Bella In Your Business: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Podcast

Are you struggling right now to attract great employees for your business? Because bringing more people on means more business you can take on, meaning... higher revenue for your business.

A win-win all around!

But you might be stuck. Stuck trying to attract great employees. Stuck trying to retain your employees. And stuck in a position where you can't step away or scale your business.

But, I am here to tell you this does not have to be a permanent place.

This week I am indulging in three ways to attract great employees that I am pretty sure you haven't done. And if I am wrong then go ahead and tell me, but if I am right... get ready to change your business for the better and hire those employees you are needing.

Biggest Takeaways:

2:10 3 Things I don’t think you are doing…

3:11 Show and Tell all about the Job on your social media

4:22  Get video or written testimonials on existing staff

5:33 Allow an employee along the interview

10:00 Tell me your results

Recommendations:

What does social media mean to your business? A means to attract great employees? A place to entice potential clients? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, then understanding how to maximize your social media presence is very important to your business. This month in the Mastermind group, members are learning from experts in this industry how to leverage one of the best tools in the box for their business. A community of like-minded business owners, the Mastermind group is a place where members learn and grow. Have you checked it out yet?

Links:

Mastermind

Better Marketing With Bella

Bella Vasta Instagram

Transcript

This is episode 303 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today I started off trying to use my normal microphone, and for some reason, it's not working. So I’m doing this old school—the way I did the first hundred episodes—using my earbuds.

Go ahead and shoot me an email or comment wherever you engage with me online and tell me—does this sound different? To take it a step further, does it sound better or worse than my episodes usually do? I’m interested to know.

But today, we’re going to talk all about three ways that you can attract great employees that you’ve probably never heard of—or maybe you’ve just never really done. I’m here to help encourage, inspire, and motivate you to action today, because listening is not going to do anything unless you actually take action.

I’ve been listening to so many of you out there. You’re all in a hiring blitz. You’re trying to find as many employees as possible. You know that each employee equals a certain amount of revenue to your company.

In other words, if you bring someone else on, that means you can now accept another $20,000 in revenue a year in your company because you have the manpower to help support it. So it makes sense to always be hiring.

It even makes sense to keep hiring when you think you’re fully staffed—because when you’re constantly hiring, you’re protecting yourself from being stuck when someone leaves or starts slacking.

It helps in those situations when you hire someone amazing, but all of a sudden they start having an attitude, and it’s like a thorn in your side. You get a message from them, and you cringe. By always hiring, you give yourself the ability to say, “Sorry, I don’t want you to work for me anymore,” because you’ve got people waiting in the wings.

Please, please take this into consideration: you should always be hiring.

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m going to give you three things today. You might’ve heard them before, but I don’t think most of you are actually doing them. If you are, let me know. These are things that really help. When I had my own company, I knew that if I did these things, it would get results. Were we perfect? No—but our hiring struggles were minimal.

1. Show and Tell on Social Media

If you’re in Better Marketing with Bella, you already have graphics and videos from us—branded, impressive, professional. They make your business look legitimate and not like a fly-by-night mom-and-pop shop that just threw together a Canva graphic.

That first impression matters. A potential applicant will think, “Do I even want to spend time applying? Will they take my application seriously?”

So, show and tell on social media. Share what it looks like to work for you—your team in action, your day-to-day work, and your company culture. People want to see more than cute pet photos; they want to see you out there doing the work.

Then, take it a step further: DM the link to apply to everyone you know. Post it on your personal Facebook page. Talk about it in your Stories. Plaster it everywhere.

And please don’t just say “We’re hiring.” Instead, say “Who do you know who [fits your ideal candidate description]?” That’s much more engaging and gets people thinking.

Make this a habit every couple of weeks, and it’ll change the way people respond.

2. Get Video or Written Testimonials from Your Staff

Ask your existing employees to record short clips about why they love working with you and who they think would make a great addition to the team.

Imagine if all your staff sent you a quick five-second clip:“I love working at Bella’s House and Pet Sitting because…”

You splice those together, and suddenly you’ve got a powerful, authentic recruiting video.

You can turn their words into quotes for graphics or written testimonials for job ads. Testimonials aren’t just for clients—they’re for your team too.

So when someone says, “I love working for you; this is the best job ever,” respond with: “That’s awesome, Mandy! Would you mind recording a short video or sending that in an email? It’ll help us find new employees.”

It’s a small step with a big impact.

3. Let an Employee Join You in the Interview

This one adds an entirely new dynamic to your hiring process. Having an existing employee sit in on an interview turns it into a team effort—it shows you value your staff’s input, and it allows the interviewee to see what your company culture is really like.

Now, I’m not saying to take interviewees into client homes—that’s too risky. But if you bring a team member into a virtual or in-person interview, it does three things:

It makes your employee feel trusted and empowered.

It shows your team that you’re always striving to improve.

It gives the candidate a real sense of what it’s like to work for you—and builds trust.

It’s like turning your hiring process into 3D.

You can do this as a two-on-one interview, or even have your employee interview the candidate first. But it has to be done with structure—standardized questions, scorecards, and feedback forms.

If done right, this not only strengthens your company culture but also increases your chances of hiring someone who truly fits your team.

I want you guys to do things that will attract great employees—things you’ve never done before. Remember: to get something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done.

I know some of you are tired, working 10–12 hours a day, thinking, “I’ll do it later.” But that mindset is exactly what leads to burnout. You’re burnt out because you’re not doing these things.

If you were, you’d be overstaffed—not overworked.

It’s a vicious cycle, and I don’t want my Jumpers suffocating in it.

That’s why I’ve spent so many recent episodes focusing on employees—how to find them, how to attract them, and how to do it differently.

It’s not about posting a job ad and letting it sit for 21 days. That’s not actively hiring. Actively hiring means planting seeds everywhere—on Nextdoor, your Facebook profile, at the pet store, the groomer, the hair salon—anywhere you go.

Ask: “Hey, do you know anyone who loves dogs, wants to make an extra $1,000 a month, and enjoys part-time work?”

When you ask like that, you’re not saying, “We’re hiring.” You’re starting a conversation and planting a seed.

So, tell me—are you willing to be brave enough to try this? Let me know your results, because I’m here for you. Your success is my success, and I want to see you win.

This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. I hope this ignited you and made you reconsider how to attract great employees—and inspired you to take action.

I know being a business owner can be stressful and suffocating, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Always remember to keep jumping. That means keep moving forward, keep the momentum, don’t get stuck in a rut—you’ve got this. And I’ve got you.

Have a great day, you guys.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did, because I put a lot of love into this for you.

The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcasts and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode.

I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping.

Thanks for listening.

Does the process of finding and hiring new employees leave you feeling defeated? Or maybe you feel like you have done it all when it comes to hiring and it just is not working for you. What if I told you it can be much easier? That you may need to take a different approach you haven't tried when you need to find and hire employees quickly. What if I told you, I have 5 amazing tips to help you find and hire employees that you need for your business... in two weeks? Would you want to change up your process? Give a new way a try and do things differently. Because I truly want you to be in a place of abundance, where you are never "caught with your pants down". This episode is going to help you find and hire employees.. amazing employees, that will help you get to that place.

Biggest Takeaways:

1:34 Jazz HR

2:53 Multiple Hiring Ads/ Talking to multiple different avatars

4:56 Contact connected people

7:10 Leverage the emotional side of the job

9:10 Spend 30 minutes a day working on this

10:23 Go where your avatar hangs out

Recommendations:

When people think of marketing, a lot of times they think it is only meant to attract clients. But really, your marketing can help attract the amazing employees you want working for you. Better Marketing With Bella teaches you how to put your best foot forward when showcasing to clients and potential employees. When a business is looking to find and hire employees, seeing how they attract employees is a great start to finding amazing candidates.

Transcript:

This is episode 302 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Welcome to episode 302. We are going to be talking about how to find three amazing employees in two weeks.

Now this kind of came about because so many of you come to me and say, “Bella, I just lost someone and I need someone. Otherwise, we’re going to have to get a waitlist.” And that means two things are happening. One, we don’t have JazzHR—which you guys need to run on over to jumpconsulting.net/jazzhr and get signed up there. I’ve got lots of podcasts and videos on that, and I’m sure you’ve heard about it before. It will really help you fill that funnel full of employees.

But maybe you don’t have it—or maybe you already do, but you want to step it up a notch. I have five different things that you can do to find and hire three amazing employees in two weeks.

I’m going to tell you exactly what this is and how to do it. It’s something you can systematize and always be doing, so you’ll never be caught off guard trying to find employees.

So I want you to think about: Are you doing these things? Can you do them better or more consistently? Because I’m telling you from personal experience—and from my clients—it works.

Let your ego go and stop thinking, “Oh my God, Bella doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” Or, “That only works for her.” No. It works for a lot of my clients.

So without further ado, let’s get down and dirty. This might be a long episode or a short one—I don’t know. Whenever I’m done talking and teaching you, that’s when it’ll end.

