Pet Sitters International Releases 2014 State of the Industry Survey Results
King, N.C. (PRWEB) May 28, 2014 -- Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters, announced the results of its 2014 State of the Industry Survey this month. The association’s survey—conducted every three years—is the most up-to-date, comprehensive analysis of pet-sitting industry data available including: gross business revenues, types of services most offered and average charges for services. The survey found that PSI member pet-sitting businesses provided pet-care services for more than 720,000 households and generated more than $332 million in pet-sitting revenues last year.
“Pet sitting is an ever-growing industry,” said PSI President and Founder Patti Moran. “As PSI’s survey indicates, professional pet-care services are in high demand and pet sitting is a viable career option with significant earning potential.”
PSI’s survey was conducted exclusively online between January 17, 2014, and February 17, 2014. E-mail invitations to participate were sent to PSI’s nearly 7,000 member businesses. Thirty-three percent of PSI’s members responded to the 2014 survey.
The survey results are used to develop an accurate PSI member profile and examine pet-sitting industry trends.
Who are these pet sitters?
According to PSI’s 2014 survey, 98.3 percent of its pet-sitting businesses are independently owned—and the majority of businesses are owned by women: 82 percent, with an additional ten percent owned by a female/male team. Ninety-five percent indicated they carry pet-sitter liability insurance and 83 percent carry both liability insurance and bonding.
Additionally, these pet sitters have completed at least some college (90.2 percent), with 34 percent having obtained bachelor’s degrees and 14.8 percent obtaining graduate level degrees.
What pets are they caring for?
The 2014 survey found that PSI pet sitters offer services for a variety of pet species from chihuahuas to chinchillas. While dogs and cats are the species pet-sitting services most commonly offer services for—96.5 percent and 94.7 percent respectively—more than half of the pet sitters responding to the survey also offer services for birds, fish and cage pets. Eighty-eight percent also indicated they provide pet-sitting services for special-needs pets.
Who is using professional pet sitters?
PSI’s survey found that the pet-sitting client demographic has changed little since the 2011 survey. On average, the typical pet-sitting client is a married couple between the ages of 36-50 (44 percent). Survey respondents indicated there are more married couples without children in the home (44 percent) than couples with children (32 percent) who use their services.
PSI’s State of the Industry Survey also collected data on marketing and advertising preferences, social media and technology use and detailed business practices.
To learn more about PSI’s survey or about professional pet sitting as a career, visit http://www.petsit.com.
Beth Stultz, Pet Sitters International, http://www.petsit.com, +1 (336) 983-9222 Ext: 323, [email protected]
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