From Side Hustle to Profitable Business

From Side Hustle to Profitable Business: How to Stop Treating Dog Sitting Like a Hobby and Start Building Something That Pays You Properly

If you’re listening to this while squeezing dog sitting in around another job…
 If you love the dogs, but you’re exhausted, undercharging, and secretly wondering why it still feels financially stressful…
 Or if you’re thinking, “I’m busy, but I’m not actually building anything sustainable yet”… this episode is for you.

Because there is a massive difference between: Running a dog sitting side hustle and building a profitable dog care business.

And it has nothing to do with loving dogs more. You already do that.

It has everything to do with how you think, how you price, how you structure your days, and how seriously you take what you’re building.

And it is perfectly fine to make money from providing a loving, caring environment for your  dog guests, as long as you do providing that care and delivering what you promise

This episode walks you step-by-step through the exact shifts that take someone from:“Just doing a bit of sitting on the side” to “This is a real business that pays me properly and supports my life.”

Join Paws to Profit here https://pawstoprofit.com.au/

Transcript

00:00.66
Tanya williams
Hey, it's Tanya here, Chief Pawson at 3 Sport Dogs and founder of Pawster Profit. And today we're talking about a topic that I know so many people want to know about, and that's how you move from a side hustle or a hobby to a professional business. So if you're listening to this while a squeezing dogs sitting around a full-time job, or if you love dogs but you're exhausted and you're undercharging and wondering why it feels so financially hard,

00:27.90
Tanya williams
Or if you're thinking, I'm busy, but I'm actually not building anything sustainable yet, then this episode is for you. Because there is a massive difference between running a dog sitting side hustle and building a profitable dog sitting business.

00:43.56
Tanya williams
It has nothing to do with loving dogs more because you already do that, right? It has everything to do with how you think, how you price, how you structure your days and how seriously you take what you're building.

00:55.99
Tanya williams
And it's perfectly fine to make money from providing a loving, caring environment for your dog guests as long as you are providing that care and delivering what you promise. Now today i won I'm going to walk you step by step through the exact shifts that take someone from just doing a bit on the side to this is a real business that pays me properly and supports my life. okay And I'll be very honest along the way, I'm going to share a bit of about my story um because i guess you know when it when it's a hobby or a side hustle, it sort of feels a bit safe, right?

01:28.79
Tanya williams
But it's also the fastest way to burn out. And and then you're resenting clients and then maybe you quit doing something that you actually love doing because you just don't know how to do it the right way. So before I break down the steps, um I'm just going to share a bit about my story. Now, you've probably, if you've listened to the first or second episode, um I shared my story um on that. But, you know, here's a bit of a summary for you, I guess. So I started dog sitting on a third party app, like a lot of people do, right? um And I started as a way of saving money for a holiday. It was all very casual and it was done around my corporate job on the weekend.

02:04.15
Tanya williams
So it was definitely a side hustle and, of course, it had perks to it. Like I get to cuddle lots of beautiful dogs and look after them. um But I slowly got more clients and then I was getting repeat clients and then, you know, some of those clients have actually still got to this day, which I'm really proud of.

02:19.83
Tanya williams
um But I didn't have systems. I wasn't looking at making it a full-time business because I didn't actually think that was possible. And I never knew how much money I'd make in a month or how busy I'd be. So it really had no consistency to it.

02:31.51
Tanya williams
Then I started um a a marketing business working from home. Okay, so that allowed me to have jos dogs during the week, which took business to a new level. But it was still a side hustle, but it was growing through word of mouth.

02:45.11
Tanya williams
And then a few years on, and I sort of started to wonder if this side hustle but could become a business. I was getting great reviews. I was getting repeat bookings. I had a loyal clientele and I was getting more revenue year on year.

02:57.69
Tanya williams
So, you know, I'll be honest, like for a while, ah really sat on it because I was scared. i was scared about going all in because it was all those what ifs this, what if that.

03:09.24
Tanya williams
So I just sort of let it happen organically just to see where it would take me. So as marketing clients left, I didn't replace them. Or I didn't go in a mad panic because I knew three sport dogs was growing naturally. And then one day, the income from my side hustle was more than the income from my full-time business and my focus.

03:28.57
Tanya williams
And that's when the light went on. And I went, this is the moment that I can dive in head first and make this a real business with my primary focus. So once I made that decision, everything started to fall into place, right?

03:43.02
Tanya williams
I got clarity. I put in better systems and processes. I started marketing using free channels that I knew worked and it changed everything. I knew what I was doing was working as I can clearly see the new inquiries, the revenue increase and the great reviews.

