Independent Contractors, Employees, and Interns, Oh My!
The day your business grows busy enough to consider hiring someone to help you is an exciting time. But it is also a time that can be fraught with worry and traps for the unwary. It’s a big step that can land you in a shadowy forest of employment law, wage and hour...
Here’s How Even A Busy Dog Trainer Can Get Back Free Time
We’ve all been there.
I know I certainly have — someone asks you what you do for a living, and you describe running your own business in a way that makes it sound downright cushy. You make your own hours! Unlimited time off! Only have to work with people you like!
…and you conveniently leave off all the “hard parts.”
You know, the long hours, overwhelming email inbox, and times when it takes 8 conversations just to schedule a single client lesson. The part where your boss (aka you!) has unrealistic expectations about how much can be done in a day. Oomph.
Make Agreements with Yourself
As business owners there are many things that can weigh on our minds. When our minds are cluttered our business can suffer and so do our lives. Conversations with our significant others are less enjoyable. The activities we perform are not as fun as they could be...
Business Names, Logos and Trademarks
For many business owners, naming their business and designing a logo sounds like fun in the beginning, but can become complicated very quickly. In truth, it’s an important step that is more about planning than fun, but that can grow into a valuable asset and a source...
What is a swipe file? (And why you should have one…)
Creating new posts, articles, and content to market your business can be... painful. After all, let's face it — as a business owner, you wear a lot of hats. You're the bookkeeper, the dog trainer, the marketer, the customer service team and more. That means when you...
Moving the needle in your dog training business
As dog trainers we have more to do and more on our minds when there are more clients, classes and appointments. There are some goals that we go after with jet fuel in our veins and then burnout when either we don't see quick results or when we actually get...
The Five Pillars of a Successful Business
As we prepare to close out the first quarter of 2021, many of us have now finished up our 2020 financials, prepared and filed our taxes from last year and are taking the time to reflect on our business. How did yours do? "You can't see where you are going without...
What’s in a Waiver?
Liability waiver: A legal contract intended to reduce the chance of a lawsuit being filed against you or your business, or to reduce the amount that can be recovered, by shifting liability for your negligence to your client. Also called a "release," because the...
What Is Marketing? A Cheat Sheet for Dog Trainers
What is marketing, really? And how do you use it to actually get people to BUY the things you have to sell? Whether you're just starting a new dog training business or you've been in the game for a while and are trying to level up, it's a good idea to understand the...
Four reasons dog training businesses fail and what you can do to avoid them.
2020 presented some of the greatest challenges the world has seen when it comes to business operations during covid. Dog training business owners have either done very well or decided to close up shop and move on to other careers. In light of this we would like to...