Does your dog wear a tutu?
Independent Contractors or Employees – Which Should You Hire?
I'm just like most of you. My first business was a mobile van. I was extremely successful. Within less than a year I needed a second van. I needed someone to run that unit. I didn't want it complicated. I just needed help. I figured the easiest route to go was to find the person who could groom and send him or her out in a second rig. I didn't need to file all that mumbo-jumbo with the government. Heck, this person was going to run solo -- it was the perfect situation for an independent contractor. After all, everybody else was doing it!
Fast forward three years. I now had four rigs. I had hired an accountant. My accountant suggested I hire a CPA to do my taxes. Throughout the years I knew in my heart I was running close to the wire with my independent contractors. My father had been harping on me. My accountant was concerned. My new CPA really set me straight using a very effective tactic -- fear.
If you work with independent contractors within your grooming organization, do you really know the current tax laws? The IRS is very strict with its rulings concerning employees vs. independent contractors. Being naïve is no excuse. If you are ever caught, it will be the IRS that makes the ruling on whether you actually have an employee or an independent contractor.
There are a number of different ways to get caught. It might be an audit of your business or one of your workers files an unemployment claim, a disgruntled worker simply turns you in are a few of the common ways, but there are many more.
I know, I know. You can't afford to hire employees. All those taxes you have to take out of the employee's paycheck and all the taxes that you need to pay into the government both state and federal plus Social Security and Medicare for each employee. Whew - it's a paperwork and budget nightmare.
But trust me, if you have your workers misclassified, you can't afford not to have them as employees, if that's what they truly are. The IRS has no qualms about coming in, slapping you with heavy fines and penalties equal to the amount of all the back taxes owed PLUS all the interest on those back taxes. The IRS may turn you in to your state government as well. In one single sweep, your business and your livelihood can be destroyed.
Shortly after I switched from independent contractors to employees I started hearing real life horror stories from within our own industry. One of my personal idols virtually lost everything due to incorrectly filing with the IRS. They lost their business, their home, their personal relationship - everything. They confirmed the fear that placed into me by my CPA years before. The IRS will - and can - destroy your life if you do not play by their rules. The stories that were shared much later only reaffirmed I had made the right decision years before.
So here’s the scoop. The laws are complex, subjective, and inconsistently applied, but knowing the rules can keep you and your workers safe. So here they are, in a nutshell:
Under United States common law, a worker is an employee if the person for whom he or she works has the right to direct and control the way he or she works, both as to the final result and as to the details of when, where, how, and in which sequence the work is to be done. It is the IRS' view that the employer need not actually exercise control. It is sufficient that it has the right to do so.
Here's a list of 20 questions the IRS uses to determine if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. A ‘yes’ answer to any of the questions except #16 may indicate your worker is truly an employee. Take a look. Be honest with yourself -- you can't afford not to. (and yes did raise my grooming prices!)
IRS 20 Questions: Independent Contractor OR Employee
- Is the worker required to comply with instructions about when, where and how the work is done?
- Is the worker provided training that would enable him/her to perform a job in a particular method or manner?
- Are the services provided by the worker an integral part of the business' operations?
- Must the services be rendered personally?
- Does the business hire, supervise, or pay assistants to help the worker on the job?
- Is there a continuing relationship between the worker and the person for whom the services are performed?
- Does the recipient of the services set the work schedule?
- Is the worker required to devote his/her full time to the person he/she performs services for?
- Is the work performed at the place of business of the company or at specific places set by the company?
- Does the recipient of the services direct the sequence in which the work must be done?
- Are regular oral or written reports required to be submitted by the worker?
- Is the method of payment hourly, weekly, monthly (as opposed to commission or by the job?)
- Are business and/or traveling expenses reimbursed?
- Does the company furnish tools and materials used by the worker?
- Has the worker failed to invest in equipment or facilities used to provide the services?
- Does the arrangement put the person in a position or realizing either a profit or loss on the work?
- Does the worker perform services exclusively for the company rather than working for a number of companies at the same time?
