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525: Pet Sitting From Argentina to the Netherlands with Sophie Canil

525: Pet Sitting From Argentina to the Netherlands with Sophie Canil

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a pet sitting business in a foreign country? In this episode, Sophie Canil, owner of Pet Sitting by Sophie, shares her journey from Argentina to the Netherlands and how she turned her love for animals into a successful cat sitting business. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries and self-care, especially in such a solitary profession. Sophie also emphasizes the value of delegating tasks and finding a supportive community of fellow pet sitters. Tune in for practical advice on growing a pet care business abroad!

507: Hospitality and Heart with Ken Botts

507: Hospitality and Heart with Ken Botts

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Does hospitality translate from restaurants to pet care? Ken Botts, owner of Creekside Critters Pet Sitters, shares his journey into the world of pet care. He discusses the importance of community engagement, effective hiring practices, and the parallels between providing excellent service in restaurants and pet sitting. Ken emphasizes the role of heart-driven hospitality in building trust with both human clients and their furry companions.

499: Be the Novelty with Cathy Duvall

499: Be the Novelty with Cathy Duvall

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What challenges come with running a pet care business in a rural area? In this episode, Cathy Duvall, owner of Goin' to the Dogs Pet Sitting, shares her journey of relocating from metro Atlanta to the North Georgia mountains and the unique adaptations required for rural pet sitting. Cathy emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries for personal health and business sustainability, and how learning to say no transformed her approach. She discusses the stark differences between urban and rural pet sitting, including slower growth and varied client expectations. Cathy highlights the importance of professional credentials and how educating clients about being bonded and insured builds trust and peace of mind.

493: Seeking Genuine Engagement Over Vanity with Kate McQuillan

493: Seeking Genuine Engagement Over Vanity with Kate McQuillan

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Are you engaging with the right clients? Kate McQuillan, owner of Pet Sitters Ireland and Pet Business Owners, emphasizes the importance of market research and understanding your audience. She highlights how local content can drive meaningful engagement and how a consistent blogging strategy can significantly impact business growth. Kate stresses the value of genuine customer engagement over vanity metrics and the need for efficient operations to meet client expectations.

481: Evolving with Heart with Reilly Kahat

481: Evolving with Heart with Reilly Kahat

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What does it take to transform challenges into a thriving business? Reilly Kahat, owner and founder of Pet Fit, shares his transition from a dog walker to the owner of a flourishing pet care service. Following an unforeseen business closure that left him questioning his next steps, Reilly leverages his deep affection for animals to build a community rooted business from the ground up. He explores the importance of adaptive branding, the move towards a membership-based model for consistent service, and the cultivation of a supportive team dynamic. Reflecting on the hurdles faced, including navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, Reilly illustrates how setbacks were not just obstacles but opportunities for growth and deeper community engagement.

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

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What does it take to navigate the path from personal adversity to entrepreneurial success? Mary Reid, owner of North Dallas Pet Care, dives into her journey from being a homeschooling mother to spearheading a thriving pet care business. Following a significant health scare that altered her mobility, Mary reveals how she leveraged her passion for pets into a successful enterprise. She reflects on the critical role of work-life balance, the strategic shift from working solo to managing a team, and the integration of technology to enhance her business.

475: Creating a Business to Prioritize Yourself with Shannon Hendon

475: Creating a Business to Prioritize Yourself with Shannon Hendon

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How can you navigate the twists and turns of life through fostering community? Shannon Hendon, founder of Ocala Pet Sitting, takes us through her 18-year saga of transforming challenges into opportunities. From altering her career path away from vet school to implementing cool new services like kitty cam rentals, Shannon's story is a masterclass in adaptability and passion. She also discusses the power of community, the evolution of her business model as she adapted to personal challenges, and her dedication to setting new standards in the pet care industry.

467: Saying Yes for Success, and No for Sanity with Liz Raitman

467: Saying Yes for Success, and No for Sanity with Liz Raitman

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What are you saying ‘No’ to? For many, saying ‘No’ is almost unthinkable; we have to service the client, right? Liz Raitman, owner of Dogs Next Best Friend, joins the show to share how a love of hiking and running turned into a full-time dog walking company. By learning to say ‘No’ more, Liz talks about how she’s learned from past mistakes to run a company that fits her better. Liz also gives her perspective on why we should hold customer appreciation in such high regard.

463: Networking for Success with Angela Reinbacher

463: Networking for Success with Angela Reinbacher

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What does it mean to surround yourself with people who can help make you better? How do we go about being vulnerable enough to admit we need that help? As a business owner, personal improvement and a supportive network are key to longevity! Angela Reinbacher, owner of Wild Paws, shares how she is making networking work for her. Angela also talks about how she is approaching marketing with video to attract her clientele, while also managing the growth in a healthy and sustainable way.

461: Keeping Control of Your Calendar with Jessica Stavros

461: Keeping Control of Your Calendar with Jessica Stavros

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Jessica Stavros, owner of Salina Prosper Petsitting, shares her journey from starting in the pet sitting industry 19 years ago to adapting her business model to fit her life's various stages, especially motherhood. Emphasizing the art of setting boundaries and saying no without guilt, Jessica discusses the importance of managing a solo business in alignment with personal life demands.

