DogCo Secrets

In this Hot Take episode, I reflect on the single biggest leadership lesson I'm taking from 2025 into 2026 in leadership: the power of clarity.

After returning to building a team following time as a solo founder, I'll share an honest look at what changed between an early hiring misstep and a year of rapid, healthy growth at DogCo. With a growing team and expanding responsibilities, I'll breaks down why clarity, context, and intentional onboarding are not optional leadership skills, but foundational ones.

This episode explores:

In this episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I sit down with Dan Reitman, owner of Dan’s Pet Care, to unpack a Facebook post he shared in my community that deeply resonated across the pet care industry.

What started as a message to dog walkers and pet sitters working through Thanksgiving turned into a powerful conversation about conviction, sales, mindset, and how tools like AI can help service-based businesses grow without sacrificing integrity.

Dan shares the real story behind a Black Friday campaign that generated over $100,000 in four days, why sales isn’t a dirt...

We are officially stepping into a new year, and in this episode, I want to talk about how to make 2026 a year that actually feels different. Not just busier, not just louder, but more intentional, more impactful, and more aligned with what you really want from your business and your life.

I walk you through three specific shifts I believe make the biggest difference for entrepreneurs, especially pet care business owners who are scaling and carrying a lot of responsibility. These are changes I am actively focusing on myself, and they are rooted in...

2025 stretched me, refined me, and clarified what actually matters. In this episode, I am reflecting out loud on the wins I am proud of, the areas where I fell short, and the lessons I am carrying into 2026 as a founder, coach, and human. If you are closing out a demanding year and thinking deeply about how you want to grow next, this conversation is for you.

This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at health, momentum, leadership, systems, and what it really takes to build something sustainable without burning yourself out.

✨ Ke...

In today’s Hot Take Friday episode, I am sharing three specific, tactical things I want you to focus on next year if your goal is to increase profit in your pet care business. These are not abstract ideas or long-term theories. These are levers you can actually pull, starting now, that I see move the needle for companies over and over again.

I am talking about labor costs, recurring service models, and before and after hours fees, and I am being very direct about where I see businesses getting stuck, what growth will no...

Automation is not always about doing more faster. It is about getting your time back so your business can actually support your life.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, mentor, and DogCo automation expert Robert Strickland to talk about how pet care business owners can use systems, AI, and intentional automation to reduce burnout, reclaim time, and scale sustainably.

Robert shares his journey from corporate process work to building and scaling a multi-state pet care business, and how automation became the unlock that changed everything. If you feel buried by daily operations...

If you have the ambition to grow a seven-figure pet care business, I want to share a few ways I would encourage you to start operating right now, even if that level still feels far off.

In today’s Hot Take episode, I break down three core behaviors I consistently see in companies that successfully scale past the seven-figure mark. This is not about chasing growth for growth’s sake. It is about learning to think long term, to build the right systems early, and to prepare your business for volume before it arrives.

If you...

What if your business could support your life instead of consuming it?

In this episode, I sit down with Angela Watts to talk about what it really looks like to intentionally design your role inside your business, rather than letting the business dictate every hour of your time. Angela shares her full journey from early hustle, burnout, and chaos to building systems, leadership, and a role that protects her energy while supporting real growth.

This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, delegation, community, and why you cannot scale chaos, but you can scale systems...

The holidays are here, and if you run a pet care company, you already know this season can feel like a beautiful mix of gratitude, chaos, logistics, and stress. In today’s Hot Take episode, I am breaking down the most effective ways I have found to support your team during the busiest and most emotionally loaded weeks of the year. This is one of the most important leadership topics we cover inside DogCo because the way you show up for your staff during the holidays has a ripple effect on retention, culture, and the trust people place in yo...

Most pet care owners do not have a planning problem - they have a rushing problem. In this episode, I break down the five skills that separate reactive business owners from strategic ones. If you want 2026 to be your strongest year yet, it starts with learning how to slow down, follow the data thread, ask the right questions, and manufacture real accountability.

