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Hi everyone! Michelle here. Today’s episode is a big one. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joey Coleman, renowned speaker and bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. Joey is not only a master of customer experience—he’s also someone who fundamentally understands how to make people feel seen, valued, and loyal from Day One.

We talk through everything from why so many businesses drop the ball during onboarding, to how pet care brands can scale trust without sacrificing humanity. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the weeds of growing your team and services, this episode is packed with takeaways that can literally change your business.

📚 Get Joey’s Books (Affiliate Links):
• Never Lose a Customer Again → https://amzn.to/3SQRYdT
• Never Lose an Employee Again → https://amzn.to/4jqVDtp

🎟️ Come Learn From Joey Live at the DogCo Business Summit!
Join us for a live workshop with Joey Coleman himself at the DogCo Business Summit. Tickets available now:
👉 https://my.cheddarup.com/c/dogco-business-summit-tickets/items

⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Intro to Joey Coleman
03:51 Joey’s background and mission
09:32 The cost of bad onboarding
13:10 Why most businesses lose clients early
18:27 Designing a first impression that lasts
24:03 Joey’s six stages of the customer journey
30:45 Turning casual buyers into lifelong fans
37:00 Building team culture that retains talent
43:19 Applying Joey’s principles to pet care
49:44 Joey’s advice on scaling experience with heart
55:02 What most businesses still get wrong
59:40 Behind the scenes of writing his books
1:03:55 Live Q&A with Joey Coleman
1:09:22 Closing thoughts and next steps

💥 Key Takeaways:
• The first 100 days of client or employee experience are the most influential
• Most businesses lose loyalty early due to lack of intentionality
• Great onboarding isn’t about automation, it’s about emotion
• It’s easier to fix broken internal systems than it is to repair broken relationships
• Customer experience is your brand
• Loyal clients and employees become your best marketers

If this episode fired you up the way it did me, just imagine what it’ll be like to learn from Joey live. Come join us at the DogCo Business Summit and take your client and employee experience to the next level. Let’s build something unforgettable together.

#michellekline #joeycoleman #dogcosecrets

-Michelle

If you’ve ever wondered how much you should invest in your own growth, this one’s for you. In today’s short, impactful episode, I'll make a case for putting your money where your mindset is by setting aside a clear percentage of revenue to level up your personal and professional skills. I'll break down what “investing in yourself” really means, why it matters so much for your business’s success, and how to get over the barriers that keep most people from doing it.

💥 Key Takeaways:

• Investing in your skills is the single most impactful way to grow your business
• 10% of your revenue should go toward your education and development
• Budget for it before the opportunity arrives, not after
• If you’re stuck, action beats perfection—just move
• Self-trust is built through action, not hesitation
• Profit First is a helpful system to carve out your investment bucket

I'll also share the exact percentage she uses (hint: it’s higher than you think), along with a powerful mindset shift to help you take action before you’re “ready.” This episode will challenge you to stop waiting, start betting on yourself, and trust that you are the best asset your business has.

🎯 What’s Inside This Episode:

• Why investing in yourself creates the biggest ROI
• The exact percentage I budget for personal growth
• 3 common barriers to investing in your education
• A mindset shift that makes saying “yes” easier
• Why betting on yourself beats betting on someone else

📢 Want help growing your pet care business in 2025 and 2026?

The DogCo Mastermind is now open for enrollment until June 6 (or until seats fill). Work with me and a community of pet care professionals to build your dream business with structure, strategy, and support.

👉 Learn more at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

In this episode, I’m getting real about one of the most critical (and painful) lessons I learned while scaling my pet care business: people won’t stay just because you need them.

Staffing is one of the biggest bottlenecks in our industry right now, and if you’re focused only on client lead flow while neglecting your team, you’re setting yourself up to stall out.

I open up about a time when I lost a third of my staff in 10 days (yes—really), and how that wake-up call launched me into a year-long deep dive on how to build a better team, a stronger culture, and a place people actually want to work.

