How to Set Your Rates as a New SitSignal Sitter
Setting your rates as a sitter can feel overwhelming — price too high and you may not get bookings, price too low and you undervalue your time.
The key is simple: start competitive, build reviews, then grow your pricing over time.
Our Recommendation for New Sitters
If you’re just getting started on SitSignal, we recommend beginning with:
- $30/night for house sitting and boarding
- $20 for walks and drop-ins
These starting rates help you:
- Get your first bookings faster
- Build 5-star reviews
- Gain experience on the platform
- Increase visibility in search results
Early momentum is everything — your first few bookings matter the most.
When Should You Raise Your Rates?
We recommend waiting until you complete your first 3 bookings before increasing your rates.
Once you have reviews and experience:
- Increase slowly — a few dollars at a time
- Avoid large jumps in pricing
- Let demand guide your pricing growth
Think of it as leveling up your business — not flipping a switch overnight.
Keep Your Existing Clients
As your rates increase, it’s important to take care of your existing clients.
SitSignal allows you to set custom rates for repeat clients, which we strongly recommend using.
- Reward loyal customers
- Encourage repeat bookings
- Build long-term relationships
Your regular clients are the foundation of your business — don’t lose them by raising prices too aggressively.
Keep Your Rates Reasonable
While it’s important to grow your income, we ask that sitters maintain reasonable and competitive pricing on the platform.
Fair pricing helps:
- Keep SitSignal accessible to pet parents
- Maintain a strong and active marketplace
- Increase booking volume for everyone
Recommended Starter Pricing
Here are our recommended starting rates to help you gain bookings, reviews, and experience:
Boarding
| Rate Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Dog (per night) | $30.00 |
| Additional Dog | $20.00 |
| Cat (per night) | $25.00 |
| Additional Cat | $15.00 |
House Sitting
| Rate Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Dog (per night) | $30.00 |
| Additional Dog | $20.00 |
| Cat (per night) | $22.00 |
| Additional Cat | $15.00 |
Drop-In Visits
| Rate Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard (30 min) | $20.00 |
| Recurring (30 min) | $18.00 |
Dog Walking
| Rate Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard (30 min) | $20.00 |
| Recurring (30 min) | $18.00 |
Note: Walk and drop-in check-ins require your SitSignal sitter app to be up to date.
Final Thoughts
Starting with competitive pricing isn’t about undervaluing yourself — it’s about building momentum.
Once you have strong reviews, consistent bookings, and experience, your rates should reflect that growth.
Take it step by step, treat your clients well, and your pricing will naturally follow.