How to price dog training sessions and packages

Count all the time a session takes

An hour-long session is rarely an hour of your time. Add travel, setup, writing notes and the client summary, preparing homework, and messages between sessions. Divide what you need to earn in a week by the sessions you can realistically deliver, not by the hours you spend in front of clients.

Add your costs

• Insurance, certifications and continuing education.
• Software, phone and payment processing fees.
• Travel: fuel, vehicle costs and time on the road.
• Equipment, treats and training space if you rent it.
• Time off: holidays and sick days you aren’t paid for.

Build packages around outcomes

Clients buy progress, not hours. Name packages after what they help with, such as “Puppy foundations” or “Calmer walks”, and say what is included: the number of sessions, written summaries, homework and support between sessions. Behavior cases often start with an evaluation, so consider a package that begins with one.

Set an expiry date

Packages without an expiry date leave unused sessions on your books for months. Give each package a period to use it in, long enough for the work it covers, and state it on your price sheet and receipt.

Present prices plainly

Put every service on one page with what it includes, how long it lasts and the price. Add your travel area, when payment is due and a one-line summary of your cancellation policy. When clients understand what they are buying, there are fewer surprises later.