How to Raise Your Pet Sitting Prices (Before Summer Hits)

You already know you should charge more.

You’ve known it for a while, actually. Maybe since that client didn’t even blink when you quoted your rate. Maybe since you did the math and realized your “busy” month still didn’t feel like enough. Maybe since your costs went up and your prices… didn’t.

Here’s the thing: knowing you’re undercharging and actually doing something about it are two very different things.

The gap between those two? Fear.

Fear that clients will leave. Fear that you’ll seem greedy. Fear that the market won’t support higher rates. Fear that you’re not worth it.

So let’s talk about all of it. Because summer is coming, and this is the perfect time to raise your rates, do it the right way, and finally start getting paid what your services are actually worth.

Why Most Pet Sitters Undercharge

It almost never comes down to the market. Most areas will absolutely support higher pet sitting rates than the average petpreneur is charging.

It comes down to identity.

When you started your business, you probably set your prices based on what felt “safe.” What you thought clients would accept. What the person down the street was charging. What wouldn’t feel awkward to say out loud.

And then you kept those prices, even as your experience grew. Even as your reputation grew. Even as your costs grew.

Here’s what that does over time: it attracts clients who are primarily motivated by price. And price-motivated clients are the hardest to keep, the quickest to complain, and the first to leave the moment someone cheaper comes along.

Your prices are a message. They signal your value before a client ever meets you.

The question worth sitting with today: what message are yours sending?

When Is the Right Time to Raise Your Rates?

Right now. And here’s why.

Summer is the single best time to implement a price increase in the pet sitting industry. Demand is high. Clients are motivated to book. The value of quality, reliable pet care is at its most obvious when families are planning vacations and need someone they trust.

Raising rates in a slow season feels scary because you’re asking clients to pay more when they’re booking less. Raising rates before summer? You’re giving them the chance to lock in your care before your calendar fills up.

That’s not a price increase. That’s an opportunity.

[Related: Your Q2 Business Reset: How to Course Correct Before Summer →]

How Much Should You Raise Your Rates?

This depends on how far below market you currently are, but a general rule for petpreneurs who haven’t raised rates in the last 12 months: increase by 5 to 10%.

If your 30-minute drop-in is currently $20, a 10% increase brings it to $22. That’s $2 per visit.

Sounds small, right? Run the numbers. If you do 15 drop-ins a week, that’s an extra $30 a week, $120 a month, and $1,440 a year. From a $2 adjustment.

Now imagine applying that across every service you offer.

This is why pricing isn’t just a mindset issue. It’s a math issue. And the math almost always makes the case for going higher.

The Client Communication That Makes It Easy

The part petpreneurs dread most is telling existing clients. So let’s make it simple.

You do not need a long explanation. You do not need to apologize. You do not need to justify every line item of your operating costs.

You need a short, warm, professional message that gives clients enough notice and makes them feel valued.

Here’s the framework:

• Lead with appreciation. Thank them for being a loyal client.
• State the change clearly. New rates, effective date. No vague language.
• Keep it brief. Two to three short paragraphs maximum.
• Make booking easy. Give them a direct way to reserve their spot at the current rate before the change takes effect (if you choose to offer that).

Most clients will not leave over a reasonable rate increase. The ones who do were likely price-shopping anyway, and losing them actually opens space for better-fit clients who value your service.

The clients who love you will stay. The rest were never really your people.

What About New Clients?

Simple. Your new rate is just your rate.

New clients have no reference point for what you used to charge. They only know what you charge now. Set your rates at the new level, present them with confidence, and let your reputation and reviews do the talking.

This is actually the easiest place to start if raising rates for existing clients feels like too much right now. Update your pricing for new inquiries immediately. You’ll start to see that the new number lands just fine.

The Mindset Shift That Makes This Sustainable

Here’s what the most successful petpreneurs I coach have in common: they stopped setting prices based on what they were afraid to charge and started setting prices based on the value they deliver.

That shift sounds simple. It is not always easy.

Because it requires you to believe, truly believe, that your service is worth it. That your experience, your reliability, your love for animals, and your professionalism have real monetary value.

They do.

The petpreneur who has been doing this for five years, who has never had a client complaint, who goes above and beyond on every single visit, is not worth the same rate as someone who started last month. Your pricing should reflect that.

Your Action Step This Week

Pick one service. Just one. Look at your current rate and ask honestly: does this reflect the value I deliver?

If the answer is no, decide on your new rate today. Draft your client communication this week. Set your effective date for May 1st, right at the start of summer season.

Your future self will thank you.

Ready to Build a Pricing Strategy That Actually Grows Your Revenue?

Raising your rates is one piece of the puzzle. Building a business that consistently hits $10K months takes a strategy behind every decision, including your pricing.

That’s exactly what we work on inside CEO Academy.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, let’s talk.