Pet Sitting Pricing Calculator - What Should You Charge? | Pawpreneur Suite

🐾 Stop Guessing Your Pet Sitting Prices

Calculate exactly what you need to charge for overnight care, house sitting, and drop-in visits to make a proper living — in under 2 minutes.

1
Business Basics
2
Services
3
Core Expenses
4
Running Costs
🏠

Let's start with the basics

Tell us about your pet sitting business

🏡
Home-Based I host pets at my home
🚗
Travel to Clients House sitting/drop-ins
🏢
Both I offer multiple options
✖️
No Just me
✔️
Yes I have helpers
Vacation/Sick Days Per Year 14 days
Include holidays, sick days, and personal time off
Days Per Week 5 days
Hours Per Day 10 hours
Pets You Can Care For Simultaneously 3 pets
If house sitting: 1-3 homes. If hosting: up to 10 pets
🐾

What services do you offer?

Select all that apply

$
What you currently charge per night
$
What you currently charge per visit

Your typical weekly mix

What percentage of your bookings are each service type?

Overnight Care 50%
30-Min Visits 30%
60-Min Visits 20%
Total: 100%
🎄

Holiday Pricing

Do you charge more during holidays? (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's)

✔️
Yes I charge more
✖️
No Regular rates
Holiday Premium Percentage +50%
Most pet sitters charge 50-150% more during major holidays
💰

Your monthly core expenses

Fill in as many fields as possible for accurate pricing

🏠 Property & Utilities

$
Home-based? Enter 10-20% of your rent/mortgage
$
$
Pet sitting insurance is essential - typically $50-150/month

👤 Personal Income

$
What do you want to take home each month?

🐕 Pet Supplies

$
$
$
$
Set aside for unexpected pet health issues
📊

Your monthly running costs

These ongoing costs are often overlooked but essential

📋 Services & Admin

$
$
Card fees, Stripe/Square, etc.
$
$

🚗 Vehicle & Travel

$
$
$
Essential for drop-in visits and house sitting

📣 Marketing & Professional Development

$
$
$
$

🎉 Here's what you should be charging

Based on your $0 monthly costs

Adjust your profit margin

Slide to see how different margins affect your pricing

30%
10% (Break-even) 30% (Recommended) 50% (Premium)

💡 Pricing Insight

Your Hourly Rate
$42
Per hour worked
Annual Revenue
$131,040
At full capacity
Annual Profit
$39,312
After expenses
Working Days/Year
246
After time off

Break-even pricing at different booking levels

If you can't stay fully booked, here's what you need to charge

Capacity Hourly Rate Overnight 30-Min Visit 60-Min Visit

💡 Tip: If you're 80% booked and charge these prices, you'll cover costs and make your target income.

⭐ PRO VERSION

Want Advanced Features + Business Management?

Get powerful tools to track income, manage bookings, and grow your pet sitting business

  • Save unlimited calculations
  • Track income & expenses over time
  • Complete 2025-2026 holiday calendar
  • Multi-pet pricing calculator
  • Client capacity planner
  • Service package optimizer
  • Regional pricing comparison
  • Tax deduction tracker
  • Professional PDF reports
  • Monthly profit/loss statements
  • Client lifetime value calculator
  • Priority support
Upgrade to Pro for $47 →

One-time payment • Lifetime access • 30-day guarantee

Disclaimer: These prices are estimates based on your inputs and should be used as a guide. Always research your local market and consult a financial professional.

Common questions about pet sitting prices

What pet sitters are asking

How much should I charge for pet sitting in the US? +
Pet sitting rates in the US typically range from $25-50 for drop-in visits and $50-100 for overnight care, depending on location, number of pets, and services included. Urban areas like NYC or LA command 20-40% higher rates than rural areas. Your pricing should be based on your actual costs plus a healthy profit margin (we recommend 25-40%).
Do pet sitters make good money? +
Yes! Professional pet sitters can earn $40,000-80,000 annually, with top performers exceeding $100,000. The key is pricing correctly, staying consistently booked, and controlling expenses. Pet sitters who work holidays and offer premium services often earn 30-50% more.
Should I charge more for holidays? +
Absolutely! Holiday rates are industry standard. Most pet sitters charge 50-150% more during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Pet owners expect to pay premium rates during holidays, and you deserve extra compensation for missing time with your own family. Our calculator shows you exactly what to charge.
How many clients do I need to make a living? +
This depends on your pricing and capacity. If you charge $75/night for overnight care and can host 3 pets simultaneously, working 250 days/year at 80% capacity would generate $45,000 in revenue. Use our calculator to determine your specific capacity needs based on your income goals.
What should I charge for multiple pets? +
Most pet sitters charge full price for the first pet and 30-50% of the base rate for each additional pet. For example: 1 dog = $75/night, 2 dogs = $75 + $35 = $110/night, 3 dogs = $110 + $30 = $140/night. The additional pet fee should reflect the extra work while remaining competitive.
How do I raise my rates without losing clients? +
Give 30-60 days notice, explain the increase professionally (rising costs, improved service), and consider grandfathering loyal clients for 3-6 months. Most pet sitters who raise rates lose less than 10% of clients while significantly increasing revenue. The clients who leave are often the most price-sensitive and hardest to serve anyway.
Should I require deposits? +
Yes, especially for holidays and extended bookings! Require 50% deposit at booking, with balance due 7 days before service. This protects you from last-minute cancellations and no-shows. Include clear cancellation policies in your terms and conditions to protect your income during peak seasons.
What's included in a typical overnight rate? +
Overnight pet sitting typically includes: 2-4 visits per day, feeding, medication administration if needed, playtime, overnight companionship, and basic text/photo updates. Additional services like extensive dog walking, grooming, or detailed video updates should be charged separately as premium add-ons.

Last updated: December 2025 • Based on US pet sitting data

Made with ❤️ by Pawpreneur Suite