Wagging Tails and Happy Clients - Going Mutts Pet Services

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Bollinger, owner of Going Mutts Pet Services, LLC., located in Lancaster, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Going Mutts Pet Services, LLC, founded in January 2019, is locally owned and operated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The vision is and always will be to provide the best care for pets while giving their owners peace of mind. At Going Mutts, our love for animals is unconditional. We have worked endlessly to build meaningful relationships with their owners. Services include daily dog walking, cat care, pet sitting, pet taxi, and wedding day handling.

Our clients are pet parents! When they are at work, we come in to let their dog(s) out to go potty and to give them some type of exercise such as a walk, playtime, or dog park trip. If they go out of town for vacation or work, one of our sitters will stay overnight at the pet's house. We also offer wedding day services. If a couple wants their dog(s) involved on their special day - we can make that happen! Our handlers will transport the dog to and from the venue, chaperone on-site, and handle the dog as they make their appearance walking down the aisle, participate in photos, or are getting jiggy on the dance floor! Each and every day, we strive to give excellent customer service through our expert caregiving skills, communication, and of course, belly rubs!

Tell us about yourself

Wagging tails and happy pet parents is what keeps our business going and motivate us! As a business owner, I get great feedback from my clients about my employees' performance. They are so happy to have found us, and their pets adore us.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I stayed in business during the pandemic! I am so proud of the fact that I have stayed in business and have even seen tremendous growth through the COVID-19 pandemic.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things is burnout. As a small business owner, it's hard to know when to stop working. And even when I'm not working on the business or physically taking care of pets, I'm still thinking about those wet noses and how I could run my business better!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Find a mentor! Even if it's not someone in your industry - find a person that you can bounce ideas off of, vent to, and get advice from. Joining a local chamber of commerce or contacting a small business resource is a great way to find that mentor.
2. Track Your Progress! You'll want to know how you are doing in the future compared to past years. In addition to your bookkeeping software, which will provide insight, a good way to track your progress is by keeping a journal that you write in weekly to record items such as how your business is doing, things that aren't working, things that you are doing well. Creating a slide show presentation with your business stats that are important to you or even having a bulleted list that you write your progress and can look back on.
3. Don't compare yourself to anyone. Your business is unique, just like you, so don't compare yourself, your progress, or anything else to any other business. It's still a good idea to take a look at other companies to learn from them, get fresh ideas, and network. But when it comes down to it, only you truly know how your business is and should be doing.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.goingmuttspetservices.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoingMuttsPetServices/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingmuttspetservices/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenbollinger50/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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