218: Know Your Customer with Brian Taylor
How are you building multiple ways to service your clients? Sticky services keep clients coming back because you keep solving their problems in new ways. From package pricing to customer service and retention, Brian Taylor, owner of Harlem Doggie Day Spa, joins the show to share how he's become known as the 'Dog Father of Harlem'. His passion for being neighborhood centric and servicing community drive him to connect his business to his community. Brian pursues servicing his top client's needs and making every interaction special. He shares why he continues to give back and where he hopes the grooming industry goes in the future.
217: The Power of Words
Sometimes, words are hard. They hold immense power and can make or break relationships. We discuss how to harness those positive words and phrases to propel your pet business into clearly communicating what you want. We also talk about the role of words in how we perceive ourselves and overcome hard times. Then, pet business coach Natasha O’Banion talks about the fear of staff stealing clients.
216: Successful House Sitting with Kylie Fuad from Aussie House Sitters
The house sitting industry continues to change and adapt to the world of Covid. With new lockdowns and vaccine rollouts across the globe, home owners and house sitters alike are trying to see where the industry will go. Kylie Fuad, co-owner of Aussie House Sitters and House Sitters America, joins the show to discuss the current state of house sitting. She gives us some great advice on preparing for life as a house sitter and how home owners expectations have changed. Kylie also shares her optimism on the future of travel and how we can be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities as staycations become more popular.
215: Can You Have Profit First?
Can you have profit first in your business? Wouldn’t you need to be making 6-figures? What systems would you need to have in place to make that happen? We recently read the book, “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz and wanted to share our initial thoughts about it. We break down who we think this system would be good for, and some of the things that don’t quite fit with a service industry like pet care. Overall, we think it’s a great system if you need something to control your money and understand the health of your business. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I be a great first time manager?”
214: Success One Step at a Time with Becky O'Neil
Becky O’Neil, owner of Becky’s Pet Care, left the medical field to pursue a career in pet care so she could spend more time with her child. After 20+ years in the industry, she has over 150 employees and has had to adapt, and adopt, new technology and business planning to continue to thrive and meet the needs of her clients. Becky shares what her definition of success is, and why it's so important to be running the business you want. We also discuss the upcoming NAPPS 2021 conference and what to expect from the speakers.
213: Health Insurance Basics with Scott Dowling
Do you have health insurance? Some believe it’s not necessary or may be too expensive, but as entrepreneurs, there are many reasons why it's critical to have some level of coverage for you, and even your staff. Scott Dowling, insurance broker and host of Doxcost, breaks down the misconceptions around health insurance and how to find an affordable policy. Scott shares how health insurance has changed over the years and what our options are for health insurance as a sole-proprietor. We also discuss exactly what an HSA is and why it's one of the best ways to get coverage for less.
212: How to Fail Well
Have you ever failed at something? More importantly, did you grow and learn from your last failure? Instead of viewing ourselves as a failure when a plan doesn’t go the way we thought, we need to look for the growth opportunities. On this episode, we break down the common problems entrepreneurs face when failure occurs, and how to face those failures to catapult ourselves into success. From defining what a failure is, to setting appropriate goals, there are processes to make “failing” as beneficial as possible. Then, pet business coach Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I have more fun in my business?”
211: The Power of Blogging with Ali Smith
How do you connect with your ideal clients? One of the best ways is blogging. Ali Smith, owner of Rebarkable, shares her story of blogging as a way to turn her business into a high value machine. She gives tips on what makes a good blog, getting over the fear of imperfection, and how to repurpose your blog. Ali discusses how to reach quality clients and having peace of mind in business.
210: Coming Together
More and more people are entering the pet care space. At a time when many uncertainties plague the industry, we’re facing questions and challenges. To overcome these, and help the industry stay around for a long time, we need to be reaching out and building everyone up. There is no reason to tear others down simply because they do things differently. We should be inviting, mentoring, and educating. We share our thoughts on the importance of organizing and self-regulating, and why building community is crucial. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do you deal with all the phone calls?”
209: Implementing Minimalism with Sandra and Paul from “Minimalist Journeys”
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by not only physical clutter, but also perceived obligations and expectations? Minimalism is more than just getting rid of “stuff” and decluttering. It’s a way of getting more connected with your “why” and acting in your values. Paul and Sandra, from Minimalist Journeys, share their journey into minimalism and travel house sitting. They help break down what minimalism is, and isn’t. They also tell stories from nomadic house sitting and how to get better at receiving feedback!
