Are you overwhelmed by the financial complexities of starting your pet care business?

Do you find the maze of banking options for start-ups confusing and intimidating?

Are you worried it’s too early, or you are leaving it too late to talk to someone about financing?

If these questions are keeping you up at night, then today’s episode of the Pet Boarding and Daycare Podcast is tailor-made for you.

Dom is joined by Claire Cronin from Live Oak Bank, who will unveil critical banking strategies and insights crucial for every new pet care entrepreneur.

Dom and Claire talk about everything from project conception, contingency funds, construction through to closing, and Claire shares why the team at Live Oak do everything they can to not only put you into business, but also ensure you are able stay in a stable, sustainable, successful pet business.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Easy Peasy Email: In Dog News Dom shares how to turn newspaper stories into simple ‘non-salesy’ emails that leverage customer loyalty

• Heather Beck Preview: This year’s PBD Expo keynote speaker pops by to share her cool origin story

• Banking Basics for Start-ups: Claire demystifies the first steps that business owners need to know when stepping into the world of financing a facility.
• Navigating Financial Pitfalls: Discover the common financial mistakes and how to avoid them, ensuring a smooth start for your venture.

• Early Bird Banking Tip: At what stage in your pet business journey should you contact a bank representative?
• Why Starting Small is Starting Smart: Learn why Claire and the team will help you create a business plan that enables you to scale as you grow.
• Questions Every Entrepreneur Must Ask: Claire outlines the must-ask questions to ensure your banking decisions align perfectly with your business goals.

Dom is also joined by expert dog trainer, Heather Beck, and Rebecca Shipman from Barkleigh stops by to talk more about the upcoming Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo in Vegas—where knowledge meets opportunity!

Show guests Heather Beck, Claire Cronin and Rebecca Shipman will all be attending the upcoming Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo which is happening in Vegas, May 20-23. The expo is a prime opportunity to strengthen industry connections, gain invaluable knowledge, and catalyse business transformation through the power of relationships. To register for this year’s Las Vegas pet boarding and daycare expo, go to petboardingexpowest

Huge thanks to this week’s brand-new show sponsor Pack Pro. PackPro provide

Comprehensive, affordable, and efficient daycare staff training for your pet boarding and daycare facility, to find out more about how they can help you empower and support your team by creating playgroups that are safe, productive and fun to manage, go to PackPro.com

Huge thanks to Claire Cronin from Live Oak Bank for sharing her wisdom. Connect with Claire and the Live Oak Team at LiveOak.Bank

Thank you to Heather Beck for sharing her story. Learn more about Heather at HeathersHeroes

To find out more about Dominic Hodgson and his exclusive pet business consulting services go to petbusinessmarketing.com

You can subscribe to the Pet Boarding and Daycare Magazine by going to PetBoardingandDaycare.com

Episode Time Stamps:

• 00:51 – Introduction and who is in today’s show
• 02.12 – How Pack Pro training can help train your staff members
• 02.43 – Dog News: A fishy tale with a happy ending
• 05.36 – How to use email marketing to grow your client base
• 06.00 – Quick catch up with PB&D Expo keynote speaker, Heather Beck
• 14.05 – Meet Claire Cronin from Live Oak Bank
• 17.17 – Claire’s Origin story, from Au Pair, to recruitment to banking
• 22.00 – Mapping out the purchasing process
• 25.27 – What stage should you contact a bank?
• 28.05 – Benefits of a phased build out
• 34.50 – How to contact Claire
• 37.52 – Expo preview with Rebecca from Barkleigh
• 42.59 – Info about the Sold out Expo trade floor

Are you tired of spinning your wheels on social media without seeing any real growth in your pet care business?

Wondering how to effectively convert your social media efforts into tangible business results?

Do you feel despondent when your like, loves, hearts and views fail to convert into paying clients?

Most pet business owners agree that social media marketing is fast, free and easy to use. But, it’s also noisy, overcrowded, and because all of your competitors are using social, it makes it really difficult to stand out…

So, if you’re want to turn likes and views into better customers and bigger profits, then you need to leverage social media into a broader marketing strategy…this episode of the Pet Boarding and Daycare Podcast will show you how.

Dom sits down with Scarlet Rockwood, a leading social media strategist, who will share her proven blueprint for social media success in the pet industry. Get ready to revamp your approach and see real results!

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Celebration as Strategy: Discover how marking milestones in your business can create buzz and strengthen client loyalty

• Beyond Basics: Why simply posting on social media isn’t enough—discover strategies to create compelling content that converts.
• Video Rocks!: Skarlet shares why you should prioritize video content on your social media platforms.
• Why Social Isn’t Scary: How to easily connect with local pet parents by giving them a behind the scenes ‘peak’ into your business
• List Building Lessons: Why you should funnel people off Facebook and Instagram and onto your email list.

• Marketing Ecosystems: Understand how to integrate your social media with other marketing channels for maximum impact.

Social media marketing will be one of the topics being covered at the upcoming Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo in Vegas in May. The expo is a prime opportunity to strengthen industry connections, gain invaluable knowledge, and catalyse business transformation through the power of relationships. To register for this year’s Las Vegas pet boarding and daycare expo, go to petboardingexpowest

Thank you to Skarlet Rockwood for sharing her expertise and insights. Learn more about Skarlet at SkarletRockwood

If you want to access Dom’s coaching and consulting services, and get more help with growing your pet care business, reach out to Dom at petbusinessmarketing.com/discovery

Huge thanks to this week’s show sponsor Forever Stainless Steel. Forever Stainless Steel is the world’s quality leader in animal bathtubs and related systems. Find out more about how their innovative systems can help your pet business by going to Foreverstainlesssteel.com

To find out more about Dominic Hodgson and his pet business consulting services go to petbusinessmarketing.com

You can subscribe to the Pet Boarding and Daycare Magazine by going to PetBoardingandDaycare.com

Episode Time Stamps

• 01.00 – Coming up in today’s show…
• 03.41 – How to use business birthdays to sell services
• 06.13 – Sponsor Message from Forever Stainless Steel
• 07.22 – PB & D Magazine May/June rundown
• 12.00 – How to register for Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo West
• 13.22 – Meet Skarlet Rockwood, social media expert
• 19.20 – Why Skarlet niched to the pet industry
• 27.56 – Skarlets CREATOR signature system
• 36.53 – Why you need to move people OFF social media
• 39.25 – Create a club on your email list
• 42.10 – Don’t forget to register for the Vegas expo!