If you want support in scaling your team-based pet care business in 2026, enrollment for DogCo Mastermind is open now. Apply at 👉 http://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome to the episode
0:15 Why I am...

In this Hot Take Friday episode, I am sharing three honest truths that I wish I could tell coaching clients when they are deep in the struggle. These are insights I hold closely in my own business, and they shape how I coach, how I lead, and how I navigate hard seasons. Some of these truths are not always easy to hear in the moment, but they absolutely transform how you show up in your business long term.

If you ever feel like you are carrying too much, worrying about things you cannot control, or frustrated by...

If you have ever wondered whether you can turn a struggling pet care business into a strong, scalable company, this episode is for you. Today I sit down with my friend, DogCo Team Member, and DogCo Mastermind member, Lauren Dunkle, to unpack one of the most inspiring business transformations I have ever witnessed. Lauren went from ending a year at a major financial loss with a 78 percent labor cost to becoming profitable, paying herself a real salary, and building a team with insane retention.

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome and why this episode matters
0:17 Meet guest Lauren Dunkle Duration: 00:37:48

In today’s Hot Take Friday episode, I am slowing down a bit and sharing something personal. This week felt like the perfect time to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about what I am most thankful for inside DogCo right now. Running a relational business can be messy and beautiful all at once, and I wanted to bring you behind the scenes of what that looks like for me.

If you are growing a pet care company and feeling stuck, tired, or unsure of what comes next, I hope this episode encourages you to look at wh...

If you are building a long-lasting, scalable, and stable pet care company, you will love this conversation with Kristin Skelton, founder of Floofins and Company. We talk about starting small, growing a team, planning for long-term success, navigating seasons of life and business, creating a supportive network, and building a business that supports your life. This episode is packed with insight for pet care owners who want to think bigger heading into 2026. 

📣 Ready to grow your business in 2025? Join the DogCo Mastermind.
Mastermind enrollment page is dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome and introduction to Kri...

In today’s Hot Tip episode, I am walking you through a 2026 financial planning crash course. We are only weeks away from a brand new year, which means this is the perfect moment to take stock of your finances, tighten up your money systems, and set yourself up to scale with confidence.

I am sharing the exact things I am doing inside DogCo as we grow our team. These are the foundations I believe every pet care business should have in place before the new year hits.

This episode will help you get crystal clear on...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, long time client, and now DogCo team member, Maris Sonnabend, to talk about the real journey of scaling a pet care business, navigating big life changes, and building a company that truly supports your future.

Maris shares how she went from doing everything herself to running a thriving team of 27, stepping out of the field, taking maternity leave, and now using her experience to help other companies grow through DogCo.

If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next move, this conversation is...

In this week’s Hot Take episode, I want to talk about what happens when you’re halfway in on your business, and why that middle ground is the hardest place to be.

I’ve had seasons where I was half-in and half-out, and they were always the most exhausting, confusing, and least successful seasons of my life. I’ll share a conversation I had with my husband that changed the way I approach my work, and how giving myself permission to go all in on DogCo completely shifted my momentum.

If you’re feeling to...

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next level isn’t strategy, but self-belief? In this episode, I dive into how mindset shapes growth. Not only in business, but in how you define what’s possible for your company.

I think its critical to reframe self-talk like “Can I do this?” into “What would it take to do this?” I share how this subtle shift can change everything about the way you lead, grow, and scale. If you’re ready to reframe the way that you think about your own capabilities, this one’s for you.

✨...

If you’ve ever struggled to figure out how much time off to allow your team, this episode is for you. In today’s Hot Take Friday, I’m unpacking one of the most common challenges in the pet care industry: balancing flexibility for your team with the operational consistency your business needs.

I’ll share how I structured time-off requests in my own pet care company, what systems made it easier, and why focusing on clarity instead of control is the key to reducing burnout and building trust.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Shift...

The DogCo Business Summit 2025 was one of the most impactful experiences of my career, and today I’m taking you behind the scenes. From the original seed of the idea at a pet industry conference in LA, to seeing over 150 pet care business owners come together in one space, I’m unpacking how this event came to life, what I learned, and where DogCo is heading next.

