Australian businesses have run on Petboost since 2022, including teams from Scout
The short version
Scout maps the full walk route, which we don't. It charges per active staff member on top of the base plan. If the walk map is what your customers are paying for, buy theirs. If you're adding walkers and want the bill to stay flat, per-seat pricing works against you.
Why businesses choose Petboost
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
Built for Australian Businesses
AUD pricing, No FX Fees
AUD
No FX
1 system, 1 plan, multi-category
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training. All included.
$33-39 USD/month base + $15-18/month per staff member (all in USD with FX conversion for AU businesses)
US Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30 USD (vs Stripe 1.7% + $0.30 through Petboost; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%)
The USD subscription and per-staff fees apply whatever you do about payments, and attract your card's international transaction fee. Processing only differs if you take payments through Scout, where an Australian cardholder on US Stripe carries the international card surcharge and currency conversion
P
Petboost
Built in Sydney
Australian
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Sydney, Australia
Focus
Multi-vertical pet services
Customers
Australian pet businesses, running since 2022
Where Petboost Shines
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4% plus a small fixed SMS fee; Stripe 1.7% + $0.30
Subscription Model
$33-39 USD/month + $15-18/staff member
$65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments)
Per-Staff Fees
$15-18/month per active staff member
$0 (unlimited staff included)
SMS Functionality
SMS Availability
Scout
No SMS capability. Push notifications and email only
Petboost
SMS from Australian numbers
Notification Method
Scout
Push notifications via native apps + email
Petboost
SMS + email (no app download required)
SMS Payment Links
Scout
Not available
Petboost
SMS payment links
Requires App Download
Scout
Yes (for push notifications to work)
Petboost
No. SMS works on any phone
Australian Phone Number
Scout
No SMS capability
Petboost
Australian number with Communications Booster
SMS Functionality
Scout
Petboost
SMS Availability
No SMS capability. Push notifications and email only
SMS from Australian numbers
Notification Method
Push notifications via native apps + email
SMS + email (no app download required)
SMS Payment Links
Not available
SMS payment links
Requires App Download
Yes (for push notifications to work)
No. SMS works on any phone
Australian Phone Number
No SMS capability
Australian number with Communications Booster
Consider Scout only if
There are limited scenarios where Scout may suit you better:
Dog walking and pet sitting businesses (their core origin)
Mobile/field-service operators who need continuous GPS route tracking and photo check-ins
Businesses wanting native iOS and Android apps for staff and pet parents
Companies needing integrated payroll for staff members
US-based pet care businesses wanting US support
Teams that need structured visit fields (feeding, meds, bathroom) and continuous GPS route maps for pet parents
Recommended
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
Australian pet businesses wanting local support and AU payment rates
Multi-service operators who also do grooming, training courses, and packages
Where Each Platform Excels
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
Feature comparison
Scout vs Petboost
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Scout has dedicated native apps; Petboost has a frictionless web-based flow with no app download required
S
Scout
Native iOS/Android app for pet parents with service requests, scheduling, and payment management
P
Petboost
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking in 38 seconds for a returning customer and 56 for a new one
GPS Walk Tracking
Continuous location tracking of pet walks with route maps
Scout offers continuous route tracking; Petboost captures GPS at check-in/checkout and from photos
S
Scout
Continuous GPS route maps sent to pet parents after each walk
P
Petboost
GPS check-in/checkout + photo locations on Magic Map (point-in-time, not continuous route)
Photo Check-Ins & Report Cards
Photo updates and end-of-service summaries for pet parents
Both have report cards. Scout adds structured fields (feeding, meds, bathroom, mood). Petboost uses free-form notes with photos and location data.
Scout staff can sync appointments to external calendars; Petboost does not offer this
S
Scout
iCal, Google Calendar, Outlook sync for staff
P
Petboost
Digital Agreements
Electronic service agreements and signatures
Both support digital agreements
S
Scout
E-sign service agreements with version tracking
P
Petboost
Digital paperwork and consent forms
Accounting Integration
Export to accounting software
Scout has direct QuickBooks and Xero integrations; Petboost connects to Xero via Stripe Bank Feeds
S
Scout
QuickBooks Online and Xero integration
P
Petboost
Xero via Stripe Bank Feeds
Prevent Early Check-In
Ensuring staff arrive at scheduled times
Scout has a feature to prevent staff checking in before appointment time
S
Scout
Prevents early check-in to maintain schedule accuracy
P
Petboost
Lead Collection
Capturing potential customer enquiries
Scout has dedicated lead management; Petboost captures leads through booking
S
Scout
Embeddable contact form, lead tracking, one-click conversion to customer
P
Petboost
Online booking form acts as lead capture
White-Label / Branded App
Fully branded mobile experience
Scout offers a white-label app option; Petboost does not have a branded app
S
Scout
Fully branded pet parent app with your logo and colours ($300/month add-on)
P
Petboost
Feature comparison
Scout vs Petboost
S
Scout
Chicago / Cleveland, USA
P
Petboost
Australian-built
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Scout has dedicated native apps; Petboost has a frictionless web-based flow with no app download required
Native iOS/Android app for pet parents with service requests, scheduling, and payment management
Passwordless phone login, progressive info collection, smart eligibility filtering, 24/7 booking in 38 seconds for a returning customer and 56 for a new one
GPS Walk Tracking
Continuous location tracking of pet walks with route maps
Scout offers continuous route tracking; Petboost captures GPS at check-in/checkout and from photos
Continuous GPS route maps sent to pet parents after each walk
GPS check-in/checkout + photo locations on Magic Map (point-in-time, not continuous route)
Photo Check-Ins & Report Cards
Photo updates and end-of-service summaries for pet parents
Both have report cards. Scout adds structured fields (feeding, meds, bathroom, mood). Petboost uses free-form notes with photos and location data.