This episode is packed with practical, hard-won insight and 7 proven tactics that helped me rebuild, retain, and rally my team around a shared mission. Whether you’re just starting to scale or managing a full team, this one is essential listening.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ You can’t grow if you can’t retain
✅ Client growth means nothing without team growth
✅ A fragile team = a fragile business
✅ Hiring is not just about filling roles—it’s about casting a vision
✅ Core values + shared mission = culture glue
✅ Employee satisfaction must be measured, not assumed
✅ Exit interviews are a goldmine of honest feedback
✅ Treat your staff like co-builders, not just task-doers
✅ If you can’t articulate why someone would want to work for you, you’re already behind
✅ Becoming “the best part-time job in your city” is a powerful, actionable goal

🎙️ Sound Bites:
⭐ “I had to stop cheerleading and start casting vision.”
⭐ “Hiring was bottlenecking everything.”
⭐ “Your business needs your team—period.”

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit in September, 2025! If you’re serious about growing your pet care company, this is for you: 🔗 Grab your ticket at dogcosummit.com

💬 What’s working for you when it comes to hiring and retention? Drop your story or strategy in the comments.
🧡 Subscribe for more unfiltered, strategic conversations that help you grow your business with clarity and heart.
🐾 Share this with a fellow pet pro who’s feeling the strain of building a team!

Today, I’m digging into a phrase we hear all the time in the pet care world: “Know your worth.”

But here’s the thing - true business growth isn’t just about you knowing your worth. It’s about helping your clients perceive it too. In this episode, I break down the real meaning behind pricing, value, and customer perception, and how to strategically frame your offers so that clients feel like they’re getting an incredible deal - without having to slash your prices.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit this September in Winston-Salem, NC!
🔗 https://dogcosummit.com/

Whether you’re struggling with pricing confidence or trying to create stronger buy-in from clients, this episode gives you actionable tools to bridge the gap between your worth and their willingness to pay.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Knowing your worth is important - but it’s not enough
✅ The client’s perception of value is what drives their buying decision
✅ Pricing should reflect the value they see, not just what you believe
✅ Focus on framing outcomes, not just services
✅ Stack value creatively to increase perceived worth without hurting margins
✅ Guarantees and social proof can dramatically boost trust and conversion
✅ Pet care businesses must protect their margins and price confidently
✅ Selling the destination (peace of mind) is more powerful than selling the flight (the service itself)
✅ Value is the space between price and willingness to pay - widen it thoughtfully
✅ Strategic communication makes clients feel they’re winning

🎙️ Sound Bites:
⭐ “We want to sell the destination, not the flight.”
⭐ “Your value is not just what you know - it’s how clients perceive it.”
⭐ “Framing, stacking, and proof - that’s how you move the needle.”

📚 Chapters:
00:00 Knowing Your Worth in Business
02:08 The Reality of Value Perception
02:54 Announcing the DogCo Business Summit!
03:54 Pricing, Clients, and True Value
05:22 Aligning with What Clients Care About
08:28 Pricing Examples and Client Psychology
10:42 Strategies to Increase Perceived Value
14:25 Framing, Value Stacking, and Social Proof
20:00 Closing Thoughts and Summary

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit this September in Winston-Salem, NC!
🔗 Reserve your spot now!

🐾 Subscribe for more real-world business strategies tailored for pet care pros.
💬 What resonated with you most in this episode? Drop a comment below - I’d love to hear your thoughts!
🎯 Like, share, and help another business owner feel empowered about pricing!

Hi, I’m Michelle, and I’m a chronic - yet recovering - people pleaser.

In this episode, I’m opening up about something that has impacted both my life and business in very real ways: people pleasing. For a long time, I avoided conflict, dodged feedback, and tried to be everything to everyone. And while I thought I was keeping the peace, what I was really doing was slowly draining my capacity to lead.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com

If you’ve ever felt the tension between being liked and being clear, or you’ve hesitated to set boundaries, delegate with authority, or make the hard decisions… this one is for you.