03:58.62
Tanya williams
But it didn't happen overnight. It was a transition over time. This is not something you just turn a switch, one switch off one day and then turn off another switch the next day and it's all working perfectly. So you need to be realistic about this.

04:11.58
Tanya williams
And I want to be really clear about something because, you know, if you're looking at social media, I mean, this part it all looks so simple, right? You don't wake up one morning, quit your job, double your prices, become fully bought with perfect clients and then feel like this calm, confident CEO. That's not true.

04:26.45
Tanya williams
how it works. I don't care what people on Instagram are telling you. So moving from side hustle to profitable business is a tradition transition. It's a season. It's a series of small strategic shifts made consistently over time. Now, sure, you can do it faster if you need to, but for most people, it's consistency and taking the steps that grow it into a full-time gig.

04:50.10
Tanya williams
So for most sitters, it looks like refining your pricing, not doubling it overnight, Improving your systems one system at a time. Getting clear on your ideal clients through the experiences you're having with the current clients.

05:05.69
Tanya williams
Learning to say no and then getting better at it. And building confidence with every booking, not just magically having it, you know, from day one. Because you're not going to be confident probably on day one, you know, it's okay. There's a middle phase that no one talks about enough.

05:21.08
Tanya williams
Okay, you're not just doing this for fun anymore. You're building it to build a business. Okay, you're building the bridge. And that phase is where most people quit because it's uncomfortable. It's not because they can't do it, but it feels messy and it feels uncertain and maybe it feels slow and it can feel bloody scary.

05:41.37
Tanya williams
but That's exactly how real businesses are built, right? You test, you adjust, you learn, you refine, you raise your standards, you upgrade systems, you step into your role a little more each day, each week, each month.

05:56.73
Tanya williams
And then one day you look back and realize you didn't suddenly become a business owner, you grew into one. That's the work, that's the transition. And that's what creates businesses that last, not just side hustles that burn bright and burn out,

06:11.06
Tanya williams
So let's go through the steps and talk about how to shift from hobby to business um and, you know, take some notes and consider what's going to work for your personal circumstance because this is not going to be right for every single person, okay?

06:24.86
Tanya williams
You need to take from this what you think you're going to need based on these foundations. So the first one is the identity shift. Okay. And that's changing your mindset and changing your identity to thinking you're just a dog lover or, so you know, you have a dog sitting as a side hustle to I run a dog sitting business. I'm a business owner.

06:46.68
Tanya williams
Because you don't become profitable by accident, you become profitable by decision. So i hear this a lot where people say, oh, I'll treat it like a business once it starts to make money.

06:57.62
Tanya williams
But, you know, if you treat it like a business, it can then make you money, okay? So the first shift is to stop introducing yourself as as just a dog sitter and start seeing yourself as a CEO of a dog care business or whatever boss title you want to give yourself, right? I'm Chief Pawson, but, you know, get creative, have some fun, don't care. But you need to think, um reshift your mindset about how you look at yourself and how you introduce yourself to the world.

07:27.03
Tanya williams
So that means you make decisions based on sustainability. So what's going to be right for the future, not guilt. You price for the future, not just for today and you stop winging it and start actually building it.

07:38.97
Tanya williams
So here's a practical action for you. Ask yourself if this is my only income in 12 months, what would need to change right now? That's a big question.

07:51.93
Tanya williams
If this is my only income in 12 months, what would need to change right now? Step two, you need to get real about your numbers. Hobby sitters focus on bookings. Business owners focus on income, capacity and profit.

08:06.97
Tanya williams
So you need to know how much do you want this business to pay you for the year? Okay. How many days you actually want to work? How many dogs can you care for at a five-star level without burning out?

08:19.93
Tanya williams
And then you work backwards. You don't look at what other dog sitters are charging. But what do you feel that you need in this business to generate, what what you need the business to generate to support your life? Okay, this is where people realize they're busy but underpaid or they're fully booked but they're exhausted and they're popular but they're not profitable. Okay, you need to make those changes.

08:41.24
Tanya williams
You need to look at those numbers. And that leads us to pricing which is step three. So you want to price like a professional, not a people pleaser. Okay. Because side hustle is usually about, i don't want to be too expensive. I'll keep it low so more people book and I feel bad charging more.

08:58.87
Tanya williams
Business pricing sounds like this price reflects my capacity, my experience, my costs and the level of care I provide. You are not a favour, you are professional service.