459: Try, Fail, and Adjust with Marie and Justin Plummer

459: Try, Fail, and Adjust with Marie and Justin Plummer

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Marie and Justin Plummer, the entrepreneurial duo behind Winston Salem Dog Care, share their journey from a small start-up to a thriving business with 17 employees. Their discussion delves into the nuances of hiring staff with a focus on professionalism in the pet care industry, while also maintaining a deeply personal touch. They highlight the importance of iteration in refining their hiring and onboarding processes and the role of technology in facilitating growth. The Plummers' story is a testament to the power of creativity, flexibility, and continuous learning in building a business that not only succeeds but also brings joy and satisfaction to its owners and clients alike.

445: When Life Happens with Jessica and Chris Milam

445: When Life Happens with Jessica and Chris Milam

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What do you do when life happens? The fact is, things happen that are out of our control, and our only roll is in how we respond. When running a business, we set policies that match the flexibility many clients need, or adapt to their requests if we want. In our personal lives, we respond by stepping up and showing our true character. Jessica and Chris Milam, owners of Fur Services Fur Pets, discuss what it means to live a life full of the right amount of crazy, love, and passion.

431: Counting the Costs with Jill Jaffe

431: Counting the Costs with Jill Jaffe

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How much does it cost you to walk a dog or stay overnight in a client's home? While we typically consider expenses such as gas, insurance, and experience, what else should we include? Jill Jaffe, owner of "Fur Paws' Sake," joins the show to discuss why she's so passionate about offering "almost overnights" instead of actual overnights to her clients. Jill draws on the lessons she learned from her spirited little pup, Lily, emphasizing that running a business involves more than just financial costs.

427: Finding Flexibility and Freedom with Shade Long

427: Finding Flexibility and Freedom with Shade Long

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How much is your time worth to you? As busy business owners, we often get caught up in the grind and hustle of our day-to-day operations. Ultimately, we have to step back and ask what truly matters in our lives. Shade Long, owner of Complete Pet Care, joins the show to share the learning curve she's experienced over the last two years. From managing massive business growth amidst overwhelm, to refining her onboarding process, she's finding ways to strike a better balance. Shade explains why it's not all about bursting at the seams and emphasizes that you can run the business you want while also having a life outside of it.

423: Building Trust with Clients from the Start with Kimberly Layman

423: Building Trust with Clients from the Start with Kimberly Layman

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Are you running the business you thought you’d be? Kimberly Layman, owner of Kimberly's Kritter Care, shares the process of refocusing her company to better align with her passions after experiencing burnout early on in the pandemic. She outlines her personalized onboarding strategy of phone calls and in-person meetings to set clients at ease. In addition, Kimberly explains how she structures clear expectations around communication preferences upfront to avoid issues down the road. She also details her strategic approach to obtaining reviews through timely and specific follow-up requests.

419: Selling the Gap with Rachelle Steele

419: Selling the Gap with Rachelle Steele

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How do you sell your services to potential clients? While many of us believe that our service quality speaks for itself, many clients will have additional questions or needs that we must address. With 30 years of high-end retail experience, Rachelle Steele, owner of Loving Arms Pet Services, shares insights into guiding clients through the purchasing process. Rachelle explains how to ask good questions to better understand how you can serve your client and how using the Platinum Rule can help you meet your clients' needs.

389: Live Life Full and Happy with Morgan Weber

389: Live Life Full and Happy with Morgan Weber

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How do you delight your clients? To delight your clients, you must first find delight and joy in the services you’re offering. Morgan Weber, owner of Lucky Pups Adventure, joins the show to talk about how living a fulfilling life in the present is crucial rather than waiting for some future event to happen. She explains how taking the time to appreciate the little things in life and finding joy in even the most mundane tasks is essential. She discusses how to ensure customer satisfaction by finding delight in the services you offer. Then stresses the importance of treating every client with the utmost care and attention to detail, which can lead to word-of-mouth referrals and long-term client relationships. She also gives advice on how to grieve the loss of a client’s pet and how to work closely with a significant other in your business.

387: Good Will is Good PR with Remy Bibaud

387: Good Will is Good PR with Remy Bibaud

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What does having good PR mean to you? Many times we use customer relations and public relations interchangeably, but this is limiting our ability to have a wider impact in our community. Remy Bibaud, co-owner of Pet Perennials, joins the show to share how to foster public relations and use it to your advantage. Remy walks through the major points of cultivating high quality experiences with your business, and the role you play in guiding that. She also shares how she stays ahead of understanding her client’s needs.

353: Transforming Your Business with Michelle Kline

353: Transforming Your Business with Michelle Kline

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What does it take to completely transform your business? Creating a business that works for us means that sometimes we have to step back and realize we are capable of change. We can still serve clients with excellence, with an entirely new model of business. Michelle Kline, owner of Venture Dog Walking, converted her pet sitting business into a dog walking company. She shares the groundwork she laid to make it successful and outlines her communication strategy to both staff and clients.

317: Celebrating Your Wins with Janie Budnick

317: Celebrating Your Wins with Janie Budnick

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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.

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