I’ll walk you through how people pleasing manifests in leadership, how it robs us of clarity, and how we can begin to unroot this tendency and lead from a place of authenticity, courage, and conviction.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ People pleasing is one of the fastest ways to lose yourself in business
✅ Avoiding conflict increases stress, anxiety, and confusion
✅ Great leadership means making hard decisions—and standing by them
✅ Fear of feedback limits growth and creates disconnect
✅ Trying to serve everyone results in a watered-down product
✅ Self-awareness is the first step toward transformation
✅ People pleasing is often a fear-based aversion to risk
✅ You must be willing to be misunderstood, disliked, and still move forward
✅ Leading authentically means showing up wholly and courageously
✅ The goal isn’t perfection—it’s conviction

🎙️ Sound Bites:
⭐ “I have been a pretty conflict-avoidant person.”
⭐ “It has caused a lot of stress to my body.”
⭐ “People pleasing will ruin your business.”

📚 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to People Pleasing
05:22 The Impact of People Pleasing on Leadership
10:41 Courage vs. People Pleasing
14:25 Unrooting People Pleasing in Business

💬 Your reflection prompt: Where am I making decisions out of people pleasing? Where is fear holding me back?
🐾 If this episode hit home, comment below, share it with a fellow leader, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly encouragement and business insights.

In this episode, I’m digging into a topic that can make or break your business growth: client onboarding.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers

Let’s be real, your competitors probably aren’t beating you with better service. They’re beating you with speed and convenience. If your onboarding process is slow, clunky, or full of unnecessary steps, you’re not just creating friction, you’re losing clients.

I’ll walk you through how to minimize friction, maximize convenience, and turn your onboarding into a smooth, welcoming experience that sets the tone for long-term retention. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to scale, your ability to optimize lead flow and onboard with ease is a game-changer.

Grab your FREE Client Onboarding Template here: subscribepage.io/VJF3CD

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Your competition wins by being faster, not always better
✅ Speed and ease are your biggest differentiators in onboarding
✅ Every added step = potential drop-off
✅ Friction costs you clients. simplify everything
✅ Let more people through your funnel, then refine
✅ Clear communication = confidence and clarity
✅ Offer a Quick Start Guide to make the experience smooth
✅ Streamlined onboarding = higher retention and satisfaction
✅ Focus on lead flow, not just perfection
✅ The easier it is to start with you, the more clients you’ll keep

🎙️ Sound Bites:
⭐ “We want to make it as easy as possible for them.”
⭐ “I want you to win.”
⭐ “Friction comes with a cost.”

📚 Chapters:
00:00 The Importance of Speed in Client Onboarding
02:43 Differentiators: Love, Care, and Convenience
05:06 Understanding Friction in Client Onboarding
08:11 Streamlining the Onboarding Process
10:46 Real-World Examples of Effective Onboarding
13:19 Practical Tips for Reducing Friction
16:00 Optimizing Client Lead Flow
18:38 Final Thoughts on Client Onboarding

📢 Subscribe for weekly strategies to help your pet care business scale smarter.
🐾 Like and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the discouraged, the tired, and the questioning. If you’ve ever wrestled with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or wondered if you’re really cut out for this - this episode is for you.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers. September 26 - 28, 2025.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about business - it’s about you. It challenges you personally and professionally. I open up about the pain, discomfort, and decision fatigue that so often show up on this path, and I’m here to tell you: it’s normal. It’s survivable. And it’s worth it.

You do have what it takes. You can keep going. Your success is not an accident - it’s a result of conviction, commitment, and courage. Let’s talk about how to stay grounded in that truth.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ This one’s for anyone who’s ever asked, “Why does this feel so hard?”
✅ Entrepreneurship will challenge every part of you - emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
✅ Self-doubt is normal - but it’s not your truth.
✅ You already have the skills to build success - yes, again.
✅ Pain and discomfort are part of the growth process.
✅ Success is built on conviction, not convenience.
✅ Clarity in decision-making leads to confidence.
✅ You can’t lose if you don’t quit.
✅ Sometimes it’s good and hard at the same time - and that’s okay.

🎯 Key Quotes:
⭐ “You have the skills to do it again.”
⭐ “Do you believe you can do it?”
⭐ “Your success is not an accident.”

