Smart Planning Strategies for Pet Businesses

When was the last time a holiday “snuck up” on your pet business? Or maybe you realized too late that you needed to do more marketing for an event or promotion? Maybe you fell behind on paying attention to the numbers for a few months and find yourself trying to play catch up?  If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone!

Why “winging it” will never work as well as being a planner in your pet business!

Do you know the power in planning? People are 42% more likely to achieve their goals and plans just by documenting them (according to a study by the Dominican University of California.) 

That number is a big deal. That success rate is JUST a result of documenting… so imagine when you add metrics and make decisions backed by data into the mix! But we also know how easy it is to get caught up in the day-to-day chaos of running a pet business and push planning to the back burner. 

But here’s the thing about the pet industry– we’re not like other businesses! Our busy seasons can be different depending on your pet business’ niche. Our marketing needs are unique. And let’s be honest, our customers have four legs and fur (which makes everything more interesting, right?)

Planning can make the difference between thriving and surviving in your pet business!

You know those pet business owners who seem to have everything figured out? The ones who are fully booked during the holidays, who never run out of the most popular items, who have their marketing campaigns ready to go weeks in advance?

(You probably do… and I’d guess they’re in the Pet Boss Club or Pet Boss Nation University!) 

I’ll let you in on their secret: They plan for it! 

And I don’t mean just jotting down notes in their phone or keeping it all in their head (we’ve all tried that, right?) They have a system.

Before we get into planning tools, let’s cover some proven planning strategies you might want to apply in your own pet business:

Plan Power Hour! Set aside one uninterrupted hour each week (yes, actually schedule it!) to review your numbers, plan your marketing, and check in on your goals. Think of it as a weekly date with your business’s future. Candace does  things like this in her own pet business, like “Money Mondays,” to track and plan her finances! 

The 90-Day Sprint Strategy. Inside Pet Boss Nation University™, we hold 90-day planning sprints to help you get ahead. Plus, we release monthly marketing planners up to four months in advance! Once you get ahead and map out your key promotions, events, and goals for the next 90 days (or beyond if you can get there,) planning starts to feel less overwhelming.  

The Three-List System. Ever heard of this one? This would mean you’re keeping to-do lists in three areas of growth you want to see. For example, maybe your lists would include revenue generating activities (to boost your profits in the near future), business development tasks (that will impact your long term growth), and maintenance items (your day-to-day stuff!) Prioritize at least one item on each list daily or weekly to see balanced growth across the board!

Why a regular planner might not cut it in your pet business.

All of those methods sound great, but you still need the right tools to succeed! 

Have you ever tried squeezing your pet business plans into a regular business planner? It’s like trying to fit a Great Dane into a Chihuahua’s sweater. It just doesn’t work! 

Regular business planners don’t account for pet specific event planning, KPIs to ensure your pet business is growing, marketing trackers that keep you consistent, and pet-specific holidays (like Pet Dental Health Month, for example!) 

And don’t even get us started on trying to track different revenue streams when your business offers multiple services. (Anyone else have their retail sales mixed with grooming services mixed with training packages?)

The most successful pet business owners I know have figured out that they need something specifically designed for our industry. They need a place to:

→ Map out promotions around pet industry seasons (not just regular retail seasons)

→ Track metrics that actually matter to pet businesses

→ Plan marketing that speaks to pet parents

→ Manage the unique rhythm of pet business cash flow

Planning and tracking all of these things can impact so many areas or your pet business– like cash flow management, client retention, and a big one–  your stress during busy seasons! 

Planning your pet business’ success path for 2025!

Looking ahead to 2025, the pet industry isn’t slowing down. More people have pets than ever before, and they’re spending more on their furry family members. This means more opportunity but also more competition. 

Success in 2025 will come down to who’s prepared to capitalize on emerging pet industry trends, navigate seasonal rushes smoothly, keep their marketing fresh and engaging, maintain stellar customer service (yes, even during the busiest times!), and properly manage their cash flow. 

And let’s be real – you can’t do any of that if you’re constantly in reactive mode, putting out fires instead of planning ahead.

This is exactly why we created the Pet Boss Nation Annual Planner. After years of working with pet business owners and seeing their planning frustrations, we knew there had to be a better way.

We designed our physical planner specifically for pet business owners like you, who understand that success comes from planning– but need a system that actually works for the unique demands of the pet industry.

Ready to make 2025 your most organized (and profitable) year yet?

We know you didn’t get into the pet industry because you love planning. You’re here because you love pets and the people who care for them! But imagine what you could accomplish if you had a planning system that actually worked for your pet business?

The Pet Boss Nation Annual Planner isn’t just another pretty notebook. It’s your secret weapon for:

🗓️ Finally getting ahead of those holidays that seem to “sneak up”

🗓️  Planning promotions that actually make sense for your pet business

🗓️  Keeping track of everything without keeping it all in your head

🗓️  Making decisions based on data instead of gut feelings

🗓️  Taking your business from surviving to thriving

And the best part? You don’t have to wait until January to get started. Pre-order your 2025 Pet Boss Nation Annual Planner now, and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the new year arrives. Because let’s face it – your pet business deserves better than being run from random sticky notes and late night phone note reminders! 

Learn more with us!

• Need 1:1 support to make massive action now? Book a discovery call with us to see if working 1:1 with Candace is the right fit for you.
• Join the Pet Boss Club®! You’re passionate about pets. It’s time to have a business that supports the life you want, too! Learn the specific techniques to find new customers, to increase sales and to build a better team for ANY kind of pet business by joining the Pet Boss Club®! Get on the waitlist here.