All tagged industry

522: FINCEN and Florida

522: FINCEN and Florida

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Are you ready to comply with the latest FINCEN regulations that impact your pet care business? In this episode, we break down the new Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements and why they're crucial for staying on the right side of the law. We also explore how Florida's regional pet care groups are leading the way in building strong local networks and supporting pet sitters. Plus, we discuss the growing maturity of the pet care industry and what it means for business owners like you. Tune in for practical tips on filing with FINCEN and keeping your business compliant.

520: Finding Opportunities in a Changing Economy

520: Finding Opportunities in a Changing Economy

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Have you ever attended an economic outlook presentation? In this episode, we share insights from a recent local presentation that highlighted key economic trends affecting pet care businesses. We discuss how inflation is increasing price sensitivity among clients, making efficiency and added value services crucial. We also emphasize the importance of focusing on stable sectors like healthcare and education to maintain a consistent client base. Understanding and adapting to the local economy is essential for thriving, even in uncertain times.

515: The Power of Membership Models in Pet Care with Traci Bisson

515: The Power of Membership Models in Pet Care with Traci Bisson

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Traci Bisson, founder of Golden Dog Adventure Company and Start a Dog Walking Club, shares how she transitioned from a corporate marketing job to founding a professional pet sitting company and eventually Golden Dog Adventure Company, which has a very unique model. She delves into the concept of dog walking clubs, fostering a sense of community among pet owners, and the benefits of a membership model. Addressing the needs of reactive dogs and their owners, Traci highlights the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments for all.

513: Navigating Client Expectations with Heather Scott

513: Navigating Client Expectations with Heather Scott

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Heather Scott, owner of Heather’s Pet Care, delves into the challenges of managing unrealistic client demands and the impact Covid lockdowns continues to have on their expectations. She shares her journey of phasing out overnight services due to financial and legal constraints, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and clear communication. Heather also discusses her refined hiring process and the significance of realistic job previews for new staff. Finally, she emphasizes the value of community engagement and local networking in building a loyal client base and adapting to industry changes.

497: Certification to Self-Care with PSI's President Beth Stultz-Hairston

497: Certification to Self-Care with PSI's President Beth Stultz-Hairston

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How has the pet sitting industry evolved over the past 30 years? In this episode, Beth Stultz-Hairston, President of Pet Sitters International (PSI), discusses the organization's remarkable journey and its impact on professional pet care. She highlights PSI's commitment to supporting pet sitters through education, certification, and professional standards. Beth addresses the challenges faced by pet sitters, including time management, hiring, and self-care, and emphasizes the importance of adapting to industry trends. Beth underscores PSI's dedication to enhancing the professionalism and success of pet sitters worldwide.

488: Networking with Purpose

488: Networking with Purpose

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Ever wondered how to effectively network and forge meaningful connections within the industry? We share the importance of setting clear goals and aligning expectations in your networking endeavors. We consider the four main reasons for connecting with industry peers. When connecting, it's crucial to freely share information while respecting boundaries, and also understand the nuances between formal and informal referral networks. Ultimately, we offer practical advice for cultivating meaningful connections and robust support networks to navigate the challenges of the industry.

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

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How can you make your business more than pet care? Sarah Schloerb, owner of Sit Stay NJ, discusses the importance of professionalism and how she leverages her experience in the veterinary field to offer specialized services. She emphasizes the significance of building a robust network with local pet care professionals to enhance service offerings and prepare for possible industry legislative changes. Sarah's also shares her efforts in community education through pet first aid and CPR classes, and her role in founding a league of pet care professionals aimed at advocacy and education. Sarah's passion for providing tailored and compassionate care to pets shines in all she does, making it clear that her work is both a personal calling and a professional endeavor.

468: The Best Way to Meet Lots of Pet Sitter Friends

468: The Best Way to Meet Lots of Pet Sitter Friends

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Have you been to a conference? In a first for us, we were LIVE all weekend at the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Association Conference! It was a jammed packed weekend filled with amazing people and great information. Listen in to get a little taste of what it's like to attend a conference, and check out our resource pages to see which one you can attend!