📢 Subscribe for weekly insights on scaling your pet care business - and yourself.
🐾 And don’t forget to like and share with someone who might need this today.

In this episode, I’m sharing something that might just change the way you run your business: the critical importance of planning.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers

If you’re constantly caught in the daily grind, feeling like there’s never enough time to step back and strategize—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: if you don’t feel like you have time to plan, you can’t afford NOT to.

I break down why planning is non-negotiable for sustainable business success in the pet care industry, and I walk you through 3 practical strategies to reclaim your time and build a stronger future.

These aren’t lofty ideas—these are tried-and-true frameworks I’ve used personally in my own pet care business (including launching DogCo!). They’ve helped me grow, delegate, build strategy, and step into the role of a true business owner—not just a daily operator.

⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 The Importance of Planning for Business Success
10:51 Strategies for Effective Time Management
17:52 Quarterly Planning Retreats for Business Growth

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Planning isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline for business growth
✅ 1 hour per week: Track your metrics, reflect, stay data-informed
✅ 1 half-day per month: Zoom out for clarity and deep thinking
✅ 1 weekend per quarter: Step away fully—this is where breakthroughs happen
✅ Your future business self is counting on you to show up now
✅ Metrics and data provide clarity—don’t run your business blind
✅ Greatness comes from intention, not just hustle
✅ Emotional, reactive decisions will slow your growth
✅ Small, consistent planning windows compound over time
✅ You owe yourself this time—stop giving it all away

🎯 Key Quotes:
⭐ “We are so quick to give time to everyone but ourselves.”
⭐ “If you don’t have time to give to strategy and planning, it means you can’t afford not to.”
⭐ “Metrics and data define the reality.”
⭐ “Your business needs this of you.”
⭐ “We need to give ourselves this time.”

📚 Resources Mentioned:
📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear – https://amzn.to/41SNTtE

Remember: new episodes dropped every Monday.

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s close to the heart of every business owner: beliefs—and how the wrong ones can quietly break your business.

Over the last few years coaching and consulting in the pet care industry, I’ve seen it again and again: it’s not just strategy that holds people back—it’s mindset. In this conversation, I’m unpacking the limiting beliefs I hear most often from pet care pros just like you, and offering ways to recognize, challenge, and replace them with healthier ones.

Whether it’s your self-perception, your assumptions about clients, competition, team members, or money, this episode will help you rewire the way you think—so you can grow with confidence.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Beliefs—positive or negative—directly impact your growth.
✅ How you see yourself matters. You’re not “just” a pet care provider—you’re a business owner.
✅ Clients can adapt to team-based care models.
✅ Competition signals a healthy market, not a threat.
✅ Client understanding - certifications when it comes to value.
✅ You must manage your money to grow sustainably.
✅ Service area limitations are real—but they’re not deal-breakers.
✅ Long-term success in this industry is possible.
✅ Your beliefs deserve regular inspection.
✅ If your beliefs aren’t aligned with your actions, something has to shift.

🎙️ Favorite Quotes:
⭐ “Growth doesn’t solve money problems.”
⭐ “You are a business owner, own it!”
⭐ “The market can sustain your prices.”
⭐ “Your beliefs inform your actions.”
⭐ “Examine beliefs that hold you back.”

📢 Subscribe for more weekly insights to help you scale your pet care business with clarity and intention.
🐾 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share with others in the industry who need to hear this.

🐶 Welcome to the very first episode of DogCo Secrets! 🚀

I'm Michelle Kline and I help pet care businesses grow, thrive, and scale.

In my first episode, I dive deep into the fast-evolving pet care industry, exploring how business owners can make data-driven decisions to grow and scale successfully. I'll also break down the balance between pivoting strategies vs. doubling down, revealing why a structured 90-day testing cycle is key to evaluating business success.

You’ll learn how to leverage market trends, refine existing strategies, and avoid decision-making based on fear—all while maintaining operational stability and testing new marketing opportunities.

