What prices should I charge?
By fully factoring in all Costs to deliver a service, Tax Obligations, Platform fees, Personal Accident and Illness Insurance monthly premiums, Tax Deductions, 12% Personal Superannuation contributions (Tax Deductible), putting aside savings for 2 weeks sick leave and 4 weeks for holiday leave, then Pet Sitters set better prices for themselves.
Price Breakdown - Detailed Example
If you listed your price for 1 Home Visit at $50, then your take home after costs deducted would be $26.48/hr which is just above minimum wage.
Your time investment
Driving to and from client (unpaid travel time) 20 mins round trip — not compensated unless priced into your rate20 min
Duties at property Feeding, watering, scrubbing bowls, cleaning litter, picking up waste, checking on pet30 min
Total time per booking50 min
Booking income
Listed booking priceWhat the pet owner pays100%$50.00
Business costs — may be tax deductible (confirm with your tax agent)
PetCloud platform and advertising fee (20%)Advertising, app, support and training — may be deductible20.0%-$10.00
Fuel — ATO cents-per-km rate ($0.88/km)10 km round trip — may be deductible, confirm with your tax agent17.6%-$8.80
Vehicle wear — tyres, servicing, insurance, regoEst. $0.12/km — business-use portion may be deductible2.4%-$1.20
Smartphone data and voice$55/mo ÷ 20 bookings — business-use portion may be deductible5.5%-$2.75
Est. taxable income (if all above deducted)$27.25
Income tax — payable to ATO
Income tax (payable to ATO)19% applied to est. taxable income of $27.2510.4%-$5.18
Cash in hand after costs and tax$22.07
Set aside for yourself — your money, saved for later
Voluntary super contribution (12%)Your retirement savings — mirrors the employee super guarantee rate12.0%-$6.00
Annual leave savings (7.69%) — set asideEquivalent to 4 weeks unpaid leave per year7.7%-$3.85
Sick leave savings (3.85%) — set asideEquivalent to 2 weeks per year — contractors have no paid sick leave3.9%-$1.93
Estimated take-home (after all set-asides)20.6%$10.29
Effective hourly rate (money in hand after costs and tax) $22.07 ÷ 50 mins × 60 = $26.48/hr
If you list home visits at $50 per hour, your effective hourly rate is $26.48/hr — just above the Australian minimum wage of $24.10/hr, but with very little margin for unexpected costs or a longer trip. A client further away, an extra pet to clean up after, or a slightly longer visit pushes you below minimum wage quickly.
The "set aside" amounts (super $6.00, annual leave $3.85, sick leave $1.93) are your own money — saved for your retirement, holidays, and sick days. They are not lost.
PetCloud is not a registered tax agent or accountant. Whether any cost is deductible depends on your individual circumstances — always consult a registered tax agent or visit ato.gov.au.
The $50 breakdown lands at $26.48/hr — technically above minimum wage, but only just. The comparison panel at the bottom puts all three price points side by side which makes the story very clear:
| Home Visits Listed price | ||
|---|---|---|
| $45 | Works out to $20.69/hr | This is below Minimum Wage |
| $50 | Works out to $26.48/hr | This is just above Minimum Wage |
| $55 | Works out to $30.37/hr | This is comfortably above Minimum Wage |
Price Examples
Guide only. PetCloud is not a registered tax agent or accountant. Some costs may be tax deductible. Consult a registered tax agent or visit ato.gov.au. All prices shown are listed prices set by the Pet Carer — not guaranteed earnings.
