javachik, I'm glad your consulting is going so well, and I hope you find a way to carve out some time for you.

Thanks for all the input, y'all! Here's a revised list.

Babysitting: $10/hr for one child; $4/hr per additional child, with a limit of three children
Dog walking: $8 per ½ hr walk per dog
Petsitting: $15/visit (feeding, scooping cat pan or dog walk); meds $5 extra per visit
Carpentry/handy stuff/furniture assembly: $25/hr and up, depending on the nature of the task ($25 minimum)

As a sitter, what do you provide to a prospective customer?

Well, I have First Aid/CPR certification, flea offered to write me a reference and I could probably get a local one, and I don't currently have a passport so I'm not a big flight risk.

Java, you are a testimony to the value of a niche. Good on ya. It sounds like you've built a wonderfully symbiotic business.

smonster, I agree with everyone else, your prices are good, but on the low end.

If you'd like a model, visit saving grace services dot com...no spaces and check out our rate table for pet sitting and walking. Again, they are big cities prices, but might be appropriate, depending on the neighborhoods you are targeting.

Also, the advice about a minimum which takes into account travel time was a hard-taught lesson for me. I don't like working off the Hill, but as my reputation grows, I'm getting some pretty far flung referrals. I don't want to turn them down, but I also don't want to lose money on the getting there. Thus, a travel surcharge.

I know you theoretically liked your gig, before it all fell apart, javachik--are you happy with what you have now? It looks like you didn't really have downtime, so that's good!

Thanks, guys!

ita !, I think I am happy but I'll have a better sense of everything after a few months! Thanks for asking. One thing that is important to me is time for myself for vacations, etc. I don't want to be one of those consultants who never takes time for vacation. This year though, I have a large home-improvement project that is going to take a lot of money (garage to home-office conversion*) so I may only take a short, cheap vacation this year to set aside money for the project.

* I like to have house guests and with my current set up, I have no room to accommodate them - so I want the conversion sooner than later.

Planning for vacations is a 'pay yourself first' principle that is one of those do-as-I-say things. I don't do it for myself but really applaud you for taking care of yourself in that way. Doing so means you will have more and better to give your clients.

I am going on vacation right now and it's fucking great! And since one of our donors designated the funds, we are fiscally obligated to enjoy ourselves.

Liese, so excited for you!

Time off is of the utmost importance. Put it on the calendar and try to stick to it. Despite my reputation for working around the clock and always being a bit worn out, I actually try to do a pretty good job about time off. It's usually 3 to 6 weeks a year, depending upon how we can make it all work.

Of course he often works, at least a little, during vacation, but it's still mostly time to recharge.

So yes, Liese, yay vacation! Enjoy!

Yay vacation, and yay supporters who insist that you get one!