Chenelle Conquest, owner of Paws N Whiskers, shares her journey into pet care and her struggle in hiring and bringing on team members. She talks about the process of growing to trust others in the care of clients and the freedom it has brought her. We discuss the particulars of caring for and working with horses and why it’s so important for her to be involved in local charities.
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?”
Jessica Milam, co-organizer of the Texas Pet Sitters Conference, joins us to talk about how the conference has changed over the years, what their 2021 conference has in store, and why they started the Texas Pet Sitters Association. We talk about the importance of preparing for online conferences and why being part of an association brings value to you and your business.
Beth Pasek is passionate about cats. So passionate that she runs her entire business taking care of them. Beth shares why being certified fear free is so important, why there are so few cat behavioral specialists, and how pet sitters can up our game in cat care. She also discusses the biggest misconception around cats and what we can do about it.
Modern technology and social media have made marketing as easy as a click of a button, but that sometimes comes with a price. We discuss privacy in online marketing, what to consider before buying targeted ads, and what it means for small businesses in a hyper connected world. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I make the most out of first mover advantage in my area?”
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.
Jay Pattiz has been taking care of pets professionally for the last 23 years. From reading Patti Moran's groundbreaking book to today, Jay's passion for taking care of pets has been the core of his business. Jay shares his 7 P's for success and why knowing your own finances is key to making solid business decisions. He talks about getting involved in the community in more than just pet sitting, and how important fostering local relationships and connections is to your business surviving.
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”
This year has had a lot of things to distract us and keep us busy. However, tax time is right around the corner and there are many things we should be doing before the end of the year. Mike Jesowshek, owner of JETRO and Associates, discusses the three things every business should be doing right now and how EIDL and PPP loans impact our taxes.
2020 and Covid have taught us the importance of having a close community and network of other pet care business owners. But what if you don’t already have one near you? How do you start one? Alicia Obando, owner of Pitter Patter Parenting, discusses how she started a pet sitter network and why it’s been so important to have this year.
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.
2020 has been a year of change for many of us. For Isabel Alvarez Arata, it meant closing down after 12 years in business and 100,000+ visits. Isabel shares how she grew her business and the big transition for The Wag Pack in 2020. From communicating to clients, to how it’s impacted her emotionally, she encourages us to embrace change and the challenges.
We continue our Back to Basics series with daycare! We share how we provide daycare, what screening looks like, and what kind of clients typically seek out small, in-home care. Natasha answers the question, “How do I start stepping away from my business?”
What does moving on the next phase of your life mean? How do you know when it’s time to make a big shift? Becky Eberly grew her business to over 35 employees in 17 years. Then decided she needed a change. Becky shares what that decision process was like and how she sold her business.
This year’s holiday season is likely going to look very different! On this episode we discuss how to market to that difference, gifts, and safety concerns around holiday food and decorations. Natasha O’Banion answers what to do if you’ve made a mistake!
SEO doesn't have to be scary or confusing. Amy Toman, from Pet Sitter SEO, breaks down the common misconceptions of SEO, the best practices we should all be doing, and how to optimize our websites to drive more local traffic from the clients we want.
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?”
Simone Addison, The Pet Nanny, discusses her first year in business, what it was like discovering herself as a pet sitter, how she overcomes being discouraged, and the importance of patience.
What does telling your story mean? We hear it all the time, but how to do you actually do that and what does it look like? In this episode we talk about why your story is so important and how it connects with your clients. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I set myself apart?"
Judy Nuñez, owner of Tails On Trails LLC, is on the podcast to discuss the importance of building and having a tribe as a business. She also tells us how she has continued to host events for her community even in the time of Covid.
