432: Listener Mailbag!
We reached out on social media for your questions, and you responded! On this episode we cover everything asking about client cameras and our long term goals, to getting health insurance and our favorite cartoon pet. Thank you to all who sent in questions!
356: Using A.I. in Your Business
Are you using A.I. in your business? Artificial Intelligence is a growing area of research and development. A.I. can seem overwhelming, but holds many promising tools to give clients more peace of mind. We break down what A.I. is and how it can help your business. We give examples of existing programs and also how we’re currently implementing it in our own business.
352: Carrying Mental Burdens in Business
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!
330: You Need A Not-To-Do List
What is a not-to-do list, and why do you need one? As small business owners, we have a lot on our plate and things that demand our attention. Being pulled in too many directions means we lose focus on the important things. Building a not-to-do list, we remove obligations from our days and are better able to refine what our actual duties are, while also breaking bad habits that waste time and money.
318: One Year Hiring Retrospective
It’s been one year since we started hiring in our business! A lot has changed in our company since then so we discuss what we’ve learned. We share the importance of trying new things, leaning on your strengths, and what it looks like to grow company culture. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I scale as a solo sitter?”
298: How to Answer Client Questions
How do you handle answering questions from clients? As a business owner, we field hundreds of questions every week about our business. From policies and procedures, to situation specific details, we never know what the next question will be. Today, we discuss 5 things it takes to answer questions well and to make your client’s feel like they’re valued and heard. Natasha O’Banion, from Automated CEO, answers, “What does building client loyalty look like?”
272: Growing and Scaling Your Pet Business
We all think we want to grow and grow our businesses. Just growing without a plan means we’re spending a lot of money and having a lot more headaches than we should be having. If you feel like you’re wasting time on tasks in your business and looking for a better way, you’re ready to scale. When we scale our businesses and processes, it means we can grow with less headache. We break down several examples of scaling in pet care and walk through four steps to use on everything you’d like to scale.
231: Is it a scam?
Have you ever been scammed? It’s almost 2022, but that doesn’t mean scammers aren’t out there waiting to take advantage of you and your business. We discuss how to know if a request is a scam, common methods they use, and what you can do to avoid them. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to avoid them and avoid loosing any money. Then, Natasha answers, “How do I set better boundaries?”
223: Starting a Pet Care Business
What are the business fundamentals for a pet sitting or dog walking business? Do you know someone who wants to run their own pet care biz but doesn’t know where to start? On this episode, we discuss how to get started. From a plan and getting a business license, to checking out insurance, we walk through what you need to have in place, and share from our own experience. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I forgive myself after I make a mistake?”
175: Breaking Up with a Client
Have you had to fire a client? If you’re in this business long enough, you will likely have to do it. Whether it’s because the pet isn’t a good fit or you are tired of dealing with the client. We break down some of the most common reasons it happens, how to navigate the process, and how to deal with the aftermath. Then, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I find out the culture of my business?"
160: Our Firsts in Pet Care
Each day we experience some sort of ‘first’ in life and in business. We break down some of the most influential firsts we’ve encountered over the past nine years. We also share the lessons we’ve learned from them and how we’ve changed how we operated, from our first client, to our first time saying no. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I prioritize what to cut back on?”
134: Back to Basics- House Sitting
What’s the difference between a value based house sit and a for-pay house sit? Should you eat their food? This Back to Basics episode is all about house sitting. From questions you should ask, to what house sitting looks like with Covid, house sitting is something you should consider if you love traveling. Also, Natasha O’Banion answers, “Is print advertising dead?”
128: Back to Basics- Drop-in Checks
Up next in our Back to Basics series, we cover Drop-in checks. We discuss what we do during a typical visit and how to price it compared to your other services. We also share some small things you can do with a drop-in to really set yourself apart and provide an awesome service for your clients. Natasha O’Banion answers the question, “Do I lead or mentor my employees”
125: Mindset Work
With 2021 on the horizon, it’s important to assess your mindset for the future. Today we discuss 3 aspects of mindset, how the pet care industry is like a funnel right now, and how to break free if you want to change your mindset.
119: Back to Basics- Boarding
On today’s episode we go back to basics and cover boarding! We break down how we operate boarding a small number of dogs in our home, how we approach cleaning and up keep, as well as dealing with the chaos of feeding times and schedules. Natasha answers the question, “How do I take my business to the next level?”
079- Our Defining Moments with Asha Olivia
Asha Olivia, owner of Hoby Dogy, shares what's shaped her passion and desire to go above and beyond for the safety of pets in her care. From family history, to recent health battles, each moment has shown her what she is capable of. As pet sitters, we all have defining moments in our life and in our business that set the course of how we respond and act in the future.
076- Aunt Mary's Pet Care with Mary Cornelius
Mary Cornelius, owner of Aunt Mary’s Pet Sitting, started a pet care business 5 years ago with an extensive background in the hospitality industry. From how she defines who her clients are to how she meets their needs, she brings that expertise into everything she does. Mary discusses the importance of clear communication and setting expectations in her policies, and how she makes clients and their pets feels happy and respected.
042- Content Creation with Dan Reitman
Dan Reitman, owner of Dan’s Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, returns to the show to share some ideas for content creation and sharing posts as a pet business with the world on lock down. We also discuss the importance of strengthening community and staying on top of your mental, emotional, and physical health.
006- Interview with Alex and Beth
We are super excited about the episode this week. Alex and Beth join us to talk about their journey into no home based pet sitting, their philosophy of caring for someone’s home, and why the phrase “bubbles and nuts” perfectly describes life as a pet sitter.
005- Drop-ins
We talk about all the things you should think about when doing drop-ins. We end the episode discussing communication, setting boundaries, and dealing emotionally as a pet sitter.