The very first one is to have multiple hiring ads, talking to multiple different avatars.

The problem I see so many times is that you’re being so generic with your hiring ad that it just sounds like another corporate job hiring for some random person. I want that hiring ad to almost be like a love letter to people so that they feel like you’re speaking directly to them—like, “My God, this is exactly me. I have to apply for this job.”

Now, when I say that, I mean things like a job ad to:

The mom who doesn’t feel like she has a place anymore because her kids are in high school and more independent.

The person who works from home and wants to get out of the house to make some side money.

The freelancer who lives and works in the same place and just wants a reason to go outside.

If you don’t know what I mean, go to joinjumpconsulting.com—that’s my free three-hour Jump & Scale class that teaches you how to figure out your different avatars so you can create those different hiring ads.

Please, you guys, this needs to be posted every week. If you have three or four avatars, those job ads should be going up constantly—even when you’re not actively hiring—so that you always have a pool of applicants.

The next thing is to contact ringleaders, networkers, and people who are connected to a lot of people.

Think about PTO or PTA presidents, realtors who run local community pages, or popular coffee shop owners that everyone knows. Think about community managers of local Facebook groups—like “Things to Do in [Your City] This Weekend.”

Figure out who these people are and how you can leverage their influence to get the word out that you’ve got the best job ever.

You’re not hiring for “pet sitters and dog walkers.” You’re hiring for an opportunity to love on cats and get paid to walk dogs—so you can cancel your gym membership.

When you can come to these ringleaders with an easy pitch—words already written, a graphic or photo (if you’re in Better Marketing with Bella, you already have this)—you make it easy for them to say yes.

The other thing that works really well is community newsletters. Any time you have print advertising—or even online ads—just include a simple line at the bottom: “Always looking for great animal lovers. Apply within.”

And make sure the footer of your website has an employment tab that people can easily find.

So, first, have multiple hiring ads. Second, contact ringleaders. Those relationships matter. The more connected they are, the faster your reach expands.

The third tip is to leverage the emotional side of the job.

Talk about the pets and the cuteness. Leave the corporate dryness out of the description.

We’re not selling widgets with no emotional value—we’re selling love and trust. We’re exchanging our clients’ guilt for peace of mind.

So your copy should sound like:“Do you want to get paid to love on pets?”“Do you want to get paid to have dog hair on you all day?”“Do you want to get paid knowing you’re making a difference in a pet owner’s life?”

That’s the stuff that pulls heartstrings and makes people want to work with you.

If your culture is built on teamwork—“We always help each other out, we cover each other’s shifts, and we celebrate wins together”—say that in your job ad.

You have to be attractive. If your ad sounds stale, corporate, and emotionless, people won’t get excited about it.

This means your words, your photos, and your videos all need to communicate joy, purpose, and fun.

The next thing is to spend 30 minutes a day doing this.

You can’t just say, “Yeah, I posted an ad last week, but nobody applied.” No!

If you posted your ad 23 days ago, it’s buried. Nobody sees it anymore. When someone does, they’ll think it’s old and assume you’re no longer hiring.

Spend 30 minutes a day posting listings, talking to people, and reaching out. Ask, “Who do you know?” Reach back out to ringleaders. Till the land constantly.

If you’re not getting results, it’s not because it’s “hard to hire.” It’s because you’re not being consistent.

You can’t plant seeds once and expect a harvest.

The final tip: Go where your avatars hang out.

If you’re looking for moms, go to community events—like school fundraisers, fall festivals, or local fairs. Set up a booth that says, “We’re hiring animal lovers!”

Connect with local rescue groups and shelters. Ask if their volunteers might want to make extra money working with pets.

These relationships can help your hiring and your business. Offer them something in return—like a gift certificate for clients who adopt from their shelter.

You have to block time for this. Get emotional. Get interesting. Leverage relationships.

If you don’t, you’re doing it halfway. But if you do, you’ll be able to find three amazing people in two weeks. I promise.

A lot of people don’t put in enough effort beyond just posting.

I hope this has helped you. Please message or tag me on Instagram or in our Facebook groups—Jumpstart Your Pet Business or I Own a Pet Sitting Company With Staff. Let me know your feedback or ideas, and maybe we’ll feature you in the show notes.

You have to put the energy in to get the energy out. If you don’t, you’re just living on a prayer. You’re not going to get the results you want, and you’ll end up saying, “It’s hard to hire.”

Yeah—it is hard. But you’ve got to show up and do the work.

I just want to encourage all my Jumpers out there: show up.

All right, you guys. That was exciting, and I love talking with you. It’s always a pleasure to join you and inspire you to your next step.

We’ll be back again next week. Let me know if you have questions—you can always reach me at [email protected].

And I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Bye now.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did, because I put a lot of love into this for you.

The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcasts and leaving a review.

I just might read it on the next episode.

I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping.

Thanks for listening.

If there was something in your business that was really a mistake and costing you time and money, would you want to know?

There are sales mistakes business owners make that are hindering them from success every single day.

This week I am diving into the 5 most common sales mistakes that I see people make and what you can do to avoid them!

Biggest Takeaways:

1:16 What sales mistakes?

1:55 Software

3:15 Not having your branding everywhere

6:03 Always Be Closing

7:27 Customer and Employee Love

8:54 Not having the “make it right” mentality

10:29 Always be thinking about solutions

Recommendations:

Your time is money in your business. Finding ways to elevate tasks and simplify business will help you achieve the desired success. Whether it is content creating, like in Better Marketing With Bella, or finding a community you can lean on for guidance (like the Mastermind group), finding places in your business you can make the system and process easier is key. You wanted the system in place to help you, not hinder you and remembering that is important.

Links:

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using Pet Sitting Software

Is Your Pet Sitting Software Working For Or Against You?

One Secret To Winning Almost Every Sale

The Trick To Be Confident In Closing Sales

How To Leverage Your Competition For More Sales

Mastermind

Transcript:

This is episode 301 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta and today we have episode 301. Last week was a big party—it was birthday week for myself and my daughter—but we are now heading into even more podcasts. I never thought when I started off that I would have this many podcasts, but this has become my thing. And I love it because I've been able to really get to know a lot of you guys.

And if there's one thing that I know about you, it’s that you want to know what mistakes to look for and what potholes to avoid. I used to say a lot when I first started that being a coach is like saying, “Ooh, don’t go down that road—it’s really bumpy and I hurt my head. Go the other way.” Hopefully, this podcast will do that for you today.

We’re going to talk about the five hidden mistakes that cost pet sitters—and how you can avoid them.

The first one has a lot to do with episodes 298 and 299, where we talked about how to choose software and make sure it’s working for you and not against you.

What do I mean by that? Well, I’ve met some people who literally have intake forms, take that information, and then put it in a three-ring binder, and then they re-enter it into the system. Or they’re not using credit card processing through their software. Or the sales process just stops.

Any one of those reasons can cause someone to bounce—and that means you lose revenue. The extra steps, the inefficiencies—they’re costing you time. And if you’re paying someone to do that, it’s also costing you money.

It’s super important that your systems and processes are as smooth as possible because that saves you both time and money—and time is money.

If you’re one of those people who say, “You don’t get it, Bella—it just takes me a couple extra minutes, I don’t mind,” go back and listen to my mindset episode. That’s a disaster waiting to happen, because all those little inefficiencies add up. They make you feel overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out.

The next one is not having your branding everywhere.

Why does that cost you something? Because when people see a logo or visual identity consistently, they start to recognize it—and they begin to feel something about that brand. You might not even be a customer, but you’ve already formed an impression.

Think about McDonald’s. The minute you see those golden arches, it’s not just yellow—it means something to you.

Here in Arizona, there’s a local Italian restaurant called Oregano’s. They have the funniest sayings, and their colors are always red, black, and white—mostly red. Whenever I see that color combination or their branding, I instantly recognize it and associate it with a certain feeling.

That’s what strong branding does.

If you want to see an example of great branding in the pet industry, check out Golden Tails Dog Walking—that’s Kathy, an avid listener of this podcast. She has two locations—one in Miami and one in Colorado—and her branding is gorgeous. Another great one is Dog Jogs up in Canada.

You’ll start to see how these companies make you feel something just by their visuals and voice.

If you don’t have your branding everywhere—or you don’t even have a logo—stop this podcast right now and go get one. You need your logo, brand colors, and visual elements that tie everything together.

With Jump Consulting, our signature icon is the parachute. It shows up everywhere in small ways.

Every color in your brand should have a HEX number—a specific code for consistency. That ensures your red is always the same red, your blue is always the same blue. Consistency builds recognition, and recognition builds trust.

The third hidden mistake is not asking for the sale.

You are losing money when you end a call or email with, “Let me know if…” Don’t ever say that—it’s passive, and it communicates, “I don’t care if you choose us or not.”

You don’t need to be pushy, but you do need to be intentional. Lead them to the close. Get smaller closes along the way.