208: What is Shaping Client Expectations
We all recognize that client expectations are changing. It’s not just a generational thing, though that does play into it. New clients are finding they need a pet sitter more and more, and they’re bringing a new set of expectations and learned experiences. Where do these expectations come from? We play a new commercial that hints at where new clients are headed, and the broader impact it will have on the pet sitting community. We share our thoughts on how to overcome unhealthy expectations and have a better balance with your boundaries.
207: Learning from Mistakes with Christina & Jen
Twin sisters in pet care share how they learn and grow together to solve problems and meet their client's need. Jen Adamo, owner of Jen’s Happy Pets, and Christina Ranaldi, owner of Scruffy Puppy Pet Care, discuss their experiences hiring and managing staff, and what it's like learning from mistakes. They talk about giving grace, supporting your team, and understanding that issues will happen. We discuss the importance of learning from others and sibling rivalry.
206: Bootstrapping Your Business
Have you ever wondered how to grow a business organically and not take on extra debt? We break down what bootstrapping your business looks like from the ground up. We discuss the critical expenses in a new business and, once you’re making money, where you should consider reinvesting into your business. From websites and Google My Business, to licenses and continuing education, there are ways to save money. Bootstrapping is the process you apply to your goals and objectives for your business. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I become more mindful?”
205: Switching from ICs to Employees with Amber Van Denzen Suarez
What do you do if you currently have independent contractors (ICs) and want to make the switch to employees? There are national initiatives underway to make it harder to properly classify staff as ICs, so switching is something to consider. Amber Van Denzen Suarez, owner of Atta Boy! Animal Care shares what the process was like for her. She explains why she decided it was time to make the change and how the switch has helped her business. She walks us through the numbers required to make it all work and shares how she structured her employee’s pay.
204: Our Journey, so far!
This episode is unlike any other we’ve done. We received many questions about our history, so we decided to make an entire episode about it. We deep dive into our personal history: how we met and our decade in pet care. We also answer questions about what the future looks like for our business and what our ultimate goal is. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, "How do you keep your staff organized?"
203: Looking After Your Finances with Vicky Clark
Do you know your business finances? Vicky Clark, The Pet Accountant, is passionate about helping others understand why basic knowledge of accounting and finances is critical to a well functioning business. Based in the UK, Vicky talks through the fundamentals of operating a pet sitting business in the UK. We discuss what it means to be organized for tax season and why having a paperless tracking system makes your life so much easier when it comes time to file. Vicky also shares what kind of deductions you should be looking for and when it’s time to get help.
202: Overcoming the Struggles to Hire
The job market has really changed in the last 6 months. Unfortunately, it corresponds to the increase in demand for pet care services. Many of us are facing a daunting task of trying to hire staff in the middle of one of the toughest job markets in a long time. Today, we outline ways to use more than just financial incentives to attract staff. From paid benefits to connecting to core values of your business, there are ways to compete for the staff you want and need. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I empower others?”
201: Risk Management and Insurance with Colleen Giles-Harris
We know we should have insurance. It’s a critical component of protecting you and your business from potentially costly claims. Sometimes though, it can be overwhelming to wade into all of the terms and conditions. Colleen Giles-Harris, Underwriter and Manager of the insurance program for Pet Sitters Associates, joins us again to clarify common misunderstandings of insurance coverage. She breaks down the do’s and don’ts of the claim process, so nothing gets held up. Insurance policies will also have exclusions, which you need to be aware of. Colleen explains what the most common ones are and how that plays into risk management as a business.
200: Our 200th Episode Q&A
Where did 200 episodes go? The world of pet care since we started 199 episodes ago is totally different than today, and we are so thankful for all of the support and love from everyone! We answered some of your questions, from what we thought about the podcast when we started, to handling client communication. We discuss how to deal with your significant other when you don’t see eye to eye in the business. Thank YOU for listening. We are truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful industry.
199: Laying Strong Foundations with Heather Branch
Why should we have a good support community and what does it mean to be an advocate for the pet care industry? Heather Branch, owner of Best Friends Forever Pet Services and a board member of NAPPS, shares about the tribe around her business and gives advice for building a strong foundation. Her tribe, which includes her staff, help make her better and continue to push for more education and excellence. She stresses the importance of learning about running a business and not just focusing on the pet care. Heather also encourages us to get involved in the pet care industry at the local and national level to start advocating for the industry and let our voices be heard.