If you’ve ever dreamed about creating something bigger than yourself or wondered what it looks like to lead a movement inside an industry that’s still evolving, this episode is for y...

In this week’s Hot Take Friday episode, I’m sharing the single most powerful marketing strategy I’d focus on if I were growing my pet care business again. Spoiler alert: it’s not another social media trend. It’s about going deep, not wide, building real relationships in your community that create lasting brand trust.

I walk through how to make your brand known in your area, how to connect your personal and business identities in a way that earns loyalty, and why the human side of your company is about to become your biggest competitiv...

Feeling stuck in your business? In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact framework I use when growth stalls,  and how to identify what’s really holding your business back. Whether it’s staffing, marketing, or mindset, these strategies will help you pinpoint the problem, focus your energy, and accelerate forward with clarity and confidence.

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – What causes bottlenecks in business
0:48 – Feeling stuck and identifying the root issue
2:20 – How to pinpoint your real constraint
3:30 – Why growth stalls even when leads increase
5:05 – The staffing bottleneck most owners miss
7:01 – How to simplify your focus and accele...

In today’s Hot Take episode, I’m talking about one of the most important and misunderstood parts of running a profitable pet care business: pricing strategy.

So many business owners shy away from offering discounts or deals because they’re afraid it will hurt their margins. But what if you could build flexibility into your pricing from the start? In this episode, I break down exactly how to price your services to protect your profit while giving yourself room to test creative offers, run seasonal promotions, and attract new clients without cutting into your b...

As 2025 starts winding down, I’m sharing my personal 60-day plan for closing out the year strong. After an incredible DogCo Summit, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to finish well, to be intentional, to re-center, and to set a solid foundation for the new year.

In this episode, I walk through the exact three areas I’m focused on to wrap up the year with clarity and momentum, and the three things I’m putting in place to set up 2026 for success. Whether you’re running a growing pet care business or managing your own entrep...

In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I tackle one of the most common and most misunderstood questions I get from growing pet care business owners: “Should I expand my service area?”

If you have been feeling the pull to grow into a new market or add another location, this episode is for you. I share my own experience of opening and later closing a second territory, and the lessons I learned about the real costs of expansion, including the hidden risks to your focus, team performance, and profit margin.

✨ What You’ll Learn Duration: 00:09:06

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with my client and friend Abby Strong, the owner of Auntie Abby’s Professional Pet Sitting Service in Des Moines, Iowa. Over the past six years, Abby has transformed her business from a solo operation into a thriving, multi-employee pet care company serving hundreds of clients, and she’s done it with incredible intentionality, heart, and leadership, and is scaling rapidly to the 7 Figure mark in her pet care business.

We talk about what it really takes to scale while staying true to your values, the fear and freedom of lett...

This episode is a repost from May 9, 2025 - new content will resume again October 13, 2025!

This week’s hot take? Data. Why it matters, how to use it, and the seven essential metrics you should know to make faster, smarter decisions in your business—without drowning in spreadsheets or chasing perfection.

📈 If the phrase “track your KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, I gets it. But in this bite-sized episode, I'll cut through the noise and shares quick + dirty math strategies that will help you:

 • Protect your profit

 • Diagnose weak spots

...

This episode was originally posted on June 9, 2025. We felt that it was appropriate to resurface after Joey's amazing contribution to the DogCo Business Summit!

Hi everyone! Michelle here. Today’s episode is a big one. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joey Coleman, renowned speaker and bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. Joey is not only a master of customer experience—he’s also someone who fundamentally understands how to make people feel seen, valued, and loyal from Day One.

We talk through everything from w...

If you’ve ever wondered how much you should invest in your own growth, this one’s for you. In today’s short, impactful episode, I'll make a case for putting your money where your mindset is by setting aside a clear percentage of revenue to level up your personal and professional skills. I'll break down what “investing in yourself” really means, why it matters so much for your business’s success, and how to get over the barriers that keep most people from doing it.

💥 Key Takeaways:

Today is the day! The DogCo Business Summit officially kicks off today, and I am beyond excited. Whether you are already in Winston-Salem or following along from home, I want to help you squeeze every ounce of value out of this event.

