331: Strengths of Solo Pet Sitting with Alicia Obando
Alicia Obando, owner of Pitter Patter Parenting, joins the show to share why she has stayed unapologetically solo. She walks us through how she markets herself effectively and how she’s set her policies to support being a solo sitter. Living in a society that says we need to always go bigger and “better”, Alicia pushes back by changing her mindset about the kind of services she offers.
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.
329: Meeting High Standards with Lauri Partanio
Finding your niche is a great way to establish yourself as an expert and the “go to” company for that need. It also means dealing with much more particular, and sometimes demanding, clients. Lauri Partanio, owner of Professional Pets Florida LLC, has made it her mission to meet the needs of medically needy and senior pets. Lauri explains the way she’s partnered with pet-friendly companies to grow awareness and be a member of her community. She also shares how she has implemented lockboxes for her clients, and the freedom it brings.
328: Rocky Road in 2023?
Monetary policy and interest rates are slowing the economy down, and most suggest a recession is in the work in the next 12 months. How do we digest this data and apply it to your business? What does this mean for the pet services industry? We break down several key questions for you to think through in your business. We also address the very real need for a support network and the psychological toll a recession takes on small business owners.
327: Finding a love of business with Laura Breakstone
What does it mean to run a ‘local’ business and how do we foster a love for it? As business owners and entrepreneurs, we have to seek out things that inspire us; whether they’re another business owner or something else. Laura Breakstone was inspired by a small pet supply store that gave her the idea for her business. She shares how she’s maintained the local feel of her company, even as she’s grown. Laura has used a very specific marketing tool to great success, and gives her insights into why it’s so effective. She also walks us through her most popular services, and how she finds what to offer her clients.
326: Mental Preparedness
Why is dog walking and pet sitting such a mental burden? It’s not just the worry of meeting a client's expectations or concerns about missing a visit. We break down how the pet care industry is the perfect storm of task switching, multi-tasking, and distractions. Becoming more mentally prepared takes planning and reviewing not just your schedule, but also every visit. Also, standardization of visits and routines (to the extent possible) helps control the environmental impacts of going from client to client.
325: Hosting Pet Loss Memorial Events with Coleen Ellis
How do you host a pet loss memorial service? Living in a ‘death avoidance’ society, many are uncomfortable with the idea of facing death and the passing of a pet. As pet sitters, we can position ourselves as leaders in the community of hurting people who have lost their pets. We can create safe spaces for them to grieve and find others to support them in their mourning work. Coleen Ellis, founder of the Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, joins the show to share what it takes to put on an effective pet loss memorial service. She gives details on elements you can include, and ones to avoid.
324: When You Struggle to Keep Going
Have you ever wanted to give up on your business? Challenges happen, no matter how long you’ve been in business. Facing challenges means assessing how we are doing, so we can handle it appropriately. When we start feeling like quitting and giving up on our business, there are things we can walk through to gain clarity. We break down six things to ask yourself and work through and why you should not isolate yourself in times of struggle.
323: Increase Commitment and Compensation from Clients with Kathryn Burge
How do we secure both commitment and appropriate compensation from our clients? Kathryn Burge, owner of Lake Oswego Petsitting, joins the show today to share her onboarding process and what it takes to get a commitment from clients. Kathryn breaks down how to take a hard look at your business and ask, “What’s changed?” to make sure we are getting the most out of our business. She has learned the power of setting boundaries, and why charging for your time helps set yourself up for success.
322: No Such Thing as a No Risk Niche
What does it mean to find a niche in your business? From services to clients, there are a variety of ways to target your business. While it does have benefits, it can come with risks you have to assess. We share the potential pitfalls that niching down can bring to your and your business. We also discuss how to overcome those and why finding your niche is so powerful. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I hire seasonal help for the Holidays?”
321: Meeting Pet Parent Needs with Eleanor Oates
What are you willing to do to make your business run exactly how you want? Eleanor Oates, owner of Sitter4Pets, went as far as developing her own software to run her business. Eleanor shares how her corporate background helped her get off the ground in pet care and the importance of time management. After a car accident left her out of work for 7 years, she decided to do something new. She shares how she moved through those dark times and shares have she uses videos to connect with clients.
320: Considerations for Hosting an Event
We recently put on a pet loss memorial service in one of our service areas and learned a lot! This was the first event we have ever hosted so we were a little nervous. We share how we planned the event and what the main goal of it was. We also talked through how we plan to improve it next time, and give some things to think about if you were planning an event of your own.
319: Sales Psychology of the Affluent Client
What does it mean to market to affluent clients? Sales psychology is all about knowing and understanding the needs of your clients, and providing appropriate solutions to them. Natasha O’Banion, business coach with Automated CEO, shares how to target affluent clients by having a well planned buying journey and being authentic. Natasha gives tips on identifying your ideal client, what their mentality is, and what it means that affluent clients buy with facts.
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?”
317: Celebrating Your Wins with Janie Budnick
What does it mean to fail forward? Lessons can be learned from our own mistakes, as well as through reading and engaging with others and new ideas. Janie Budnick, owner of 4 Legged Kids, shares how she has continued to learn and grow over the past 25 years in business. Janie’s passion for well run (and fun) businesses is evident in how she describes the importance of good role titles. She encourages us to read more and dives into what it means for her and her team to stay on mission in everything they do.
316: Dealing with Grief as a Business Owner
How do you deal with grief as a business owner? We don’t always have the luxury of being able to not show up for the work. We have to find healthy ways of working through the grief process and giving ourselves permission to take guilt free time away. We walk through six things to consider when walking through grief as a business owner. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “What does it mean to be efficient in my business?”
315: It's Personal with Scott Black
How do you grow and keep clients as a solo business owner? Scott Black, owner of Personal Touch Pet Sitting, shares why pet care is so personal to him. Scott shares stories from the past 17 years to give insight into how to set boundaries, excel at customer service, and get clients that work for you. As a solo-preneur, Scott focuses on keeping his business streamlined and simple so he can provide top tier customer service. He also recognizes that how he operates his business isn’t for everyone, but by focusing on the basics of professionalism we can exceed our client’s expectations.
314: Overcoming Public Perceptions
Have you ever felt like the pet services industry isn’t taken seriously or seen as professional? Public perception often casts pet sitters as not professional, un-trustworthy, or doing a job anyone can do. How do we overcome these as an industry? We break down five actions it takes to change public perception and raise expectations across the board; all learned from a recent ride in a tow truck.
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?”