- Does the worker in fact make his/her services regularly available to the general public?
- Is the worker subject to dismissal for reasons other than non-performance of the contract specifications?
- Can the worker terminate his/her relationship without incurring a liability for failure to complete the job?
Beating the Butterflies
Beating the Butterflies
Eight ways to overcome anxiety and channel nervous energy to perform your best
Wheth
er you are looking to certify, enter a grooming competition or other highly visible display, the seasoned pros seem to have total control over their situation: calm, cool, and collected in their thoughts.
Looks, however, can be deceiving. Beneath the surface of total control, even the most seasoned, show-savvy competitors get butterflies in their stomachs. They experience the same sort of show jitters and performance anxiety that plagues those who compete at lower levels. But seasoned stylists eventually learn to use those gut-churning sensations to their advantage. They productively channel their nervous energy rather that allow negative thoughts and feelings to overwhelm them and interfere with their performance.
Everyone gets nervous. It’s normal - even the elite in the pet styling world become nervous - but they learn to work with it. You have to train yourself to like the feeling and see it as an asset.
A Bundle of Nerves
Performance anxiety reveals itself in many forms: stomach misery, sweating, shortness of breath, fidgeting, tension throughout the body, chattiness, uncharacteristic silence. Some stylists are wracked with anxiety from the moment they wake up the day of the competition or certification, others get a burst of butterflies just before entering the stage.
No matter how or when performance anxiety occurs, it usually is fueled by the fear of failure. Many stylists place great pressure on themselves to do well. Others feel compelled to do everything in their power not to disappoint their employers, fellow staff members, or family members. Those who enter the contest arena or testing site with a client dog have the added responsibility to do a good job to please the owner. Some groomers are deathly afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of an audience.
To a certain degree, many people are predisposed to being overly anxious. It’s a part of their persona and temperament, just as some folks are normally laid-back or unflappable.
Actually there’s little difference physiologically between excitement and fear. While one person says, ‘Oh boy, here I go’ the next person is saying ‘Oh no, here it comes again.’ The feelings are much the same. The difference is that one is positive while the other is negative.
Those that work through anxiety may be nervous prior to performing, but they are able to set aside the negative feelings and focus on the skills they need when it’s time to compete or start testing. In contrast, stylists who can’t get past their nervousness extract less and less pleasure from competing or testing. Worse still, performance anxiety can crush confidence and divert attention for completing the familiar steps of an established trim, which reinforces the feeling of being unprepared.
Because dogs are highly attuned to our feelings, they can sense when something is amiss with a groomer’s emotions. Although some dogs are not rattled by what they sense from their handlers, others become increasingly anxious, especially when they are already distracted by the sights and sounds of unfamiliar surroundings.
1. Set Yourself Up To Succeed
Select a good dog you feel comfortable working with, choose a trim you are familiar with, and study high quality reference material.
2. Develop Proficiency and Skills Beyond What You’ll Test
You’ll be more likely to succeed when you start at lower level that’s less challenging than what you are accustomed to at home, whether that means choosing a simple trim to execute, a smaller dog to work on, or a better coat to scissor. Everything you do should be easier, not more difficult, when you’re in a show or testing atmosphere: that’s what builds confidence.
3. Simulate the Show or Testing Experience
Attend small clinics or go to a trade show or conformation dog show and hire a seasoned competitor to be your coach. Videotaping yourself adhering to the time restraints of typical grooming class is highly beneficial as well
4. Focus on the Task
To heighten awareness of the specific challenges that lie ahead, plan your trimming process on the dog. Dissect the time you have allotted for each area of the dog, visualize the finished profile you want to create - see the velvet scissor finish. Think through the entire haircut, don’t just start whacking off hair and hope for a positive outcome.
5. Accentuate the Positive
Negative thoughts take a toll on your mood as well as your confidence, and they can inadvertently slip you up at an inopportune moment. Concentrate on modifying your thoughts in a positive tone. Remind yourself to keep your shoulders relaxed, your hand smooth and steady, and move with your hips and knees when you are scissoring.
