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 owners at the DogCo Business Summit in Winston-Salem, NC, September 26-28. In-person and digital tickets available.
👉 https://dogcosummit.com

In this conversation, I walk you through the actual scaling patterns that show up in businesses across the pet care industry. From hiring your first team member to building a seven-figure company, I share how the work changes, how your role shifts, and what you need to pay attention to so you can keep growing without burning out.

💥 Key Takeaways
• You can’t build a million-dollar business doing $20/hr tasks
• The shift from fieldwork to strategy is not automatic; it’s a skill
• Hiring too soon or too late will cost you
• Repeatable systems, not hustle, are what scale your company
• Every phase of growth breaks something, and that’s normal

👇 Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome and why this episode matters
1:45 – My early days as a solopreneur (and how it broke me)
4:10 – What most owners get wrong when trying to scale
6:00 – When to hire and how to build around your actual time
8:15 – Breaking into the 200-300K zone (and why it feels chaotic)
10:30 – Delegation, burnout, and trusting your team
12:20 – The systems you must have in place to scale sustainably
14:00 – Hiring for safety vs. survival
15:40 – The 750K+ shift and how your role must evolve
17:00 – Final thoughts and invitation to the Summit

Thanks for listening. I’d love to hear which phase you’re in right now and how I can support you better. Tag me or share with another business owner you care about. We’re building better companies, together.

- Michelle