How Much Do Pet Sitters Charge?
You've been reading a lot of research regarding how to start your own pet-sitting business, but still wonder, how much would I charge for my services if I were to start my own pet-sitting business? This article will serve as a guide for you to gauge how much you can set your rates for your business!
Pet sitting services are typically at about $25 for a 30-minute visit that includes a toilet break, feeding, and fresh water. Prices vary depending on the sitter's proximity to the pet owner and whether the pet has to be picked up or left off. If you have more than one dog or pet, pay $10 for each additional dog or pet. Pet sitters often charge $25 for a 30-minute visit, $20 to $30 a day, $45 to $75 per night, or $250 to $375 per week. Rates are determined by the services requested, whether you require 24-hour pet care or assistance on holidays, and whether the client has extra pets.
Deciding on Services
The process of planning for your pet-sitting company includes several important—and occasionally overlooked—steps. One of them is deciding what services you will offer. There are many different approaches you might take in this situation, but it's crucial to bear in mind the kind of business you're starting. Which species of animals would you care for? Will you provide overnight accommodation in your client's homes?
Don't overextend yourself. Additional services can always be added later. It's crucial to give your customers the greatest service imaginable. The easiest way to stand out from the crowd is always to do that! You need to constantly strive to outdo your competitors in terms of customer service. This means going above and beyond their expectations to ensure that they have the best possible experience. This could mean going out of your way to help them with a problem. It will net you repeat customers with this type of service!
Setting Your Rates
Setting your charges per visit will most likely be a combination of what you want to perform each hour and what the normal rates in your region are. Setting it by per visit, not per hour, will make your pricing much simpler and will save you from a lot of headaches when thinking about how much you will charge your clients. You cannot price yourself out of the market, but you must also ensure that you are well paid. This can be a tough line to walk, but it is critical to establish a happy medium. You may not be regarded seriously or be able to make a livelihood if you charge too little. You may price yourself out of the market if you charge too much. You need to strike a balance where you're earning a reasonable profit but not so much that consumers are put off by the price. And we should also always check the competitor's rate so that we can still match their prices.
The usual rates would be:
Minimum Cost $10 per visit
Maximum Cost $60 per visit
For example, the cost of a 30-minute rate is not merely $20. You must also account for travel time and overhead. If your average commute time is 15 minutes and your event overhead is $3, the cost of this 30-minute service should be $33. This is $30 for 45 minutes of your time (30 minutes for the visit and 15 minutes for transport if you're near the vicinity, you can change the transport charges depending on the clientele's location) plus $3 for overhead.
Will they be absent for a holiday like Independence Day? Per visit, add $5. Is your pet a young pup? They require a little bit more labor, so increase the base wage by $5. The average daily fee for pet sitting is $20. Of course, there are always factors that influence that cost. As said earlier, you can factor in the costs of your transportation, and you can add in the costs for the materials you're going to use while pet-sitting. And lastly, you can factor in how many pets you're going to look after, since the cost is for one dog, cat, or bird, and any extra pet will result in a $10 price increase and you can charge extra if you are pet-sitting exotic animals if you are providing pet sitting for those too.
Overnight Pet Sitting Rates
It will cost between $40 and $75 a night for your pet sitter to give them overnight care in the client's house. There are several advantages to this configuration, including:
You keep them engaged at home. They have their pets with them all night. In the event of an emergency, such as a sick pet, they have someone available. For pet owners who put in long hours or must travel to work, this service is fantastic. Knowing that their pet will be cared for in case of need provides them with comfort. It is a great relief to know that someone will be there to take care of their pet if they are ever in an accident or become ill. This service is a wonderful way to show how much you care for your pet and want to ensure their safety.
The cost of pet sitting is influenced by a variety of factors, such as where you live (Texas or California). If the client has a lot of pets, or if they are ill or old, the standard price may easily increase. If they are really young and are still learning where to use the restroom, it could also cost extra since you are in charge of cleaning their mess.
