Weird Times, Smart Moves: 8 Financial Planning Tips for Pet Business Owners

ekrorkx
Jul 22
7 min read

Things feel a little weird out there, don’t they?

Grocery prices are up (hello inflation). Travel trends are shifting. And even if your pet business seems steady, there’s still this hum of uncertainty in the background.

If you’ve been asking yourself, Am I actually set up for what’s coming? — you’re not alone. In this post below (based on episode 21 of The Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast), we’re doing something a little different.

Instead of our usual marketing or branding tips, we’re diving into personal and business financial strategies you can use to feel more grounded and prepared, no matter what the economy is doing.

These are all things I’m doing myself as a pet business owner, and they’re meant to help you feel more empowered, not more overwhelmed.

Here are the 8 smart financial moves pet business owners can make to boost confidence, reduce stress, and create more security without overhauling your whole life.

And disclaimer… Some of the below links are affiliate links! That means we may earn a small commission if you choose to sign up, at absolutely no cost to you. :)

Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

1. Use a High-Yield Savings Account for Your Pet Business Emergency Fund AND Personal Savings Account

Still keeping your savings in a traditional bank account? You might be missing out… big time.

Most big-name banks offer interest rates around 0.01%–0.10%. That means your emergency fund (or business buffer) is basically just sitting there… not growing. This ultimately means you are LOSING money while it sits in a savings account as inflation rises.

A high-yield savings account offers a much higher interest rate (currently 4%+ in many cases), so your money actually earns real interest while you sleep.

I personally use Wealthfront, which is:

FDIC insured up to $8 million through their partner banks
Super easy to use (and automate transfers)
A great place to stash your emergency fund or short-term business savings

If you want to give Wealthfront a try, you can use my link for an extra 0.5% APY for 3 months. This is one of the lowest effort money moves you can make, and it’s perfect for pet business owners who want to build a financial cushion without diving into spreadsheets or investment apps. I HIGHLY recommend doing this simple swap if you do nothing else from this blog post!

2. Cut Grocery Costs with Azure Standard or Local Co-Ops

Groceries are one of the first places we feel inflation—and where you can make surprisingly big changes with a few smart swaps.

I highly recommend checking out:

Azure Standard: A co-op-style bulk grocery delivery service with natural, organic, and household goods at prices often cheaper than traditional health food stores. The reason it’s so much cheaper is because they ship directly from freight trucks to consumer, so you have to go meet at a volunteer-run grocery drop to pick up your goods. It’s so worth it. You can meet great people, get your goods at great prices, and stock up!

Local farm shares (CSAs): Get fresh, seasonal produce from nearby farms—fewer grocery trips and more intentional eating. When you purchase CSA boxes instead of just buying randomly from the farmer’s market, it ends up being SO much more affordable, too!

These options help reduce the “Oops, I went into Target for eggs and spent $70” spiral, and you can stock up on essentials without the overwhelm of weekly store runs.

Bonus? You’re supporting small, sustainable systems—just like your pet business clients are doing with you.

3. Audit Your Pet Business Expenses Using Real Data

Let’s talk data, but in a fun, empowering way.

Start by tracking what you’re actually spending your money on in both life and business. Ask:

What monthly tools, apps, or subscriptions do I no longer use? (OR, which ones are you going to use no matter what and can you switch to a cheaper annual payment vs. a higher monthly payment to save some cash?)
Which expenses are directly helping me book clients, streamline processes, or save time?
What personal charges (hello, five streaming services) could be simplified?

This isn’t about restricting or cutting everything—it’s about getting clarity. So you can confidently say what’s worth it and what’s not.

🎧 I dive more into this in Episode 18 and Episode 21, if you want a breakdown of what data to track. Highly recommend this because just by tracking data, you can cut costs and add WAY more time back in your day.

4. Try Skill Swapping To Cut Down on Spending Where It Makes Sense

In weird economic seasons, sometimes the smartest move isn’t to spend less. It's to spend differently.

Skill swaps or bartering are often overlooked, but they can be a powerful way to collaborate and grow without opening your wallet.

