In this episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I break down one of the toughest and most defining phases for pet care business owners: the $100,000 to $200,000 revenue stage. This is the season where owners are often stuck with one foot in the field and one foot in administration, trying to juggle everything while building a team of three to seven people.

I share the risks, bottlenecks, and strategies to help you break through this phase and set your business up for long-term growth. If you are feeling stuck in the whirlwind of daily tasks or struggling to retain staff while keeping clients happy, this episode is for you.

👉 And do not forget, the DogCo Business Summit is almost here! Join us in Winston-Salem, NC or online from September 26 to 28. Tickets are almost gone, so secure yours today at: http://dogcosummit.com

✨ Key Takeaways
• The $100K to $200K phase is one of the hardest growth seasons in pet care businesses
• Owners often get stuck juggling fieldwork and administrative work, limiting growth
• Lack of systems and SOPs can hurt client experience and stall retention
• Protecting windows of time for business-building is essential
• Two hiring pathways: keeping full-time clients vs creating stability for staff
• Retention improves when you prioritize stability for your team
• Running lean financially may be necessary to push past this bottleneck
• Focus on building scalable systems to avoid chaos as you grow

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome to the Scaling Series
0:37 Why the $100K to $200K phase is unique
1:15 Building teams of 3 to 7 employees
2:04 The hardest season of Michelle’s business journey
3:02 Why owners get stuck between fieldwork and admin
4:05 The “whirlwind” that pulls you under
5:15 Decline in client experience without systems
6:32 Risks of staying too tied to fieldwork
7:48 Pathway one: keeping clients and giving staff leftovers
9:03 Pathway two: stability for staff, overflow for the owner
10:21 Why dog walking focus can stabilize growth
11:25 The power of SOPs and documented systems
12:40 Running lean to break through the $200K ceiling
13:55 Encouragement and strategy to push forward

🚨 Final Call: DogCo Summit is Almost Here! 🚨
The industry’s most powerful event is happening September 26 to 28 in Winston-Salem, NC. Whether you join in-person or online, you will walk away with strategies to grow your pet care business with confidence. Seats are almost gone, so grab your ticket today at: http://dogcosummit.com

Do you have software for scaling your pet care business? Check out my friends at Time to Pet - use my affiliate code and receive a free trial: www.timetopet.com/dogco

🎧 Also, listen to this podcast episode on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

-M