If you don’t know what I mean, go back and listen to the episode I did with Aaron Miller earlier this year about sales and micro-closes. It was amazing.

Ask questions like, “When do you want to get started?” or “If we do the consultation on Friday, we can start on Monday—how does that sound?”

That’s how you guide people toward a decision.

Let’s recap:

Not having software that works for you.

Not having branding everywhere.

Not asking for the sale.

Number four is not showing customer love.

People want to feel like you genuinely appreciate their business—that they’re not just another number.

This is where Joey Coleman’s book Never Lose a Customer Again comes in. He’s been on this podcast and has joined our mastermind multiple times. Many of my elite Jumpers have created a 100-day customer love cycle based on his teachings.

And soon, he’s releasing a version for employees—because the same principles apply.

Think about it. When someone signs up with your company, they’re excited but also nervous. “Did I make the right choice?” That’s buyer’s remorse.

It’s your job to pop in with reassurance—to remind them they did make the right choice.

The same goes for employees. When someone starts a new job, they feel the same doubt. So showing appreciation early builds loyalty and trust.

Imagine if you never lost a customer—or an employee. What kind of difference would that make in your business? You’d have more stability, less stress, and more money.

And finally, number five: not having the mentality of “How can I make this right?” when conflict arises.

Here’s what I mean. I see this all the time in free Facebook groups: people getting defensive or offended—“Can you believe they asked for that? I don’t discount. I’m worth it. My time is valuable.”

That attitude doesn’t help. Instead of being reactive, ask, “How can I make this right?”

Sometimes we throw money at problems—offer refunds or discounts out of guilt. But often, clients just want to be heard.

Ask them directly: “Hey, how can I make this right, Kathy?”

It’s simple, but it changes everything.

If you’re constantly feeling like the world is doing things to you—like clients are being unfair—you’ll never get ahead. Change your mindset to one of solutions, not defensiveness.

These five hidden mistakes aren’t earth-shattering, but they’re enlightening.

So while you’re walking dogs, folding laundry, making dinner, or driving, think about these five things. Ask yourself: “Am I deficient in any of these areas? Can I get better?”

Because when you improve these things, you save time—and saving time saves money.

Maybe that means investing in Better Marketing with Bella to upgrade your branding and online presence. You can learn more at jumpconsulting.net/marketing. And if you’re interested in the mastermind, visit jumpconsulting.net/mastermind.

I hope this gave you good food for thought. I’ll keep it short because, as I always say, when I’m done dishing it out, I’m done.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to find and hire three amazing employees in two weeks. You won’t want to miss that—episode 302.

And remember—when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you.

The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode.

And remember, when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Thanks for listening.

Your mindset is going to get you everywhere or keep you exactly where you are at. As we publish this 300th episode, I am talking to you from my heart, as I always do on the milestone episodes. This time is it all about what you are saying in your own head. HOW to scale this business is the easy part. It is the MINDSET that is the tough part. When "bad" things happen, or you "fail" what is your reaction or response? Is it something that will turn it into a positive that you can stand strong on or something that holds you down and prevents you from growth and momentum?

Today, I am going to give you 11 Mindset Hacks to take you to the next level. These are all ones I have used myself. I have been posting them weekly on my Instagram, as I know some of you save them for inspiring quotes. It is my hope that this episode makes you uncomfortable enough to challenge your thinking so you can think clear enough to push to your next goal.

Thank you for listening to 300 episodes.

Biggest Takeaways:

8:00 11 questions to shift your business mindset

10:30 Responding or reacting

12:15 What can I learn from this

13:22 The only person you can control is yourself

17:31 I have something valuable

18:55 Shine my light

21:53 I need a goal, mentor, and bite sizes

23:46 I am unique

27:11 Building a team is necessary

29:29 Why does it affect me? where does it come from? what needs to be healed?

31:31 Personal life mirrors your business

33:33 Software tool 

Recommendations:

Shifting your business mindset can be one of the greatest tools to achieving success in your business. I have brought 300 episodes to you filled with information on how to hire, generate more sales, and even how to choose your software. But if your mindset isn't in a place of positivity, you will sink the ship with your thoughts alone. Surrounding yourself with people who help you grow rather than hinder you, sets the tone for positivity. The Mastermind group is a community of like-minded business owners cheering each other on and leaning on one another when help is needed. If you are looking for a place to grow, this might be the community you have been looking for.

For more pet sitting and dog walking podcasts, check out Pet Sitter Confessional

Links:

Bella Vasta on Instagram

Employees, Blogs, & Daily Operations!

If I’ve Taught You Anything…Episode 200

Running a Business Through Divorce or Major Life Changes

Birthday Special!

Software tool

Mastermind

Transcript:

This is episode 300 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome everybody to the 300th episode of Bella in Your Business. I want to just start this off by honoring you and saying thank you so much for being here with me. Whether you've listened from the very first episode or you're just a recent listener or even a sporadic listener, I just seriously want to say thank you. It is the biggest honor for me to be in your ears while you're walking dogs, doing laundry, cooking, or driving the kids around. I don’t take that lightly. Every single episode, I want to speak directly to you—to help encourage, inspire, and motivate you, and let you know that you can do hard things.

Having a business is very hard—and you can do hard things. I would not be here without you guys, without seeing that our stats keep going up and up and up. There’s about a thousand downloads a week right now, and it wouldn’t be worth it without you. It’s those emails, text messages, and DMs that say, “I really loved that episode, thank you for doing it,” that make all the difference.

In honor of the 300th episode, I’ve updated the podcast cover—it’s been the same since 2016! You might’ve noticed it looks a little different now, which is exciting. I also want to give a shoutout to all the kids who listen—hey, what’s up? Leia’s kids, Randi’s kids, and everyone else out there. And to those of you who regularly repost or DM me—like Christine and Kathy—thank you. This wouldn’t be worth it unless it was a two-way conversation.

This week, the episode goes live on July 21st, which happens to be my daughter’s birthday. My birthday is on the 18th, and hers is on the 21st. I checked into the hospital eight years ago on my birthday and had her on a Monday. I started this podcast back in June 2014—one episode a month at first. It wasn’t until 2016 that I started producing episodes consistently every Thursday, and we’ve pretty much kept that up ever since.

I listened back to my first episode recently. It was called How to Get Through the Hiring Slumps. I was recording inside my walk-in closet because my whole house had tile and I needed carpet to reduce the echo. It’s surreal listening to it now—obviously I’ve grown a lot—but the themes are still the same: hiring, systems, and processes.

Back then, you could get 1,700 hits on a blog in a day by sharing it on Facebook. Now, the algorithms don’t show links because they don’t want people leaving the platform. The technology has changed, but the core message hasn’t.

In 2014, only 15% of people listened to podcasts. Now, 32% do every month, and 74% of them are listening to learn. That’s why you’re here—to learn, to be inspired, and maybe to hear what might come out of my mouth next!

There are a few other pet-sitting podcasts now—like Pet Sitter Confessionals with Megan and Colin, who also recently hit 300 episodes. They interview pet sitters and share stories, and I think that’s amazing. The more perspectives you hear, the better your business becomes.

In honor of this milestone, today’s episode is a reflective one—11 questions to ask yourself.

1. Am I responding or reacting to a situation?

When something triggers you—your heart races, you shake, your blood boils—ask yourself this question. Are you reacting (acting without thought) or responding (pausing, breathing, and thinking)? Great leaders know how to respond, not react.

2. What can I learn from this?

When things go wrong, don’t ask “Why is this happening to me?” Replace that with “What can I learn from this?” It’s a mindset shift that builds resilience and gratitude.

3. What responsibility did I have in this not working out?

Instead of blaming others, look inward. What part did you play? Could you have communicated better? Tweaked a system? Learned something new? Take ownership—but don’t take on other people’s stuff.

4. I need to learn more so I can master it.

If something feels too hard, it’s not because you’re incapable—it’s because you haven’t learned it yet. The more you know, the more confident and capable you become.

5. I have something valuable to share with the world.

You are doing something meaningful. Maybe you’re creating jobs, building culture, or helping pet owners feel supported. Recognize the value of what you do and share it boldly.

6. I have to shine my light and execute my talents.

If people tell you you’re “too much,” that’s their problem, not yours. You are uniquely created, and it’s your duty to use your gifts. Don’t dim your light.

7. I need a goal, a mentor, and bite-sized steps.

You can’t see clearly when you’re lost in the weeds. You need a mentor to guide you and break your goals into small, doable steps. That’s why communities like the Mastermind exist—to help you stay accountable and focused.

If you email me by July 25th, I’ll even give you a private coupon to join the Mastermind at a discount, just because it’s my birthday week.

8. I am unique. Therefore, there’s only one of me.

Whenever imposter syndrome hits, remember this: there’s only one you. No one else can bring what you bring.