🔗 Sources/Resources to link:
🐾 Pawsome Metrics Spreadsheet Suite - https://pawsomemetrics.com/products/complete-team-spreadsheet-bundle
4 Disciplines of Execution - https://amzn.to/4kycMTL
^^ just FYI, amazon is an affiliate link

✍️ Citation on $500 billion stat: https://www.bloomberg.com/company/press/global-pet-industry-to-grow-to-500-billion-by-2030-bloomberg-intelligence-finds/

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ The pet care industry is booming—growth is happening now!
✅ Data is your best friend—use it to guide decisions, not guesswork.
✅ A 90-day testing cycle helps determine what’s working (and what’s not).
✅ Before making changes, define where your business currently stands.
✅ Pivoting should be intentional—not driven by panic or uncertainty.
✅ Marketing strategies can be tested and adjusted quickly.
✅ Refining what already works is often more powerful than chasing the next big thing.
✅ The ‘murky middle’ of entrepreneurship is normal—keep going!
✅ Every pivot has a cost—understand the trade-offs before making a move.
✅ Historical data holds the key to unlocking your next big win.

Hard truth time: you don’t accidentally become the person you dream of being. That version of you, the one with clarity, capacity, and conviction, has to be built. In this raw, practical episode, I open up about the real work behind becoming the next version of yourself. From the daily choices that shape your trajectory to the painful truths we often avoid, this episode will challenge you to get honest, take ownership, and finally make measurable progress. (And remember: I'm always cheering you on.)

🚨 The DogCo Mastermind is now open, only twice a year! Doors close June 6th or when seats are filled. If you’re ready to scale your pet care business alongside others who are all-in, this is your moment.
👉 Learn more: https://dogcolaunch.com

Whether it’s your health, your habits, or your business, if you’re feeling stuck between where you are and where you want to be, this episode offers a clear 3-part framework to start bridging that gap today.

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: The gap between now and who you want to be
1:00 – A transparent look at Michelle’s self-growth journey
3:30 – When your business (or body) tells the truth
6:05 – The 3-step framework that changed everything
9:45 – The cost of inaction vs. the power of investment
14:00 – Surrounding yourself with people who raise the bar

🔍 What’s Inside This Episode:
✅ How to close the gap between who you are and who you want to be
✅ Michelle’s personal post-COVID health wake-up call
✅ The truth about money, motivation, and making lasting change
✅ Why proximity to excellence speeds up growth
✅ A 3-step framework to track, commit, and level up

What if your best marketing copy is already written… by your clients?

In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I’m sharing two simple and powerful ways to collect meaningful client feedback and turn it directly into marketing that converts. Whether you’ve been stuck trying to write better website copy or you’re not sure what to say on social media, this episode will walk you through how to let your clients tell the story for you.

I also share my top trick for pulling it all together without getting overwhelmed, and how I use ChatGPT to streamline the process without letting it write the final message.

💥 Key Takeaways:

✅ Use real client language to make your marketing feel more authentic
✅ Send an annual survey to pull out the emotional and practical value of your services
✅ Analyze recurring themes with a simple qualitative method
✅ Mine your Google and Facebook reviews for messaging gold
✅ Yes, you can (and should) repurpose reviews in your content
✅ Use ChatGPT to synthesize—not write—your copy
✅ Client feedback is the shortcut to connection and conversion

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND
Enrollment is open through June 6 (or until full)
Join a powerful group of pet care business owners scaling with structure and support to get you to the next level.
🎯 https://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

💬 What’s one piece of client feedback you could turn into a headline today?
🐾 Share this episode with a pet pro who wants to simplify their messaging and connect more deeply with their audience.

Let’s talk about the decision you already know you need to make.

In this episode, I open up about the mental and emotional spiral we get caught in when we avoid action. Whether it’s a pricing change, a team restructure, a marketing shift, or a new direction entirely, avoiding a key decision will always cost more than making the wrong one.

You’ll hear how indecision has shown up in my own journey building DogCo, and why conviction, not certainty, is what actually moves your business forward.

