313: Troubleshooting Cat Behavior Issues with Molly Kelsey
How do we empower our clients to live better lives with their cats? As cat care becomes a larger part of pet services, more clients are looking for help. Molly Kelsey, The Cat Counsellor, joins the show to give us insights into feline behavior. Cat communication is all about body language, so not only must we understand it, but we also must be willing to teach out client’s about it. Molly has advice for troubleshooting common cat issues but ultimately, we have to realize it’s up to the owner to decide how much work they’ll put into it.
312: What’s the Deal with Workers Comp?
Running a business means managing risk! We look for health insurance, liability insurance, and auto insurance, but what covers work related injuries? While the exact coverage and requirements are different for each state, workers compensation has some fundamentals everyone should know. We break down 5 of the most common questions we see about workers compensation. Plus, business coach Natasha answers, ”How do I get better at implementing my plans, instead of just thinking about them?”
311: Flourishing through Customer Service with Jan Brown
Self-doubt continues to come up, even after almost three decades in business. Jan Brown, owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting, shares how fear and self-doubt never really go away, and how you use them to make you better. Jan strongly believes that the pet care industry is better when more people pursue education, and that professionalism is the key to a flourishing industry. She gives some amazing advice on what it means to serve the long-term clients and why we need to get out of our own way as business owners.
310: How to Recharge When You Feel Drained
Have you ever felt completely drained in the middle of a busy schedule? As small business owners, we don’t always have the luxury of pressing pause on everything to catch up and recharge. Today, we break down steps to take to invest back in yourself, even in the middle of the chaos. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “What does it mean to systematize my business?”
309: Data Security and IT as a Small Business with Ron Cervantes
Are you securing your client data correctly? What security holes do you have in your business? Running a business in the 21st Century means we must consider data security in everything we do. Ron Cervantes, owner of C Solutions, shares how every business can be more secure. From password managers to avoiding phishing scams, we have to stay alert and make sure we’re using good tools and services to run our business. Ron discusses how to properly use your personal phone for running your business and also how to keep your and your client’s data secure in a more connected world than ever.
308: Why You Need More Editing in Your Life
What does it mean to live a well edited life? Why is it so important in your business? Editing comes in three main categories; time, ideas, and projects. As business owners, we’re constantly creating and adding things to our plate. We discuss how to step back and begin making edits to the things we make, the ideas we have, and our calendars, so we have more of what we actually want. Natasha O’Banion answers the question, “How do I be more productive?”
307: Workflows and Productivity with Doug Keeling
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.
306: You Need to Stop Apologizing
While saying “I’m sorry” can come from many good places, often it’s driven by personal fears and anxieties. Apologizing when it’s not actually your fault damages your authority and trustworthiness with your clients. Today, we share why over apologizing becomes an unconscious habit and to start working towards healthier ways of communicating with clients and people in our lives.
305: Advocating for Pet Parents with Tannis Martin
What does it mean to alleviate pet parent guilt? Tannis Martin, owner of Pawty Waggin, saw firsthand the power and impact pet care services had on pet owners, and knew she had found her calling. Tannis shares how she focuses on serving her human clients by helping to make her community more pet friendly and advocating for pet owners. Tannis grew her business extensively without a website and gives some insight into how she did that, but how ultimately she knew a website would benefit her company. She also breaks down her pet taxi service and how it became known not just to pet owners but to the local vet clinics and hospital as well.
304: 5 Advertising Methods That Won’t Break the Bank
How are you advertising your business? While you may be tempted to pay for advertising, you don’t have to! Advertising and marketing your business doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, or any! We break down our five favorite ways to advertise your business, without breaking the bank. In the end, it’s about being shareworthy and building relationships. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I make my business more attractive to potential clients?”
303: Facing Fear with Hope with Nicole Packin
Nicole Packin, owner of Miami Pet Concierge & The Packin Method, joins the show to share how she worked through her fears and self doubt in starting her business. Nicole ran her business for 15 years, then decided to set up in a brand new location, several states away. She gives us some insight into what it's like operating across state lines and why it's critical to stay fresh and up-to-date as a business. Nicole also shares how HOPE is the key to running a successful pet care business.
302: Considerations for Being a Full-Time Pet Sitter
On this episode, we discuss all the things you need to think about BEFORE you decide to quit your day job, and why having your end goal in mind is crucial. We share our story on why this was the best option for us, and discuss the practical implications of focusing primarily on your pet business. Then, business coach Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I fire a client?”
301: Wedding Services with Regina Richardson
Have you thought about offering wedding pet attendant services? It's a growing niche in the pat care world as pet owners look for more ways to include their furry family members in the biggest day of their life. Regina Richardson, owner of Furry Ventures Pet Care, joins the show to share how she provides wedding services. Marketing these niche services is quite unique, so Regina gives some great advice on attending wedding shows and building relationships with venues. She also walks us through how to handle special requests and make the day as special as possible for everyone.
300: Listener Questions
We’ve hit 300 episodes! On this episode we talk about why we started the podcast and answer some listener questions! We discuss how to take days off, addressing clients that question your prices, how to meet your money goals, and what to do about a biting puppy. We’ve learned and grown so much for hosting the podcast, so we share our biggest lessons from the last 299 episodes!
299: The Key to Great Communication with Chrissy Neumyer Smith
Are you great at communicating with your clients? Chrissy Neumyer Smith, host of the Creating Great Grooming Dogs podcast, sheds light on what it takes to ask great questions of our clients. Chrissy explains the importance of using the right words and definitions for clear communication so we can give the right care. She also gives us the four questions we should ask everyone before we start services with them, and how it's ok to assume the dog may have issues that need to be addressed. Chrissy shares the relationship between behavior issues in dogs and burnout in the pet care industry, and what we can do about it!
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?”
297: Evolving as a Business Owner with Michelle Sabia
How do you grow in the role of being the founder of your company? Many of us feel uncomfortable using such formal titles in our businesses, but words have meaning for a reason. Michelle Sabia, owner of Paws and Claws Pet Sitting, discusses what it's like growing into new roles in her business. She shares how her expansion into a brand new market has been going, and how she has been trying to break her addiction of working 24/7. She also encourages us to get more involved in pet sitting organizations.
296: 5 Best Practices for Surveying Your Clients
Have you surveyed your client’s recently? With the economic turmoil we’re facing, it’s important to stay on top of how your business is doing. We don’t have to ever assume why a client continues to use us, we can ask! The power of client surveys is that they give you direct insight into the thinking of your clients. We give you five things you must do to get the most out of your surveys.
295: Making Your Photos Shine with Caitlin McColl
The photos we send to our clients are a snapshot into their pet's lives while they're away. Caitlin J. McColl, founder and co-President of the Pet Photographers Club, joins the show to share how to get the best photos possible for your clients. The best camera is the one you have on you, so Caitlin gives us tips for making the most out of our cellphone. We discuss how to know when you've got the best shot. Caitlin also shares how we can showcase each pet’s personality in the photo.
294: How to Budget for Your Pet Business
Why do you need a budget? With everything going on in the world, it’s more important than ever to know exactly where your money is going and wrestle back some control of our finances. The principles of budgeting apply to both your personal life, as well as your business. We break down 5 reasons why having a budget will help you and then dive into how to apply the principles of budgeting. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I see the long term view for my business?”