An evidence-led pricing calculator for dog trainers, behaviour consultants and behaviourists. Built on human capital economics and scope-of-practice modelling — the same logic used across regulated professions.
Human Capital EconomicsScope & Risk Modelling4 MarketsEN · FR · ES
The Science Behind It
Built on real economic theory
The Professional Pricing Index (PPI) applies human capital economics — the academic field that treats education, training and experience as drivers of professional earning power — to the dog training and behaviour sector. This is the same broad logic underpinning how roles are graded in the NHS, in regulated therapy professions, and across skilled trades worldwide.
The sector is largely unregulated. That makes consistent, defensible pricing almost invisible — and it means too many skilled professionals underprice themselves because there's no external framework to anchor against. This tool builds that framework.
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Human Capital Index (HCI)
World Bank and OECD research consistently links years of education, quality of training, and certified competence to productive earning capacity. The PCI score translates this into a dog professional context.
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Scope & Risk Banding
Borrowed from NHS Agenda for Change banding logic: higher responsibility, clinical risk and complexity justify higher rates. Aggression and legal casework carry professional liability that must be priced into the rate.
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Invisible Labour Accounting
Every client hour costs more than one hour. Prep, case notes, follow-up, travel and CPD are real costs. The working week calculator makes these visible and builds them into a sustainable floor rate.
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Break-Even Floor Rate
A derivation of the standard small business break-even formula: (overheads + desired income) ÷ billable hours = minimum viable rate. Everything below this is subsidising your client.
Floor Rate = (Desired net income + Annual overheads) ÷ Billable hours per year
PCI Rate = Market base rate for tier × Multiplier
Recommended Rate = max(Floor, PCI Rate), capped at market ceiling for your tier
How to use this calculator
1
Score your qualifications
Work through steps 1–5 honestly. Select your highest education level and all relevant accreditations.
2
Model your working week
Include admin days, time off, and invisible hours per session. This is where most professionals underestimate.
3
Enter your real costs
Use actual monthly overhead figures — insurance, CPD, equipment, vehicle, software.
4
Read the output
You'll receive a floor rate (absolute minimum), recommended rate and market ceiling for your tier and country.
The Calculator
Your Professional Capital Index
Complete all sections for the most accurate rate guidance.
1
Education & Qualifications
Max 25 pts
Select your highest relevant animal/behaviour qualification
2
Professional Accreditation & Memberships
Max 30 pts
Select all that apply — points are capped and deduplicated by tier
Tier 1 — International Standards Bodies
Tier 2 — Recognised National Bodies
Tier 3 — CPD / Membership Only
3
Professional Experience
Max 25 pts
Years practising professionally in paid client-facing work
4
Scope & Risk Level
Max 20 pts
Select the highest complexity level you regularly work with
5
Specialist Skills & Add-ons
Select all that apply — each adds a rate multiplier on top of your PCI score
6
Your Working Week
This calculates how many billable hours you actually produce per year — and therefore what you must charge per client hour to survive
7
Monthly Business Overheads
Enter in your local currency — used to calculate your break-even floor rate
8
Desired Net Annual Income
What do you want to take home after covering all overheads? (before tax)
9
Market Region
Rates are calibrated to real industry data for each country
Your Results
Professional Capital Index & Rate Guidance
PCI Score
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Floor rate / hr
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break-even minimum
Recommended rate / hr
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PCI-adjusted sustainable rate
Market ceiling / hr
—
top-of-market for your tier
PCI Breakdown
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Education
0/25
Accreditation
0/30
Experience
0/25
Scope & Risk
0/20
out of 100
Working Week Calculation
All market comparisons
How to use these results: The floor rate is your absolute minimum — charging below it means you are subsidising your clients. The recommended rate factors in your PCI score, your invisible hours, and full overhead recovery. The ceiling reflects what top-of-market specialists at your PCI tier realistically charge. Set your rate between the recommended and ceiling based on your location, client demand and confidence. These figures are evidence-led guidance — not a fixed rule. Real pricing will vary with delivery format, urban vs. rural location, and business model.
