“So, how much do I owe you?”
“Um, well…whatever you think is fair!”
We’ve all been there.
That awkward moment between client and customer when “the money talk” comes into play.
Want to save yourself from these uncomfortable exchanges? We’re here to help! From understanding the market to presenting your prices in a professional manner, we’re covering everything you need to know about how much to charge for dog sitting.
But first…
TL;DR: Average Dog Sitting Rates for Basic + Special Services
We’ll show you the math and explain how much to charge for dog sitting below, but before we dive into the details, check out these average prices for dog sitting services to help you set a baseline.
| Service Type | Expectations | Average Rates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Minute Drop-In | A quick visit that includes a bathroom break, feeding, water, and play. | $15-$25 per visit |
| 30-Minute Drop-In | Includes a bathroom break, feeding, watering, play, and possibly a short walk. | $20-$35 per visit |
| 1-Hour Drop-In | Time spent on all basic needs, plus interactive play and exercise. | $30-$50 per visit |
| Overnight | A full day and night with companionship and supervision. | $60-$100 per visit |
| Extended (24 hours or Longer) | Provide 24/7 care for pet, including all essential needs, quality time, and exercise. | $80-$150 per day |
| In-Home Boarding | Care for pet in dog sitter’s home, providing all necessities and 24/7 companionship. | $45-$75 per day |
These averages account for overhead costs — like fuel, taxes, and insurance — but don’t factor in the additional fees you may charge on a case-by-case basis. These mitigating factors can include:
- Specialized care: When caring for a dog with special needs, you could increase your rates by $5 to $20 per visit.
- Supplies: If you provide toys, leashes, harnesses, or other essential items, consider adding $2 to $5 to your rate.
- Multiple pets: Charge around $7 to $10 for each additional pet to account for the extra work and time required.
- Holidays: Holiday dog sitting prices usually include a surcharge. This could be an additional $5 to $10 per visit, or a percentage of the overall fee.
Another option to consider is charging a flat rate vs hourly. Both pricing methods have merit depending on your business and the type of service you provide.
For example, many dog sitters opt to charge a flat rate for overnight and extended bookings rather than using an itemized model. This makes billing easier for you and more affordable for the client. However, if you do drop-ins, it makes more sense to charge by the appointment, since each drop-in might also entail travel time.
As your business grows and you build your client list, try offering discounts for referrals and repeat clients. This promotes loyalty and demonstrates excellent customer service. You can also create pricing packages by bundling services like grooming and dog walking into overnight services.
Key Factors That Influence Dog Sitter Pricing
Several factors should influence your dog sitting rates, and accounting for them now can save you some trouble when working with customers. Setting rates and planning for every possibility ensures you establish clear expectations when discussing prices with clients.
Being a professional dog sitter can include a variety of services, and each of them comes with a different price tag. For example, you’re not going to charge the same for a quick drop-in to let a client’s poodle out into their fenced-in yard as you would to board a Weimaraner in your home for a week.
Check out this breakdown of the potential services you might offer:
- Drop-ins: From a few to several brief visits per day to feed, water, and potty your clients’ pets.
- Overnight stays: Some clients may want house sitting and pet care, or a dog may require overnight care.
- Dog walking: If a client’s home doesn’t have a pet-safe yard, you may need to walk their dog a few times a day.
- Boarding in your home: Caring for customers’ pets in your home can be a greater responsibility and require a much larger commitment.
Deciding which services to offer is the first step in determining your dog sitter rates, but your final prices depend on several other factors we’ll cover below.
If you were working an hourly job, you would expect compensation equal to how many hours you worked. While you may not clock in and out as a dog sitter, your earnings should still reflect the amount of time you put into the job.
The longer you spend with a client’s pet, the more you should charge. For instance, the average dog sitting rate for overnight care should be much higher than the price for a few 15-minute drop-ins.
If a client has multiple pets, your rates should reflect the additional work they require. Depending on their care needs, you may need to dedicate far more time and energy to a multi-pet booking.