6. Rely on Imagery to Get You Through Tough Spots
Imagery is more powerful than internal dialog or self-statements when it comes to helping a person access his or her internal resources. For that perfectly scissored coat, think of crushed velvet. Or visualize a photo or a drawing of the perfect dog you want to create. Close your eyes and take deep breaths envisioning the image perfectly in your mind. Focus on a positive image rather than thinking about failure or a disaster.
7. Give Yourself Time to Regroup
When all your preparations are accomplished – your dog is bathed and fluffed, you’re dressed to step into the ring, your tools are in order – give yourself a break from the hustle and bustle of the competitive environment and take a few moments to gather your thoughts.
8. Turn it Into a Learning Experience
Everyone wants to win but facts are facts and the placements only go so high. When I would head to the ring, I always wanted to give my best performance, but I’d play a mind-game with myself too; I would say to myself “Melissa, what’s the worst thing that could happen?” The answer was always, “I could be out of the placements with my dog. I’ve dealt with a lot worse…” One of the best learning tools you’ll ever get is personal critiques from seasoned pros. The grooming tips you can pick up at a show are invaluable to your career as you gain grooming knowledge.
Feeling you can compete with confidence allows you to enjoy the experience. You may always have to work at managing your nerves, but as your self-assurance grows and you learn to channel your thoughts productively into your performance, your anxiety will dissipate. And when you’re done competing, you may even think, “That really wasn’t so bad after all.”
Get used to your anxiety. Don’t be rattled by the way it makes you feel. Embrace it and eventually you’ll discover how to use it to put your best foot forward in every competition.
Enhance Your Career!
Pet Grooming Education
Professional pet grooming establishments continue to grow despite current gloomy market trends. It amazes me how busy compassionate groomers can be if they pay attention to details and to their client’s wishes. Some salons are so busy that they can’t even take on new clients. Some are having difficulties filling grooming positions because qualified new hires are in extremely short supply! 
As people grow increasingly disillusioned with the corporate world and poor job security, they are drawn to starting a business where they rely solely on themselves. Dogs have moved out of the fields and barns, directly into our homes! A love for pets never goes out of style, and what people love, they take care of.
The consumer is becoming more and more aware of proper pet hygiene. If you want to earn the trust and spending power of the consumer, you must stay current with styling trends and equipment upgrades. There are some fabulous new educational tools at your finger tips – you just need to apply a little bit of effort to take advantage of all the resources.
Here are 10 ideas to get your mind working on ways to enhance your career.
- Study and memorize breed standards. Know how to read the “Blue Print” of each breed and translate it into grooming language.
- Attend dog shows and closely study individual breeds. Have a couple breeds you want to study closely and make a list of questions you want answered or verified PRIOR to hitting the show grounds. Take notes and make drawings.
- Study anatomy, proportion, and angles. Understand how they relate to one another.
- Get and read all trade publications: Groomer to Groomer, Pet Age, Family Dog by AKC, Grooming Business, and Pet Business.
- Be active on-line with pet related web-sites, breed groups, and upper level enthusiasts within the pet industry
- Attend every trade show, seminar or small clinic you can get to. (At least 4-6 each year for the first three years of your career and then 2 to 4 from that point on).
- Study and work towards certification testing.
- Enter the contest ring to test your skills and get critiques.
- Find a mentor or friend to help inspire you.
- Watch any breed videos established by well-respected organizations or professionals.
If you are an animal lover, there is no better time to make that leap of faith and turn a dream of working with pets into a reality! Do your research and take the plunge!! Some of the best new stylists are entering the field without any prior experience, and nothing to draw upon other than a passion for pets.
Always remember - when one door closes, another door opens! Learning is a never-ending journey. Learning inspires and keeps us all fresh. It is the lifeblood of any successful organization. As Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), a former British statesman and prime minister said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”
Surviving the Holiday Rush!