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND
Enrollment is open through June 6 (or until full).
Join a powerful group of pet care business owners scaling with structure and support and tactics to move you forward.
🎯 https://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

📚 Chapters:
00:00 Intro – What Decision Are You Avoiding?
01:15 Feeling Stuck and What That Signals
03:00 The Three Core Limiting Factors
05:00 Decisions Drive Action
07:20 Why Action is So Hard
09:10 The Cost of Indecision
11:00 My Own Decision Paralysis with DogCo
13:00 Three Truths to Anchor You in Action
14:30 Final Reflection and Encouragement

💥 Key Takeaways:
✅ Success is often hidden behind a decision we don’t want to make
✅ Avoiding action introduces more stress than the outcome itself
✅ Most decisions are not permanent
✅ The biggest risk to your business is indecision
✅ Imperfect action gives you feedback, clarity, and growth
✅ You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

💬 What’s the one decision you’ve been sitting on? Let this be your sign to take action.
🐾 Subscribe for honest, weekly episodes that help you lead and scale with clarity.

Let’s be real, systems don’t build themselves.

In this quick and punchy Hot Tip Friday episode, I share the truth about how systems actually get created inside a growing pet care business. Spoiler: it’s not by accident.

As someone who naturally gravitates toward marketing and sales, I had to work hard to force operational systems into my company. But once I hit a certain team size, I realized a lack of systems wasn’t just frustrating. It was creating risk. And if your company is scaling, you’re going to hit this same wall.

This episode gives you three simple, mindset-shifting strategies to force meaningful, scalable systems into your business, without feeling like you have to become a corporate robot.

💥 Key Takeaways:

✅ Systems won’t appear on their own - you have to install them

✅ Set growth targets that are impossible without structure

✅ Create external accountability to follow through

✅ Think of systems as something you iterate, not perfect

✅ When stress is reduced, system-building becomes easier

✅ You can enjoy the process even if systems aren’t your strong suit

✅ Don’t build systems for the sake of systems - build them for outcomes

✅ Gamify systems to reduce pressure and increase execution

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND

Enrollment is open through June 6 or until full

Want to scale with structure, clarity, and support?

🎯 https://dogcolaunch.com

💬 Drop a comment if this resonated or send it to someone trying to scale their service business without burning out.

🐾 Subscribe for weekly insights that help you work smarter and lead stronger.

Are you chasing big shifts or building long-term momentum?

In this week’s episode, I dig into one of the biggest lies entrepreneurs buy into: that one-time effort will change everything. The truth is that consistency is what really drives results.

I walk you through how I’ve learned to build steady output into my daily workflow, why commitment and consistency are not the same thing, and what routines I use to stay grounded when business gets chaotic.

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND
Enrollment is open now through June 6 or until full
Ready to scale with structure, clarity, and support?
🎯 https://dogcolaunch.com

This episode is a practical, honest push to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start showing up with intention, day after day.

📚 Chapters:
00:00 Consistency vs One-Time Effort
00:34 Why Change Feels Safer
01:45 The Trap of the Big Fix
03:00 Defining Real Consistency
04:12 Your Business Reflects You
06:00 Self-Accountability as a CEO
07:59 Time is Your Most Valuable Asset
09:13 Wind-Up and Wind-Down Routine
12:45 Creating Deep Work Windows
14:03 Morning Checklist Example
15:53 Evening Checklist Example
17:04 Time-Targeted Focus
18:14 Output Goals Over Tasks
20:45 Are You Truly Consistent?
23:03 Compounding Small Efforts
24:55 Wrap-Up and Encouragement

💥 Key Takeaways:
✅ Consistency builds momentum more than big ideas
✅ One-time effort rarely leads to lasting change
✅ Daily structure makes room for deeper focus
✅ Wind-up and wind-down routines anchor your week
✅ Output goals help avoid task list overwhelm
✅ Your actions should reflect your stated values
✅ Start small and let it compound
✅ You are the system your business needs

🐾 Subscribe for weekly, practical, growth-minded content built for pet care pros.

💬 Drop a comment: What’s your biggest barrier to getting out of the field right now?

📣 Like + share this episode with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone in this.