09:10.33
Tanya williams
So your pricing must cover your time, your energy, your insurance, your space, your emotional labour, your years of experience, your lifestyle goals, And if your pricing can't support days off, holidays, vet emergencies and rest, it's not business pricing.

09:27.06
Tanya williams
Now I have six to eight weeks holiday a year and I still have a thriving profitable business and I'll talk more about that and how you can plan your time off in the pause to profit program. But it's possible.

09:39.72
Tanya williams
Pricing is so important. So going back and actually listen to the episode on pricing because like that's where I go deep into how to do it and there's also a module in in the post-to-profit program that has an actual pricing bot that does all the maths for you. So if you're part of that program or want to join, you'll find that there.

09:58.46
Tanya williams
Step four is about capacity. And that's a really, it's ah it's a lever that is ignored by a lot of sitters because people think, oh, I just need more dogs and I'll get more money.

10:10.10
Tanya williams
But more dogs without structure equals burnout, mistakes, stress and lower quality care. And that, especially that lower quality care is not okay. So you need to define your maximum safe capacity, your ideal capacity and your premium capacity. So where am I comfortable? You know, like where can I safely do it? And what's the absolute top number of dogs that I can look after?

10:33.21
Tanya williams
Then you price and structure around those times. Now those numbers could be different different times of the year. You know, maybe you can because your partner's home on holidays um at Christmas that you can have, you know, some extra dogs because you've got extra help.

10:47.48
Tanya williams
You know, again, look at your personal circumstances. So profit doesn't come from squeezing in more dogs. It comes from charging properly from what you can sustainably handle. So you can also make more money about um with upsells, right? So it's not just all about another dog. can be how can I upsell my existing clients? Can I um do you know take them for walks, give them baths, make special food for them, make treats for them and charge for those? Those little extras, they're actually convenient and helpful for owners and a lot of them are happy to pay for those.

11:18.94
Tanya williams
So if you can only have a few dogs at a time, also think about maybe considering premium pricing with a premium service attached to it and you position yourself in that way. So we only have X amount of dogs, but that means that we get they get more one-on-one time. They get extra care. They get XXX.

11:37.40
Tanya williams
Okay, figure that out. um Or maybe you do something like you specialize in anxious dogs. So they do better in quieter environments and therefore people with anxious dogs are usually happy to pay a little bit more for that care as well. So again, this comes back to any your personal circumstances.

11:55.03
Tanya williams
Every dog sitter is different. What space you have, how many days you work, what you need to earn a living, it is all different. That is why you can't compare pricing to others because that is a recipe for failure.

12:08.98
Tanya williams
Step five is around systems. Now, this is the difference between chaos and calm. Now, side hustles live in your head. Businesses live in systems. I know it sounds boring, okay, but you need systems and processes for the following things and they don't have to be massive documents. I'm not talking about creating these massive, you know, word documents with pages and pages. It's about just having clear steps, even if it's bullet points. Okay. So you need systems and processes around bookings, inquiries, clear policies that you have, communication templates, you know, routines for care, cleaning, updates, handovers, all those types of things, the stuff that you're doing day to day.

12:48.44
Tanya williams
Now, as I said, I'm not suggesting big long documents. I'm suggesting just even something that's a one page bullet point that says these are the steps that we take. These are our systems and how we handle certain things.

12:59.45
Tanya williams
Having systems doesn't make you cold, it makes you consistent and consistency is what builds trust, referrals and repeat clients. Step six is around marketing with intention, okay, not hope.

13:15.61
Tanya williams
So hope is not a marketing strategy, okay? Posting randomly and waiting for DMs is not a plan. a business knows exactly who their ideal client is, where they hang out, what problems they solve and why you're the best solution for their dog, okay? You need to be really clear on these things. You don't need to be everywhere. you just need to be clear and consistent somewhere.

13:37.56
Tanya williams
Now I've learnt what works and I know when I post on Facebook, I get business from it and now and in the future because people will save my details. I know when I update my Google My Business profile, I get seen more because people, I ask people, where did you hear about me? And they'll say, oh, we found you through Google.

13:54.71
Tanya williams
And that's exactly how they've done it. I know exactly who my target audience is and that's who I talk to in my social posts, on my website, in my marketing and in my brand. So if you missed episode nine, then go and listen to it. It just shares a bunch of free stuff, right? Free ways to market your business at work.

