-term success.
“I wanted to do things by the book,” Devon says. “Hiring employees was more complex, but it gave me the chance to build a real team with shared values and accountability.”
In preparation, Devon spent months creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a detailed employee handbook, resources that would ensure consistency in care no matter who was on the schedule.
“Writing the SOPs was time-consuming but so worth it,” she explains. “I wanted my team to know exactly what to expect and how to uphold the same standards I would. I actually started by recording voice memos while doing visits by talking through every little step of what I do and what I’d expect an employee to do too. Then I turned those into written procedures.”
For Devon, those documents became more than a guidebook. They were the backbone of her brand.
“When your business grows beyond just you, SOPs make sure every client gets the same quality of care. It’s what turns a small business into a sustainable company.”
Where she is today
When she first created her business, Devon named it Devon’s Dog Sitting. It was a quick choice based on what Instagram handle was available at the time.
“I didn’t think much about it,” she laughs. “It was just something that worked.”
After several years of steady growth and expanding her team, Devon realized her original business name no longer reflected the scope of what she offered. Her services now included cats, small pets, and household care, and she wanted a brand that matched her professionalism and long-term vision. That led to her to rebrand as Devon’s Pet Care Co., a name that better represents her team, her community, and the company she’s built.
Today, Devon’s Pet Care Co. is a thriving business serving Dover and the surrounding Seacoast area. With a strong team, loyal clients, and systems that keep everything running smoothly, Devon has built something she once only imagined.
“The rebrand felt like a fresh start,” she says. “It was a way of saying, this is no longer just me walking dogs–it’s a company built to serve a community.”
“It still amazes me when I think about where I started,” she says. “From a Rover profile in New York City to running a professional pet care company, it’s been a journey of learning, growing, and believing in what’s possible.”
Devon’s advice to others ready to take the leap
“If you’re on Rover right now and you love it, that’s amazing! It’s the perfect way to start. But don’t be afraid to imagine what could come next. Build relationships, learn from others, and take small steps toward going independent.
Do it legally, do it thoughtfully, and invest in the right tools. For me, PetPocketbook was a game-changer. It helped me organize my business, look more professional, and save time so I could focus on growing my business while maintaining high-quality care.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Just take one step at a time, and before you know it, you’ll look back and realize you built something incredible.”
Devon found her passion through Rover, learned how to professionalize her business through her community, and used systems like PetPocketbook to keep things running smoothly while creating a brand that reflects her values and standards. Her journey shows that taking your business off Rover is possible. And with the right tools, a solid client base, and clear systems, going independent can be the best move you’ll ever make.
For every sitter wondering when it’s time to take the leap, remember this:
You don’t have to be ready. You just have to begin.