In this Hot Take episode, I share exactly how to make the most of your investment. From building meaningful connections to taking advantage of the event social pages, to setting yourself up for success after the Summit wraps, this is your roadmap for leaving the weekend with practical steps, deeper relationships, and renewed energy...

Scaling from $750,000 to 1 million in annual revenue is one of the most exciting and challenging stages of building a pet care business. At this level, small cracks in your systems, finances, and brand become massive risks, and the wrong move can cost you hard-earned growth. In this episode, I break down what it really takes to cross the seven-figure line without losing profit, clarity, or sanity. 

👉 And don’t forget, the DogCo Business Summit is this week! Check out the online event with our digital ticket at http://dogcosummit.com

✨ Key Takeaways
• How to avoid syst...

In this Hot Tip Friday episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am breaking down the two most important metrics for your business: client retention and employee retention. These numbers matter more than any other because they shape the long-term health, profitability, and stability of your company.

I’ll share why focusing on retention is the fastest way to build sustainable revenue, how to calculate the true lifetime value of your clients, and what it really costs when you lose a team member. Plus, I’ll give you three practical strategies to improve retention for both clients and...

In this episode of Scaling Series, we are tackling one of the most pivotal phases in pet care business growth, the $500k to $750k window.

This is where owners face critical inflection points around management teams, systems, retention, and data tracking. I will walk you through the biggest risks that can keep you stuck and the solutions that can unlock long-term growth. If you are ready to push past bottlenecks and set your company up for success, this episode is for you.

📢 And do not forget, the DogCo Business Summit is almost here! Join us Sep...

In this episode, I’m digging into one of the most common priorities I hear from pet care business owners: attracting more dog walking clients. But here’s the kicker, you might be accidentally turning them away with the way your brand is positioned.

I share insights from scaling my own dog walking company to 25 staff and 600 clients before selling it in 2023, plus what I see inside businesses I coach every day. From how your business name communicates what you do, to how your website prioritizes services, to how your client onboarding either welcomes or repels dog walk...

In today’s episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am diving into what I call the $300K to $500K window of growth for your pet care business, which I call "The Scaling Runway". This is one of the most critical and often chaotic seasons for pet care companies. If you are in this phase, you’re likely facing bottlenecks with admin support, burnout, client retention challenges, and the delicate balance of investing in structure without overextending.

I’ll share what I see over and over again from working with hundreds of pet care businesses, and I’ll give...

📚 In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I am sharing three books that completely reshaped how I think about business, leadership, and growth. These books created turning points for me, helping me redefine my role as a business owner, figure out how to allocate my resources more effectively, and craft offers that truly resonate with clients. 

If you are looking for inspiration and practical takeaways from proven business minds, this episode is for you.

✨ Key Highlights

• Why The E-Myth Revisited redefined my relationship to my business

• How The 80/20 Principle gave me a...

Hey there! I'm Michelle Kline, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch. This episode is part of our Scaling Series, where I break down the phases of growth for pet care companies. Today we’re diving into the $200K–$300K revenue stage. This is such an exciting time in your business, but it comes with new challenges around structure, team management, admin systems, and focus.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the whirlwind of scheduling, admin, or hiring, this one is for you. I’ll share the biggest risks I see in this sta...

Hi friends, Michelle Kline here, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch. In this week’s Hot Tip Friday episode, I am pulling back the curtain on a powerful moment from this summer when I had the opportunity to workshop my own business directly with Alex Hormozi at his Acquisition Workshop.

I share three big insights that left a lasting impact on me and that I believe will help you rethink how you are running and scaling your pet care business:

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Wh...

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...

🔥 Your ego can be your biggest battle or your biggest breakthrough. In this week’s Hot Tip Friday, I'll share one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as a business owner: how to battle ego and embrace true open-mindedness. From realizing I wasn’t as openminded as I thought, to working through defensiveness, emotional decision-making, and my fear of data, I'll get personal about what it takes to grow.

