Pet sitters care for animals while owners are away or at work. They bill for drop-in visits, dog walks, overnight stays in the client's home, boarding in the sitter's home, and extras like medication, pickup of mail, or care for additional pets. Most are solo operators or run small teams, and invoices often go out weekly, per trip, or after each booking.
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Pet sitters usually charge per visit or per night rather than by the hour. A drop-in visit is priced by length (typically 20, 30, or 60 minutes), and overnight stays are priced per night with a set number of visits or hours included. Add-ons are common: a fee for each additional pet, medication fees (higher for injections), puppy or senior-care surcharges, and holiday rates. Many sitters add a flat holiday surcharge or charge 1.5x on major holidays. Travel fees apply when a client lives outside your normal service area. Some sitters sell prepaid packages of walks at a small discount, and many require a deposit or full prepayment for longer bookings. Meet-and-greets are either free or charged as a small fee that is credited toward the first booking. Cancellation and short-notice fees are usually part of the service agreement.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in visit (30 minutes) | per visit | $20-35 |
| Drop-in visit (60 minutes) | per visit | $30-50 |
| Dog walk (30 minutes) | per walk | $20-35 |
| Overnight stay in client's home | per night | $60-120 |
| Boarding in sitter's home | per night | $40-80 |
| Additional pet | per pet, per visit or night | $5-15 |
| Medication administration (oral or topical) | per visit | $3-10 |
| Holiday surcharge | per day | $10-25 |
| Meet-and-greet | flat fee | $0-30 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight pet sitting in client's home, Mar 14-18 (Biscuit, 2 dogs) | 4 nights | $85.00 | $340.00 |
| Additional dog, overnight stays | 4 nights | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| Midday potty-break visit (30 min), Mar 15-17 | 3 visits | $25.00 | $75.00 |
| Oral medication, Biscuit (twice daily) | 4 days | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| Holiday surcharge, Mar 17 | 1 day | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Total | $490.00 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 7 days of the last day of service. Accepted: card, bank transfer, or check payable to Jordan's Pet Care. Late balances are subject to a $10 fee after 14 days. Thank you for trusting us with Biscuit and Daisy.
Pet care is billed by the visit or night, and owners compare your invoice with their travel dates. Listing each date prevents questions.
Additional-pet fees depend on how many animals you cared for, and names make it clear which pets each line covers.
A 30-minute drop-in and a 60-minute visit are priced differently, as are walks and potty breaks.
Medication, extra pets, holiday surcharges, and travel fees are easier to approve when they are itemized rather than rolled into a total.
Show the credit and the remaining balance so the client does not pay twice.
If you bought food, litter, waste bags, or paid a vet co-pay on the client's behalf, list it as a separate expense and attach receipts.
Many states and cities have business license rules, and clients often want proof of bonding and insurance on file. Check your local requirements.
Many pet sitters collect a deposit of 25 to 50 percent at booking for overnight stays, boarding, and holiday dates, with the balance due at the end of service or within 7 days. Regular walk and drop-in clients are often billed weekly or monthly, or pay from a prepaid package. Due-on-receipt works well for one-off bookings. Payment is commonly accepted by card, bank transfer, or check, and cash is less common. Late fees, usually a flat amount or a small percentage, should be stated in your service agreement before the first booking. Cancellation terms, such as losing the deposit within 48 hours of the start date, should be in writing as well.
Define what each visit includes (feeding, fresh water, a walk, play, litter, photo update) and its length. If a client regularly runs long, such as a dog that needs a longer walk, move them to the next visit tier.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, and spring break fill up fast. Set a surcharge and list the holiday dates in your policy so it is never a surprise on the invoice.
For stays of a week or more, take a deposit up front and ask for the balance by the day the client returns. It is easier to collect before the pet goes home than after.
If you buy supplies or pay for an emergency vet visit, document it and bill it as a pass-through with receipts. Have written authorization from the owner for vet spending limits.
A weekly or monthly invoice for standing walks keeps cash flow steady and reduces the work of billing the same clients each week. Note any skipped or added days.
It is a personal choice. Many sitters offer the first meet-and-greet free, while others charge $20 to $30 and credit it to the first booking. A fee helps filter out people who are only shopping around, especially if you travel to the home.
Most sitters include one or two pets in the base price and add a fee for each additional animal, usually $5 to $15. Exotic pets, livestock, or aquariums that require extra care can be priced separately.
Put a cancellation policy in your service agreement, for example a deposit that is non-refundable within 48 hours or a fee for the first night or visit. Then invoice according to that policy and reference it on the invoice.
It depends on your state and locality. Some states tax pet care or pet grooming services and others do not. Check with your state's department of revenue or a tax professional.
Not for every booking, but it is a good idea for overnights, boarding, holidays, and new clients. Regular drop-in clients with a good payment history can often be billed after service.
Send a Pet Sitter estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Pet Sitter estimate template