However, you shouldn’t necessarily double or triple your fee for more dogs. After all, your travel time and overhead costs are about the same. Most dog sitters offer a discount for multi-pet bookings, either charging a percentage for each additional pet or simply tacking on a few extra dollars per visit.
The size of the dogs can also have a big impact on how much work goes into a job. Larger breeds require more space, food, exercise, and physical strength. Many dog sitters charge a higher premium for dogs over 50 lbs or for specific breeds.
When determining your prices, you should also account for your travel time to and from the client’s home since this impacts the total time you spend on a booking. Dropping in for 15 minutes could require a 30-minute round-trip commute. That turns your 15-minute appointment into a 45-minute commitment.
You should also consider where your clients live before quoting a price. If you need to travel more than a few miles for a booking, your overhead increases due to travel time, fuel, and wear-and-tear on your vehicle. To offset this cost, you can charge more based on distance, or simply limit your service area.
The final thing to consider is the area you operate. If you live and work in a city with a high cost of living, everything is pricier, which means your dog sitting rates should reflect that. On the same token, don’t price yourself out of the market by setting your fees much higher than other sitters in your town.
If you choose to take on clients with special-needs pets, your dog sitting prices can reflect the additional training and skill that work requires.
Pet parents may have particular instructions for their pet’s care, or the dog may need 24/7 observation for a medical condition. Whatever the circumstances, these jobs can be far more intensive than a standard dog sitting gig.
Some examples of the challenges you may face with special needs dogs include:
- Medication administration
- Assistance for potty needs
- Dietary restrictions
- Chronic illnesses
- Allergies
- Mobility issues
- Behavioral challenges
- Post-surgical care
- Age-related complications
- Physical disabilities
Earning a pet sitting certification is especially important if you plan to take on dogs with special needs. Between your skills and the cost of training, you should charge a premium for clients who require this higher level of care.
Paws on the Ground Research: Evaluate the Market
Setting your dog sitter rates isn’t a guessing game, it’s all about hard data and facts. The easiest way to find your baseline is to look at the current market.
Understand the Earning Structure
According to ZipRecruiter, dog sitters average around $33,000 per year. However, this figure can be deceiving since most dog sitters don’t work on a traditional full-time basis. Most dog sitters don’t earn an hourly rate or a weekly salary. Instead, they charge by the session length and type of service they provide.
For example, if a client requests that you do four 15-minute drop-ins and one 30-minute walk per day, you would charge for each visit. Let’s say you earn $90 from this booking. That means you made about $60 per hour and completed an hour and a half of work. Not bad!
Because of this unique earning structure, your dog sitting prices play an important role in how you operate your business.
Investigate Local Competitors
To make sure your pricing helps you compete for gigs, you have to dig into how your competitors price their services. Not only does this give you an excellent place to start, but it also helps you compete in the local market.
One of the easiest ways to gauge how other dog sitters set their prices is through pet care apps like Rover. You can select various options to get a sense of how other pet professionals in your area price their services. Use these figures to determine the average daycare, drop-in, and overnight dog sitting rates in your town.
Read more about how Rover stacks up against other dog sitting apps in our comprehensive Rover review.
Don’t limit your research to dog sitting apps, though. These prices may be inflated to account for fees and commissions, so it’s wise to expand your investigation to independent dog sitting services, too.
Do a quick Google search to see if there are other dog sitters in your area and browse their websites to learn more about them. Try terms like “dog sitters near me” and “dog sitting in [your city].” You can also join Facebook groups for your neighborhood and surrounding areas where your competition advertises.
As you review your competitors, look for the following information:
- The types of services they provide
- Pricing based on the length of service (15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour)
- Pricing based on the type of service (drop-in, overnight, walking, boarding)
- Upcharges for special requests (medication administration, grooming, special needs)
Compare your own experience and skills against these figures to help you determine where you land in the current market.
If you’re fairly inexperienced, you may want to align your prices with the lower end of the spectrum. On the other hand, if you’re an industry pro, you can set your prices on the higher end of the local average.
