Going into business with a friend may be something you’ve thought about. Lalka and Amanda have been living it for 9 years. SoHo Hound was founded from their passion for pets and is run on teamwork and trust. They share what it was like leaving their corporate jobs and starting a pet sitting business in Tampa. Lalka and Amanda discuss what it means to trust someone else in business and the importance of having the correct definition of success.
Contracts are essential to setting boundaries and giving your clients peace of mind. We break down why you need a contract, where to get one, and then do a deep dive into the different elements of the contract we’re currently using. Remember, you should develop a contract to meet the specific needs of how you’ve structured your business. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “What’s an easy win for automating my business?”
Kim Ottone-Tank, owner of Apronstrings Pet Sitting, has been providing pet care since 1990. After 30 years in business, Kim shares her experiences of weathering the ups and downs of the economy and how 2020 was totally different. Kim also gives her advice for hiring employees, and why switching from independent contractors is something she’s really passionate about. We also discuss working with family and being an early adopter of technology in pet care.
What does “hustling” mean to you? We break down several ways it applies to the pet care industry and the misconceptions around what is means to be full time vs part time in this profession. The past year saw many “full time” sitters and walkers go “part time” as demand dropped, but many picked up multiple new services and streams of incomes for their businesses. The industry, and our identities as pet care providers, has changed because of it. Natasha O’Banion answers the question, “How do I enter a new market?”
Working with a family member is something many of us have done, either formally or informally. It’s a great way to get help in times of need, but how do you make the most out of it and preserve your relationship? Dominic Hodgson, The Pet Biz Wiz, joins us to share his experience working alongside his wife and son. From having good processes to treating them the same as other employees, it can be tough at times and is a great opportunity for some.
Too often we can become the doormat for our clients as they try and change how we operate our businesses. Today, we discuss a few recent instances of this in our business and what it means to stand up for your business. We share why it’s hard to do that and what it takes to start overcoming them. Natasha answers, “How do I overcome imposter syndrome?”
Jill Merjeski, owner of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, is on a mission to perform at the highest standard and equip her clients to give the best care possible. She shares her passion for ethical pet care and why it’s important to understand canine emotion and cognition. We discuss what it means to be an advocate for pets and raising the bar on industry standards.
Going the extra mile means something different to everyone. From making clients happy, to settings ourselves apart, going above and beyond can meet various goals in our business. We discuss ways to go the extra mile while maintaining healthy relationships. On the Ask a Pet Biz Coach segment, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I set my pricing if I’m looking to hire?”
After 15 years in business, Christina Walker shares her transition from corporate America to full-time pet sitter. She gives us some great advice for practical ways to set boundaries in our business and personal life. Christina talks about what it means for her to be consistent and her biggest lessons since starting Top Dog Pet Sitter.
Understanding your “brand” and what it means for you and your business takes time. We share our experience rebranding our pet sitting business and our struggles working on a logo. We also talk about how we developed a deeper understanding of what we wanted our business to mean to not just our clients, but to ourselves as well. On the ‘Ask a Pet Biz Coach’ segment, Natasha answers, “How should I set my priorities?”
Growing community has become increasingly more important over the past year. While it may look different for each of us the principles of connecting with a broader group of people and cultivating relationships remain the same. Lyndsay Shackleford, owner of dogs of charm city, joins The show to talk about what it means to be a community focused business.
Finding new clients has always been challenging, even more so this past year. While the challenges have changed, the fundamentals haven’t. We have to identify who our clients are, what problems they need solved, and then tell them about our services. How that looks for each business is different as we each focus on unique clients. Natasha O’Banion answers, “What was your biggest lesson from 2020?”
Building a website that works for you takes planning and understanding of who your client actually is. Mikaela Vargas joins the show to discuss the best practices in websites, the role of colors, and how to make your website get the clients you want to work with. Mikaela shares how a well designed website saves us time and simple things we can do to make our existing websites better.
We have so many demands on our time and attention. By setting healthy boundaries, we create more time and space for doing what we actually want to be doing. We discuss how boundaries are a way to take back control from the things demanding our attention. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I make time for friends and family during my busy times?”
Claire Harris, owner of Pets 2 Place, has such a passion for pet transportion that she’s made it her entire business. As a growing part of the pet care industry, especially in 2020 and into 2021, there are many things to consider to make it the best possible service. Claire also discusses her experience franchising her business and whether it’s a good fit for everyone.
With all that happened in 2020, you are new! It’s time to take advantage of the new year and reaffirm, reapply, and reassess what we learned from last year so we can have a fruitful 2021. Also, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I get out of my own way?”
Kylie Holliman-Rivera, owner of Fire Hydrant Pet Sitting, has been a leader in many arenas. This past year she led her team through Covid while also leading the conversation on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the pet care industry. Kylie shares what caused her to move to full-time, what it’s like working with her husband in the company, and the success of pack walks in 2020. We also have a great conversation about BLM, staying engaged in the conversation, and how to speak your beliefs as a company.
The biggest change to the pet care industry this year has been mid-day dog walks. On our last Back to Basics episode, we discuss how dog walkers have pivoted, dog walking safety, and things you should remember when out with pups. Plus, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do you do a year end review?”
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.
In business there is a time for dwelling and a time for doing. Unfortunately, dwelling can be very comfortable, while doing the work can seem scary. On today’s episode we give ourselves a little pep-talk and discuss some of our own fear of moving from the planning stages in business to implementing them. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I keep using the lessons I’ve learned from Covid?”
