What can I sell?

HireGoats is for selling targeted grazing services with goats, sheep, and other livestock. Targeted grazing is the use of livestock in a planned way to achieve specific goals for customers' properties. Elimination, reduction, or control of certain types of vegetation is usually the primary objective. You may have also heard the terms "goatscaping," "prescribed grazing," "conservation grazing," or "goat rental" applied to this type of service.

What can't I sell?

No products or services other than targeted grazing are currently allowed to be sold on HireGoats. This includes entertainment or educational services like petting zoos, goat yoga, animal photo shoots, pack goat rentals, or other animal-based experiences. To offer those types of services we highly recommend GoatMoment.com. The sale of animals is also not permitted on HireGoats.

What does it cost?

Creating a grazing pro account and posting a listing on HireGoats is completely free! When a customer agrees to hire you for a grazing project, we collect a deposit from the customer on your behalf to seal the deal. When you successfully deliver the service, the deposit minus a commission of 15% of the deposit amount is transferred to your bank account. A minimum commission of $100 applies. HireGoats pays for all credit card and transaction fees. You don't pay anything until you make money!

What's in it for HireGoats?

In exchange for connecting customers and grazing pros, HireGoats collects a commission on the deposit customers pay when they book a targeted grazing project. Users agree to not circumvent the commission earned by HireGoats. Please do not share your company's email address, phone number, website link, or other contact information in your listing or profile. HireGoats cannot exist without your support in this.

If I can't post my contact info, how will customers find and reach me?

Customers can locate grazing pros on HireGoats using our map and search tools. If they like what they see when they read your listing and profile, they can request a grazing proposal from you directly through the platform. HireGoats' built-in messaging tool is efficient and friction-free. When you are contacted by a customer you'll receive an email notification with a link to your HireGoats inbox so you'll never miss an opportunity. You can send grazing project proposals to customers through the messaging app, and customers can seal the deal by paying your deposit when they are ready...all in one place!

How do I share stuff with customers without typing it all into a messaging box?

Sharing detailed grazing project info with customers is easy on HireGoats.com. If you have contract templates, terms of service, maps, photos, or proposal details to share, you can do so using links. Most cloud-based file services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft 365, allow folders and files you store there to be shared with a link. Simply copy and paste the appropriate links into HireGoats' messaging system and send. If you use an online service for gathering electronic contract signatures from your customers, links to those documents can also be shared on HireGoats.com. We just ask that all links point to files specifically related to customer grazing proposals, not to your company's promotional website or contact information.

How much should I charge for a deposit?

The minimum is $200, but beyond that it's completely up to you! Whatever you choose for the deposit, you will collect the remainder by whatever means you and the customer agree to.

Generally, projects that are large, complex, or require substantial advance planning and investment call for greater security in the form of a larger deposit. If a customer wants the grazing project to happen on precise dates or during high-demand parts of the year, a larger deposit may also be justified.

Of course, you may also use HireGoats to collect the entire project price upfront by entering a deposit amount that is equal to the full cost of the project. If the customer accepts your offer, the entire amount will be charged immediately to the customer and held by HireGoats until the project is completed successfully. If the project is small, straightforward, and likely to be completed soon, this may be the least hassle for you and the customer. We collect it all for you, and it arrives in your bank account when the project is done.

Important!: If you enter a deposit amount that is less than the total cost of the project, be sure to communicate the full price to the customer along with your complete payment terms in the "Additional details" window before submitting your grazing proposal.

What's a listing and how many can I have?

It's critical that you post a listing summarizing your grazing service after you create your grazing pro account. Without a listing, customers will not be able to find you! After clicking "Post a listing" in the top menu bar you'll be asked several questions about your business, and you'll be able to customize your listing with photos, video, and your own description.

The location you use in your listing attaches your targeted grazing service to the map and allows customers to find you with a geographic search, so choose wisely! We recommend entering a city/state or county/state rather than a specific street address.

Currently we only allow one listing per grazing pro account. Please do not try to saturate the map with multiple listings in the hope of a promotional advantage.

Can you walk me through the process?

1. First, a customer finds your listing using HireGoats' search tools, then describes their vegetation problem and grazing needs, and requests a grazing proposal from you.
2. You ask any necessary follow-up questions right in the HireGoats platform. You might even schedule a visit to the customer's site. Once you have all the information you need, you enter a deposit of at least $200 and send it off to the customer through HireGoats. Be sure to explain how much additional the project will cost above the deposit amount (if any), and how and when it will be paid. Remember, HireGoats will only charge the amount you enter for the deposit. It's also a good idea to agree with the customer on an approximate date range for the grazing project.
3. If the customer accepts your grazing proposal, the amount you entered will be charged to the customer's credit card and held by HireGoats until the customer acknowledges that the project is complete, or 90 days, whichever comes first. At that point the customer's payment is transferred to your bank account, minus a 15% commission or $100 (whichever is greater).
4. You are responsible for collecting any additional payment from the customer above the deposit, which is the only amount HireGoats will collect, hold, and deposit for you.