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514: The Tech Revolution in Pet Care

514: The Tech Revolution in Pet Care

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How are you using technology in your business? Technology continues to evolve, profoundly impacting the pet care industry. Staying adaptable is essential for integrating new tools like online booking systems, GPS tracking, and smart pet feeders, which enhance our services and client transparency. Beyond using technology in our business, we must guide clients in appropriately using these innovations with their pets. Automation of routine tasks allows us to focus more on socialization and personalized care, improving pets' well-being. Embracing these changes elevates the quality of service and strengthens the bond between pet sitters, pets, and their owners.

509: Creating Connections with Cats with Zara Willmott

509: Creating Connections with Cats with Zara Willmott

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Zara Wilmott, owner of Cat Sitter Toronto, shares her journey from cat sitter to business owner, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of her niche. She discusses how the pandemic accelerated her transition and led to innovative operational changes that ensured both client and staff safety. With a deep passion for feline well-being, Zara emphasizes the importance of specialized care and open communication with clients.

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.

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.

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

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How do you manage when a client's home is more than just messy? We dive into the challenging world of hoarding and its impact on our business as pet sitters and dog walkers. We explore what hoarding really entails and how it creates unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. From navigating privacy issues to ensuring the safety of the pets and maintaining professional boundaries, we cover the essential strategies for approaching these sensitive situations with gentleness and genuine concern. Join us as we provide practical advice to help you handle even the most difficult environments effectively.

478: Fighting Mental Fatigue

478: Fighting Mental Fatigue

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Where does mental fatigue come from, and how does it impact us? While a large portion of the fatigue is brought on through external influences, a not insignificant amount stems from our own actions. From failing to adhere to policies to taking on too much, we often burden ourselves more than others do. Today, we will break down why pet sitters deal with so much mental fatigue, its sources, and some simple steps to start taking to combat it.

477: Turning Over A New Leaf with Kirsten Kruska

477: Turning Over A New Leaf with Kirsten Kruska

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What does it mean to reinvent yourself? Kirsten Kruska, co-owner of Pet and Plant Pal, explores the journey of career reinvention after a pivotal health challenge forced her out of dog grooming. Kirsten shares how she transformed her expertise in pet care and horticulture into a flourishing business. Emphasizing health & wellness, Kirsten shares how her commitment to physical fitness and overcoming injury shaped her approach to business and life. She also discusses ethical entrepreneurship, highlighting her dedication to ethical practices rooted in Buddhist principles, and how these values distinguish her services. Lastly, Kirsten discusses the importance of knowledge sharing, from grooming advice to plant care tips, illustrating her belief in education as a cornerstone of her business model.

465: Building a Team Structure with Anna Rickert

465: Building a Team Structure with Anna Rickert

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How do you envision your business in the future? If building a team and having employees are on that list, you need to carefully consider your team's structure. Creating a team involves ensuring each person is in the right role, equipped with clear directions to accomplish their tasks. Anna Rickert, the owner of Pup Culture Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, joins us to share her strategies for developing a robust business structure. Aiming for her business to operate independently of her presence, Anna discusses the importance of having a balanced mix of services and a team that excels in delivering them.

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.

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

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What was your 2023 like? If you’re like many, it was a very successful, but very difficult year. Running a business means tackling the ups, and working through the downs. The difficulties we face will be as unique as the businesses we run. We break down four challenges we worked through in our business this year, how they’re not all solved yet, and how we’re growing from each of them.

449: Letting the Client Be Heard with Natalie Spedden

449: Letting the Client Be Heard with Natalie Spedden

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What are the unique challenges your business faces? Our business is shaped by our own values and how we want things done. It’s also molded by the community we service. Everything from how we hire, the services we can offer, and the kind of marketing we do is influenced by where we are. Natalie Spedden, owner of Aggieland Pet Sitting, walks through how she runs and hires in a town heavily influenced by a large university. Natalie shares how to take off our rose colored glasses to make hard decisions. She also talks about how she is building a professional team focused on the client’s needs.

440: The Last-Minute Rush: Balancing Business and Boundaries in Pet Sitting

440: The Last-Minute Rush: Balancing Business and Boundaries in Pet Sitting

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Ever wondered how to handle those last-minute pet care requests? We delve into the complexities of accommodating such bookings in the pet care industry, focusing on the implications for scheduling, employee satisfaction, and maintaining client relationships. We also explore the nuanced topic of job sharing, discussing its advantages and challenges, and its impact on client trust and business operations. This episode offers insights on setting boundaries, implementing fees, and tailoring policies to strike a balance between meeting business needs and responding to client demands.

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

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Can you transform a simple passion into a thriving business? Abby Strong, founder of Auntie Abby's Pet Sitting Service, shares her journey from a part-time pet sitter and full-time nanny to a thriving business owner. Abby shares the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from working solo to leading 21 pet sitters and dog walkers, emphasizing the importance of tackling hard tasks and taking pride in one's work. She discusses balancing the multifaceted role of a caretaker, the customization of pet care services, and the significance of building strong client relationships. It’s not just about growth, it’s about personal development and finding fulfillment and taking pride in our hard work.

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.

425: A Touch of ‘Know, Like, and Trust’ with Kelly Hester

425: A Touch of ‘Know, Like, and Trust’ with Kelly Hester

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How do you make an excellent client onboarding? A well executed client onboarding not only sets the tone and expectations for the client, but also set the relationship up to last for years. Kelly Hester, owner of Kelly’s Kritters Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, joins the show to walk through how she translated her decades of corporate work into running her business. From exceptional customer service to formally documenting everything, she provides several great best practices. Kelly also explains her process for onboarding clients so that both she and the client understand exactly what is going on.

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.

421: Overcoming the Barriers to Hiring an Employee vs an Independent Contractor with Kim Ottone Tank

421: Overcoming the Barriers to Hiring an Employee vs an Independent Contractor with Kim Ottone Tank

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Do you struggle with whether to hire an employee or work with an independent contractor? Many of us face wanting to grow, find space in our life, or take a break from the day-to-day work, but then worry about whether an employee or independent contractor is the right fit. Kim Ottone Tank, owner of both Apronstrings and Staffingstrings, joins the show to help us understand what it really means to hire an employee. Kim breaks down what the differences are between an employee and an independent contractor, how that impacts our businesses, and how to understand the true costs of each.

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.

399: Running a Multi-Dimensional Business with Susan Morin

399: Running a Multi-Dimensional Business with Susan Morin

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What does it mean to run a multi-dimensional business? Not only do you offer a range of services, but you also have a lot going on every day. Susan Morin, owner of Susan’s Pampered Pet Care, shares how she’s piloted a growing business. She discusses how she highlights the strengths of her business to attract her target clients and walks through the balance of running a business to meet her client’s needs, while also enjoying the day to day operations.

391: Finding Your Balance with Renée Stilson

391: Finding Your Balance with Renée Stilson

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What does it mean to live a balanced life? Finding balance as a dog walker and pet sitter is one of the most crucial aspects of running a thriving business, and maintaining personal well-being. Renée Stilson, former owner of Home Sweet Home Pet Care LLC and now The Balanced Sitter, draws on her 23 years of experience in the industry to share the lessons she learned. She discusses how she had to adapt her business multiple times, and how pet sitters and dog walkers are true ambassadors to their communities. Renée also reflects on how she knew it was time to retire, and how she's found a new way to live since hanging up her shoes and leash.

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