In this episode, I unpack 3 actionable strategies to quiet the ego and develop a healthier mindset:

✅ Stay genuinely curious and listen to feedback
✅ Step...

Are you running your pet care business solo and wondering how to scale without burning out? 🐾 In this episode, I'm kicking off the Scaling Series by breaking down the path from solopreneur to team growth. Whether you love working solo or are ready to build your dream team, this episode is packed with practical steps, key risks, and real-world strategies to help you thrive.

And don’t forget, the DogCo Business Summit is almost here! Join us in Winston-Salem, NC or online from September 26–28. Get your ticket today at 👉 http://dogcosummit.com

✨ Key Takeaways
• Solopreneurs c...

In this Hot Tip Friday episode of the DogCo Secrets Podcast, I am breaking down the top three things I consistently see in seven-figure pet care companies that set them apart. These are not abstract ideas. They are actionable strategies that can help you scale faster, avoid costly mistakes, and run a business you truly love.

From building rock-solid systems to staying ahead of problems before they happen, to removing fear-based decision making, these are the moves that separate thriving companies from those stuck in survival mode. Whether you are on your way to your first $100K...

🎯 Feeling pulled in a thousand directions? You are not alone. In this episode, I'll share my personal journey of wrestling with focus, straight from working alongside top entrepreneurs like Alex Hormozi and Evelyn Weiss. This is not just another productivity pep talk. It is a deep dive into 5 powerful questions every pet care business owner should be asking to protect their time, energy, and impact.

With the DogCo Summit just weeks away, now is the time to get laser-focused on what truly moves the needle in your business. Join me for this timely conversation and walk away wit...

Are you expecting your team to care as much as you do?

In this Hot Tip Friday episode of DogCo Secrets, I share one of the most important mindset shifts I’ve made as a pet care business owner, realizing that my team’s outside-of-work interests are not a threat to my business, but a key to long-term retention and healthy company culture.

If you’ve ever been frustrated that employees don’t “step up” in the same way you do, this episode will challenge and encourage you. I dive into how unrealistic expectations...

In this episode of DogCo Secrets, I’m walking you through 10 money strategies that will keep your pet care business winning. We’re talking about everything from bookkeeping must-haves to daily money habits, mindset shifts, and practical systems you can put in place this week. If you’ve ever felt stressed about cash flow, profit margins, or paying yourself confidently, this episode will give you clarity and actionable next steps.

These are the exact strategies I’ve seen transform struggling businesses into thriving ones. Whether you’re running a dog walking company, pet sitting business, or any service-ba...

This episode is a repost of Episode 11 - one of THE most listened to and implemented episodes to date. Resurfacing because I believe this content is valuable enough to share twice.

💸 Want to make more money on your pet sitting services?

LFG.

In this hot-take mini episode, I share one powerful pricing strategy that helped a pet care company I work with go from $35,000 in net profit to $150,000 in a single year, without increasing staff or adding complexity. (and yes - I said NET PROFIT.)

Whether you’re deep into...

Want to scale your pet care business to seven figures and beyond? In this episode of DogCo Secrets, I talk with Rachel Eaton, founder of We Let The Dogs Out, about how she transformed a small pet care company into a thriving, community-focused empire.

This episode is part of our new series highlighting 7-Figure DogCo businesses and their path to success. If you want to get more connected to leaders like Rachel - grab your ticket to the DogCo Business Summit now at dogcosummit.com to learn directly from leaders like Rachel.

🔥 Episode Takeaways
• How R...

Hey friends, it’s Michelle Kline, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch, where I help pet care businesses grow and scale. Today’s Hot Tip is all about the underrated, often-overlooked power of in-person connection.

Whether it’s your marketing, your client retention, or your own growth as a business owner, in-person experiences will always outpace digital. In this quick but loaded episode, I’ll walk through three specific areas where showing up face-to-face gives you an irreplaceable edge:

✨ Getting better testimonials and driving new leads
✨ Building deeper, long...