9. I am created for a purpose and can do anything I put my mind to.

You were made to do something great. Start telling yourself that—even if you don’t fully believe it yet. My daughter says, “Mommy, this is hard.” And I tell her, “You’re right. But you can do hard things.”

10. I can’t do everything 100% of the time. Building a team is necessary.

If you’re doing it all alone, it’s not sustainable. You can’t be the sitter, the marketer, the HR person, the bookkeeper, and the parent all at once. Build a team. That’s how you grow without burning out.

11. Why does this affect me? Where does it come from? What needs to be healed?

This is the deepest one. When something triggers you, ask why it affects you. Where does it come from—childhood, trauma, insecurity? What needs healing?

Unhealed wounds show up in your business and personal life. When you become aware, you can start to release them.

In honor of the 300th episode and my birthday week, I’m offering 50% off coaching sessions—but only for six people. Go to jumpconsulting.net/birthday to grab one before they’re gone.

Also, if you’re overwhelmed choosing pet-sitting software, try the free tool at jumpconsulting.net/software. You’ll get customized recommendations based on your needs—no more decision fatigue.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. If you’ve listened to all 300 episodes, let me know—I’ll shout you out next week!

When life gets you down, always keep jumping.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did, because I put a lot of love into this for you.

The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode.

And remember, when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Thanks for listening.

Jodi came to me wondering how she could get more clients. We took a look into her systems and found out that the way in which she is having people sign up was stopping the sale from happening. She was having to send UN and PW to a new user and while they were waiting for that to happen, they were finding other solutions.

Her software was working against her.

When you compare Jodi's sign up to Rover, the potential new client was able to sign up quickly and check off PET CARE for their trip to Cancun and be done with it. With Jodi, they were left wondering if she received their info and what the next step was.

Her software was working against her.

So much, that every year in the Mastermind, we actually go through five members' websites and sign up. We time how long it takes to sign up and if there are any spot points. There are some very popular software out there that actually STOP the sales process.

Today, we are diving deep into ways that your software might be working against you. My goal is to make sure that your software is an asset to your sales process and not a liability.

BTW - As I wrote these notes.... I wonder if anyone actually READS them. Will you send me an email to bella at jumpconsulting.net and let me know? Ok, onto the epsiode! :)

Biggest Takeaways:

3:29 Don’t Overwhelm your client

4:00 Mastermind guide about how to use software

4:40 Important aspects of how to choose pet sitting software

5:28 Simple is better

6:10 Why Rover Is Beating The Professional Pet Sitter

7:53 Free tool for finding software

8:19 GPS importance

8:56 Quickbook integration

13:19 Screenshots on your website

14:30 Big Surprise!

14:50 Get to my Instagram for the offer

Recommendations:

If you find yourself google searching "how to choose a pet sitting software" then my newly developed (free!) software tool is for you. Head over to jumpconsulting.net/software and choose five top features that are most important to you and your business. From there it will generate a list of recommended software to try out. This takes the work out of researching many different software systems to help you and your business run smoothly.

Links:

Bella Vasta on Instagram

Why Rover Is Beating The Professional Pet Sitter

Software tool

Mastermind

Transcript:

This is episode 299 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. This is episode 299. Next week, we're gonna have a party, and I can't wait to get there. But first, we're gonna continue on the software train and talk a little bit more about whether your pet business software is working for you or against you.

There are all different kinds of software. In the last episode, I told you that we compared 19 software systems altogether on a comparison chart. Rather than just giving you that chart, we went ahead and gave you the option to pick five of your most important features, and then it spits back the software that has them. You don’t have to worry about being overloaded with too many choices or decision fatigue.

All you gotta do is go to jumpconsulting.net/software — that’s completely free. I encourage you to post it everywhere and help all of your fellow sitters out.

As a pet business owner, you know that having the right software can make or break your business. But what are the right software tools for your business? How do you know which one to choose? How do you know if you should switch software if you’re not getting a return on your investment with your current one?

Maybe your software is making you create more processes in your client onboarding because it’s not intuitive enough. I’ve gotten under the hood of so many businesses where I see them making ten steps when they only need two, but they have to “Mickey Mouse” it together. My dad used to call that a Mickey Mouse fix—gluing things together just to make them work. It becomes more complicated than it needs to be.

So really think about this: is your software working for you or against you? Is it helping the flow of clients come in, or is it stopping the sales process? Some popular software completely stops the process and overwhelms clients. They go from “help me solve my problem” to “this is too much, I’ll deal with it later.”

The right software won’t do that. It’s an important tool for business owners—especially pet businesses. They all require a little bit of your customization, but it should make life easier, not harder.

In the Mastermind, once a year, we record how at least five different companies use their systems. It’s eye-opening because while many use the same software, the setup and customization make all the difference. If you’re in the Mastermind, you can find that in the guides—or tag me and I’ll show you. And if you’re not in the Mastermind yet, side note—why not? Go to jumpconsulting.net/mastermind.

Now let’s get on with it.

The most important aspects you want to consider are scheduling (which we talked about last episode) and ease of booking. Is it simple for clients, or do they have to fill out a form, wait for an email, fill out another form, and follow instructions? It shouldn’t be that complicated.

When I ran my pet sitting company (sold in 2016), clients went to my site, chose “new client” or “existing client,” and boom—they were in the system. New clients went straight to the profile. Then to the pet profile. Then they clicked “scheduling.” Simple.

Simple is better. Remember—this is pet sitting and dog walking, not rocket science. Stop complicating it. Complication scares people away and prevents sales.

Now, I’m not saying the information you’re asking for isn’t important. But there’s a time and place for it—and it’s not at the start, where it overwhelms the client. You want your clients to feel like they just won something. Give them a quick win—“Okay, I’m signed up with a pet sitter!”

That’s why Rover is killing it over professional pet sitters—it’s easy to sign up with them.

Next is client information.

Your clients should be able to update their notes. I used to tell clients, “I’m so sorry, I’m not in front of the system right now, and I want to make sure we don’t forget to change Fido’s food from one cup to two. Can you log in and update it for me, please?”

That ensures it’s accurate and gets to the sitter—plus it puts responsibility where it belongs: with the client. You are not an order taker.

Communication between sitters, walkers, and clients is another big one. Does your system allow you to message privately with sitters and clients, or are they texting clients directly from their phones or personal emails? That’s a huge problem. If you don’t have a system that centralizes communication, it’s working against you.

If this is starting to feel overwhelming—don’t worry. Go to jumpconsulting.net/software and use our free tool. Enter your top five features, and it’ll show you only the companies that have them.

Next—GPS tracking.

With gas prices high and everyone trying to tighten their routes, GPS is more important than ever. But not all GPS features are equal. Some software only has check-in/check-out GPS. Others show the sitter driving around. Be clear on what you need.

And by the way, if you use independent contractors—you should not be using GPS tracking at all. That’s considered control, and it’s a whole other legal issue. Don’t do it.

Next, integration with QuickBooks.

Some software requires you to manually export and import data into QuickBooks. Others sync automatically—or connect to similar platforms like FreshBooks. This is vital because importing invoices efficiently saves you tons of time.

Even though some claim to handle finances “in-house,” most don’t go deep enough for a full P&L view. They track income but don’t give you expenses or payables.

You need your systems to talk to each other. If your software has an open API (and only one in the pet industry truly does), that’s gold. It makes your bookkeeper’s life—or yours—much easier.

When your financials are updated and clear, you can make smart business decisions. You’ll know what brings in the most revenue, what drains your time, and how to shape your marketing messages accordingly.

If you’re spending 80% of your energy on pet sitting but it’s only 30% of your income, that’s a problem. Your software should help you see that.

Don’t get paralyzed by decision fatigue. We’ve done the heavy lifting—just decide which five features are most important, and go from there.

Stop making binders and three-ring folders because your system doesn’t do what you want. That’s not only costly but chaotic. Or when clients can’t sign up themselves and have to wait for you to create a username and password—that’s outdated.

Also—stop calling it a “portal.” Nobody wants another “portal” in their life. Think of how you feel when your doctor says, “Go check the portal.” It’s a turnoff. Find a fun way to present it—something exciting that makes your company feel approachable.

Better yet, show it off on your website. Post screenshots of what the client experience looks like—notes, journal entries, updates. That way, when people sign up, they’re already familiar and comfortable with your system.

We’ve got your back with this. There are at least 19 software options we’ve vetted, and we’ve made a whole spreadsheet for you.

Just go to jumpconsulting.net/software.

Next week is our 300th episode! It’s launching on my daughter’s 8th birthday—July 21st—and my birthday is just a few days before that.

For my birthday week,...

Pet sitting software is a crucial aspect of running an efficient business. Many business owners find themselves either without software or paying for one they aren't even using to its fullest potential.

And as a business owner, you want to do everything that helps move your business forward by thinking smarter, not working harder. There are common mistakes I see business owners make when utilizing or choosing the correct pet sitting software.

Is your client communication in multiple areas?

How do you prefer your clients to book? Where do they go?

