Pet Sitter Confessional

Summary: With all that happened in 2020, you are new! It's time to take advantage of the new year and reaffirm, reapply, and reassess what we learned from last year so we can have a fruitful 2021. Also, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I get out of my own way?" Topics on this episode: Our 2020 review The new world of 2021 Are you embracing being new? Reapplying, Reaffirming, Reassessing Ask a Pet...

Summary: Kylie Holliman-Rivera, owner of Fire Hydrant Pet Sitting, has been a leader in many arenas. This past year she led her team through Covid while also leading the conversation on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the pet care industry. Kylie shares what caused her to move to full-time, what it's like working with her husband in the company, and the success of pack walks in 2020. We a...

Summary: The biggest change to the pet care industry this year has been mid-day dog walks. On our last Back to Basics episode, we discuss how dog walkers have pivoted, dog walking safety, and things you should remember when out with pups. Plus, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do you do a year end review?" Topics on this episode: How covid changed everything The two questions we always ask Favorite...

Summary: Melanie Haynes, owner of Space Coast Pet Services and Virtual Pet Pro, shares how she found her authentic self by starting her pet care business. She discusses how being a professional pet care provider means taking care of the intangibles and building trust with your clients. Melanie also gives advice on what it's like to be a virtual assistant and what it takes to have a great working r...

Summary: In business there is a time for dwelling and a time for doing. Unfortunately, dwelling can be very comfortable, while doing the work can seem scary. On today's episode we give ourselves a little pep-talk and discuss some of our own fear of moving from the planning stages in business to implementing them. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I keep using the lessons I've learned from Covid?"...

Summary: Chenelle Conquest, owner of Paws N Whiskers, shares her journey into pet care and her struggle in hiring and bringing on team members. She talks about the process of growing to trust others in the care of clients and the freedom it has brought her. We discuss the particulars of caring for and working with horses and why it's so important for her to be involved in local charities.   Topics...

Summary: What's the difference between a value based house sit and a for-pay house sit? Should you eat their food? This Back to Basics episode is all about house sitting. From questions you should ask, to what house sitting looks like with Covid, house sitting is something you should consider if you love traveling. Also, Natasha O'Banion answers, "Is print advertising dead?" Topics on this episode...

Summary: Jessica Milam, co-organizer of the Texas Pet Sitters Conference, joins us to talk about how the conference has changed over the years, what their 2021 conference has in store, and why they started the Texas Pet Sitters Association. We talk about the importance of preparing for online conferences and why being part of an association brings value to you and your business.  Topics on this ep...

Summary: Beth Pasek is passionate about cats. So passionate that she runs her entire business taking care of them. Beth shares why being certified fear free is so important, why there are so few cat behavioral specialists, and how pet sitters can up our game in cat care. She also discusses the biggest misconception around cats and what we can do about it. Topics on this episode: Moving to cats onl...

Summary : Modern technology and social media have made marketing as easy as a click of a button, but that sometimes comes with a price. We discuss privacy in online marketing, what to consider before buying targeted ads, and what it means for small businesses in a hyper connected world. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I make the most out of first mover advantage in my area?" Topics on this episo...

Summary We're super excited to get to share this talk from Kristin Morrison entitled, "Redefining Prosperity in the Midst of a Pandemic" that she recently gave at a conference. Kristin discusses the struggle the pet care industry is going through, plus several great ways to overcome and thrive. **Main take away? **What are you chasing? Is it getting you closer or further away from the prosperity y...

Summary Jay Pattiz has been taking care of pets professionally for the last 23 years. From reading Patti Moran's groundbreaking book to today, Jay's passion for taking care of pets has been the core of his business. Jay shares his 7 P's for success and why knowing your own finances  is key to making solid business decisions. He talks about getting involved in the community in more than just pet si...

Summary Up next in our Back to Basics series, we cover Drop-in checks. We discuss what we do during a typical visit and how to price it compared to your other services. We also share some small things you can do with a drop-in to really set yourself apart and provide an awesome service for your clients. Natasha O'Banion answers the question, "Do I lead or mentor my employees" Topics on this episod...