After working professionally in the pet care industry for over 27 years, the only time I worry about dealing with clients is the Christmas holiday season. The two weeks proceeding the actual day can be a chaotic mess. With Christmas shopping, decorating, baking, family gatherings, holiday socials to attend, and every regular client you have wanting to be booked as close to Christmas as possible . . . phew! December can be an exhausting month! But, wait! It doesn't have to be! Christmas organizing all year round will let you create that picture perfect holiday without as much stress.
Getting Organized & Ready
The Salon
- Is it clean – really clean? Floors, walls, kennels?
- Is the lighting up to snuff?
- Are your laundry machines working properly?
- Are the tubs draining properly?
- What are the conditions of your pet dryers?
- Are you blowing fuses on a regular basis in one outlet?
- Does you computer need to be de-bugged for a glitch-free running machine?
- Do you have a stock pile of all the office supplies you’ll need?
- Are your blades and shears all sharp and ready to go?
- Are your clippers operating smoothly?
- What is your stock level of all your dispensable products? Shampoos, conditioners, colognes, flea foggers, cotton balls, ear cleaner, etc.
- Are there plenty of towels on the shelves?
The Holiday Image
- Are your holiday decorations fresh and up-to date for your salon? Keep it simple and easy… pick a simple theme and work with it.
- Do you have your client’s gifts ready to go so they can easily be passed out while the client is having his/her pet groomed? Remember, expense isn’t the key, packaging is. Pay attention to the details.
- Have fun with festive accessories. Head gear, costume jewelry. Anything that can bring a smile to someone else is a good thing.
- Are all your holiday bows special and pre-tied? Are bandanas ready to be attached to the pet?
$$ Saving Tip: Buy all of your holiday items the day after the holiday to save up to 50% off the retail price: ribbon, fabric for bandanas, decorations, Christmas cards…
- Do you have red and green nail polish that is actually usable? What about other colors?
- Do you have plenty of air freshener to lend a sparkle to the air without being overpowering?
- Music is everywhere – is your holiday collection handy or is there an ‘all Christmas’ station you can tune into?
- Have you brought with you extra clothing or makeup to freshen up after work before heading out?
- If you’re worried that you’ll be slow after the holiday season, do you have any grooming promotions for January and February that you can be handing out now?
Getting Through the Dogs
- What are the pros and cons of working extra hours?
- Should you take on new clients?
- Make sure all of your regular clients have their holiday appointments before taking on new clients or ‘non- regulars.’
- Hiring extra help – is there something you can easily delegate with some basic training that would free you up to deal with clients? Cleaning? Answering the phone? Taking out the trash?
- Have you worked out a system to maximize the types of pets you take in per stylist?
- Work out a drop off and pick up schedule that allows you to stay focused on grooming pets.
- Stay calm, cool, and collected no matter what happens during the course of the day.
- Set realistic time goals that push you, but stay on target. Use an egg timer if necessary or place a clock where you can’t miss it - no matter what.
- Use every speed trick in the book from prepping – to bathing - to drying - to trimming.
- When clients pick up their pets, are you offering a promotion to assist in rebooking 6 weeks down the road when it can traditionally be really slow?
Organization on a Personal Level
- Do you have a master list of all the things you need to do for the holidays? Is it broken down into smaller do-able chunks? What about a Master gift list that’s simply updated year to year? Master Christmas card list? Weekly meal planner? Regular shopping tick sheet list? For great inspiration go to www.organizedchristmas.com
- Are you a store, catalog, or Internet shopper? Are you prepared to have ALL your holiday gift shopping done by December 15? What about the wrapping?
- As time gets closer, demands get greater and healthy meals go by the wayside... If you are in a city, do you have a full selection of menus at your fingertips? Who had great take-out that you quickly sweep in and grab on the way home or while at the shop? If you are a country dweller, is your freezer packed with great frozen meals that only require reheating whether homemade or store bought?