How do you schedule and how is it communicated with your sitters?

We are seeing many business owners use software for one spect instead of utilizing it to the fullest, costing them time, money, and sanity in the long run. Today I am talking about the 5 important points to look at when choosing or using pet sitting software and how you can avoid some common mistakes.

I am also so excited to reveal a 6-month-long project I have been working on in this episode that I think will be so helpful when it comes to pet sitting software.

Biggest Takeaways:

1:52 Software will help you

2:15 time spending

3:30 What is your booking process?

4:35 Client information

7:05 How do you schedule?

7:31 primary & secondary sitters

8:20 Your Communication

9:55 Something big I have been working on!

10:40 jumpconsulting.net/software

Recommendations:

When it comes to choosing your pet sitting software, there are many different things that may be important to you and your business. You want to find software that helps you think smarter rather than work harder. Whether it is scheduling, booking or financials, using software to its full potential to benefit your business is a priority. Head over to jumpconsulting.net/software and see what we recommend we use based on your needs!

Links:

jumpconsulting.net/software

Transcript:

This is episode 298 of Bella in Your Business.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we're going to take it back to a topic that we're going to start a little mini-series on — and that is software.

This is the software that you use to keep track of your clients, schedules, and your employee shifts. We're going to talk a lot about it because I think it's important as I start this series to kind of begin from a mutual understanding. I've learned to never assume anything because, as they say, “when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” Ever heard of that?

So, there are so many people out there who have either never used software or have one but barely use it. It’s like having an iPhone and only using it to make phone calls — what? No! It’s used for so much more than that.

And especially if you’re paying for one of the more expensive ones, it’s really important that you get your return on investment (ROI) and use it fully.

So, we’re going to start today by stressing how much your software can actually support you. I’ve got five different areas, and I want you to think about either:A. how it could help you if you’re not using it, orB. if you’re already using it — are you using it to its full potential?

This is going to be a shorter episode, but don’t skip over it — it’s a good check-in.

1. Hours Saved

Obviously, software saves you hours. It automates tasks.

How many of you have recurring daily dog-walking clients? Do you have that on automatic recurring schedules? What about staff schedules — are you still trying to manually figure out employee shifts?

Or does your software auto-populate those schedules?

If not, you’re losing time.

And here’s a spoiler alert — at the end, I’m going to give you a brand-new tool that I’ve had a developer working on regarding software that you’re not going to want to miss.

But first, let’s continue.

2. Booking

Now, something I used to love doing — and this is a true story — when clients called me to book, I would literally tell them,

“My gosh, I’m so excited that you called. However, I don’t have access to the system right now and I want to make sure we don’t mess up. So can you please go online and schedule it? As soon as you do, I’ll hit the accept button.”

Then I’d go quiet.

Even if I did have access to the system, I’d still say that — because it’s important to train clients to book themselves.

You can do this with employees too. Many scheduling systems allow them to request time off directly — no back-and-forth texts or extra admin work.

If you’re doing that manually, you’re creating “virtual assistant” tasks for yourself that your system could handle automatically.

3. Client Information

This one applies to both newbies and long-time veterans.

If you’re just starting out, you might be jotting client info in a notebook. But what happens if that notebook gets lost? (True story: that used to happen to me.)

If you’ve got staff or contractors helping you, how are they accessing client details? Are they constantly texting you to ask, “Where’s the leash?” or “How much does Fido eat?”

All of that info should live in your system.

And if you already have a system and think, “Yeah, Bella, we’re using it,” let me challenge you: are you really?

Here’s a trick that has dramatically improved my clients’ staff satisfaction and consistency:

In the backend of your client info (the part staff can see), add a simple checklist — a step-by-step process for that home.

Something like:

Unlock the door with the keypad.

Turn off the alarm.

Let the dog out of the crate.

Let the dog go potty in the backyard.

Take the dog for a walk.

Feed the dog.

Let them out again.

Put the dog back in the crate.

Arm the alarm.

Lock and close the door.

This ensures every sitter delivers consistent service and makes your staff happier — they won’t have to scroll through notes or guess the order of tasks.

4. Scheduling

Scheduling staff becomes a breeze if you’re using your system right.

Don’t just use your “iPhone for calls” — use all its features.

If your software allows staff to block time off or if it auto-fills primary and secondary sitters, make sure those are set up.

I can’t stress this enough.

Some of you are still manually assigning each visit — step by step by step. That’s like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Your schedule should practically build itself. Let the system do the heavy lifting.

5. Communication

Most software comes with a client portal or in-app chat. Use it!

This keeps all messages — client, sitter, and admin — in one place, instead of scattered across texts, emails, and voicemails.

You can control notifications, vibration, ringtones — and most importantly, your sanity.

If your software has this feature but you’re not using it, join the user group for that software and learn how others are leveraging it.

Almost every pet-sitting software has an active Facebook community where veteran users share tips.

Bonus: The Free Software Comparison Tool

If today’s episode has you thinking, “Maybe my software isn’t working for me,” I’ve got something exciting.

I gathered 19 pet-sitting software companies and created a huge spreadsheet comparing their features. Then, I hired a developer to turn it into an interactive tool.

You can go to jumpconsulting.net/software and select your top five must-have features.

The system will instantly tell you which software fits your needs — so you don’t waste time trialing all 19.

You’ll also get access to the full comparison chart (though it’s overwhelming, so I suggest using the interactive tool first).

It took six months and two developers to build this for you, and it’s completely free.

So please — share it with your friends, post it in your groups, and use it to make smarter decisions.

If you’re just starting your business, think of your software like buying shoes a little too big — you’ll grow into it.

And if you already have one, dedicate some self-development time to truly learning how it can make your life easier.

Again, go to jumpconsulting.net/software — and next week, I’ll be talking about “Is Your Pet Sitting Software Working For or Against You?”

Remember: when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Bye for now!

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did, because I put a lot of love into this for you.

The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode.

And remember — when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Thanks for listening.

Let's talk about job share... Job sharing can actually be a GREAT thing... and you already are probably taking on BIGGER liability in your pet sitting and dog walking business. This episode will give insight into a different way of thinking. Now is the time to be creative, think about how we are going to get our sales up. The big R (recession) is coming (or is it here?) and we have to think differently to achieve more.

Some of you might say, "Insurance companies will not cover you if you job share."

Well, that's FALSE. I reached out to my friends over at Business Insurers of the Carolinas and this is what he said: "I received your phone message. You are absolutely correct that you are still covered by insurance if job sharing. However I typically recommend if you are going to be sharing jobs with a nanny, a neighbor, a teenage son/daughter, or even another dog walker or pet sitter, that you get a release/addendum signed by the owner releasing you of any liability while others are also in and out of the home." The pet business industry has seen many claims involving theft of clients' property, as well as property damage, and injuries to pets. And typically we see them blamed on the insured pet sitter or dog walker. Especially when the person they share the job with does not have any insurance. As a result, we have seen claims denied as there was no concrete proof of who caused the incident. Both situations are not typically ideal, as it increases both liability and the potential for a denied claim if no proof can be established. So, it is certainly fine to job share if the client wishes to increase their liability exposure and do so. I do recommend amending contract language to have the client hold our insured harmless for liability or theft while others are in and out of the home." Do you want to hear how I think you can leverage this to get even more daily dog walking clients?

Biggest Takeaways:

We need to get our sales up (2:24)

Insurance coverage (5:36)

Why you should job share (8:00)

What other liability you are already taking on that is even riskier (8:53)

It is possible (10:48)

Links:

Better Marketing With Bella

Mastermind

Gingr Pet-Care Software

Transcript:

This is episode 297 of Bella in Your Business.

You love to take care of the pets but not the busy work that comes with running a pet care business. Meet Ginger, the best-in-show dog daycare, boarding, and grooming software. Ginger is packed with time-saving features that make running your pet care business easier—and your customers will love booking appointments from the Pet Parent mobile app. More tail wags, less busy work. Say hello to simplicity with Ginger.

Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim that one-month free subscription.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we're going to talk about something that's actually pretty interesting. We're going to be talking all about why you should job share.

Now, before you go and hit skip to the next episode, I want you to hear me out here because I've got two really big reasons today that I want you to think about. We talked about this in a prior episode when we were talking about sales—how to get sales, especially in a volatile market.

You might be a dog-walking company or pet-sitting company, but maybe you’re a dog-walking company that does not want to do any more vacation visits because you don’t want to do weekends or AM and PM shifts. I got you, boo. I understand.

So if anyone comes in and says, “Hey, we need a dog walker. We're going on vacation, and we have someone staying at the house, but we need someone to exercise our dog in the middle of the day,” you might say, “Hell to the no.”

Or if you’re a pet-sitting company and someone calls saying, “We just want you to come in the mornings or just midday. We have someone sleeping over,” or “Our neighbor will check in the evening, but we just need coverage in the morning,” you might also say, “Nope, we don’t do that.”

