What a great morning spent with some dogs! Four years ago, a business opportunity to purchase a dog boarding facility presented itself to Nick and Shawna Sjaarda. The business was close to their home, had strong potential, and fit well with their lifestyle as a farming family.

Since then, the Sjaardas have purchased both the boarding facility and the adjacent house, which they now operate as an Airbnb. Midwest Dog Boarding serves clients from across the tri-state area and prides itself on being a home away from home for pets. Many of the dogs in their care stay for a week or more.

Nick spoke about key aspects of running a business, including cash flow, daily operations, customer service, understanding the behavior of different dog breeds, building customer trust, and the importance of word-of-mouth marketing. Nick focuses on the financial side of the business, while Shawna manages the day-to-day operations. Through much hard work and dedication , the Sjaardas have experienced
20% growth.

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with the SWMN CEO young professionals.