![Best 3 Ways To Accept Mobile Credit Card Payments]()
by Ines | Oct 9, 2014 | Business
Dog Trainers On The Go: Here are the best 3 ways to accept mobile payments.
Most of our time is spent out and about in client’s homes or teaching classes. Taking mobile credit card payments has become necessary, but there are some options that are much better than others. Don’t let companies take more than their competition would! These are our top 3 recommendations to accept credit card payments while you’re on the go.
The Square Up mobile payment system is one of the original mobile payment systems. Its design and system is intuitive and easy to navigate which is great when you’re juggling clients, dogs, and payments at the same time! Here are some of our favorite features about this system:
- Quick and automatic transfer to your bank account in 1-2 days.
- Works on and off-line.
- Email or text receipts.
- Request client’s feedback on their receipts.
- Fee: 2.75% per swipe or 3.5% + $0.15 per manual entry.
PayPal has been a leading force in online payments, but they were not the first to tackle the need for mobile payments. Their system is great to send invoices that are quick and painless to pay which is ideal for client convenience.
- Clients can pay from their own mobile app which eliminates the need for swiping credit cards.
- Get a PayPal Debit Card and use them like a bank account. Receive 1% cash back on signed purchases.
- Fee: 2.7% per swipe or 3.5% + $0.15 per manual entry.
Flint was founded in 2011 and is a solid alternative to Square Up and PayPal. It allows customers to easily pay in person or online and you don’t have to remember an extra attachment for your phone!
- No card readers! Scan instead of swipe.
- 1-2 day deposit into your bank account.
- Connects with Quickbooks.
- Can accept coupons.
- Send automatic reminders and track tools.
- Fee: 1.95% per scan for Debit and 2.95% for Credit.
Accepting mobile credit card payments is an ideal way to make sure you receive payments for your services. Having to constantly email clients to remind them to pay an online invoice is no longer necessary! These companies are here to stay and help with mobile businesses like dog training. Compare the benefits of each and decide which one suites your particular needs the best.
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![Start Your LLC In 3 Easy Steps]()
by Ines | Oct 1, 2014 | Business
Starting an LLC is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Starting an LLC is a great way to protect yourself, your assets, and your family when starting a small business such as a dog training business. It is relatively inexpensive compared to filing for incorporation.
1) Choosing A Name
The first step to starting an LLC for your dog training business is finding a unique name that isn’t already being used in your state. Additionally, the name will need to indicate you are an LLC. This means the name should include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.” The name cannot contain regulated words such as “bank” or “insurance.” When you file your LLC, the name will automatically be registered with your state so you will not need to file additional documents.
2) Filing
Once you’ve found the perfect name, you’ll want to file the Articles of Organization. That is fancy terminology for a big document that lays out the structure of your new organization. It includes information like your business name, address, and the names of its members. There is usually a several hundred-dollar filing fee. (In Texas, the fee is currently $300.) You’ll also need to specify the Registered Agent for your company. The Registered Agent is simply the person you choose to be in charge of receiving official documents. As with most dog training companies, this will most likely be you!
3) Operating Agreement & Permits
The Operating Agreement is a document that specifies the official roles each person will fill in the company. Most dog training companies are started by one person so this is pretty simple. In fact, most states do not require an Operating Agreement. At this point, you’ll also want to check with your local business regulations. Some cities require business operation permits.
For more information, please check out the U.S. Small Business Administration website. How to Start an LLC is our absolute favorite resource for all the links and resources you’ll need to get started.
Did this information help you? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!
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![How To Set Yourself Apart From The Pack Of “Trainers”]()
by Ines | Sep 29, 2014 | Business
Anyone can be a trainer. How are you setting yourself apart?
Wondering why the word “trainers” is in quotation marks? That’s because we want to emphasize the fact that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. There are no regulations in the dog training industry – not even minimum standards that must be met. That means anyone off the street who decides he wants to train dogs can call himself a “dog trainer.” It is unfortunate, but it is true.
When you’re in the midst of starting your own dog training business, there are some ways you can show potential customers that you’re different and can provide more value than other trainers in the area.
Provide (Free) Value
Before bringing a stranger into their home to work with their beloved dog, owners want to know who you are and why you’re better. What better way than to share your knowledge with them? Setting up an email marketing campaign will help you connect with your potential clients by giving them information they need and want. Create a free email newsletter through MailChimp with our tutorial and then get started helping out your clients! The most important part of this concept is to allow customers to volunteer their emails and provide them with information they want – not what you think they ought to know.
Walk a mile in their shoes.”
Provide More Than Your Competitors
Clients are always interested in getting the best bang for their buck. Find ways to provide them more for their money. Here are some ideas:
- Create a special educational email newsletter or ebook just for clients.
- Create follow-up pdf handouts that they can print and tape to their fridge.
