What This Guide Covers
This is Part 2 of our Australian pricing series. Part 1 covered dog grooming pricing. This guide covers boarding and daycare, two service types with very different economics.
What Australian Businesses Are Charging
Boarding Rates (2025-2026)
| Category | Per Night Range |
|---|---|
| Standard kennel (no-frills, safe, clean) | $45-65 |
| Premium suite (larger space, comfort extras) | $65-95 |
| Luxury/boutique (home-from-home, premium experience) | $95-150+ |
| Cat boarding | $25-45 |
| Multi-pet discount (second pet, same family) | 10-20% off |
| Extended stay discount (7+ nights) | 5-10% off |
| Peak-period surcharge (Christmas, Easter) | +$5-20/night |
Daycare Rates
| Category | Rate Range |
|---|---|
| Full day (7-10 hours) | $45-65 |
| Half day (up to 5 hours) | $30-45 |
| Extended hours surcharge | +$10-15 |
| Casual rate (no package) | Full rate |
| Package rate (5-day pack) | 5-10% discount |
| Package rate (10-day pack) | 10-15% discount |
| Package rate (20-day pack) | 15-20% discount |
Variables that affect pricing:
- Location: Metro areas charge 20-40% more than regional areas
- Facility quality: Premium facilities command premium prices
- Included services: Does your rate include a walk? A play session? A bath?
- Dog size: Some businesses charge more for large breeds
Understanding Your True Costs
Before setting prices, understand what each dog actually costs you per day:
Boarding cost per dog per night:
| Cost Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Staff wages (proportional) | $15-25 |
| Food (if provided) | $3-5 |
| Cleaning supplies | $2-3 |
| Facility overhead (rent, utilities, insurance) | $10-20 |
| Bedding and consumables | $2-3 |
| Total estimated cost per dog per night | $32-56 |
If your total cost is ~$40 per dog per night and you charge $55, your margin is $15 per dog per night. At 10 dogs, that's $150/night. At 20 dogs, that's $300/night.
The takeaway: Boarding margins depend heavily on occupancy. High occupancy at moderate rates often beats low occupancy at premium rates.
Boarding Pricing Models
Per-Night Pricing
How it works: Client pays for each night the pet stays. Check-in day counts as night 1, checkout day is free (up to a specified pickup time).
Pros: Simple to understand, industry standard, easy to quote. Cons: Late pickups can cost you an extra half-day of care without compensation.
Per-24-Hour-Period Pricing
How it works: Client pays for each 24-hour block from check-in time. A stay from Monday 9am to Wednesday 3pm is 2 x 24-hour periods plus a partial day.
Pros: Fairer reflection of actual care time. Compensates for late pickups. Cons: Slightly harder for clients to understand.
Our recommendation: Per-night pricing is simpler and more common in Australia. Add a late checkout fee ($15-25) for pickups after your specified time to address the late-pickup issue.
Daycare Pricing Models
Full-Day and Half-Day
The simplest approach: one price for a full day, a lower price for a half day.
Define your day lengths clearly:
- Full day: 6-10 hours (depending on your business hours)
- Half day: up to 5 hours
Session-Based Pricing
Some daycare businesses define specific sessions (morning session, afternoon session) with set capacities and pricing.
Pros: Better capacity management, clearer scheduling. Cons: Less flexible for clients.
Package Pricing
Packages are critical for daycare revenue stability. They guarantee future bookings, improve cash flow, and reduce no-shows.
Recommended package structure:
| Package | Days | Discount | Monthly Revenue (at $55/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-day pack | 5 | 5% = $261.25 | Varies by usage |
| 10-day pack | 10 | 10% = $495 | Varies by usage |
| 20-day pack | 20 | 15% = $935 | Varies by usage |
Tips for packages that sell:
- Make them easy to purchase (ideally clients can buy online without calling)
- Set reasonable expiry periods (3-6 months)
- Show clients the savings ("Save $55 on a 10-day pack")
- Track credits automatically so clients can see their balance
For a deeper dive into package psychology and structure, see our guide on prepaid packages that actually sell.
Peak-Period Pricing
Holiday surcharges are standard in Australian boarding. They reflect genuine extra costs (more staff, more supplies, higher demand).
Recommended approach:
- Christmas/New Year: +$10-20 per night
- Easter: +$5-15 per night
- School holidays: +$5-10 per night
Communication: Publish your peak-period pricing on your website and mention it at the time of booking. No surprises at checkout.
Raising Your Prices
If your costs go up (rent, wages, insurance, supplies) and your prices don't, you're earning less every year.
When to raise prices:
- Annually, in line with cost increases
- When you've improved your facility or services
- When demand consistently exceeds capacity
How to communicate it:
- Give 4-6 weeks' notice
- Be direct: "From [date], our boarding rates will increase by $5 per night to reflect rising costs"
- Don't apologise. You're running a business, and your costs are real.
Key Takeaways
- Australian boarding rates range from $45-95+ per night. Daycare is $35-65 per full day.
- Understand your true cost per dog per day before setting prices
- Per-night pricing is simplest for boarding (add a late checkout fee)
- Packages are critical for daycare revenue stability and cash flow
- Peak-period surcharges are standard and expected (Christmas, Easter, school holidays)
- Raise prices annually. Your costs go up every year. Your prices should too.
- High occupancy at moderate rates often beats low occupancy at premium rates
