Pet Sitting Fees

What prices to charge for a pet sitter business?

Knowing what pet sitting fees to charge is key to starting a successful pet sitting business.

pet sitting fees

Your pet sitting prices will depend on a number of things including where you live, your experience, and the pet sitter services you offer. Here are some good guidelines to follow when setting your fees.

Research pet sitting fees in your area Find out what other pet sitters are charging in your area. You can do this by looking at online pet sitter directories, local advertisements for pet sitting services, Craigslist, and pet sitting websites, forums and message boards. Average pet sitting rates can be anywhere between $10 and $20 per visit. Make sure your rates are competitive with pet sitters offering similar services in a similar area.
Consider the services you are offering You can charge extra for additional services you provide such as grooming the pets, medicating pets, buying pet supplies and dog walking. Doing house-sitting chores like watering plants, taking out the trash and collecting mail can also increase your rate.
Number and size of pets Your pet sitting fees will also depend on the number of pets involved per visit, the size of the pets and how much trouble they are likely to be. In most cases pet sitters charge an extra couple of dollars per visit per extra pet. Cats are generally less trouble than dogs and if you charge $16 for a dog visit then you could charge $12 for a cat visit. Consider how long does the visit have to be? Will you need to spend an hour with the pet or will 20 minutes be enough? This will depend on individual pet needs and pet owner expectations. Set prices for a thirty minute visit and adjust accordingly.
Holiday and after-hour visits Pet sitters can charge an additional fee for any over-the-holidays work. Determine your regular pet sitting hours and visits that fall outside of these hours become after-hours visits.
How many visits are achievable per day Estimate what you can earn per month by working out the number of visits you can complete in one day. Take into consideration travelling time, the length of each visit and any other commitmments you have for the day. On average a pet sitter can manage 8 half hour visits per day. In terms of travelling most pet sitters have a flat fee for visits within a certain area and add a per mile charge for travel outside of that area.
Don't under-charge or over-charge Charging less than the average pet sitting rate in your area will create the perception that your services are of an inferior quality. Avoid benchmarking your pet sitting fees against schoolkids who offer to do pet sitting during vacation. These kids are generally uninsured or bonded and have little experience. Your fees should be a fair and reasonable reflection of the professional and reliable service you are offering.
Include a cancellation policy It is advisable to have a written cancellation policy or to include it in your pet sitting contract. For new clients you can ask for a partial payment upfront
Make your service more valuable Come up with innovative ways of making your pet sitting business better than the competition. Added value translates into higher pet sitting fees. Consider options like overnight visits, acting as a pet taxi and transporting pets to vet appointments, grooming appointments, formal obedience classes or anything the client needs. You can offer basic obedience training yourself if you know something about this. Washing and brushing pets is another service you can offer. What about shopping for pet supplies? Take the opportunity to upskill yourself - learn some grooming skills or dog training skills.