Beyond the Shears

Burnout is real — and it’s hitting pet groomers hard. In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee sits down with author, speaker, and grooming professional Azairreah Hill to talk about her new book Burnt the Fur Out. This honest, empowering conversation tackles what burnout looks like in the grooming industry, how to spot the signs early, and how groomers can protect their peace while still...

***UPDATE - Pet Groomer's are now listed on the Treasury's website as of 09/05/25*** Link to PDF Form: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Tipped-Occupations-Detailed-8-27-2025.pdf The Big Beautiful Bill just passed with a major benefit for service workers — no federal tax on tips. But guess what? Pet groomers weren’t specifically listed among the 68 occupations included. In this solo episo...

Karli Steeves, owner of Pup Culture Grooming in San Antonio, Texas, joins Crystal Lee on Beyond the Shears to share her journey from bather at a corporate grooming salon to independent house call groomer. With over a decade of grooming experience and just one year into running her own business, Karli talks candidly about how she found herself in entrepreneurship almost by accident — and how she's...

If something happened to you tomorrow, could your business still function? In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee, The Groomer’s Accountant, breaks down why every solo business owner needs a trusted backup — especially when it comes to banking, digital access, and client communication. From adding someone with signature authority on your business account to making sure someone can acces...

What does it really look like to run a business with an ADHD brain? In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee sits down with Suzi Payton — a UK-based speaker, coach, and comedian — to talk honestly about the challenges and strengths that come with being a neurodivergent entrepreneur. From late diagnosis to struggles with focus, structure, and self-trust, Suzi shares personal insights and p...

The Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law on July 4, 2025, bringing sweeping changes to the tax code — and small business owners are paying attention. In this episode, Crystal Lee, The Groomer's Accountant and founder of Pet Biz Advisors, breaks down the provisions that matter most to grooming and service-based business owners. Key highlights include lower income tax rates for many filers, a sign...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee sits down with Laura Burnett Shoemaker, Vice President of Cash Management at Community State Bank in Wisconsin, to explore the vital—but often overlooked—role banking plays in the success of small businesses. This isn’t a conversation about loans or credit lines. Instead, Laura shares practical insights on building strong banking relationships, imp...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, we’re joined by Elizabeth Fiore of Fiore Accounting & Tax Services to break down everything grooming business owners need to know about S Corporation elections. Whether you’re currently operating as a sole proprietor or LLC, this conversation will help you decide if it’s the right time — and the right move — for your business. We cover the fundamentals of what...

We’re excited to introduce a brand-new series on the Beyond the Shears podcast: The Spotlight Series. In this series, we feature grooming business owners and dive deep into their personal journeys in the pet grooming industry — the highs, the challenges, and the winding road that led them to opening their own shops. These conversations are honest, heartfelt, and sometimes filled with surprising mo...

In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Seymour of Profit First UK to explore how small business owners can take control of their finances using the Profit First method. We break down what Profit First really means, how to get started, and practical ways to build a more profitable and sustainable business. If you’ve ever struggled with cash flow or paying yourself, this episode is for you. Profit Fir...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee is joined by Adam Kavalauskas from The Gratzi as they discuss the critical role an online presence plays in the success of small businesses, especially in the pet grooming industry. They dive into the importance of having a professional, user-friendly website that reflects your brand and services. Adam explains how SEO (Search Engine Optimization)...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, Crystal Lee is joined by Denise Heroux of The Ambitious Groomer for a powerful conversation on leadership and employee management within the grooming industry. Together, they dive into what it truly means to lead a team, how to recognize and address a toxic work environment, and why setting healthy boundaries is essential for long-term success. Whether you’re...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, we sit down with employment law experts Michael Gentry & Christopher Schuele from Reinhart Law Firm (www.reinhartlaw.com) to discuss the critical legal aspects of managing employees in the pet grooming industry. We break down essential topics every business owner needs to understand, including: ✅ Employment contracts—what should be included and why they matte...

In this episode of Beyond the Shears, we're joined by Laurren Segraves of Transfurmational Solutions to dive into the costly money mistakes pet grooming business owners often make. From failing to budget properly and underpricing services to the dangers of mixing business and personal expenses, Laurren shares valuable insights to help you avoid these common pitfalls. We also discuss the importance...

Join Crystal as she chats with Robert, a former IRS Criminal Investigator of 20 years, discussing the employee versus independent contractor debate. This is an ongoing issue for small business owners in general but is significant in the grooming industry. Feel free to share with others. The only way we can make this industry truly equal is to get compliance back into practice.

Hi! Crystal , The Groomer's Accountant, brings you an inside look at our new podcast, Beyond the Shears: Where Groomer's Get Business Savvy. BTS takes you behind the scenes of what it is like to run a grooming business and answers many of the boring or down-right scary topics facing business owners. Over the course of the podcast, Crystal will speak to many business professionals such as lawyers,...