Summary: This year has had a lot of things to distract us and keep us busy. However, tax time is right around the corner and there are many things we should be doing before the end of the year. Mike Jesowshek, owner of JETRO and Associates, discusses the three things every business should be doing right now and how EIDL and PPP loans impact our taxes. Topics on this episode: Tax savings moves to m...

Summary 2020 and Covid have taught us the importance of having a close community and network of other pet care business owners. But what if you don't already have one near you? How do you start one? Alicia Obando, owner of Pitter Patter Parenting, discusses how she started a pet sitter network and why it's been so important to have this year. Topics on this episode: Why she started her network How...

This podcast is sponsored by Pet Sitters Associates.  Pet Sitter Confessional listeners can get a discount when joining by clicking membership Pet Sitter Confessional discount code Confessional at check-out to get $10 off today. Check out the benefits of membership and insurance at petsitllc.com. Summary: With 2021 on the horizon, it's important to assess your mindset for the future. Today we disc...

Summary: 2020 has been a year of change for many of us. For Isabel Alvarez Arata, it meant closing down after 12 years in business and 100,000+ visits. Isabel shares how she grew her business and the big transition for The Wag Pack in 2020. From communicating to clients, to how it's impacted her emotionally, she encourages us to embrace change and the challenges. Topics on this episode: What makes...

Summary: We continue our Back to Basics series with daycare! We share how we provide daycare, what screening looks like, and what kind of clients typically seek out small, in-home care. Natasha answers the question, "How do I start stepping away from my business?" Topics on this episode: Walmart and Rover? How we do daycares What are the options? Screening dogs and setting boundaries Ask a Pet Biz...

What does moving on the next phase of your life mean? How do you know when it's time to make a big shift? Becky Eberly grew her business to over 35 employees in 17 years. Then decided she needed a change. Becky shares what that decision process was like and how she sold her business. Topics on this episode: Starting and growing in 2000 Stepping away after 17 years Starting a brick and mortar store...

This year's holiday season is likely going to look very different! On this episode we discuss how to market to that difference, gifts, and safety concerns around holiday food and decorations. Natasha O'Banion answers what to do if you've made a mistake! Topics on this episode: Pet care and family Pet Safety Taking care of YOU Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion Main take away? The holidays c...

SEO doesn't have to be scary or confusing. Amy Toman, from Pet Sitter SEO, breaks down the common misconceptions of SEO, the best practices we should all be doing, and how to optimize our websites to drive more local traffic from the clients we want. Topics on this episode: SEO Basics Best Practices Things to avoid with Google My Business Main take away? Keep your 'Google My Business' listing upda...

On today's episode we go back to basics and cover boarding! We break down how we operate boarding a small number of dogs in our home, how we approach cleaning and up keep, as well as dealing with the chaos of feeding times and schedules. Natasha answers the question, "How do I take my business to the next level?" Topics on this episode: Who is boarding for? How to make it work. Cleaning and yard w...

Simone Addison, The Pet Nanny, discusses her first year in business, what it was like discovering herself as a pet sitter, how she overcomes being discouraged, and the importance of patience. Topics on this episode: What her first year has been like Advise from Grandma Overcoming feeling discouraged COVID and BLM in Atlanta Main take away? Part of sustaining a business is finding yourself and disc...

This podcast is sponsored by Pet Sitters Associates.  Pet Sitter Confessional listeners can get a discount when joining by clicking membership Pet Sitter Confessional discount code Confessional at check-out to get $10 off today. Check out the benefits of membership and insurance at petsitllc.com. Summary: What does telling your story mean? We hear it all the time, but how to do you actually do tha...

Summary Judy Nuñez, owner of Tails On Trails LLC, is on the podcast to discuss the importance of building and having a tribe as a business. She also tells us how she has continued to host events for her community even in the time of Covid. Topics on this Episode Making the shift into retail Working IN the community Her "Covid Reopening" Course Main take away? There is ALWAYS more room at the table...