Advice on Pet/House Sitting Rates

[Jessika]

I had to convert a couple of prices on that page to USD, but those prices are generally what I've been told I should be charging. Currently the 3 jobs I've had has been staying overnight with 2 dogs for $30/night; swinging by 2x daily to feed/play with/clean litter box for 4 cats and give insulin to 2 cats for $30 a day, and another client paid $25/day to swing by and care for her 9 cats once (that was a LOT of litter to scoop, lol). So I guess those prices are on-par. I'm considering leaving my prices the same for the daily visits ($15/visit I'm thinking up to a certain number of animals) but upping my overnight prices (the one overnight I did, he left me no food, nothing, the bed was even broken and I had to sleep on the couch... but the dogs were angels!).

So here's another thought -- if you wanted someone to stay overnight, do you think it is your responsibility to supply them with food, snacks, beverages, etc, or do you feel that is the sitter's responsibility? Would you consider paying more if they provided their own food?

Another thought I was dealing with is that any job I do has to be convenient for me because I do have a full-time job I need to be at as well.

Thanks for your input so far

[Karen]

With anyone staying overnight, I would expect them to provide their own food - as I wouldn't know what other people want to eat, or could eat, and tell them they are welcome to the beverages in the fridge door, or whatever.

[Suki Wingy]

I have several dog/pet sitting clients and I do not set prices at all, they pay me whatever they feel like is a good price, which turns out to be about $100 a week for the two up in Wisconsin, and $80 or so for the weekend back home in Illinois. The two in Wisconsin are two dogs each, one house also has bearded dragons, tortoises, and fish. The one in Illinois is a dog aggressive fox terrier and it's a neighbor so I don't sleep there but I do spend quite a lot of the time during the day there.

[Jessika]

I have several dog/pet sitting clients and I do not set prices at all, they pay me whatever they feel like is a good price, which turns out to be about $100 a week for the two up in Wisconsin, and $80 or so for the weekend back home in Illinois. The two in Wisconsin are two dogs each, one house also has bearded dragons, tortoises, and fish. The one in Illinois is a dog aggressive fox terrier and it's a neighbor so I don't sleep there but I do spend quite a lot of the time during the day there.

Some of the clients I deal with probably wouldn't pay me a "fair" price if I didn't have some sort of baseline. I got $200/week for one cat-sitting job (I asked for $30/day and they just rounded up to $200!!) so there are some that are more generous, but I have to look out for myself too and know my worth and what a fair price for my time is.

Thank you everyone for your input!

[TamanduaGirl]

One reason professional pet sitters charge more than someone just doing it for a friend is because they have and need liability insurance. Anyone pet sitting for anyone besides close family and close friends should have that. You never know what might go wrong that they might blame you for. Having a contract helps a lot too that outlines what you will do if something unforseen happens, say like a vet is suddenly needed.

[moosmom]

I run Fur-Nanny 911, and have been pet sitting professionally for about 4 years now. I have a client base of 11 clients. I charge $50/day for overnight (I buy my own food). My clients are mostly dog people. Clients with cats have two options. Since cats are much less work, I charge $25/visit. They have the option for daily visits or every other day. Insurance can be expensive. I'm already bonded (fingerprints on file with the FBI) since I was an Auxiliary State Trooper. I sign a waiver holding my clients harmless should I be injured on their premises.

Vistaprint is an awesome place to get business cards printed. They're cheap.

Suggestion: I put my business cards everywhere pet people are. Good way to market yourself!!

[Jessika]

I run Fur-Nanny 911, and have been pet sitting professionally for about 4 years now. I have a client base of 11 clients. I charge $50/day for overnight (I buy my own food). My clients are mostly dog people. Clients with cats have two options. Since cats are much less work, I charge $25/visit. They have the option for daily visits or every other day. Insurance can be expensive. I'm already bonded (fingerprints on file with the FBI) since I was an Auxiliary State Trooper. I sign a waiver holding my clients harmless should I be injured on their premises.

Vistaprint is an awesome place to get business cards printed. They're cheap.

Suggestion: I put my business cards everywhere pet people are. Good way to market yourself!!

Thank you, some things to think about

One reason professional pet sitters charge more than someone just doing it for a friend is because they have and need liability insurance. Anyone pet sitting for anyone besides close family and close friends should have that. You never know what might go wrong that they might blame you for. Having a contract helps a lot too that outlines what you will do if something unforseen happens, say like a vet is suddenly needed.

Most of the ones I am house sitting for are clients from my work (I am an RVT working at a vet clinic) and they will call the clinic before hand giving permission to treat pets while they are away. I don't have a "personal" contract for myself, but many (if not all) of the clients I have sat for have made their own that they have signed giving me permission to bring to the clinic to have their pets treated, permission to be on the property, etc.

I am not looking into doing this full-time or professionally, but it is a nice way to bring in some extra money when I am living paycheck to paycheck.

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions, advice, and input. I appreciate it!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I'd probably start with a base charge of $10-15 per visit if it's a home not far from you and the pet is easy. I'd adjust the rate depending on the number and difficultly of the pets. Obviously, even though the number of pets is the same, a home with 3 guinea pigs is less work than a home with 3 dogs who are all on medication and need to be leash walked around the block with each visit.

I'd probably charge 3x your per visit rate for staying over night. So if your per visit rate for a client would work out to $15/visit I'd charge $45 for staying over night. During an over night stay you'd be doing the work of 2 visits, at least (an evening visit and a morning visit) plus you'd be staying there all night.