You could:

Trade pet sitting for updated brand photos
Offer blog writing in exchange for social media help
Barter dog walking for bookkeeping support

Think about who’s in your local pet biz community or online circle. You probably already have something they’d love to trade for.

Community is currency—and in uncertain times, leaning into connection creates more opportunity than isolation ever could.

5. Create a Low-Ticket Digital Offer to Generate Passive Income for Your Pet Business

When budgets tighten, people are more likely to say yes to low-ticket offers (ones that can easily and affordably solve a specific problem quickly) vs. higher ticket investment services.

Yes, even in the pet business world!

Some simple offer ideas:

Bundle your intake forms or checklists into plug-and-play resources—perfect for newer business owners who want to streamline without starting from scratch.
A blog post roundup with affiliate links to your favorite leashes, crates, or enrichment tools? That’s an evergreen affiliate income stream.
A mini local guide for pet-friendly spots in your area—parks, vets, emergency clinics, pet stores. Perfect for new pet parents or people moving into your area.
Turn your go-to client resources into a themed DIY training kit. Think: a Separation Anxiety Starter Kit with a routine tracker, enrichment toy list, journaling prompts, and foundational exercises.

These can be sold from your website (even using free tools like Payhip or Gumroad), linked in your welcome emails, or shared casually on Instagram to boost visibility. They’re easy for you to create because you’ve already made them—you’re just monetizing the tools and processes that support your client experience.

Start scrappy. You can use Canva or Google Docs or Google Sheets. The goal is to start easy…

See what you’ve ALREADY created in your digital toolkit, and create a digital offer in a way that helps someone else and adds a little extra income to your business without adding more to your plate.

6. Revisit Your Pet Business Pricing Strategy (Even Slightly)

If your costs have gone up… and your prices haven’t budged? Now’s the time to reassess.

This doesn’t need to be a dramatic price hike. You can:

Introduce a premium version of your services
Bundle add-ons into a higher-tier package
Adjust prices slightly to account for increased travel, time, or inflation

Worried about how to communicate it to clients? We’ve got you covered with our free rate increase email template that helps you do it kindly, confidently, and professionally.

7. Set Up a Solo 401(k) for Self-Employed Retirement Savings

Here’s a game-changer that most small pet business owners overlook: the Solo 401(k).

If you’re self-employed and don’t have employees (besides a spouse), this retirement plan lets you:

Contribute as both the employee and the employer
Set aside more per year than with an IRA or Roth IRA
Make tax-deductible employer contributions (especially helpful if you're an S Corp)
Choose between traditional and Roth contributions depending on income

I use Carry to manage mine—it’s simple, no advisor needed, and you can start small. With my link, you’ll get $100 off the setup.

Retirement might feel far away, but ‘Future You’ will be so glad you got this rolling now. You don’t have to start big. Start super small, and the tax benefits as a business owner will be SOOOO worth every penny (not to mention the retirement you’re growing).

8. Use the Profit First Method to Manage Pet Business Finances

The Profit First method by Mike Michalowicz is one of my favorite business finance systems that I should probably re-read again. It’s SO dang good, especially if budgeting makes you want to run for the hills.

Instead of spending and hoping there’s something left at the end of the month, this method flips the flow:

Pay yourself first
Set aside taxes and profit
Use the rest to run your business

You don’t have to do it perfectly to see results. Just separating your income into a few key accounts gives you so much clarity and reduces that “where did my money go?” feeling.

If you’re curious, start with the Profit First book (it’s affordable on Amazon) and start incorporating some of his tips. I can honestly say this is the number one business book I recommend for business owners. It’s really changed my life that much, and finally put me in charge of my business finances.

Pick One of These Tips and Start There

You don’t need to overhaul everything. Start with one small tip I mentioned above and go from there. Little changes can build huge momentum when the goal is long-term sustainability, not perfection.

We hope this was SO helpful. If it was, would you mind forwarding it along to a pet business friend or sharing it on social media? We’re all navigating weird times, and our goal is to get this topic out to as many people as possible because we’re stronger together and we want the pet industry to remain STRONG.