We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Sroda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my business changed several times before I actually launched Peanuts Pals™ LLC. I knew I wanted to start a business but had no idea what I wanted it to be or where to begin. When my chihuahua Peanut passed away in October 2022, I was absolutely crushed and I knew that surrounding myself with other pups was a step I needed to take in my healing journey. I’ve cared after dogs over the years for friends, family and neighbors. Now it was time to make it official. Caring after pets was my passion and I knew that starting a dog walking company was what I wanted to do. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. And I knew I wanted to honor Peanut in the process. I came up with a name and registered my business as an LLC. I created a website and social media pages. I got certified in Pet CPR + First Aid. I found an amazing pet sitters software program that allows me to manage my clients and staff, scheduling, invoicing and more. I ordered business cards, stickers and flyers to hand out. And once all these steps were complete, I was able to launch Peanuts Pals™ LLC and it was the best thing I could’ve ever done for myself!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When I first started, I was still working full-time in marketing for a real estate company and Peanuts Pals™ LLC was only supposed to be a side gig walking dogs in my neighborhood. About 3 weeks after launching, I was laid off from my marketing job (budget reasons) and had a month left with the company before I was done. During this time I started to look for other jobs and after about a week it dawned on me to just go full steam ahead with my business instead of looking for something else. Well, when you are truly passionate about what you are doing and want to be successful, you will be. Once that month was over, I was able to go full-time with Peanuts Pals™. I ate, breathed and slept Peanuts Pals™. I started adding new services and expanding my area. I reached out to people in facebook groups, on instagram, in local shops, my neighbors, people I would meet on the street. I ran ads on social media, handed out business cards and flyers. I did everything I could to get clients and the spread the word about my services. And it definitely paid off. One big factor in getting new clients was my marketing. In an age where social media (unfortunately) runs our lives, it’s so important to keep everything up-to-date when running a business. What’s the first thing anyone does when they hear about a new business or are looking for a new service? They look up their instagram or facebook page or search for the website to get more info and read reviews. They want to see what kind of business you are running, see what other people are saying about their experience with that business. See what kind of person you are. My passion for this business shines through and it is very evident when looking at my marketing and online presence. I’m very transparent and show all the sides of my business. I love what I do and I know people can see that. Like I said, when you are truly passionate about something, it’s “easy” to become successful with that passion. I put the word easy in quotation marks because running a business is definitely not easy. There are many bumps in the road along the way, sacrifices that need to be made, money that needs to be spent. But I wouldn’t change any of it. For every bump in the road, there’s a dozen victories along the way. Everything I do is done with a purpose and for a reason. Peanuts Pals™ is what it is today because of my passion and transparency and I cannot wait to see where this journey will keep taking me! I am beyond grateful for the people and furry pals I have met and get to take care of, and for the amazing team that I was able to hire recently with our new services we provide (hello equine care, farm sitting, and professional pet photography, how are ya!?) I’m looking forward to expanding even more, bringing on more team members (and launching a product line!!!) Stay tuned!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My top response is and always will be – the mountains! This is actually my second time living in Colorado and I honestly came back for the outdoors. The scenery is absolutely incredible here and anyone who visits must take a trip through the mountains. With that being said, we would definitely go on a hike, with pups in tow of course! Visit a local dog-friendly brewery for some burgers and beers afterwards – Cabin Creek Brewing Co in Georgetown is one of my faves. They have a large outdoor patio right on a lake and have lot’s of delicious food and brews. After that we’d make our way to Breckenridge, my favorite little mountain town, and stay at Gravity Haus, a dog-friendly hotel at the base of Peak 9. They even provide dog beds, dog bowls, and dog treats upon arrival! Once we get back to Denver, we would visit some of my favorite restaurants in my neighborhood. North Italia, Italian cuisine made from scratch, and Kini’s, a mediterranean restaurant, are a couple of my top picks! Can’t forget a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. If you haven’t seen a show at Red Rocks, you are definitely missing out. The views, the people, the sound, it’s a vibe that needs to be experienced. If it’s summertime, we would head over to the Cherry Creek or City Park farmers markets, both dog-friendly, and load up on some yummy treats. In the winter time, with so many world-class ski resorts all within an hour or so from Denver, skiing would definitely be a must. All in all – lot’s of outdoor time, lot’s of yummy food, and lot’s of pups would make the perfect week long vacation with my best friend!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Trying to make me cry already!? There are so many people that had a part in my success but one in particular would definitely have to be my father. He believes in me every step of the way, gives me words of encouragement on my hard days, celebrates my good days, listens to me when I need to vent, makes me believe in myself when things are going wrong. We talk on the phone everyday. Sometimes it’s for 30 seconds and sometimes it’s for 30 minutes. No matter how long the conversation is or what it’s about, I always look forward to our talks and always hang up feeling better!

Website: www.peanutspalsdenver.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/peanutspalsdenver

Facebook: www.facebook.com/peanutspalsdenver

Other: www.shoppeanutspals.com

Image Credits
Eric Einstein Photography

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