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IS my gas fee logic fair?

So I have a request for an 8 day pet sitting job. The client would like 3 drop in visits per day. This client lives 2.5 miles from my home which mean 3 roundtrip visits daily equals 15 miles per day. Would it be fair for me to include one daily round trip in my fee, but charge 54.5 cents per mile after one drop in? SO in other words, Id be charging the client a gas fee of 10 miles per day (2 r/t). That is $5.45 per day to equal a total gas fee for this job for 8 days is another $43.60 on top of my total fee for the 8 days of pet care. Do you think this is fair? $20 per drop in x3 ($60/day) day pet care +$5.45 daily GAS=$65.45 per day for 3 drop in visits per day ??

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Your drop-in fee should always cover your transportation costs.

I see that you already know about the federal standard mileage rate (54.5 cents for 2018), which is used for claiming a business deduction on your tax return, provided you keep records of your mileage.

https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-...

However, if you charge the customer a gas charge based on mileage, (1) Rover is going to take its percentage out of it and (2) you wouldn't be able to claim it as a business expense.

Whenever any service person charged me for gas/mileage, I've always looked elsewhere because as far as I'm concerned, if a person's job requires they drive to a location to perform the service, then their fees (either hourly or flat rate for a service call) should include it.

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I agree w/Karen's advice & think they'd look elsewhere. From the client point of view, they'd pay $45/day (15 x 3) & you could do other work too. Consider, your house sitting rate is much less @$30 and house sitting guidelines indicate that's for up to 24 hours of care.