No, no, we’re not going to do that anymore, you guys. And I'm going to tell you why today.

I want to give you some food to think about, some bones to chew on. Try not to negate me right away—just hear me out. I’ve got two really good points for you.

The reason I’m thinking more creatively right now is because we’re in a time where we have to figure out how we’re going to keep our sales up.

You might say, “Bella, I can’t hire fast enough right now.” And that’s fine, because mark my words—it’s June/July 2022, and we are heading for the big R. Yep, a recession. We’ve been through them before, and it’s coming again.

When that happens, people are going to get scared. They already are—tightening their belts, freaking out about gas prices, about stuff they can’t control. They’re making decisions out of fear:“I can’t really afford a full-blown pet sitter, but I know I need one.”“I know my dog should get walked every day, but can I trust someone else?”

I’ve been saying this the entire podcast—this summer is gangbusters for pet sitters, but dog walkers are going to start to see a taper off. This episode is for both pet sitters and dog walkers because I want you to think about how you can keep your sales up.

It’s not just about getting a booth at an event this summer. It’s not just sending an email asking for more business. There’s a strategy behind this.

So, the next time someone asks you to job share, I want to encourage you to say yes.

Here’s why.

1. The Insurance Myth

There’s a long-standing belief in the pet industry that you can’t job share because your insurance won’t cover it. That’s just not true.

This idea is as outdated as believing independent contractors cost less—it’s archaic thinking.

I actually reached out to my dear friend Dave Purcell from Business Insurers of the Carolinas and asked him directly if job sharing voids insurance.

Here’s what he said:

“Hi Bella, hope all is well. You are absolutely correct that you’re still covered by insurance if job sharing. However, I typically recommend that if you’re going to share jobs with a nanny, neighbor, teenager, or another dog walker or sitter, you get a release or addendum signed by the owner releasing you from liability while others are also in and out of the home.”

He continued:

“Over the years, we’ve seen claims involving theft or damage blamed on the insured pet sitter, especially when the person they shared the job with had no insurance. Sometimes claims are denied if there’s no proof who caused the incident. So, it’s fine to job share, but I recommend amending contract language to have the client hold you harmless for liability or theft while others are in and out of the home.”

So there you have it.

There’s a difference between what’s been perpetuated online (“insurance won’t cover job sharing”) and what’s actually true.

When I had my company from 2002 to 2016, I sometimes job shared. If someone seemed difficult, I’d say no, but often I just had them reply to an email confirming they understood that we weren’t responsible for others in the home.

You could do this through your service contract or a simple addendum, written by your lawyer, that says something like:

“If anyone else has access to your home during our service contract, we are not responsible for anything that happens.”

This covers everyone—housekeepers, plant waterers, family members—anyone else entering the home.

By doing this, you stay protected and open the door for more opportunities. Maybe that vacation client decides later they only want to work with your company because they loved your professionalism and follow-up.

It’s all figure-outable.

In times like these, as dog walks taper off and vacation demand slows, creativity is key.

2. Real Liability

You know what’s actually more risky than job sharing? Taking on dangerous or reactive pets.

Think about it—how many of you are still caring for dogs that pull hard on leashes or pets that bite out of fear?

That’s far more of a liability. One bad bite or pull can lead to a workers’ comp claim or a serious injury.

I’d argue that it’s less risky to job share than to walk dogs that could injure your staff.

This is something to think about deeply. Why do you have a no-job-share policy? Is it truly rooted in facts, or is it just something you’ve heard others say online?

As Dave from Business Insurers confirmed—yes, you are covered. You just need to protect yourself with proper contract language.

And think about the money you’re leaving on the table by refusing these jobs.

What if you did that vacation walk for a week or two, sent great pictures, gave amazing updates, and the client said, “Wow, I wish you were doing all the visits”?

That’s how relationships—and repeat clients—are built.

Don’t just provide service—ask for the sale. Be the sitter or walker people love so much that they can’t imagine using anyone else.

When was the last time you bought something and felt excited to pay for it? That’s the kind of experience you want to create for your clients.

I know this might ruffle feathers, but I hope it makes you think about your policies and whether they really serve you.

Change is good. Evolution is good.

You don’t have to make a decision today, but at least consider it. Think about the thousands of dollars in potential revenue you could unlock by saying yes instead of no.

And remember: when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

Bye now.

...

Have you been thinking about increasing your pet sitting prices this year? Or have you recently increased your dog walking prices, and now you're thinking it may not be enough...

harging the wrong amount can be the difference between a thriving business and going out of business. Ouch

There is so much to consider before increasing your prices, so that you don't find yourself sinking six months later.

Today, I am going to tell you everything you need to know, before increasing your pet sitting prices.

Biggest Takeaways:

Before increasing your pet sitting prices, it is important to have a sound pricing structure and strategy in place. This is your time to rectify any mistakes you might have made with your old pricing structure, and apply new found knowledge to your future prices.  Creating a pricing strategy that works best for your business requires consideration and time.

What should you be researching?

Have you thought about your competition? Should you?

Is the value you provide worth the increase?

What about staff wages?

Considering important aspects and knowing how to navigate them is some of the first steps in creating a sound pricing structure for your pet sitting business.

Recommendations:

The value you provide shines through your website and social media. Now is the time to make sure your social media and website are up to par when clients and future clients are looking for pet sitting and dog walking companies. Better Marketing With Bella provides 6 months worth of content for your pet sitting business to stand out above the rest. If you are interested in having the rest of the years content covered, we can provide that for you.

In the Mastermind group we talk a lot about pricing structures. Members have the chance to bounce ideas and experience off of each other when they need some help. This group is filled with HR answers, member accountability and like minded business owners achieving all their business goals.

Looking for website hosting or new site you need to check out Barketing

Links:

Better Marketing With Bella

Mastermind

Gingr Pet-Care Software

Barketing Blog

Pricing Guide Structure and Strategy

Transcript:

This is episode 296 of Bella in Your Business.

Let’s face it—managing your pet care business can be a doggone hassle. Fortunately, Ginger Pet Care Software makes running your business a breeze. Enjoy time-saving features like a pet parent mobile app, automated reminders, integrated payment processing, pet report cards, and more. Ginger gives you the time to do the things you need and the things that make you happy.

Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim your one free month subscription.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host, and today we’re going to talk all about creating a pricing structure in today’s economy.

Now, this is going to be an interesting topic—not just for those starting out, but for anyone who already has a business and is adjusting pricing right now due to inflation and rising minimum wage laws. We need to talk about this because some of my Jumpers are doing really well, while others are literally going under and are cash-poor.

I’ll start by saying this—the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. I really want to encourage you to have cash in the bank, in your business account, because you may have rainy days ahead. You don’t want to be caught off guard like many were in 2020, robbing Peter to pay Paul just to stay afloat.

Hopefully today’s podcast ignites ideas for you on how to recession-proof and grow your business.

Now, let me add some context. The last major recession that impacted small businesses was in 2008, when the housing market crashed. I had my pet sitting company at that time, and I decided, “Screw the recession.”

I dove deep into Dan Kennedy’s No BS Marketing to the Affluent. I’ve done several book clubs on that book, and it talks all about the “affluent mindset.” It’s not about being rich—it’s about believing you and your pet deserve better.

That’s the mindset I want you to have as you listen today, because in order to thrive through this economy, you need to see ahead—take off the blinders and think strategically.

Everything I’ve predicted this year is coming true. Everyone was having record-breaking months in March. We’re now in “revenge vacation” mode—people are traveling like crazy. But travel prices are astronomical.

A ticket to Dallas costs what first class used to cost to the East Coast. Inflation is high, and although vacations look great now, I question what will happen in the fall and winter when costs remain high.

Dog walks are also dropping off this summer because people are tightening their wallets. They’re saying things like, “My kids are home from school,” or “We’re traveling, so we’ll pause services.”

That’s why in Q1, we focused heavily on sales. If you haven’t already, go back and listen to the January through March episodes—they’re still highly relevant.

So today, let’s talk about how to restructure your pricing in this economy.

1. Do Your Homework

Before changing or setting prices, understand your business expenses—not just costs, but also the profit or savings you want to build.

I treat savings as an expense—it’s something I “pay” every month. That’s how you build a financial cushion, both for your business and yourself.

You’re in business to prosper—not to be a slave to your business or constantly in debt.

Do your homework: calculate the cost of goods sold, overhead, labor, memberships, marketing expenses, software, uniforms, and so on. Know your profit margin every month.

If you do both dog walking and pet sitting, break your P&L down by service. Understand where your revenue and costs truly are.

2. Don’t Consider Your Competition

This might surprise you, but I don’t care what your competition is doing—and neither should you.

The only time I cared what competitors charged was to make sure I charged $10 more.

Back in 2016, my lowest rate was $25 and my highest was $35. That was six years ago! If you’re still charging $25 today, that’s your wake-up call.

You have no idea what your competitor’s expenses, debts, or goals are. So why base your prices on their numbers?