Welcome back to the DogCo Secrets Podcast! In this special episode, I sat down with financial educator and profit strategist Jamie Trull to talk about all things money, mindset, and mastering your business finances. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to get control of your cash flow at scale, Jamie breaks it down with practical, empathetic insight. This is a must-listen for every business owner, especially those of us in pet care who often fly by the seat of our QuickBooks.

💡 Spoiler: It’s not about being “good with numbers.” It’s about systems, support, and shifting...

Hey everyone, Michelle Kline here, host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast and founder of DogCo Launch, where I help pet care companies grow and scale sustainably.

In today’s episode, I’m diving into one of the most important mindset shifts you can make as a business owner: stop chasing shiny marketing tactics and start going deeper into what you’ve already committed to. This episode is a call to action for pet business owners who feel stuck in a cycle of starting and stopping new strategies before they’ve had a real chance to work.

We’re...

Ever feel like you’re on the edge but don’t know if it’s burnout or just the next level? In this episode, I get personal. I’m pulling back the curtain on some of the hardest seasons of my professional life, from my years in social work to the aftermath of the pandemic while running my pet care business. We’re talking real burnout: the signs, the sneaky symptoms, and the mindset shifts that saved me.

I also walk through what I’ve learned in my journey as a founder and business coach: how to spot the dif...

Welcome back to your Friday Hot Tip! In this episode, I’m breaking down three of the most practical, boots-on-the-ground marketing strategies that helped me (and my clients) saturate a specific service area with brand visibility.

If you’re running an in-home pet care company, you know that location matters. That’s why today we’re talking about how to make your brand pop in the exact neighborhoods you want to dominate.

I’ll walk you through how to use flyers, yard signs, and car magnets in strategic, intentional ways to get the most out o...

Hey friends, Michelle Kline here. Today’s episode is a vulnerable one. I’m pulling back the curtain and talking honestly about several realization I’ve had in my own business (I’ve been the one in the way).

This isn’t just a strategy conversation. It’s a personal check-in. I’m sharing what it’s looked like for me to confront habits, mindsets, and leadership patterns that were unintentionally holding DogCo back. If you’ve ever felt like your business can’t grow unless you do, this one’s for you.

My hope is that this episode g...

Take a breath. We’re halfway through the year, and this episode is your invitation to pause and reflect. I’m walking you through how I’m setting aside two full days to audit my business, pull real data, and intentionally map out the next six months. This is your sign to slow down, zoom out, and move forward with clarity.

👋 I’m Michelle Kline, founder of DogCo Launch and host of the DogCo Secrets podcast, where I help pet care companies grow and scale without burning out. Today’s episode is about how I personally approach mid-year plan...

🤯 Are You Building Your Business for YOU or for Everyone Else? If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between what your team needs, what your clients want, and what you actually envisioned when you started your business, this episode is for you. I’m Michelle Kline, founder of Dog Co. Launch and host of the Dog Co. Secrets Podcast, and today we’re tackling one of the most important strategic questions every pet care business owner needs to answer:

Who is your business really built to serve?

I’ll walk you through how to clarify that answer...

This Hot Tip Friday episode is all about Call to Actions (CTAs) and why they might just be the easiest, most impactful fix you can make to your website, social, and general marketing today.

Whether you’re a dog walker, pet sitter, or service-based business owner in the pet care space, a clear, compelling CTA can be the difference between someone clicking and someone bouncing. In this episode, I break down how to build strong CTAs, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to use them across your website and social media to actually get more conversions wi...

In this episode, I’m diving deep into what it takes to professionalize your marketing as a pet care business owner. This conversation was inspired by a post I saw in a Facebook group, and it lit a fire in me to talk about how important it is for us, especially in the pet care industry, to step up and stand out. Whether you’re brand new or scaling fast, getting serious about your photography, messaging, reviews, and website could be the key to your next big breakthrough.

This is not just about aesthetics. It’s about clarit...

Today’s Hot Tip is all about workspace strategy. I’m walking you through how my home office upgrade completely changed the way I show up as a CEO, and the surprisingly small tweaks that gave me the biggest return. If you’ve ever felt scattered, distracted, or like you’re “just getting through” your workday, this one’s for you.

