Pet Sitter Confessional

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...

Summary 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...

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 advi...

What is Workers Comp and what do we need to know about it? 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 ab...

How do you push through fear in business? Self-doubt continues to come up, even after almost three decades in business. Jan Brown, owner of Jan's Pet Sitting, shares how fear and self-doubt never really go away, and how you use them to make you better. Jan strongly believes that the pet care industry is better when more people pursue education, and that professionalism is the key to a flourishing...

Have you ever felt completely drained in the middle of a busy schedule? As small business owners, we don't always have the luxury of pressing pause on everything to catch up and recharge. Today, we break down steps to take to invest back in yourself, even in the middle of the chaos. Then, Natasha O'Banion answers, "What does it mean to systematize my business?" Main topics: How to recharge Questio...

Are you securing your client data correctly? What security holes do you have in your business? Running a business in the 21st Century means we must consider data security in everything we do. Ron Cervantes, owner of C Solutions, shares how every business can be more secure. From password managers to avoiding phishing scams, we have to stay alert and make sure we're using good tools and services to...

Summary What does it mean to live a well edited life? Why is it so important in your business? Editing comes in three main categories; time, ideas, and projects. As business owners, we're constantly creating and adding things to our plate. We discuss how to step back and begin making edits to the things we make, the ideas we have, and our calendars, so we have more of what we actually want. Natash...

What does it mean to be productive? How do we get work done, other than the pet care? Doug Keeling, owner of Bad to the Bone Pet Care, joins the show to share his workflows in his business. Whether you decide to use technology or pen and paper, the first step is writing your ideas and projects down so you have a place to reference it later. From communications to implementing new ideas, Doug share...

Do you over apologize? 😬 While saying "I'm sorry" can come from many good places, often it's driven by personal fears and anxieties. Apologizing when it's not actually your fault damages your authority and trustworthiness with your clients. Today, we share why over apologizing becomes an unconscious habit and to start working towards healthier ways of communicating with clients and people in our...

Summary: What does it mean to alleviate pet parent guilt? Tannis Martin, owner of Pawty Waggin, saw firsthand the power and impact pet care services had on pet owners, and knew she had found her calling. Tannis shares how she focuses on serving her human clients by helping to make her community more pet friendly and advocating for pet owners. Tannis grew her business extensively without a website...

How are you advertising your business? While you may be tempted to pay for advertising, you don't have to! Advertising and marketing your business doesn't have to cost a lot of money, or any! We break down our five favorite ways to advertise your business, without breaking the bank. In the end, it's about being shareworthy and building relationships. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I make my bus...

How do you face fear? Fake it until you make it? Nicole Packin, owner of Miami Pet Concierge & The Packin Method, joins the show to share how she worked through her fears and self doubt in starting her business. Nicole ran her business for 15 years, then decided to set up in a brand new location, several states away. She gives us some insight into what it's like operating across state lines and wh...

It's been almost exactly a year since Collin joined me full time in our pet business😄 It was a heavy decision (but also very freeing!) and there was a lot to consider prior to making that step. 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 optio...

Have you thought about offering wedding pet attendant services? It's a growing niche in the pat care world as pet owners look for more ways to include their furry family members in the biggest day of their life. Regina Richardson, owner of Furry Ventures Pet Care, joins the show to share how she provides wedding services. Marketing these niche services is quite unique, so Regina gives some great a...

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! Main topics: Taking...

Are you great at communicating with your clients? Chrissy Neumyer Smith, host of the Creating Great Grooming Dogs podcast, sheds light on what it takes to ask great questions of our clients. Chrissy explains the importance of using the right words and definitions for clear communication so we can give the right care. She also gives us the four questions we should ask everyone before we start servi...

How do you handle answering questions from clients? As a business owner, we field hundreds of questions every week about our business. From policies and procedures, to situation specific details, we never know what the next question will be. Today, we discuss 5 things it takes to answer questions well and to make your client's feel like they're valued and heard. Natasha O'Banion, from Automated CE...

How do you grow in the role of being the founder of your company? Many of us feel uncomfortable using such formal titles in our businesses, but words have meaning for a reason. Michelle Sabia, owner of Paws and Claws Pet Sitting, discusses what it's like growing into new roles in her business. She shares how her expansion into a brand new market has been going, and how she has been trying to break...

Have you surveyed your client's recently? With the economic turmoil we're facing, it's important to stay on top of how your business is doing. We don't have to ever assume why a client continues to use us, we can ask! The power of client surveys is that they give you direct insight into the thinking of your clients. We give you five things you must do to get the most out of your surveys. Main topi...

What makes a great pet photo? The photos we send to our clients are a snapshot into their pet's lives while they're away. Caitlin J. McColl, founder and co-President of the Pet Photographers Club, joins the show to share how to get the best photos possible for your clients. The best camera is the one you have on you, so Caitlin gives us tips for making the most out of our cellphone. We discuss how...

Summary: Why do you need a budget? With everything going on in the world, it's more important than ever to know exactly where your money is going and wrestle back some control of our finances. The principles of budgeting apply to both your personal life, as well as your business. We break down 5 reasons why having a budget will help you and then dive into how to apply the principles of budgeting....

Have you decided to be a leader in the industry? Julie Fredrick, owner of The Pet Sitter of Boise, has been running her pet sitting business since 2003, while still holding down a full time job. With a team of over 35 employees, she spends her time focusing on giving the best possible service to the right clients. Julie shares how her background in operations and process improvement helps her run...

How are you handling inflation and high gas prices? Prices on everything continue to rise and businesses are feeling the pinch more and more. Unfortunately, most economists aren't seeing any bright spots in the future. So how do we tackle these concerns and make sure our businesses continue to operate and provide us a living? We break down four things you should be considering in the days and mont...

What does it take to stay ambitious in business? Zach Shearer, owner of Zach's Pet Services, rejoins the show to share how much has changed since we last had him on. Zach talks about tackling large projects in the face of uncertainty and why surrounding yourself with experts is critical to your success. From his expanding kennel services to now grooming, Zach gives us some insight into the challen...