- Offer monthly seminars that are 1-2 hours long for a small fee, but that are exclusive for current clients.
- Offer unique services such as training walks or outings for clients who don’t have time to train their own dogs every day.
- Host a monthly or bi-weekly “yappy hour” for clients whose dogs are social.
The possibilities are endless! You just have to get creative. The ultimate goal is to help your human client’s lives return to a peaceful and normal state.
State Your Mission Clearly
As modern dog trainers, you need to make it clear why you’re different from the man off the street who has no education. Make your mission clear on your website and marketing materials. Briefly explain why you became a dog trainer (don’t forget the part about helping families), discuss the science that drives your methods, and share the results your clients have achieved with your training.
Promote the End Result
In the end, clients are looking for training that will fix their problem. If the behavior issue is driving them insane, they are usually desperate to find a quick fix – and we can’t blame them! Everyone gets a dog to improve their lives, not to increase their stress or anxiety. Make it clear that your methods work and share with them the end goal you are looking to achieve. Training can be fun and games, but will it truly help them with their situation in the end.
Bonus Idea: Make a referral program for existing clients. Entice clients to share information about your services to their friends and reward them for promoting your business!
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by Ines | Sep 29, 2014 | Business, Training Methods
The APDT offers a fun and challenging CLASS curriculum for new pet owners.
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers is the leading organization for professional dog trainers in North America. They offer a wonderful program for trainers to get involved with local rescues as well as increase their income by teaching a specific kind of class. Canine Life and Social Skills (CLASS) is targeted towards shelter dogs who need to build their life skills and social skills to successfully get adopted or stay adopted. Becoming a CLASS Instructor & Evaluator is a great way to set yourself apart from your competition.
Becoming an Instructor
To become a CLASS instructor simply sign up for an account. Once you’ve registered, you have access to the CLASS curriculum so that you can easily begin teaching. The APDT also supplies advertising materials so you can help clients or potential clients learn about the CLASS program. CLASS for shelter dogs is a great program to use if you want to begin a relationship with your local rescue or shelter.
Certification for Evaluators
To become certified as a CLASS Evaluator you’ll need to pass a video exam, be the minimum age of 21, have at least 60 hours of training experience, and maintain liability insurance either through the company you work for or through your own business. The cost is only $40 to become certified. Once your students complete the CLASS curriculum in class, being certified allows you the possibility to graduate your clients and help them become certified as well! Getting their dog certified is a fun way to encourage excellence in pet ownership and responsibility.
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by Ines | Sep 26, 2014 | Business, Communication
Using email newsletters is currently the best way to reach existing and potential clients. Email newsletters let you continue to provide value to your existing clients. They also help you reach out to potential clients who want to know more about you are and what you do. Receiving client’s emails through an email newsletter service, like MailChimp, gives you legal permission to contact them in the future to raise awareness about services you could offer them.
This step-by-step guide to getting your free MailChimp email newsletter account set up will get you started.
Create an Account
Click their red “Sign Up Now” button in the top right corner of the window. Use your business’ email address and a creative password to create your account.
Don’t forget to verify your email before moving forward.
Confirm You Are Human
Once you click the blue “activate account”button in your email, you’ll need to confirm that you are indeed a human by completing the phrase from the reCAPTCHA.
Set Up Your Profile
Next it will take you to the “set up your profile” page. Complete this page as completely as possible. Make sure to put in your real name, website address, and a physical mailing address (legally required).
Set Up a Email List
Next you’ll want to create a sign up form so that people can submit their emails to sign up on your website. Select “Create a List” in the botton row.
Give your list a name (like “The Modern Dog Trainer Main List”), a default “from email,” and a default “from name” that people will recognize.
Once your list is created, select the “create a sign up form” option:
Select the “Embedded Forms” option to create a form you can put on any website.
Creating Your Sign Up Form
Set your sign up form title. Something like “Subscribe to Our Newsletter!” works just fine. Experienced email marketers usually offer a free PDF ebook with simple and fun information in exchange for an email address, but this isn’t always necessary.
Here we recommend only asking for the basic necessities like your reader’s first and last name and email address. The easier it is for them to sign up, the more likely they will be to register. Some sites only ask for email addresses, but it may be to your advantage to recognize clients as they sign up for services.
Set the form width to something between 200 and 300 pixels. Then copy and paste the form onto your website’s sidebar.
Content For Your Newsletter
Once people sign up through the form, people will be expecting contact from you pretty quickly. If you wait too long before sending the first email, they may forget they even signed up for your newsletter in the first place. Make sure that your first contact with your new follower includes information that they will find useful and valuable. For example, you can think about what the most behavior issues you encounter are and provide quick and easy tips to help with management and prevention.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial about how to set up an email newsletter using MailChimp! Don’t forget to share this valuable information with your friends.
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