Type of Pet
Pet sitting for smaller animals that can entertain themselves and don't require walks might be less expensive than for an energetic dog that needs two or three walks a day. Puppies can increase visit costs by $5. In addition to the regular charge of $40 to $75 each night, you can request to pay an extra $7 to $10 for each additional pet. For example, you can charge them for less if all the animals are dogs rather than two dogs, three cats, and two birds, since it will make your pet-sitting much easier.
Holidays
Expect to charge more on holidays since you are skipping your own vacations to take care of clients' dogs. On holidays, the majority of pet sitters charge an extra $5 depending on how you see it fit. Although it may not seem like much, adding the price of food, toys, and veterinary care can quickly mount up. They will be able to enjoy their vacation stress-free knowing that their dogs are in capable hands in this manner. You may be confident that your cherished pet will receive excellent care while the clients are away without breaking their wallets. Everyone benefits from this circumstance, which is a win-win!
Professional Level Services
Professional services are the best and most expensive. They won't have to worry while they are away if you provide expert service. The customers will feel secure knowing that a qualified and responsible pet care professional is taking care of their house and their pets. They can rely on the owners to be at home and to take good care of their homes. Their pets will be loved and cared for exactly as they would be if the pet owner were there since this pet care specialist will take all the essential procedures to ensure their safety and well-being.
Keeping It Simple
We highly advise that services be kept as basic as possible. It's easy to go overboard and offer a plethora of services, such as cat-sitting, dog walking, pet sitting, nighttime sitting, early morning walks, and so on. In practice, most of these services are likely to be relatively similar and be priced similarly. Instead of providing a plethora of individual services, it is simpler to provide only a few services dependent on the duration of the event. There are just far too many irregularities when pricing per job rather than per time. You may, for example, have a 15-minute visit, a 30-minute visit, and a 60-minute visit. Each visit might be different for cats, dogs, walks, birds, morning, night, and so on. Even if you are doing something new at each event, you are still spending the same amount of time. When consumers seek services, this simplifies the procedure for them as well as for you.
Expenses
You must account for the wages of any employees or workers other than yourself. Consider labor, insurance, gas, marketing, supplies, and any other unforeseen costs. Your profit is the difference between your income and your costs, not what you make from each visit/pet-sitting. Make sure your charges meet your business expenditures while still leaving enough for profit. This can be a difficult task, but it is important to make sure that you are not overspending on your visits and that you are making a profit. So plan smart when doing your visits so that your earnings will be kept untouched!
Frequency Discounts and Special Rates
Frequency discounts are an excellent strategy to "lock in" your top clients as repeat customers while ensuring you have enough of business. We advocate frequency discounts since they increase customer use and loyalty. It also encourages them to return, which is beneficial to the company. Furthermore, it demonstrates that we value their business and wish to maintain them as satisfied clients. We are not only encouraging them to continue doing business with us, but we are also praising them for their loyalty. This is an excellent approach to establishing connections with clients and keeping them returning!
It’s Okay to Say No
No matter how reasonable your price is, potential customers will always want to bargain. People from beyond your targeted service area may also be interested in becoming clients. This is the point at which you must determine whether taking on a specific customer is in your best interests. If they are unwilling to pay the full price for your services or reside an hour away from your other clients, you must evaluate if it is beneficial to take them on. Always remember that you still have the final word on whether you'll accept a client or not. It might be difficult to reject a business, especially when you are just starting out and want to expand, but it is acceptable to say no. You are in charge and must determine what is best for your company. Setting up a meet and greet is the most effective technique to discover if a customer is a good fit. There are various questions you may ask prospective new clients before the meet and greet.
Conclusion
Setting your rates can be one of the most difficult things to decide when starting your own venture in a pet-sitting business, but with the right resources and the right research, you can easily set up your rates depending on where you conduct your business and how much your competitors charge for their own services.