No matter what type of pet business you run, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is the joy you get to bring to pets and their people. While the majority of your customers may be wonderful, there will always be a handful of clients that are challenging to work with.

Handling situations with difficult clients effectively can make or break your business. Here’s a comprehensive guide to managing difficult clients in your pet business, ensuring a positive outcome for both your customers and your business.

1. Understanding the Root of the Problem

When faced with a difficult client, it's essential to understand that their frustration may not be entirely directed at you.

Often, clients are stressed or worried about their pet’s health or well-being, which can manifest as difficult behavior. Recognizing this can help you approach the situation with empathy.

Common Reasons for Client Frustration:

•  Health Concerns: Clients might be upset due to a pet's illness or...

If you’re a new pet service professional, getting your first client can be an overwhelming hurdle to get over. How can you make more people aware of your business, especially when you’re operating on a limited budget?

The key to bringing in more clients is to market yourself. Read on to learn 7 low-cost, effective ways to market your pet services, even if you’re a brand new business.

1.   Get Social on Social Media

Social media is a great way to spread the word without spending any money.

People want to do business with people, not businesses, and social media is a great place to showcase your personality. Through your social media channels, you can convey more about who you are, what you do, and what makes you the right choice to work with.

Start with only a few social channels that you think your target market will be on—Facebook and Instagram are great places to start.

Commit to posting to these social platforms on a consistent schedule. The...

When you’re building your pet service business, there are many moving parts that require your attention. Adding a website to that mix may not seem like a good idea, but a quality website is actually one of the most important investments you can make in your business—luckily, that investment doesn’t need to break the bank.

Read on to learn why you need a website for your pet business, as well as 7 steps you can take to easily set up an amazing website on a budget.

Why Do You Need a Website for Your Pet Biz?

Think of your website like a salesperson that never clocks out and never takes a day off. Your website, if designed strategically, can walk someone through the entire sales process while you’re sleeping.

 A potential customer can land on your website and learn: 

•  What services you offer
•  Why they should work with you
•  The background of your company and what makes you special
•  What other customers have to say about your...

If you want to change careers or launch your own business as a pet service professional, gaining animal handling and business experience is key to feeling confident in your skills—but gaining relevant experience can seem overwhelming when you’re starting out and don’t know where to look.

Read on to learn 6 ways you can gain the hands-on experience, knowledge, and skills you need to be a successful pet service professional.

1.   Sign Up for an App-Based Dog Walking or Pet Sitting App

This is one of the easiest ways to dip your toe into the world of pet services because the app does a lot of the heavy lifting of marketing for you.

There is a variety of dog walking and pet sitting apps available for you to try, but the two most common apps are Rover and Wag. You can also sign up as a pet sitter on sites like Care.com to offer your services.

When you sign up for these apps, you simply create a profile where you share how passionate you are about caring for...

If you’re looking to start a business in a booming market and feel great about the work that you do, it’s hard to find an industry with a more compassionate, enthusiastic consumer base than the pet industry.

In 2021, pet parents spent $123.6 billion on their pets in the United States, and the industry is expected to continue to grow at a healthy pace! There are incredible opportunities, and a wide variety of niches within in the pet services industry. If you've ever considered having your own pawfitable pet biz, there's never been a better time to get started!

Here are 6 steps to help you start and grow your own successful, pawfitable pet biz.

Step 1: Find Your Niche

The pet industry is a broad market, and there are many ways that you can go. Before you start your pet business, consider what skills you have to offer, and what area you’re most interested in.

If you have animal care experience, pet sitting or dog walking could be a great option for you. Likewise,...

If you’re looking to set your pet business apart from the crowd, great reviews are one of the best things you can have.

According to a survey from Brightlocal, 77% of consumers regularly check online reviews before deciding to purchase from a local business, and a whopping 99% of consumers have used the internet at least once in the last year to find out information about a business.

Your potential customers are very likely researching online before they decide to book a service with you. Having great reviews builds social proof for your business and lends credibility that can make all the difference for your target customers.

Read on to learn 8 helpful strategies to get your happy customers to leave glowing reviews.

1.    Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for a Review

The best way for you to get a great review is to ask for one—it can really be that simple. Include a call-to-action on every communication that you have with your customers to encourage them to...

The pet industry is booming, and there are so many opportunities for pet parents and pet lovers to grow their own successful businesses. With that said, the industry can also feel crowded at times. How can you make your business stand out from the competition?

Here are 9 ways to help differentiate your pet business and bring in more customers.

1.    Understand Your “Why”

There are many dog trainers, groomers, and pet sitters in the world, but there is only one you. Your brand story and your “why” for starting your business are unique to you, and owning that story can help you stand out from your competition.

People like doing business with people they know, like, and trust. Leaning into your “why” and clearly expressing it on your website and your marketing can help more people connect with your story and build trust.

2.   Research and Understand Your Target Market

One of the best ways to differentiate your business is to...

Networking with other pet service providers is a great way to make friends, and to establish long-term, mutually beneficial working relationships. It's a win-win-win; good for you, good for the person to whom you refer, and good for your clients! 

Over the last 20 years, I've been fortunate to work with a number of local business owners...dog trainers, pet groomers, dog boarders, pet sitters, and dog walkers. Some offer services that are different from mine, and some offer services that are similar to mine.

You might be wondering how these professional relationships are mutually beneficial. Let's take a look at a few scenarios.

1) You and the Other Provider Offer Different Pet Services

Pet service professionals can greatly benefit one another by referring their clients, friends, and even family members, to pet professionals who offer different services and programs.

For example, pet groomers can refer their clients to dog trainers, boarders, and dog walkers. Dog walkers...

As a long-time dog trainer and behavioral consultant, I enjoy teaching dogs and their human moms and dads! 

It’s my job to clearly identify the current struggles and dynamics in the home, understand their root cause(s), customize a training plan, and help all family members implement the training plan and reach their training objectives.

While no two families or situations are alike, they all have one thing in common: a need for help…yesterday.

When I first arrive at the client’s home, I'm often greeted with frustration. Many of my clients are at their wit’s end. You can hear it in their voices, and see it in their weary faces.

They've tried everything to resolve the issue, and nothing has helped.

Whether the problem is door darting, excitable greetings, excessive barking, digging, fighting between pets in the home, problems between the dogs and kids, counter surfing or any other number of challenging and difficult behaviors, I’ve seen it...

Whether you’re considering starting a new career as a pet service professional, or you’re already an established expert in your field, welcome!

The field of pet services is booming! Options abound: dog training, pet sitting, dog walking, pet grooming, doggy daycare, boarding, pet nutrition, pet health, pet photography, and so much more.

There are so many amazing opportunities to explore!

• Imagine waking up each morning, excited and energized about the day ahead!
• Imagine making money doing work that brings you JOY.
• Imagine being able to work on your terms with the clients you enjoy most.
• Imagine having flexibility in your daily schedule, more time in your life for family and friends, and traveling when you wish.
• Imagine knowing that you’re positively impacting the lives of the people and pets you work with!

Let me assure you. This vision is REAL and it’s possible for you too!

If you’re not there yet, don’t worry. SO many of my clients started out...