✨ Here’s what’s inside this episode:

If you’re wondering what the next level looks like for your pet care company, this episode is for you. Over the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of pet care businesses grow and scale, and this episode walks through the key phases I’ve seen again and again. Whether you’re still solo or passing the half-million mark, I break down what to expect, what breaks, and what you’ll need to evolve if you’re serious about sustainable growth.

🎟️ Want support growing your pet care business?
Join me and other ambitious o...

In my last episode, I had the privilege of interviewing the one and only Joey Coleman, bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. The conversation left me fired up, and I wanted to use today’s Hot Tip episode to break down three key takeaways I’ve been chewing on since we wrapped.

Whether you’re looking to deepen client loyalty or build long-term relationships with your team, this episode is for you.

✨ Here’s what’s inside this episode:

Hi everyone! Michelle here. Today’s episode is a big one. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joey Coleman, renowned speaker and bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. Joey is not only a master of customer experience—he’s also someone who fundamentally understands how to make people feel seen, valued, and loyal from Day One.

We talk through everything from why so many businesses drop the ball during onboarding, to how pet care brands can scale trust without sacrificing humanity. Whether you’re just starting out or d...

If you’ve ever wondered how much you should invest in your own growth, this one’s for you. In today’s short, impactful episode, I'll make a case for putting your money where your mindset is by setting aside a clear percentage of revenue to level up your personal and professional skills. I'll break down what “investing in yourself” really means, why it matters so much for your business’s success, and how to get over the barriers that keep most people from doing it.

💥 Key Takeaways:

Hard truth time: you don’t accidentally become the person you dream of being. That version of you, the one with clarity, capacity, and conviction, has to be built. In this raw, practical episode, I open up about the real work behind becoming the next version of yourself. From the daily choices that shape your trajectory to the painful truths we often avoid, this episode will challenge you to get honest, take ownership, and finally make measurable progress. (And remember: I'm always cheering you on.)

🚨 The DogCo Mastermind is now open, only twice a year! Doors close June...

What if your best marketing copy is already written… by your clients?

In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I’m sharing two simple and powerful ways to collect meaningful client feedback and turn it directly into marketing that converts. Whether you’ve been stuck trying to write better website copy or you’re not sure what to say on social media, this episode will walk you through how to let your clients tell the story for you.

I also share my top trick for pulling it all together without getting overwhelmed, and how I us...

Let’s talk about the decision you already know you need to make.

In this episode, I open up about the mental and emotional spiral we get caught in when we avoid action. Whether it’s a pricing change, a team restructure, a marketing shift, or a new direction entirely, avoiding a key decision will always cost more than making the wrong one.

You’ll hear how indecision has shown up in my own journey building DogCo, and why conviction, not certainty, is what actually moves your business forward.

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND
Enrollment is open t...

Let’s be real, systems don’t build themselves.

In this quick and punchy Hot Tip Friday episode, I share the truth about how systems actually get created inside a growing pet care business. Spoiler: it’s not by accident.

As someone who naturally gravitates toward marketing and sales, I had to work hard to force operational systems into my company. But once I hit a certain team size, I realized a lack of systems wasn’t just frustrating. It was creating risk. And if your company is scaling, you’re g...

Are you chasing big shifts or building long-term momentum?

In this week’s episode, I dig into one of the biggest lies entrepreneurs buy into: that one-time effort will change everything. The truth is that consistency is what really drives results.

I walk you through how I’ve learned to build steady output into my daily workflow, why commitment and consistency are not the same thing, and what routines I use to stay grounded when business gets chaotic.

📢 DOGCO MASTERMIND
Enrollment is open now through June 6 or until full
Ready to scale w...

💸 Want to make more money on your pet sitting services?

LFG.

In this hot-take mini episode, I share one powerful pricing strategy that helped a pet care company I work with go from $35,000 in net profit to $150,000 in a single year, without increasing staff or adding complexity. (and yes - I said NET PROFIT.)

Whether you’re deep into pet sitting or just dabbling, this shift can dramatically improve your margins on this service line.

