FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Minnesota requires dog walkers and pet sitters to collect sales tax unless they just pet sit for their neighbors, don't have a business, don't advertise, etc.. The sales tax for Minneapolis is 8.025% right now. For other cities in Hennepin County, it's 7.525%. For one 1/2 hour walk, I charge 1 dogs $20, 2 $25, 3 $30. Pet Sitting is $55 for 1 dog, $70 for 2 dogs, $85 for 3 dogs and includes all walks, feeding, etc. Cat visits are $15 plus tax. Sales tax will be added to these base costs. All dog walks and feeding are included in pet sitting. I do not have a fenced in yard, so your dog will be walked frequently.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
First consultations are free. Generally that involves meeting at the client's home, and if they wish to move forward, they will show me where they keep everything, give me a key or a code to get into their home, go over their pet's routines and care, give me contact info, etc.. I will wear a mask in your home.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
This sort of became a job by accident. I was in between jobs and saw an ad in the paper that said "Must Love Dogs." I called and got a job as a dog walker/ pet sitter for Pet Pals of Winchester the next day. I thought it would just be a temporary job until I could find a job in the non profit world. I ended up loving it so much that I ended up working for Pet Pals for 7 years. When I moved to Minnesota, I started my own service.