460: Market Research on a Budget

460: Market Research on a Budget

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What does it mean to do market research? As a pet business owner, it’s imperative that you have an understanding of what is driving your local economy and purchasing decisions of your ideal clients. Once we understand the ecosystem that our business exists in, we can make well informed and powerful decisions. We break down a simple (and free) process you can use to gain insights into your local community and better understand how to serve your clients.

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

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We just celebrated four years of podcasting! We can’t believe where the time has gone. What started off as a to share from our experiences quickly turned into a while of showcasing the amazing people working in the pet industry. We’ve been honored to share their stories and learn from the best of the best. We break down four lessons we’ve learned and how they’re impacting our own business, and the importance of tackling big problems.

409: Growing the Pet Care Industry with Jamie Migdal

409: Growing the Pet Care Industry with Jamie Migdal

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Do you see yourself as playing a vital role in the health of the pet care industry? To ensure a robust future, we can all be ambassadors for professional dog walking and pet sitting. Jamie Migdal, founder of Fetchfind!, joins the show to share her vision for the future of pet care. From collaborative approaches to pushing the limits of our own education, Jamie believes we can all make our mark on the legacy of pet sitting. She also discusses how in order to decrease competition, there needs to be an increase in the consumer base. By being advocates for pet owners, we help bring more people, pets, and profits to our businesses.

406: Making the Most of Media Exposure

406: Making the Most of Media Exposure

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We were recently asked to be on a local TV program to talk about our business, so on this episode, we discuss how you can make the most of unexpected media exposure. We also share why you need to be intentional with your business interactions, connect others with your message, and understand that your business is highly visible in your community.

385: Promoting Professionalism with the Florida Pet Services Association

385: Promoting Professionalism with the Florida Pet Services Association

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Today, we’re joined by the Board of Directors of the Florida Pet Services Association. Savanna Westwood, Doug Keeling, Amber Van Denzen Suarez, and Heidi Lewis-Pracko explain why it was important to have a local organization and how it helps the industry be better. From setting the standard, to providing locally relevant educational and networking opportunities, they share about their upcoming Summit as well.

363: Proving it to Yourself with Emily Duhancik

363: Proving it to Yourself with Emily Duhancik

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How do you show up for yourself? Hard work and dedication are definitional of what it means to be a pet sitter. The services you offer should be connected to the passions you have in life. Emily Duhancik, owner of Pet Sitting & Care by Emily, joins the show to discuss what it takes to offer farm care to very particular clients. Her motivation comes from a lifelong love of animals, and a desire to be an excellent role model for her daughter. Emily shares how she designs an amazing client experience, where to get more experience with farm animals, and how she honors her feelings and emotions through the services she offers.

315: It's Personal with Scott Black

315: It's Personal with Scott Black

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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

314: Overcoming Public Perceptions

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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.

302: Considerations for Being a Full-Time Pet Sitter

302: Considerations for Being a Full-Time Pet Sitter

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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?”

300: Listener Questions

300: Listener Questions

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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!

277: Pet Sitting in South Africa with Alexiane Arcens

277: Pet Sitting in South Africa with Alexiane Arcens

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Pet sitting is a global community, with different flavors and markets across countries. Alexiane Arcens joins us to share what being a pet sitter is like in South Africa. She shares what challenges she and other sitters face in Johannesburg. Alexiane encourages others to price according to their skills and why client education is a big hurdle. She has endeavored to raise the bar in South Africa and has put together the very first pet sitters conference for Johannesburg.

265: Finding What Motivates You with Jane Torok

265: Finding What Motivates You with Jane Torok

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What motivates you? We don’t operate in a vacuum and there are both intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors that influence and drive our decisions. Jane Torok, owner of Paw Prints Pet Services, joins the show to explain how her motivating factors drive her to keep working through tough times. As a one woman show, she also shares how to stay content in your business and be thankful for the opportunity and balance in your life. Jane is also extremely passionate about community in pet care and helps operate the largest Facebook group for dog walkers. She talks about why community is so critical and how to avoid fears of rejection and competition.

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