All tagged business owners
How is your business doing? So far, 2024 has been a challenging economic landscape, marked by a significant downturn in both new and returning clients. The pet sitting industry has experienced a saturation of the market post-COVID-19 and now economic pressures have led pet owners to tighten their budgets. We share strategies for adapting services and specializing to meet changing customer needs while maintaining a resilient and optimistic business approach. We cover everything from building in-person relationships with business owners, to also the challenges of niching in lean times and prioritizing mental health during slow periods.
Have you thought about joining a chamber of commerce or other local business support group? We had been throwing the idea around for a while and very recently decided to do it! Today, we break down what a chamber of commerce is, some of their benefits, and how we plan on getting the most of out it!
Do you struggle with whether to hire an employee or work with an independent contractor? Many of us face wanting to grow, find space in our life, or take a break from the day-to-day work, but then worry about whether an employee or independent contractor is the right fit. Kim Ottone Tank, owner of both Apronstrings and Staffingstrings, joins the show to help us understand what it really means to hire an employee. Kim breaks down what the differences are between an employee and an independent contractor, how that impacts our businesses, and how to understand the true costs of each.
What does having good PR mean to you? Many times we use customer relations and public relations interchangeably, but this is limiting our ability to have a wider impact in our community. Remy Bibaud, co-owner of Pet Perennials, joins the show to share how to foster public relations and use it to your advantage. Remy walks through the major points of cultivating high quality experiences with your business, and the role you play in guiding that. She also shares how she stays ahead of understanding her client’s needs.
How do you know when it’s time to walk away from a dream? As a business owner and entrepreneur, we are driven by our passions to our goals we set for ourselves. However, sometimes we have to quit and start over. Pivoting (quit by a different name) means course correcting due to either external, or internal factors. Wayne Hartley Jr., owner and founder of Happy Hearts Pet Care ATL, joins the show to share how he quit his dream of mobile grooming to start a brick and mortar business. Wayne sacrificed a lot to make it happen, but it was all because he recognized he needed the change to better connect with his mission. He gives advice on how to keep moving forward, even when you’re exhausted, and how to innovate well in your business.
What fears do you have in your business? From financial insecurity to personal freedom, fear is a powerful driving force for many of us. Fear comes from both the unknown and the unplanned for, so taking time to assess what’s impacting you gives clarity for better decisions. We break down common fears of running a business and what we can do about them. We also give simple steps to start overcoming your fears and living a more focused life.
How is your mental health doing? It’s a new year, so it’s a great time to assess how you are doing. With so much anticipation for 2023, hopes remain high for booming business. However, busy business doesn’t mean a happy heart. Life happens, which impacts you and your ability to run your business. We break down a recent poll we ran, what it says about the state of the industry, and how we can move forward!
How do you build relationships with other businesses in your community? As a service industry, we rely heavily on social media and partnerships with other businesses to stay top of mind with potential clients. Today, we break down how we’ve been approaching other businesses in our service area to start fostering long lasting relationships. We also give some easy ways to start a conversation, so you don’t feel awkward about asking for their help.
Are your finances organized? As we come to the end of the year, we start having an eye on tax time. Bookkeeping is the process of organizing both your expenses and income in an logical manner. Lindsey Roberts, owner of Harquin Bookkeeping, joins the show to break down common misconceptions of bookkeeping and what we should actually be tracking as a small business. Lindsey also shares what the different requirements are for services vs products, since many of us added products to our business in the last year.
What does it mean to be productive? How do we get work done, other than the pet care? Doug Keeling, owner of Bad to the Bone Pet Care, joins the show to share his workflows in his business. Whether you decide to use technology or pen and paper, the first step is writing your ideas and projects down so you have a place to reference it later. From communications to implementing new ideas, Doug shares how important it is to have a review system. When you know how you work, you’re better able to get feedback and stay on track to make sure you’re accomplishing your goals and objectives.
How do we continue to pivot, adapt, and overcome challenges in business? Miguel Rodriguez, owner of City Dog Pack, joins us to share how he continues to apply lessons from Covid to the way her operate his business. From slimming down the number of staff he oversees, to tackling dog training and coaching via Zoom, Miguel has learned to let things go that don't help him on his mission. He also shares how he uses social media as his only marketing tool, and why we should be reading more!
Are you connected with the broader business community in your area? We had a great opportunity recently to introduce our business to other business owners. On this episode, we share why these networking events are important and the role they play in raising the awareness of the pet care industry. They also help us to feel more legitimate as business owners. We discuss the benefits that come from being connected to other businesses, and how to prepare for the networking opportunities. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I view myself as more legitimate?”
Being a service based industry, we should provide both excellent pet care and excellent customer service. However, as we strive to meet those demands on us and our business, there may be some pitfalls along the way. We cover the common ones we see in pet care, and those we have fallen into. We share how to avoid them and get out of them, if you find yourself already in one. Natasha O’Banion answers, “What’s one policy you wish you would have started sooner?”
On this episode we discuss the different types of hats you may wear, and the ones you shouldn’t. From being an IT manager to a marketer and CFO, there are a lot of things to do. The key is determining which hat you should be wearing versus finding a way to have someone else, or software, wear it. Natasha O’Banion answers the question, “How do I fire an employee in a healthy way?”
Burnout and compassion fatigue are such a huge topic in the pet care industry, because we all struggle with it. Kristin Morrison joins the show to share her own struggles with burnout and what a road to recovery looks like. We discuss why it’s important to redefine what success looks like for you and why understanding our time commitments helps us set aside time for ourselves. We also discuss why it’s so hard to ‘rest’ as a business owner, and what it takes to replace negative mindsets with positive ones.
Melanie Haynes, owner of Space Coast Pet Services and Virtual Pet Pro, shares how she found her authentic self by starting her pet care business. She discusses how being a professional pet care provider means taking care of the intangibles and building trust with your clients. Melanie also gives advice on what it’s like to be a virtual assistant and what it takes to have a great working relationship with one.
We're super excited to get to share this talk from Kristin Morrison entitled, "Redefining Prosperity in the Midst of a Pandemic" that she recently gave at a conference. Kristin discusses the struggle the pet care industry is going through, plus several great ways to overcome and thrive.
Fellow podcaster, pet business owner, and coach Dominic Hodgson comes on the show today to talk about digging out of covid. Dom breaks down the two sales machine engines we should all have running and what it means to be specialized.
Jessica Abernathy, President of NAPPS, comes on the show to share about their 2020 conference and her encouragement and excitement for the future of the industry. Jessica also describes the importance of taking time right now to dig into your business and where opportunities are opening up.
Carmen Rustenbeck, CEO of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA), talks about how IBPSA has adapted their upcoming conference to a virtual format, the state of the pet care industry, and what the road forward looks like. Carmen also shares how IBPSA has supported and fought for their members this year, and how that helps the entire industry.