14:12.25
Tanya williams
Marketing needs to become part of your day or your week. Don't leave it till you're and to you quieter and then start to market it. Do it consistently and then you'll see the rewards that it builds.

14:25.30
Tanya williams
Step seven is around boundaries. And this is where I what i where i say profit and peace meet, okay? Hobby mindset is all I'll just say yes because I don't want to upset anyone and I'll be flexible.

14:36.66
Tanya williams
But a business mindset is around my policies protect my dogs, my clients, and my well-being. My boundaries allow me deliver great care long-term.

14:47.77
Tanya williams
Boundaries aren't harsh, they're professional. And professionalism is what people trust with their beloved dogs. Now, I have clients who um are ah guaranteed to expect last minute bookings at Christmas because they decided to go away at the last minute or they need you to have your dog another night which might not work for you or they think you don't have a life and can sit around waiting for them to show up.

15:08.78
Tanya williams
It's not okay. And that's why boundaries and setting them remind them of why you have them. You know, this is why we have these boundaries, to be able to better care for your dog and our other cares.

15:19.48
Tanya williams
Now, you can be nice, but you can be firm and you need to set them up in a way that works for you. Step eight is around building for repeat business, not constant hustle. Okay. The most profitable dog sitters aren't chasing new clients every month. They're nurturing relationships. They're creating five-star experiences. They're building loyalty.

15:40.92
Tanya williams
They think in terms of lifetime client value, not just one booking. So I do little things during our styles stays, especially for our first time guests to make the experience. Wow.

15:51.35
Tanya williams
Like I do little videos. I do fun little photo shoots on their birthday. I'll do take home treats for them as a little bonus. But there are lots of things that you can do that remind the parents that you love and care for their pets.

16:03.83
Tanya williams
And that's all they want at the end of the day. They want a loving, caring place where they feel safe when they're away. Now, I have clients who give me their details for all their bookings at the start of the year so they don't miss out. And then they they know that their dog is coming back to their their second home, we like to call it, which they love.

16:20.54
Tanya williams
And the fact that they are so um planned out in advance and that they don't want to miss out or and they don't want the dog go anywhere else means so much to me that I have that level of trust.

16:33.18
Tanya williams
So reviews, testimonials, booking booking reminders, wow moments, they all build loyalty and repeat business. So you need to think about how you're going to execute those to move from ho hobby to biz.

16:46.14
Tanya williams
Number nine, the CEO upgrade. Now, this is one of the final shifts you're going in to make. But it's to stop thinking week to week and it's to start thinking quarter to quarter and year to year. So stop reacting, start planning.

17:00.82
Tanya williams
So stop asking, can I do this? And start asking, how do I build this properly? Your results plus proof, okay? So this is what you need to be thinking.

17:13.40
Tanya williams
How does your business look now? What changed once you made these shifts? And what does freedom, income, confidence, calm and control look like for you?

17:24.70
Tanya williams
The transition from hobby or side hustle to full-time business doesn't just happen overnight. You're building a bridge over time, okay? That's how real businesses are built. Testing, adjusting, learning, refining, raising standards, upgrading systems.

17:38.80
Tanya williams
It's step by step. And then one day you'll look back and you'll realize, I didn't suddenly become a business owner. I grew into one. That's the work, that's the transition and that's what creates businesses that last, not just side hustles, that burn bright and burn out.

17:54.30
Tanya williams
It's a lasting business. I've done it and so have others so you can do it too. If you're willing and committed to do the work, it will happen. Now I know it can feel overwhelming where you go, I just don't know where to start and that's exactly why I created Pause to Profit.

18:10.17
Tanya williams
Because trying to figure this all out from random Facebook posts and Google searches and trial and error is slow, confusing and expensive. Inside Pause to Profit, I walk you through step by step how to price, how to set capacity, build systems, attract the right clients, create boundaries. Turn your love of dogs into a business that actually supports your life.

18:29.62
Tanya williams
So if you're ready to stop treating a dog sitting as a hobby and start building something profitable, professional and sustainable, then your next step is to go paustoprofit.com.au.

18:40.54
Tanya williams
That's me for today. I hope you enjoyed that episode. um Go and listen back again if you missed a few things or you want to, um you know, make sure you've you've got all the points down and so forth. If you um are enjoying the podcast, please like it and leave a review for me. Not only does it give me a little bit of love, but it helps other people find it as well. So it makes all this time and energy of putting together this podcast worthwhile for everyone listeninging listening to it. So,

19:09.75
Tanya williams
Thank you again. Have a pawsome day and I will see you on the next episode.