Finally, make sure to account for the number of competitors in your area. If your town has a high saturation of pet care professionals, you may not see much success with premium pricing, no matter how good you are. But, if there aren’t very many dog sitters in your city, demand may justify adding a few bucks to your fee.
Budget for Business Expenses
Operating costs are an important factor in setting your dog sitting prices. These “hidden” expenses can cut into your profits if you don’t account for them.
As a self-employed business owner, it’s your responsibility to set aside money to cover taxes every quarter. This applies to sole proprietors, independent contractors, and gig workers. If you’re unsure how to do this, meet with an accountant for help (and factor this additional cost into your pricing, as well).
You also need to invest in dog sitter insurance or full-fledged doggy daycare insurance to protect yourself and your business. While this may seem like yet another expense, operating without insurance can cost you much more than your premiums. If a pet gets injured or a client’s home is damaged, insurance can help cover your financial responsibility.
As your business grows, you may find that you need help keeping track of everything. If so, it may be time to get pet care business software like TimeToPet, which can help with scheduling, payments, and client management. Again, while this can help your operations, it does add to your monthly business expenses.
Communicate Your Dog Sitter Rates to Clients
Transparency and honesty are the best policies when it comes to your prices. Surprise charges are frustrating, but easily avoided. Customers appreciate when businesses are upfront and clear about their rates.
Create a price sheet listing all of the services you offer (including add-ons) and the price for each one. Websites like Canva feature free price list templates so you can design a polished document. You should also include other essential payment info, such as:
- Forms of acceptable payment (e.g. cash, check, credit card)
- A QR code for a payment app
- When payment is due (e.g., before the appointment, at the time of service)
- Terms of cancellation
Post your price list on your website and social media where it’s easy for customers to find. You can also print a stack to share with potential customers you meet in person.
Sharing your prices sets clear expectations and eliminates confusion when it’s time for customers to pay the invoice. No more awkward conversations or beating around the bush about your dog sitting rates!
Pro Tip: List your credentials, certifications, or training on your price sheet, too! This shows customers why you’re worth the cost of your services and adds a layer of credibility to your business.
When to Raise Your Dog Sitting Rates
Price changes are inevitable when you operate a business. In fact, you should evaluate your pricing structure regularly to ensure you continue earning a profit. With inflation and the increased cost of living, rate adjustments are common and expected by most customers.
As you gain more experience or earn credentials, you should also take another look at your price list. A dog sitter with first aid training and specialized certifications can and should charge more for their services. These skills help ensure better safety and care for pets and therefore demand a higher premium.
No matter how reasonable or justified you may be in raising your dog sitting prices, it can be a challenge to communicate an increase to clients. It’s important to take a professional approach to cultivate a positive relationship with your customers.
Here are a few tips for effectively communicating updated pricing:
- Be honest: Provide a clear and transparent reason for raising prices, providing a simple explanation.
- Give notice: Notify your clients at least a month in advance of the rate increase to avoid unpleasant surprises. Email your client list, post it online, and share it with customers when they book services.
- Express gratitude: Thank your clients for their understanding and support. If possible, offer a loyalty discount as a sign of appreciation.
- Highlight value: Emphasize the quality of your business, emphasizing the benefits of your service and your dedication to pets.
- Accept questions: Your customers will have questions, and that’s okay. Answer honestly and with understanding. Never respond defensively.
Now that you know the ins and outs of pricing your dog sitting services, you’re set up to succeed. With some thoughtful planning and a transparent approach, you can price your services fairly and competitively so you never have to deal with those awkward money conversations again.
Pet Pros’ FAQs About Dog Sitting Rates
The average price for a 15-minute drop-in visit is $15 to $25, depending on your experience level and where you operate. This rate increases for longer visits or overnight dog sitting services.
You should always factor the cost of your pet sitting insurance into your dog sitter rates to ensure your business remains profitable. These overhead costs are essential for running a safe operation and should only impact your pricing by 1% to 5% of your overall fees.