💸 Want to make more money on your pet sitting services?

LFG.

In this hot-take mini episode, I share one powerful pricing strategy that helped a pet care company I work with go from $35,000 in net profit to $150,000 in a single year, without increasing staff or adding complexity. (and yes - I said NET PROFIT.)

Whether you’re deep into pet sitting or just dabbling, this shift can dramatically improve your margins on this service line.

Inside this episode:

• The hidden costs within your pet sitting services
• A simple pricing change that adds pure profit to your bottom line
• The truth about after-hours fees (and how to roll them out without backlash)
• Real answers to your biggest FAQs - like whether to pass the fee to staff and if you need to announce it publicly

📊 This model isn’t about nickel-and-diming clients. It’s about protecting your margins and turning a high-effort service into a high-reward revenue line.

💥 Key Takeaways:

✅ Pet sitting often carries hidden operational costs

✅ Charge based on time, not service labels (IMO)

✅ Add $5–$10 after-hours fees for visits outside 9–5

✅ Clients rarely push back - and often shift to easier daytime windows

✅ Keep the fee - don’t pass it to staff

✅ No price increase announcement needed

✅ More money for the same labor = a win

📢 DON’T MISS THIS:
Join us at the DogCo Business Summit, Sept 26–28 in Winston-Salem, NC! Learn how to scale smarter, price better, and grow sustainably.
🎟 Get tickets at https://dogcosummit.com 

🐾 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you build a more profitable, people-first pet care company.
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🎯 Like + share with a pet sitter or solopreneur who deserves to keep more of their earnings.

It’s time to stop yo-yoing between growth and burnout. In this episode, I’m sharing one of the hardest and most important transitions I made in my pet care business: finally getting out of the field—and staying out for good.

For years, I built momentum, only to be pulled right back into the daily grind. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever tried to scale but can’t seem to escape the pull of day-to-day client work, this one’s for you.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS:
We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit, Sept 26–28 in Winston-Salem, NC!
🎟 Get tickets and details: https://dogcosummit.com

I’ll walk you through:
👉 The three places you can create margin to protect your time
👉 Why being the “rescuer” is slowing your growth
👉 How to build a team and a structure that doesn’t depend on you to survive
👉 The mindset shift that finally got me unstuck

This episode gives you real-world strategies to start working on your business, not just in it.

📢 SPECIAL RESOURCE:
🎯 Download the Weekly Staffing + Margin Tracker Spreadsheet to start planning your team buffer: https://subscribepage.io/dgojX2

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Being in the field is capping your growth
✅ Margin has to exist somewhere: team, management, or owner
✅ You can staff to 80% to create a buffer
✅ Local admin support can be your game changer
✅ Profit margins matter - especially if you’re trying to exit the field
✅ There is a way out. But you have to plan for it.

🐾 Subscribe for weekly, practical, growth-minded content built for pet care pros.

💬 Drop a comment: What’s your biggest barrier to getting out of the field right now?

📣 Like + share this episode with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone in this.

Welcome to our first Hot Take Friday! In this new weekly mini-episode series, I'll be delivering sharp, focused insights in under 10 minutes, designed to drive immediate impact in your pet care business.

This week’s hot take? Data. Why it matters, how to use it, and the seven essential metrics you should know to make faster, smarter decisions in your business—without drowning in spreadsheets or chasing perfection.

📈 If the phrase “track your KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, I gets it. But in this bite-sized episode, I'll cut through the noise and shares quick + dirty math strategies that will help you:

• Protect your profit

• Diagnose weak spots

• Focus your energy where it actually matters

From labor cost percentage to client retention and hiring trends, I'll break down the most actionable metrics that support real-time business health.

Key Metrics Covered:

1. Labor cost percentage

2. Profit margin percentage

3. Week-over-week/month-over-month revenue

4. Average client spend

5. Average client retention

6. Employee hiring leads

7. Employee retention

💡 Takeaway: Protect your net profit. It is the lifeblood of your business.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Business Summit—Sept 26–28 in Winston-Salem, NC!

Get tickets and details: https://dogcosummit.com