Inside this episode:

It’s time to stop yo-yoing between growth and burnout. In this episode, I’m sharing one of the hardest and most important transitions I made in my pet care business: finally getting out of the field—and staying out for good.

For years, I built momentum, only to be pulled right back into the daily grind. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever tried to scale but can’t seem to escape the pull of day-to-day client work, this one’s for you.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS:
We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit, Sept 26–28...

Welcome to our first Hot Take Friday! In this new weekly mini-episode series, I'll be delivering sharp, focused insights in under 10 minutes, designed to drive immediate impact in your pet care business.

This week’s hot take? Data. Why it matters, how to use it, and the seven essential metrics you should know to make faster, smarter decisions in your business—without drowning in spreadsheets or chasing perfection.

📈 If the phrase “track your KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, I gets it. But in this bite-sized episode, I'll cut through the...

In this episode, I’m getting real about one of the most critical (and painful) lessons I learned while scaling my pet care business: people won’t stay just because you need them.

Staffing is one of the biggest bottlenecks in our industry right now, and if you’re focused only on client lead flow while neglecting your team, you’re setting yourself up to stall out.

I open up about a time when I lost a third of my staff in 10 days (yes—really), and how that wake-up call launched me into a year-long deep dive...

Today, I’m digging into a phrase we hear all the time in the pet care world: “Know your worth.”

But here’s the thing - true business growth isn’t just about you knowing your worth. It’s about helping your clients perceive it too. In this episode, I break down the real meaning behind pricing, value, and customer perception, and how to strategically frame your offers so that clients feel like they’re getting an incredible deal - without having to slash your prices.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit this...

Hi, I’m Michelle, and I’m a chronic - yet recovering - people pleaser.

In this episode, I’m opening up about something that has impacted both my life and business in very real ways: people pleasing. For a long time, I avoided conflict, dodged feedback, and tried to be everything to everyone. And while I thought I was keeping the peace, what I was really doing was slowly draining my capacity to lead.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS: We’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com

If you’ve ever felt the t...

In this episode, I’m digging into a topic that can make or break your business growth: client onboarding.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers

Let’s be real, your competitors probably aren’t beating you with better service. They’re beating you with speed and convenience. If your onboarding process is slow, clunky, or full of unnecessary steps, you’re not just creating friction, you’re losing clients.

I’ll walk you through how to minimize friction, maximize convenience, and turn your onboarding into a smooth, welc...

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the discouraged, the tired, and the questioning. If you’ve ever wrestled with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or wondered if you’re really cut out for this - this episode is for you.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers. September 26 - 28, 2025.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about business - it’s about you. It challenges you personally and professionally. I open up about the pain, discomfort, and decision fatigue that so often show up on this path, and I’m here to tell you...

In this episode, I’m sharing something that might just change the way you run your business: the critical importance of planning.

📢 DON'T MISS THIS: we’re gearing up for the DogCo Summit! https://dogcosummit.com/speakers

If you’re constantly caught in the daily grind, feeling like there’s never enough time to step back and strategize—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: if you don’t feel like you have time to plan, you can’t afford NOT to.

I break down why planning is non-negotiable for sustainable business success in t...

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s close to the heart of every business owner: beliefs—and how the wrong ones can quietly break your business.

Over the last few years coaching and consulting in the pet care industry, I’ve seen it again and again: it’s not just strategy that holds people back—it’s mindset. In this conversation, I’m unpacking the limiting beliefs I hear most often from pet care pros just like you, and offering ways to recognize, challenge, and replace them with healthier ones.

Whether it’s your self-p...

🐶 Welcome to the very first episode of DogCo Secrets! 🚀

I'm Michelle Kline and I help pet care businesses grow, thrive, and scale.

In my first episode, I dive deep into the fast-evolving pet care industry, exploring how business owners can make data-driven decisions to grow and scale successfully. I'll also break down the balance between pivoting strategies vs. doubling down, revealing why a structured 90-day testing cycle is key to evaluating business success.

You’ll learn how to leverage market trends, refine existing strategies, and avoid decision-making based on fear—all while maintaining operationa...