Advice on Pet/House Sitting Rates

[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.

[snakemama]

I'm late to this thread, but here goes: I charge $20/visit and I don't do overnights. I have in the past added on a $5 charge for giving subQ fluids during my visits, but lately I haven't because most animals are so cooperative for their fluids that it's really no extra work.

Most of my clients are from when I was an RVT, so I have a lot of diabetic and renal failure pet sitting clients.

[Jessika]

After some thought, I think I've decided to go with $15/visit, an extra $5 per visit for special things (dog walking, difficult pets needing medication, etc), and $50 for overnights. Compared to other techs, and in response to the clients when I've asked for that, they think it seems fair and on-par with other sitters in the area with my experience and education (actually I've had someone say that $50/night is "very affordable" versus taking your pet to the kennel).

Thank you all so much for your input, advice, and suggestions

[moosmom]

I'm also trained in animal CPR and can give sub-Q fluids and insulin injections. Most of my clients have no problem paying my prices. If they ask me to go lower, generally I'll work with them, as ANY kind of fee they pay, is extra money for me and my cats.

I have offered to do a dry run (freebie) sometimes to allow them to see how I work. That has also paid off.

I wish you LOTS of luck. My clients are all by word-of-mouth. My cousin's wife is a realtor and will leave my business cards and fridge magnets with new buyers who have pets. I put them ANYWHERE I can. It's paid off.