Scout staff can sync appointments to external calendars; Petboost does not offer this
iCal, Google Calendar, Outlook sync for staff
Digital Agreements
Electronic service agreements and signatures
Both support digital agreements
E-sign service agreements with version tracking
Digital paperwork and consent forms
Accounting Integration
Export to accounting software
Scout has direct QuickBooks and Xero integrations; Petboost connects to Xero via Stripe Bank Feeds
QuickBooks Online and Xero integration
Xero via Stripe Bank Feeds
Prevent Early Check-In
Ensuring staff arrive at scheduled times
Scout has a feature to prevent staff checking in before appointment time
Prevents early check-in to maintain schedule accuracy
Lead Collection
Capturing potential customer enquiries
Scout has dedicated lead management; Petboost captures leads through booking
Embeddable contact form, lead tracking, one-click conversion to customer
Online booking form acts as lead capture
White-Label / Branded App
Fully branded mobile experience
Scout offers a white-label app option; Petboost does not have a branded app
Fully branded pet parent app with your logo and colours ($300/month add-on)
Last checked 7th September 2026 • Based on publicly available information
Our Focused Approach
We do fewer things exceptionally well rather than many things adequately. Our customers consistently tell us our design and user experience is miles ahead. Here's where we've intentionally focused elsewhere:
Continuous GPS route tracking
Focused elsewhere
Scout offers continuous route maps as a signature feature. Petboost captures GPS at check-in/checkout and from photo EXIF data, but does not record the full walking route.
Structured visit fields (feeding, meds, bathroom)
Considering
Scout has purpose-built fields for feeding, medication, bathroom and mood on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment, but no purpose-built visit-report fields.
Native mobile apps
Considering
Scout has dedicated iOS and Android apps for staff and pet parents. Petboost uses responsive web.
Payroll management
Focused elsewhere
Scout has integrated payroll with custom rates and gratuity. Not currently planned for Petboost.
Group walk scheduling
Available
Group walks are a standard Petboost service type. You set "pets at a time" on the service or team member (for example 5 dogs per walker) and pets from different households book into the same slot up to that limit.
Calendar integration (iCal, Google, Outlook)
Considering
Scout staff can sync to external calendars. Petboost does not currently support this.
White-label branded app
Focused elsewhere
Scout offers a fully branded pet parent app for $300/month. Not currently planned for Petboost.
Feature
Status
Our Approach
Continuous GPS route tracking
Focused elsewhere
Scout offers continuous route maps as a signature feature. Petboost captures GPS at check-in/checkout and from photo EXIF data, but does not record the full walking route.
Structured visit fields (feeding, meds, bathroom)
Considering
Scout has purpose-built fields for feeding, medication, bathroom and mood on the visit report. Petboost has Report Cards with free-form notes, photos and Magic Map, plus custom fields and intake forms you can set to run every appointment, but no purpose-built visit-report fields.
Native mobile apps
Considering
Scout has dedicated iOS and Android apps for staff and pet parents. Petboost uses responsive web.
Payroll management
Focused elsewhere
Scout has integrated payroll with custom rates and gratuity. Not currently planned for Petboost.
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Scout may be better suited for your current needs.
Real Cost Comparison
Based on typical Australian pet business transaction volumes.
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
$33-39 USD/month base + $15-18/month per staff member (all in USD with FX conversion for AU businesses), plus US Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30 USD (vs Stripe 1.7% + $0.30 through Petboost; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%). With Petboost, you pay $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments), a booking fee on card payments (1.2% to 1.4% by plan), and Stripe's Australian rate as a separate Stripe charge.
What Could You Save?
Calculate your potential savings
Your savings depend on your business size and payment volume. Use the calculator below for a personalised estimate.
Business Pro starts at $65/month with 450 appointments included. Business Max at $240/month gives you unlimited appointments.
Total customer payments (all methods)
$1k$25k$50k
Appointments you expect each month
50450 (Pro)2,5005,000
Reminders and notifications sent
0500 (Pro)1,000 (Max)2,000
What percentage of payments go through card on file?
$2,000 cash/EFTPOS
80%card on file
$8,000 card
All cash/EFTPOSAll card on file
Business Pro
Subscription waived
Subscription waived. Your $65/month fee is $0.
