Adding More Services. Is It Time?
As dog trainers, we often open our business and hit the ground running. We take on as many clients as we can, work a random assortment of hours, and try to bring in as much money as we can. Telling ourselves “someday” we might have a building, more services, or...
Taking More Time Off: New Year, New Vacation Policy
One of the biggest things that pushed me to opening my own business was wanting to be in control of my own time. I also really wanted to be in control of my own vacation policy. Why? I just really like to take time off. I like to travel to dog events. I like to travel...
Interviews with small business owners – how to get access to expert advice
This fourth interview in our series is a special treat: our interviewee is Vanessa O'Connor, and attorney with the Harvard Law School Transactional Law Clinic. TLC is an amazing resource for small business owners who can't afford the legal advice they need to build a...
Conversations with small business owners – lessons from the design world
This is the third in our series of interviews with solopreneurs and small business owners. If you have read the prior posts about these interviews, you know the story, but in case you haven't, here it is again: As small business owners, we are often isolated from our...
Conversations – if you had a friend who was a lawyer, what advice would he give you?
This is the second of a series of interviews that were recorded in mid-2020. As small business owners, we are often isolated from our peer group of other business owners. This feeling of isolation and figuring it out on our own was exacerbated in 2020 by the effects...
Solopreneurs – Interview with Ari Zorn
As small business owners, we are often isolated from our peer group of other business owners. This feeling of isolation and figuring it out on our own was exacerbated in 2020 by the effects of the pandemic. While Facebook groups like "DTU: Marketing & Running an...
How to Use Google Docs to Power Up Your Training Business (Client Handouts, Homework, and More!)
The right tools are like “power ups” in a video game — when you use them efficiently, everything gets easier. Choosing and then using the right ones can help make the admin tasks that drag dog trainers down quick and convenient, while adding a bit of professional...
Get the Most Out of Being Online with Google My Business
Though there are plenty of ways that Google has established itself as a necessary tool for many small businesses, there's one lesser-known offering that can make a huge impact on your web presence: your Google listing. Even if you're using Gsuite in your everyday...
Start Thinking Now About Ending Your Business
I see young dog trainers out in the world, working as many hours as they can, building their skills and creating happy customers. They think they are earning money from the service they provide, but what they don’t realize is that they are also growing “business...
From A Handout Library to Low-Cost Client Management: What a Dog Trainer Can Do With Google Drive
Google Drive is a file management product available from Google when you sign up for a Gmail email address or purchase a paid Gsuite account. But, because it’s made to integrate seamlessly with Google’s other products — sheets, docs, slides, and more, which will have their own articles (coming soon!) — and lives online, it makes file creation, sharing, and management simple.