Most competitors sell “dog walking and pet sitting.” But you’re selling an experience.

When you focus on solving emotional problems—peace of mind, reliability, quality care—you’re marketing to the affluent. You’re not just trading time for money.

Read No BS Marketing to the Affluent if you haven’t already. It’ll shift your mindset completely.

3. Think About Value

Value isn’t just about the service itself—it’s about the experience you provide.

Do your clients feel guilt-free because they know you’ve got everything handled while they’re in back-to-back meetings?

Do you make their life easier?

Are you seamless, reliable, and easy to book?

Do clients know exactly what to expect from you every time, or do they feel uncertain after every message?

Your perceived value is what people pay for. Communicate it clearly in your marketing.

4. Consider Staff Wages

Think not just about current wages but also where they’re heading.

To attract and retain quality staff, you must pay fairly—ideally with room to grow.

If you’ve taken my Pricing Structure & Strategy Class (available for $79 at jumpconsulting.net/shop), you know your labor should not exceed 40% of revenue.

Ideally, it should be around 32–35% so that even with taxes and increases, you stay under 40%.

Talk with your CPA about creative options like mileage reimbursement, gas stipends, or drive-time pay. There’s more than one way to support your team while staying profitable.

5. Create a Pricing Strategy

I’m not a fan of static, one-size-fits-all pricing.

People love feeling like they’re getting a deal—especially affluent clients. They hate being nickel-and-dimed, so keep it simple and transparent.

If your website has a dropdown of ten different services, you’re overwhelming people.

Instead, consolidate. Make it easy to understand.

When I ran my business, I had three tiers: $25, $33, and $35. I always started with the highest, then “discounted” it based on commitment or volume. Clients loved feeling like they were getting special treatment.

That’s what airlines and hotels do—everyone pays differently. So don’t be afraid to price strategically.

Inflate your base so you can offer flexible options or “discounts” without losing profitability.

Recap

If you’re rethinking your pricing structure in today’s economy:

Do your homework. Know your expenses and profit goals.

Ignore your competition. Focus on your own financial health.

Understand your value. Sell an experience, not a transaction.

Plan for staff wages. Think ahead and talk with your CPA.

Create a strategy. Make pricing simple, flexible, and confidence-building.

If you want to go deeper, we discuss financials and pricing every year in the Mastermind. Each year builds on the last, with new data and strategies.

Join us at jumpconsulting.net/mastermind. Monthly is $177, or get $50 off the annual plan.

You’ll learn how to grow sustainably, remove yourself from day-to-day tasks, and build a business that truly thrives.

If you have questions, email me at [email protected].

Before your next price increase, think about how you can color outside the lines. This is your business—you don’t have to do what I say,...

Does the thought of creating an SOP for your pet sitting business leave you feeling overwhelmed? Or have you hired an office manager but had that completely blow up in your face due to the lack of an SOP? Or even worse, take the route of starting to create one, just to end up with an unfinished mess of documents that serve the business no purpose.

While it may sound intimidating, an SOP will make everything run much smoother.

SOP For Your Pet Sitting Business

An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure that is essential for making sure all of your operations are carried out in a consistent and efficient manner.  By having an SOP in place, everyone on your team will be following the same procedures and guidelines. This week I am helping understand the process of creating and executing this document step by step.

Biggest Takeaways:

For a business owner, being able to delegate means you are able to work on your business rather than in your business. But without an SOP you cannot delegate to your team. With the right steps, creating an SOP for your pet sitting business will establish a cohesive understanding for all staff members.

How you create your SOP will be determined by certain criteria:

What is the goal of an SOP?

What platform will you use to execute this document?

How will you implement it?

What steps do you need to include?

A fluid, changeable document that will evolve with your business and define duties and roles, will establish a smooth process for staff, clients, and business owners alike.

Recommendations:

Mastermind members have access to premium recommendations when it comes to creating an SOP for their pet sitting business. They have the support of fellow members while also gaining knowledge and advice from experts who have been in this industry for many years. It's a community worth checking out.

Jumpers have exclusive insight into how to execute their business processes in a way that gains them, clients and employees. I work with many business owners one on one to achieve goals and solve problems that have been holding them back from growing. I offer a free 20-minute call to get to know you and your business. I'll lead you in the right direction and see if the Jumper community is the right fit for you.

Links:

Mastermind

Better Marketing With Bella

Episode 293: 4 Mistakes When Hiring An Office Manager

Gingr Pet-Care Software

Transcript:

This is episode 295 of Bella in Your Business.

Do you wish running your pet care business was easier? Well, it can be. Made by pet lovers for pet lovers, Ginger is the top pet care software for dog grooming, boarding, and daycare businesses. Developed by a team of pet industry experts, Ginger is designed to meet all of your needs with online booking, facility calendars, integrated payments, and more. Get the best pet care business software that gets you. Get Ginger.

Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim that one free month subscription.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs.

In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. I'm back with you here today and I'm so excited to talk to you about the process of creating an SOP for your business.

If you remember back in episode 293, we talked about the mistakes that people make with their office manager. Well, I got questions like, “How do we actually get it down in writing?” and “What do we actually do to delegate that out?”

It just so happens that this month is actually Delegation Month in the Mastermind. Every single month we have different themes, and we tend to recreate them every single year—but with new information. So when I say the Mastermind has been around for five years, and that we have five years’ worth of delegation information, it’s true. Every year, we add more and more.

Before we dive into today’s topic, let’s define SOP. You’ve probably heard it online, in Facebook groups, at conferences, in books, or on podcasts.

An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure—it’s how you proceed to operate your business. It’s essential for ensuring that all of your operations are carried out in a consistent and effective manner.

Think of McDonald’s. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a McDonald’s in Scottsdale, Arizona, your town, or Germany—a Big Mac is a Big Mac. You know what to expect because everything follows the same SOP.

As this relates to your pet sitting and dog walking business, SOPs are the difference between a client knowing that no matter who you send, they’ll have the same experience—same communication, same level of care, same cleanliness, same everything.

Your workers will love it because they’ll know what’s expected of them. Your clients will love it because they’ll always get the same great experience.

Think back to those clients who only want one sitter and panic if you send someone else. That happens because one sitter is going above and beyond—they’ve personalized the job instead of following the SOP. Or maybe a client feels another sitter doesn’t do as “good” of a job because that sitter is following the SOP.

You see what I’m saying? SOPs level things out.

Now, even though I’m talking about dog walkers and pet sitters, SOPs are even more crucial for office management.

If you have a training manual, that’s basically your SOP. Don’t duplicate it. Training manuals and SOPs are often interchangeable. I see people write both and overwhelm their staff. Please don’t do that.

I have some tips for creating and executing an SOP for your business. I have five written here in my notes—but as you know, sometimes I go off-script, so we’ll see where this goes.

1. Define the Purpose of the SOP

Before you start, define the purpose of the document. What’s the goal? What do you hope to achieve? Once you clearly understand the purpose, you can start writing.

Let’s use office managers as an example. Delegation—the focus of this month in the Mastermind—requires SOPs. You can’t delegate effectively without them.

You can’t expect someone to just walk in and write an SOP because they’re often written in technical language.

Your SOP should appeal to all learning styles. Use the trifecta:

Audio/Visual: Record a video.

Visual: Include screenshots or photos.

Written: Provide text instructions.

Not everyone learns the same way, so combining formats increases success.

2. List All Relevant Procedures

Get out your notepad, your phone, or a whiteboard. This is a brainstorming exercise—no wrong answers.

Write down every single procedure you do in your office—everything.

Examples:

How to cancel a booking.

How to set up a new client.

How to answer the phone.

How to deal with a customer complaint.

How to respond to an email.

Then, over the next week, as you work, ask yourself, “Is this in the SOP?”

This ensures nothing is forgotten and keeps your SOP comprehensive.

3. Write Out Step-by-Step Details

Once you have your list, write each one out in clear, step-by-step detail. Include all relevant information like passwords, logins, or access instructions.

Here’s my favorite method: Record a Loom video while performing the task. Talk through it:

“In this video, I’m going to show you how to cancel a booking in Precise Pet Care.”

Then, download that Loom and store it in Google Drive.

Next, hire a freelance technical writer to turn your video into written SOPs. I have someone I recommend exclusively to my Jumpers—she’s worked with many pet care companies and understands the industry.

This saves you hours of typing. You’re literally doing the task while documenting it.

That’s your SOP for creating SOPs.

4. Create a System for Implementation

Now that you’ve defined, listed, and detailed your SOPs, you need a system to house them.

Popular options include:

Google Sites: Part of G Suite. It’s like an internal website with easy navigation, YouTube embedding, and visuals.

Process Street, ClickUp, or Monday.com: These platforms are excellent for organizing SOPs interactively.

In the Mastermind, we’ve trained members on each of these systems, with real examples from pet-sitting businesses.

You can also find challenges and templates there to help structure your SOPs by category.

