[An Interview] Independent Contractor vs. Employee Pet Sitting Business

One afternoon in March 2014 I had the pleasure of speaking with Jan Brown of Jan’s Pet Sitting and Teresa Toldeo – Larios of Hooves to Paws Pet Sitting  They are both located in California, which I believe (and Teresa too) is one of the toughest states in the nation to have a business due to the high fees and strict regulations.

I am impressed with their extensive knowledge on the topic and how eloquent they are able to articulate their points, so naturally I wanted to ask them questions about owning and operating a pets sitting business in drastically different classifications.

I believe this interview is necessary for the industry as a whole to literally HEAR the differences in the way pet sitting companies are run with a side by side comparison.

———- >>>>>>Listen to the interview here <<<<<————–

In this interview you will hear the answers to:

• Describe your business. When did you start and where are you now?
• Tell us about your team. Who helped you structure your business and is your council when needed? Why should business owners have a team?
• Jan, what are your thoughts when someone says, “Employees cost too much”
• Teresa, what are your thoughts when someone says, “You can’t have ICs in the pet sitting industry” (follow up) Are you afraid of an audit?
• Let’s talk staff. Question to the both of you… do you think that having staff is easier or harder in either model?
• How do you train your staff? Or check up on them for quality control?
• If there was a percentage of what you paid your staff in labor for the entire year…. where would that figure lay when compared to your overall revenue? How is pay submitted in each of your businesses?
• How do you schedule staff members to pet sits?
• If your staff ever got injured, what would happen? What is your protocol?
• How does your staff learn what they need to do for each pet sit? Who directs them? How do you know that it has been complete?
• How many hours a week would you say that your work in your business?

Your Turn: