Hollywood writer turned pet-sitter: how a side hustle grew into a higher-earning business

# Background

Stephanie Yuhas is an award-winning film and television writer and producer who started a pet-sitting business, The Funny Sitter, when the pandemic and industry shifts disrupted production schedules. She also worked as a ghostwriter for books while navigating career uncertainty and personal upheaval.

# How the side hustle began

A listing on a Google listserv led Yuhas to take her first pet-sitting job. She didn't charge for that first gig. The work felt safer than hunting for an apartment during the pandemic and provided immediate, practical income and stability while development work paused.

# Growth strategy and operational choices

# Pricing and demand

Return-to-office trends have increased demand for in-home pet care as owners travel or need reliable daytime coverage.

# How this fits with her creative career

Yuhas continued creative work in parallel: developing shows, working on projects that moved between studios, and ghostwriting. The pet-sitting business became a complementary income stream that met immediate financial needs during industry slowdowns and personal transitions.

# Practical takeaways for someone considering a similar side hustle

• Start small and don't expect perfection: Yuhas accepted her first unpaid job and used it to build trust and reviews.
• Use an established platform for payments when bookkeeping is a pain: Rover helped her offload invoicing and payment logistics.
• Charge more for higher-commitment services: in-home, overnight, or constant-care sits command premium rates.
• Scale by hiring people you trust to preserve service quality while taking more clients.
• Expect seasonality: plan for higher demand and revenue around holidays.

# Final snapshot