5. Review and Update Regularly

SOPs aren’t static—they’re living documents.

Set a calendar reminder every six months to review them.

Also, anytime you update instructions for staff, immediately update your SOP.

At Jump Consulting, my SOP used to be 210 pages for three business divisions:

Better Marketing with Bella (marketing agency)

The Mastermind (community)

Intensives + Podcast Coaching

It’s probably over 300 pages now, split into three Google Sites—because one giant doc became overwhelming.

Use password managers like LastPass instead of spreadsheets for logins. Each project manager has access through shared folders.

Remember: this is analytical, not creative work. It can feel tedious, but it’s vital for scaling.

If you don’t want to make the same mistakes from episode 293 when hiring an office manager, create these SOPs first.

Next week, I’ll be back to talk about creating a pricing structure in today’s economy.

Guys, there’s a lot happening right now. Don’t get tunnel vision thinking, “Woohoo, we’re up because of summer travel!”

Yes, pet sitting is booming, but dog walks are starting to drop off. With remote work, people need new reasons to hire you.

We’re also approaching a potential recession....

If I asked you today, "how do your books look?" or "did you have any big surprises from your taxes?" would either of those questions confuse you? Scare you? Leave you feeling a bit unsure? That might sound invasive, but to evaluate your business, you have to be in the know of these aspects. You are not alone if you find this area tough to evaluate, but there is someone who can help you manage it all... your CPA.

Owning a pet business can be extremely rewarding, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Keeping good books being one of them. One of the most important aspects of running a pet business is making sure you have a good relationship with your CPA. However, many business owners make these mistakes every year, which can damage this relationship and their business.

I know tax season may have come to an end, but it actually is perfect timing for you to meet with your CPA. Or maybe you have your extension until October. Either way, in this episode I will encourage you to talk with your CPA to avoid these 4 horrendous mistakes too many business owners are making.

Biggest Takeaways:

I know some business owners are paralyzed in fear when it comes to their finances, I get it. However, you need someone, the right someone, to be in your corner to answer all the questions that you need to know to ensure your business, your finances, and your livelihood are taken care of. A business owner should ensure they are taken care of all around.

How often do you speak with your CPA?

Have you ever been surprised by a big tax bill?

Do you know what is a right off?

What options do you have for incentives for your staff?

What about SCorp Vs LLC?

There are 4 huge mistakes being made when thinking about the questions above, and I do not want to see you repeat any of them. There are ways to avoid them and confirm your business continues on the right path.

Recommendations:

Mastermind just welcomed a large group of new (and old) jumpers into the community. Here all of their HR questions will be answered with accountability partners to keep them on track. If you have been on the fence check out the Mastermind group and see if it's the right fit for you and your business.

Are you looking for more depth? I offer two great options to spend 1:1 time with me picking apart my brain and helping you achieve goals to enhance your business. Whether you choose 6, 45 min zoom meetings or an in-person session where I come to you (or you come to me!) we can plan and achieve exactly what you want for you and your business.

I am getting ready to start up semester 2 of Better Marketing With Bella! Good news, I have space for a couple more! You may have put the brakes on marketing while you were trying to hire, it is time to hit the gas! In Better Marketing With Bella, 6 months of your content is created for specifically you. You will also learn how to execute it all. Bonus... we have reels this semester too!

Links:

Better Marketing With Bella

Mastermind

Episode 272: How To Keep A Victorious Mindset About Your Business Life

Episode 273: Are You An Order Taker Or A Problem Solver?

Connie Story

Pricing Guide Structure and Strategy

(6) 45 min 1:1 intensive sessions

Gingr Pet-Care Software

Transcript:

This is episode 294 of Bella in Your Business.

You love to take care of the pets but not the busy work that comes with running a pet care business. Meet Ginger, the best-in-show dog daycare, boarding, and grooming software. Ginger is packed with time-saving features that make running your pet care business easier—and your customers will love booking appointments from the Pet Parent mobile app. More tail wags, less busy work. Say hello to simplicity with Ginger.

Visit gingerapp.com/bella to claim your free one-month subscription. That’s G-I-N-G-R-A-P-P.com/bella to claim that one-month free subscription.

Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump.

Welcome back to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. I'm your host, your coach, your cheerleader, and your butt kicker.

I want to say a big welcome to June. Welcome to summer! Depending on where you’re at, you’re either gearing up for school to end or school has already ended if you have school-aged children. If you don’t, well, you don’t. But nonetheless, summer is coming—and guys, I continue to predict what’s happening.

I’m not saying this to pat myself on the back, but to make you really think about it. Because this past week, I’ve had two people come to me saying the exact same thing: “Oh my God, Bella, people are canceling their walks. Walks are going down right now! My dog walking business is freaking out—I don’t have enough for my staff!”

Well guys, back on episodes 272 and 273, I was telling you this was going to happen. I said back in February that dog walking would slow down this summer.

Here’s why: people are traveling more, so they cut their dog walker. Or kids are home, so they do it themselves. Or schoolteachers and stay-at-home parents take over pet care during summer. It’s temporary—it will pick back up—but it’s your job to stay connected with those clients.

It’s also your job to have started the whole sales process months ago—doing the things I mentioned in episodes 272 and 273. Remember those sitter messages like, “Hey, Fluffy was really mad at me that I wasn’t here yesterday, and I had to explain that Mom didn’t have me booked!”

These subtle messages drive rebookings.

If you’re a dog walking company turning down vacation clients because you don’t want to do AM, PM, or weekends, you’re missing opportunities. Vacation clients can be a huge source of revenue if you get creative.

Every decision you make should align with your 90-day goals. That’s the first thing we do in the Mastermind—because your brain can grasp 90 days. You can envision where you’ll be by September, but not necessarily June 2025.

And speaking of the Mastermind—drum roll, please!—we just welcomed a whole bunch of new members. Some joined for a year (which I recommend because it shows commitment), and some upgraded from monthly to annual.

Welcome to:

Christopher Cooper from Glad Wags

Morag Wilcox from York Professional Pet Sitting (welcome back!)

Linda Gregerson from Doggies Big Day

Connie Alicia Bov—one of my favorites, you’ve heard me talk about her before!

Cicilia Tyson from Paws Oasis

Gwen Faircloth from A Dog’s Dish

Renee Mena from Almost Home Pet Resort

Catherine Perez from Golden Tails Dog Walking in Miami and Colorado

You can still get in! If you want $50 off every month, sign up annually—it’s only $122 per month ($1,524 one-time). Go to jumpconsulting.net/mastermind. You’ll get:

90-day goals

Accountability partners

Hot seats with guests

Monthly themes and organized training

HR support and much more

Now, let’s get into today’s topic: Four Horrendous Mistakes Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers Make with Their CPA.

These are real mistakes I see every single year. Hopefully, if you got an extension until October, or you’re planning ahead, this episode will help you avoid those “Oh no, how do I pay this?” moments.

Because let’s be honest—owning a pet business is a lot of work. You’re caring for animals, managing schedules, and keeping books. But one of the biggest things people neglect? Their CPA.

1. Not Planning Estimated Quarterly Taxes

Your CPA can only be as good as what you give them. Think of them as a sandcastle builder: they can only build with the tools you provide. If you only give them a shovel and a pail, that’s all they can use. But if you give them an entire toolset—detailed bookkeeping, reports, and organization—they can build something great.

A bookkeeper gives your CPA those tools. You need both.

If you’re shocked every April because you “owe the IRS so much,” it’s probably because you haven’t been planning quarterly.

You should review your P&L and say, “We’re tracking 45% up from last year.” Great—but that means your tax estimate from last year is now 45% off.

Talk to your CPA at least quarterly.

2. Not Paying Monthly or Quarterly Taxes

If you’re not paying monthly or quarterly, you’re likely racking up penalties and interest.

Even if you didn’t know, the government assumes you did—and they’ll charge you for it.

Talk to your CPA about the best frequency for your situation. For some, it’s quarterly; for S-Corps, it might be monthly.

If you’re unsure, ask questions like:

“Should I pay for mileage or reimburse?”

“Should I give a flat gas stipend?”

“Should I pay for time and mileage or one or the other?”

Every situation is different. Don’t take random advice from Facebook groups.

3. Not Having Quarterly Meetings with Your CPA

You should be meeting with your CPA four times a year. Put those appointments on your calendar now.

I also recommend having a separate bookkeeper from your CPA. It’s cheaper and creates a healthy checks-and-balances system.

I’ve had my bookkeeper for over five years. She knows my business intimately—what’s important to me, my risk tolerance, my quirks. She’s a sounding board.

That’s why I prefer my CPA and bookkeeper to be independent of each other—it’s balance and perspective.

If you’re not meeting regularly, you’re missing strategic opportunities—like deciding when to buy a vehicle or how to handle rising gas prices.

4. Not Filing as an S-Corp

Eventually, your business will outgrow its tax structure. Filing as an S-Corp can save you thousands in double self-employment tax.

...