In this episode, I sit down with my friend, long time client, and now DogCo team member, Maris Sonnabend, to talk about the real journey of scaling a pet care business, navigating big life changes, and building a company that truly supports your future.
Maris shares how she went from doing everything herself to running a thriving team of 27, stepping out of the field, taking maternity leave, and now using her experience to help other companies grow through DogCo.
If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next move, this conversation is full of clarity, actionable insight, and the permission to build a business that works for the life you want.
Want to work with DogCo in 2026?
💡💡💡 Mastermind enrollment page: dogcolaunch.com/mastermind 💡💡💡
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:37 How Michelle and Maris met
01:25 Maris shares her business story
03:05 From doing everything to hiring a full team
04:40 Eliminating services that did not serve the business
06:50 What it took to get out of burnout
08:40 The role DogCo played in restructuring profitable service lines
10:24 Preparing for maternity leave while still scaling
12:05 Why investing in yourself matters
14:45 Implementing coaching vs only consuming it
16:00 Time blocking and getting unstuck
18:05 Learning to prioritize freedom and family
20:00 Why Maris joined the DogCo team
22:35 Honest conversations about fit and readiness for the Mastermind
25:00 Advice for companies stuck before the new year
27:00 Believing your business is within your control
28:40 Why reinventing the wheel slows companies down
30:10 The real value of proven SOPs and systems
31:50 The new DogCo Process Builder tool
33:40 Maris emotional story of growth
35:05 The invitation to schedule a consultation
🔥 Key Takeaways
• You do not have to offer every service to be successful
• Eliminating mismatched services often unlocks profit and sanity
• Investing in yourself pays off when you actually implement what you learn
• Time blocking creates clarity, momentum, and freedom
• You can still scale even in complex life seasons
• Your business can serve your life, not the other way around
• Proven systems save years of trial and error
• Scheduling a consultation costs nothing, and can change everything
dogco #michellekline #petcarebusiness #petbusinesscoach #smallbusinessgrowthÂ
-M