Monthly fee$65$0
Appointments (100/month)Within limit
Team members$0
SMS (300 messages)Within 500 limit
Booking fee (1.4% on card payments)~$112
Stripe processing (card payments)~$160
Your Total Cost~$272
Hidden Costs of Non-Card Payments
$408/mo
20 of your 100 appointments are paid without card on file
Your card-on-file fee: $28/mo→Saves: $408/mo
$1 in fees saves $15 in hidden costs
Annual impact: $4,892/year in recoverable losses
Generous SMS Limits
Business Pro includes 500 SMS/month. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You're well within your limit!
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at 1,000 appointments/month. You're at 100.
Your Savings
Save $569+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
• $65/month (waived at $7,500+ card payment volume)
• 450 appointments included
• $0.40/appointment after 450
• 500 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Flex
• $135/month (waived at $13,500+ card payment volume)
• 650 appointments included
• $0.50/appointment after 650
• 700 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Max
• $240/month (waived at $20,000+ card payment volume)
• Unlimited appointments
• No per-appointment overage fees
• 1,000 SMS/month included
• 1.2% booking fee on card payments
All plans include SMS Power-Up Packs at $15 for 100 additional SMS if needed.
* Estimates based on $10,000 total revenue (80% card on file), 100 appointments, and 300 SMS. Hidden cost estimates use industry averages for no-show rates, cancellation losses, and admin time. Actual costs vary.
Calculate your potential savings
Enter your business numbers and compare total costs including international card and currency conversion fees.
Cost Comparison Calculator
See exactly what you save with Petboost
Start from a business like yours
$2K$50K$100K
11020
Scout
Solo
Subscription$47/mo($33 USD)
Payment processing$332/mo
Int'l card fee (+1.5%)+$150/mo
Currency conversion (+1%)+$100/mo
Total$629/mo
Solo operator. Unlimited invoices and clients.
Save $289/mo
Petboost
Business Pro
Subscription$0 (waived)
Stripe processing (AU 1.7% + $0.30)$200/mo
Booking fee (1.4%)$140/mo(build into pricing)
Staff fees$0 (unlimited)
Foreign card fees$0 (AU Stripe)
Total$340/mo
If the booking fee is built into pricing: $200/mo
Annual savings: $3,472
Compared to Scout Solo at 100 transactions/month
Scout pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-09-07. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
From solo operators to multi-location groups
Petboost fits your business. Whether you're a one-person mobile groomer, running a large facility with multiple staff and spaces, or managing several locations at once.
Solo Superstars
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
1-tap booking management
Automated invoicing & receipts
After-hours self-service booking
SMS reminders on autopilot
Growing Teams
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
Multi-staff scheduling
Per-resource capacity limits
Team permissions & roles
Shared customer database
Large Operations
Multi-space daycare and boarding, high-volume salons, and busy multi-service businesses.
Bulk operations & admin
Multi-space capacity tracking
Volume pricing available
Advanced automation rules
Petboost Enterprise
Multi-location groups and franchises running every site from one HQ dashboard.
Still unsure?Book a no-pressure demo and we'll help you figure out if we're the right fit, even if that means recommending someone else.
Honest about change
The little bit of pain is generally 4 to 6 weeks. Then it clicks.
Switching to any new system is a big adjustment. Buttons are in different places, naming might be different, and the muscle memory you have built does not transfer overnight. We tell every customer the same thing: give it 4 to 6 weeks. Then, one day, you realise it is so much better.
Last verified: 7th September 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.scoutforpets.com
Exchange rate: AUD figures converted at 1 USD = $1.4 and 1 GBP = $1.91, the European Central Bank via Frankfurter rate as at . Rates move daily, so the AUD amounts above are indicative; we re-check them every week.
GST: every price on this page is what you actually pay. Where a competitor quotes before GST, we have added the 10%. Where a competitor prices in another currency, the local tax treatment is theirs to set, so check it before you compare.
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Scout® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Scout.
Australian presence
Native. Built in Sydney, with Australian data residency, same-timezone support and pricing in AUD.
Pricing
$65-240/mo plus a 1.2-1.4% booking fee on card payments. Subscription $0 once your card volume reaches $7,500 a month on Pro, or $20,000 on Max.
No lock-in, cancel anytime
Businesses wanting $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments) transparent pricing with no per-staff fees
Owners who want comprehensive pet attribute libraries and customer profile management
Businesses that want SMS payment links to collect outstanding invoices
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Group walk scheduling
Available
Group walks are a standard Petboost service type. You set "pets at a time" on the service or team member (for example 5 dogs per walker) and pets from different households book into the same slot up to that limit.
Calendar integration (iCal, Google, Outlook)
Considering
Scout staff can sync to external calendars. Petboost does not currently support this.
White-label branded app
Focused elsewhere
Scout offers a fully branded pet parent app for $300/month. Not currently planned for Petboost.
You want a subscription waived at $7,500+/month in card payments
Per-staff fees are a concern as your team grows
You want SMS payment links for collecting outstanding invoices
Structured pet attribute profiles (1,600+ attributes) matter to you
Self-service packages for customers are important
You prefer SMS notifications over app-dependent push notifications
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