Pet Sitters are responsible for deciding on their listed prices. We suggest that all prices are set at a level where estimated take-home delivers an effective hourly rate above the Australian minimum wage of $24.10/hr. Assumptions: 19% income tax, 12% voluntary super (set aside), 7.69% annual leave (set aside), 3.85% sick leave (set aside), fuel at ATO rate $0.88/km, vehicle wear $0.12/km, phone $2.75/booking.
| Service & listed price | Est. take-home & hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Pet boarding (at sitter's home — overnight) | |
| 1 dog — $55/night~30 min active care · no travel cost | $22.94$45.88/hr active care |
| 2 dogs (same owner) — $65/night~40 min active care · no travel cost | $26.46$39.69/hr active care |
| 1 cat — $50/night~20 min active care · no travel cost | $20.37$61.11/hr active care |
| House sitting (overnight at owner's home) | |
| 1 pet — $75/night~45 min active care · 10 km travel | $24.29$32.39/hr active care |
| 2–3 pets — $90/night~60 min active care · 10 km travel | $32.67$32.67/hr active care |
| Home visits (daily drop-in at owner's home) | |
| Once daily — $5550 min total · 10 km round trip | $12.36$30.37/hr total time |
| Twice daily — $902 × 50 min visits · 10 km each | $27.64$33.17/hr total time |
| Backyard poo patrol & kitty litter refresh | |
| 20 min visit — $5550 min total · 10 km round trip | $12.36$30.37/hr total time |
| Doggy day care (at sitter's home) | |
| Full day — $55~45 min active care · no travel cost | $22.94$30.59/hr active care |
| Full day — $65~45 min active care · no travel cost | $26.46$35.28/hr active care |
| Dog walking | |
| 30 min walk — $5550 min total (walk + 20 min travel) · 10 km | $12.36$30.37/hr total time |
| 1 hr walk — $7580 min total · 10 km round trip | $24.29$30.36/hr total time |
| 2 dogs (same owner) 1 hr — $8580 min total · 10 km round trip | $29.46$36.83/hr total time |
| Grooming & clipping | |
| Basic groom & clip — $100~90 min service · no travel assumed | $43.38$28.92/hr |
| Washing & brushing | |
| Basic wash, towel dry & brush — $55~45 min service · no travel assumed | $22.94$30.59/hr |
| Pet maintenance (P.E.T. S.C.A.N.™) | |
| 1 hr session — $7560 min at owner's home · 10 km travel | $24.29$29.15/hr total time |
| 2 hr session — $130120 min at owner's home · 10 km travel | $50.12$34.57/hr total time |
| Puppy socialisation & desensitisation | |
| 6-week course (1 hr/week) — $450$75/session · 10 km travel per session | $24.29/session$29.15/hr per session |
| Dog training | |
| 6-week course — $220+Qualified trainer · 1–2 hr sessions · 10 km travel | Rate set by qualified trainerEnsure minimum $75/hr before deductions |
| Special needs pet care (24-hr supervision surcharge) | |
| Base boarding + $80 surcharge/dayPost-op, medication, incontinence, young puppies | $32.56 surcharge take-homeIn addition to base boarding take-home |
| Base boarding + $100 surcharge/dayComplex medication, injections, high-frequency care | $43.38 surcharge take-homeIn addition to base boarding take-home |
| Fish tank maintenance | |
| 2 hr visit — $110120 min service · 10 km travel | $41.68$29.77/hr |
| Pet taxi | |
| 0–15 km one way — $40Hatchback · ATO fuel rate applies | Distance-based — see taxi pricing page80% of fare retained by driver |
| 15–25 km one way — $55Sedan or SUV · waiting time billed separately | Distance-based — see taxi pricing page80% of fare retained by driver |
| Wedding day pet concierge | |
| 2 hr minimum — $120$60/hr · on-site supervision + travel | $47.93$28.76/hr — 2 hr minimum recommended |
| 4 hr booking — $240Full ceremony and photos coverage | $102.50$30.75/hr |
How take-home is estimated: PetCloud platform fee 20% · income tax 19% (ATO bracket, applied after deductions) · voluntary super 12% set aside · annual leave 7.69% set aside · sick leave 3.85% set aside · fuel $0.88/km (ATO rate, where travel applies) · vehicle wear $0.12/km · smartphone $2.75/booking. Set-aside amounts are your own money saved for retirement, holidays and sick days — not lost. All figures are estimates. PetCloud is not a registered tax agent or accountant. Some costs may be tax deductible — confirm with a registered tax agent or visit ato.gov.au.