How to Start a Pet Sitting Business in Gothenburg in 2026

Gothenburg is a city full of dog lovers strolling through Slottsskogen and pet owners living in active urban neighborhoods like Majorna, Linné, and Johanneberg. As busy work routines, travel, and shifting schedules return to normal in 2026, the demand for reliable local pet sitters continues to rise. Starting a pet sitting business in Gothenburg is an accessible way to generate flexible side income or establish a full-time sole proprietorship (enskild firma).

This guide outlines the essential steps to launch your pet sitting service in Gothenburg, from navigating legal basics to securing your very first clients on Errander.

Key takeaways

• Pet sitting is a flexible side business ideal for animal lovers in Gothenburg looking to earn income.
• Setting up requires deciding between a hobby business or an enskild firma, along with suitable liability insurance.
• Identity verification using an ID document scan and selfie via Didit builds critical trust for entering client homes.
• Errander connects sitters with local tasks, utilizing an escrow payment system to ensure secure, reliable payouts.

Why is pet sitting a growing side business in Gothenburg in 2026?

In 2026, Gothenburg pet owners frequently seek flexible, local help with daily dog walking, home visits for cats, and overnight pet care. With large green spaces such as Botaniska trädgården, Delsjöområdet, and Keillers Park nearby, the city offers ideal settings for active dog walking services.

For individuals, pet sitting offers an adaptable business model. You can set your own availability around existing job or study commitments. Whether you want to care for pets in your local neighborhood or travel across Hisingen and Örgryte, offering pet care allows you to turn a passion for animals into a sustainable stream of earnings.

What basic setup and general insurance do you need to get started?

Before taking on your first client, it is important to understand the practical and legal foundations of running a small service business in Sweden:

1. Business Structure and Taxes: You can start by testing the waters as a side gig or hobby. However, if your intention is to run a recurring business for profit, registering a sole proprietorship (enskild firma) and applying for F-skatt through Skatteverket is standard practice. Having F-skatt indicates to clients that you handle your own tax payments and social contributions.

2. General Liability Insurance: Taking care of someone else’s animal or staying inside their apartment carries responsibilities. Arranging general liability insurance (ansvarsförsäkring) protects you against potential expenses if an animal causes damage or suffers an accident while under your supervision.

3. Basic Supplies: While most pet owners provide food, leashes, and litter boxes, keeping basic supplies on hand—such as waste bags, extra leads, and basic pet first-aid items—helps demonstrate professionalism.

How do you use Errander to find local pet sitting tasks?

Finding your initial clients is often the most challenging part of starting a new service business. Errander, a Swedish marketplace for local tasks launched right here in Gothenburg, makes this process seamless. Anyone who is 18 years or older can apply to help local task posters.

To begin, you can browse available assignments in your area by visiting /bounties. Local pet owners post specific needs—such as midday walks, weekend cat feeding, or pet transport. By reviewing listed tasks, you can select assignments that fit your exact schedule and geographic location within Gothenburg. For additional tips on getting started with local task work, you can explore more practical guides under /articles.

Why is identity verification important for tasks in client homes?

Pet sitting often requires entering a client's private home or being trusted with key access. Building trust quickly is essential when pitching your services to local pet owners.

On Errander, task posters looking for help inside their home are required to hire verified erranders. To get verified, you complete a quick identity check consisting of an official ID document scan accompanied by facial recognition (powered by Didit). Once completed, a verified badge is displayed on your public profile. This badge confirms your identity to potential clients, reassuring them that their property and pets are in safe, accountable hands.

How do escrow payments and pricing work for erranders on the platform?

When browsing tasks on Errander, you will notice that task posters set their own budget for each job. This clear structure removes the awkwardness of upfront price negotiations and guarantees transparency before you accept a job.

Here is how the payment process functions:

• Upfront Escrow: Once a poster accepts your application, their payment is placed safely in escrow by the platform.
• Service Completion: You carry out the pet sitting assignment as agreed.
• Guaranteed Payout: Once the task poster confirms the job is done, the funds held in escrow are released directly to you.

The platform charges a fee directly to the task poster, meaning you receive the exact payout agreed upon for the completed task. This eliminates payment delays or chasing unpaid invoices, allowing you to focus entirely on expanding your pet sitting service in Gothenburg.

Ready to start earning money caring for pets in your local neighborhood? Browse available assignments on /bounties today or encourage clients to /post their pet care tasks to get started.