We recently connected with Andrea Coughlin and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started my pet care business about 4 years ago in 2018. At the time, I was in a job that my heart wasn’t in and I was looking for something that I enjoyed. I had been fostering dogs for a few years, so my friends and coworkers always asked me to take care of their pets while they were away. I don’t really know what finally made me realize that I should be caring for others animals all the time, but I do remember feeling like I knew what I wanted to do with myself. For over a year, I continued to work the job I didn’t love part-time while starting my company, Pardon the Pooch. It took a lot of time and commitment to build up enough clients to the point I felt comfortable enough to finally fully commit myself to building my business. It was definitely a scary step to take, but looking back I wish I had done it sooner. I spent too much of my adult life devoted to working at jobs I wasn’t passionate about. Almost every day I say to myself, “I get to do what I love!” The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have lived in San Diego for almost ten years. I started Pardon the Pooch Pet Care 4 years ago. I have always loved being around animals, so much so that most of the people in my life would request I care for their pets when they went away. That really is how this became my life. I was already doing it, but I figured it was time to do it for as many people/pets as possible.

I provide park trips, daycare and overnight boarding all out of my home in Ocean Beach. As a whole dog parks do get mixed reviews, so some people will send their dogs to me to get that important socialization in a more controlled setting.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source for new clients is my existing clients. There truly is nothing better than a recommendation from a happy client.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think showing up for my clients and doing my best to be as consistent as possible has helped me to build a reputation. I always try to provide a safe, fun and engaging environment for the animals in my care.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pardonthepooch
• Facebook: facebook.com/pardonthepooch
• Yelp: Pardon the Pooch