The K9PT Academy Podcast: Business lessons for canine rehab therapists

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!

Through the years we have mentored and helped many different canine rehabpreneurs in a variety of different business models. Some of them were just getting started, others were growing and working through going solo to having a team, and others already had a facility with multiple staff members and were trying to figure out how to make their business more efficient and profitable. The thing to keep in mind is that regardless of the circumstances we need to develop a business model that works for us, keeping in mind our personal goals and how the business aligns with that. Because of that, some of us may want to stay small, either as mobile therapists or with a small space, while others may want to grow a larger space with many staff members. However, no matter if you are big or small, at one point you will encounter a challenge with business growth and sustainability so the business doesn’t necessarily revolve 100% around you, and usually speaking those challenges with be related to finances or staff.

Listen to the full episode as we discuss: 

• Business Growth Comes with Challenges – Whether you’re just starting, hiring your first team member, or scaling an established practice, business growth requires financial and strategic planning.

• Hiring Should Solve a Problem, Not Just Add a Role – Instead of asking "How much should I pay?", focus on what hiring someone will allow you to do and what problems they will solve for your business.

• Your Time is Your Most Valuable Asset – Hiring should eventually free up your time, but it won’t happen instantly. You need to invest in onboarding and training before you can truly reap the benefits.

• You Can Only Optimize for One Business Phase at a Time – Choose between revenue/survival, profit, growth, or stability. Trying to grow while maintaining the same level of profit is a common mistake.

• Growth Requires Investment – Expanding your business often means spending money before making more money. You may need to reinvest profits, secure a loan, or bring in an investor, each with its own trade-offs.

• Avoid Funding Growth from Your Operations Account – If you deplete your financial cushion without a solid plan, it leads to stress and instability. Be strategic with financial decisions.

• Success Comes from Having a Clear Plan – Hoping things will change by taking things day by day creates unnecessary stress. A clear growth strategy will help you stay focused and reduce financial anxiety.

• The Key to Long-Term Business Success is Planning – Whether it’s hiring, expansion, or financial investments, success comes from making informed decisions that align with your long-term goals.

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!

The life of a rehabpreneur can be extremely fulfilling yet at the same time extremely challenging. Owning a business certainly isn't easy, and it brings a set of challenges that that will be different than any other job or position we had before. But what can we do to face those challenges? Listen to the full episode as we discuss: 

• Three Solutions to Any Business Challenge – Accept it, walk away, or change your perspective. Every problem falls into one of these categories.
• The Illusion of Shortcuts – Many business owners look for an easy way out, but real success comes from accountability, not convenience.
• Challenges Don’t Get Easier—You Get Stronger – The moment you stop waiting for things to get easier and start taking ownership, you’ll make better decisions.
• Business Should Support Your Life, Not Take From It – Build a model that aligns with your vision, rather than allowing your business to become a burden.
• Success Requires Patience and Long-Term Commitment – Instant gratification doesn’t lead to sustainable success. Growth takes time, persistence, and consistency.
• Accountability is the Key to Progress – Be accountable to yourself, your purpose, and your daily actions to achieve your definition of success.
• Stop Kicking the Can Down the Road – Address challenges head-on instead of delaying decisions that could move your business forward.
• A Shift in Perspective Changes Everything – Seeing obstacles as opportunities rather than roadblocks will determine how successfully you navigate business challenges.

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!

No matter if you are just starting your business, already have an established business along with a team, or you are growing your solo practice and hiring your 1st or 2nd team member, it is important for all of us business owners to understand that in order for us to move our business forward we will need to always be working on becoming a better leader. But how can we do so? What things do we need to focus on to make sure that we are leading with integrity? Listen to the full episode as we discuss: 

• Leadership is a Skill You Must Continuously Develop – No matter what stage your business is in, becoming a better leader is key to moving forward. Growth requires making decisions even when you don’t have all the answers.

• Momentum is Critical – An object in motion stays in motion. Keep moving forward, even when things feel uncertain. Losing momentum makes it much harder to restart.

• Courage is a Muscle – Every time you avoid a tough decision, you weaken your ability to lead with confidence. Just like building physical strength, consistently challenging yourself strengthens your "courage muscle."

• You Can’t Win Today’s Game with Yesterday’s Strategies – The business decisions that worked when you started won’t necessarily work as you grow. Evolve your approach as your business and responsibilities expand.

• Take Advice from Those Who’ve Walked the Path – Seek mentorship and guidance from people who have successfully navigated the challenges you're facing, not just those who talk about it.

• Your Next Level is on the Other Side of the Decision You’re Avoiding – Fear, comfort, and hesitation often hold us back from making the choices that will truly move our business forward.

• If You Want More, You Need to Plan for More – Success doesn’t happen by accident. Set time aside to reflect, plan, and take strategic action.

• No One Else Can Make the Decision for You – The path to growth is yours to choose, but it requires courage, commitment, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!

Recently we had an Incubator Mastermind call where we focused on Money Mindset Shifts for Canine Rehabpreneurs. I have mentioned this before, but shifting my money mindset was something I really struggled with during my 1st or so year in business, and personally I really enjoy talking about that topic with clients, mentees, or during any training session or lecture because it is a topic so many canine rehabpreneurs really struggle with regardless of how long they have been in business. During that call we covered many different topics related to money mindset, and I wanted to discuss a few of those things with you all today. Listen to the full episode as we discuss:

• Charge Based on Value, Not Time: Stop selling minutes and start selling transformation and outcomes for your clients and their pets.

• Reframe Selling as Helping: Selling isn't about convincing; it's about offering a solution to someone who genuinely needs your expertise.

• Understand Why Potential Clients Say No: The main reasons are often a lack of trust and, surprisingly, prices that are too low.

• Selling is a Transfer of Trust: Focus on building trust, clarity, confidence, and positive energy during every interaction.

• Nurture Relationships Over Time: Not every lead is ready to buy immediately. Build a follow-up and nurturing system to convert hesitant leads over time.

• The Danger of Being ‘Too Cheap’: Low prices can lead to distrust and undervaluing your services. Pricing higher can actually attract the right clients.

• You Are the Specialist: Stand out by positioning yourself as a rehab specialist, not just another option among general practices.

• Charge What You Need to Charge: Set prices that allow you to build a sustainable business, hire staff, and create a work-life balance that prevents burnout.

• Mindset is Everything: Overcome the fear of rejection and the false beliefs that may hold you back from charging what you're worth.

• Embrace a Real Marketing Strategy: Focus on educating potential clients about your unique value and nurturing trust, rather than just advertising services.

   

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!

Recently we had an exclusive training inside our FREE Canine Rehabpreneur Community focused around “What would I do if I was opening a brand-new canine rehab business?”. Today I am building up on that a bit, and discussing a question I recently got during a couple of Strategy Calls when folks asked me that based on my experience through the years helping canine rehab business owners and entrepreneurs getting their business off the ground, what did I think was the key difference between those who achieved their goals or success faster than the others… what did they do or not to do accomplish more in a shorter period of time? What key strategies do you think worked well for them? Listen to the full episode as we discuss:

• The importance of becoming great at problem solving and strategic thinking
• Why just "doing a good job" will not be enough to build the business of our dreams
• How to create the problems that we actually want to solve
• The importance of overcoming our fears and just keep moving forward
• Why we need to learn to embrace the journey and not just keep focused on the destination
• Why we need to be very careful with the false beliefs we tell ourselves, especially when it comes to money and how much we are charging