Poised to Succeed with Pet Grooming

I have learned so much in the past few months on what I need to accomplish to set up my own groom shop. I've visited numerous  groom shops, seen the best and the worst. I watched how my employer runs the groom shop I'm at, and watched business fall due to lack of personnel and marketing. Two groom shops have closed in our service area, so we should be booming. But, how will they find us and where will the new groomers come from? There is no web page, no Facebook presence, no direct mailers, no marketing efforts.

It takes more than a bather and a groomer to run a business. It takes excellent customer service, top notch products, and quality grooms, along  with location, exposure and marketing.

So, since I've had so many days off due to lack of business, I used my time well. Looked at many leases, built web pages http://groomingatyourhome.weebly.com/ for my house call grooming. This door to door service is well received, and helps fill the financial gaps. I joined NWFnow.com   https://www.facebook.com/NWFnow and they are advertising with a coupon code for me. It worked, I have a wonderful new client how helps me get web presence and encouragement. Business partnership and alliance is another key component of your success.

Hours were spent on adding my URL to grooming and map and phone directories. And in two days, I'm searchable.  But, does this mean that my work is done, that I can sit back and wait for the phone to ring? No, there is product research, and getting ready to be on spot when the opportunity arises. I have my logo designed, banners, business cards ready for ordering once I have a location and phone number. No need in waiting for the last minute.   Reduce the stress, and make the time when the time presents an opportunity. Many old time groomers say you have to be in business for  someone else for twenty years before starting your own business. Heck, I'll be dead by then!  After many days of no work, I made time to read more posts in groomer groups, learned more  about SEO's and direct mail marketing.
Two things I learned was that a small start up can probably not afford good SEO web development on their own. Hubspot says if it costs less than 1,000 a month your value is probably not worth it. Yet, there are no worries. SEO is not an untouchable, it is quite do able given the time to post relevant information for Google to pick up and rank it.

The next step will be a LLC and my own URL to match the business name I end up with.

I don't want to sit on the front porch, I want to run with the big dogs. : D