Entrepreneur Profile
Alena Bolten, Founder, KittyBuddy
Mini Bio
Animal-loving entrepreneur Alena Bolten decided to combine her personal passions with her desire to control her own destiny, and her pet-sitting service was born.
Name: Alena Bolten
Title: Founder
Company: KittyBuddy, LLC
Years in business: 1
Business location: Oakland, Calif.
Number of employees: 1
Chief service: Pet care (Pet-sitting and dog-walking services)
Website: www.KittyBuddy.net
First of all, how is business these days?
Super, so far. For only being in business a short time, I’m thrilled with how it's going. Better than expected by quite a bit.
What led you to start your own business?
A frustration with working for others. I’ve always worked for someone else and feel I’ve been a good, dutiful employee. I’d come into a new job with a fair amount of energy, excited and willing to roll with things only to always wind up feeling dissatisfied and disappointed. I often felt like I could contribute more ideas but was never given the opportunity. I always had that feeling “if they would do it my way, things would be so much cooler, or better.” I went on a trip for a milestone birthday and it just came over me: I can make my life better. I don’t have to settle. When I returned home, I quit my job and began taking the steps to start my business.
What sources did you use for startup capital?
I used my own capital. Luckily, my little business isn’t too expensive to start up and doesn’t have a ton of overhead. I had very basic needs: a website, business cards, and a little marketing. I was able to keep expenses low, thankfully.
What do you think is your biggest business strength?
I’m still learning what that is as I go—it’s all so new. Right now, though, perhaps my biggest business strength is the ability to build relationships with my customers. My business is very personal and all about having good relationships. My clients really need to get to know me as a person. I’m selling trustworthiness and reliability. In a way, that doesn’t really feel like a business skill. I’m just being myself and hopefully they view me as a suitable caregiver to their beloved pet.
What do you enjoy most about owning your own business?
I enjoy that, for the first time, my heart is fully in my work. In the past, in one way or another, I was expected to “push a product” I didn’t believe in. But I believe in this product. I feel I’m providing a valuable service that I don’t even have to try to sell. I suppose all entrepreneurs are selling something. But for me, it really doesn’t feel that way. It’s quite refreshing.
What’s your least favorite part of running a business?
Figuring out all the tax stuff, finances. Not my forte. I’m learning that all as I go. It’s not terrible, it’s just my least favorite aspect.
What do you think are important entrepreneurial skills to have?
Probably the willingness to keep learning, especially from your mistakes. To see what’s working and what isn’t, and adjust and adapt accordingly. Plus, of course, good communication.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in business and how did you overcome them?
So far the biggest challenge has been the volatile nature of the workload. It can be extremely busy one month followed by a lull. This industry certainly has busy seasons and quiet seasons. For this particular challenge, I think it’s less about overcoming it and more about riding it out. Or learning how to best even things out a bit. I’m still figuring that aspect out but it’s to be expected in this business, especially early on.
What do you wish you’d known before you started out?
How much time scheduling and recordkeeping takes up. It’s just me solo right now so I do a bit of everything. It’s more time consuming than I had considered or most people realize.
How do you find new customers? What do you do to make sure they become return customers?
I acquire new customers mostly via social media and by word of mouth. My business’s success relies greatly on my trustworthiness. People want to hear from others they know in their community that they can count on me. Obviously, Yelp and Facebook are great for that as well as community sites such as Nextdoor.com. There are also several care-based sites I can be found on such as Care.com or Sittercity. I’m taking care of something very precious to my customers and reliability and peace of mind are paramount. I feel the best way to ensure they will be return customers is to provide them with outstanding personalized service. I also offer discounts to clients who refer me.
What are some other companies or entrepreneurs you admire, and why?
Ann Dunn, the founder of Cat Town, an Oakland-based cat rescue organization. She is trying to solve the problem of overcrowding at animal shelters. The primary goal of Cat Town is to empty as many shelter cages as possible by taking in older, sensitive, or just harder-to-place cats that, if not adopted, would likely be euthanized. At Cat Town, the cats are in a much less stressful environment, helping them to become more confident and more likely to find homes. I admire Ann because she identified an inhumane situation, and through some very hard work and sacrifice, has saved the lives of over 400 cats this year. She thought beyond turning a profit and with this simple idea is very successful and making a real difference.
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” —Albert Einstein
What new initiatives are you working on?
Right now, I’m trying to streamline the entire intake process for my clients. I’m considering online booking and have a lofty idea for an app.
What advice would you give to someone hoping to start a business similar to yours?
It’s super rewarding if you are willing to work hard and have a knack for meeting people’s needs. You have to be a good listener and be intuitive, detailed-oriented, and very organized. Don’t do it just because you love animals and think it will be fun and easy. Caretaking, working with humans and their animals should be fun but also something to be taken seriously. Do it only if you can provide the highest level of professional service.
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