- Does a messy house stress you out? Before it gets really busy, clean and organize the house or hire someone to help you… (or if you have kids, enlist in their help). Also, think about having carpets cleaned, windows washed, or dropping your heaping laundry off at a Laundromat, letting them do it for you.
- Do you need a masseuse or chiropractor to help you stay loose and limber? If you do, book your appointment early.
After the Holiday?
Take the week off!
Enhance Your Career!
Pet Grooming Education
Professional pet grooming establishments continue to grow despite current gloomy market trends. It amazes me how busy compassionate groomers can be if they pay attention to details and to their client’s wishes. Some salons are so busy that they can’t even take on new clients. Some are having difficulties filling grooming positions because qualified new hires are in extremely short supply!
As people grow increasingly disillusioned with the corporate world and poor job security, they are drawn to starting a business where they rely solely on themselves. Dogs have moved out of the fields and barns, directly into our homes! A love for pets never goes out of style, and what people love, they take care of.
The consumer is becoming more and more aware of proper pet hygiene. If you want to earn the trust and spending power of the consumer, you must stay current with styling trends and equipment upgrades. There are some fabulous new educational tools at your finger tips – you just need to apply a little bit of effort to take advantage of all the resources.
Here are 10 ideas to get your mind working on ways to enhance your career.
- Study and memorize breed standards. Know how to read the “Blue Print” of each breed and translate it into grooming language.
- Attend dog shows and closely study individual breeds. Have a couple breeds you want to study closely and make a list of questions you want answered or verified PRIOR to hitting the show grounds. Take notes and make drawings.
- Study anatomy, proportion, and angles. Understand how they relate to one another.
- Get and read all trade publications: Groomer to Groomer, Pet Age, Family Dog by AKC, Grooming Business, and Pet Business.
- Be active on-line with pet related web-sites, breed groups, and upper level enthusiasts within the pet industry
- Attend every trade show, seminar or small clinic you can get to. (At least 4-6 each year for the first three years of your career and then 2 to 4 from that point on).
- Study and work towards certification testing.
- Enter the contest ring to test your skills and get critiques.
- Find a mentor or friend to help inspire you.
- Watch any breed videos established by well-respected organizations or professionals.
If you are an animal lover, there is no better time to make that leap of faith and turn a dream of working with pets into a reality! Do your research and take the plunge!! Some of the best new stylists are entering the field without any prior experience, and nothing to draw upon other than a passion for pets.
Always remember - when one door closes, another door opens! Learning is a never-ending journey. Learning inspires and keeps us all fresh. It is the lifeblood of any successful organization. As Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), a former British statesman and prime minister said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”
GroomExpo!
Just Got Back From GroomExpo!
We’ve just returned from GroomExpo in Hershey Pennsylvania. What a
great show!! The Barkleigh team did a sup
er job hosting the event. The
main room was full of booths, and the aisles were packed with pet
professionals getting an up close look at all the products and tools we
can use to assist us in our jobs. Plus, there were a wealth of great
speakers sharing their vast knowledge. Over in the contest arena, there
was some incredible grooming going on!! Wow – beautiful dogs in gorgeous
trims!!
It was great fun getting to meet so many of you, and sharing with you what Learn2GroomDogs.com is all about. Joelle, our Marketing Coordinator and resident “geek gal,” manned the booth for the entire show. Back in the office, Joelle is the main person who keeps everything running smoothly – if you have any issues with viewing L2GD.com, Joelle is right there to assist you just in case our handy Q&A section on the L2GD site doesn’t answer your question.
While Joelle held down the fort at the show, I was off gathering fantastic Training Partners, scheduling shoots and listening to your ideas about what you’d love to see for content on the L2GD site. You gave us plenty of ideas that will keep us busy for quite a while!
Thank you!!
How Do I Found Out More About Paragon?
Hey Melissa –
How do I do I find out more about what you and the Paragon Team are
creating in pet grooming education? I want to be the first to know!
Join the Advanced Notification E-Mail List-
Do you want to get in on the mailing list for advance notice to all our
latest projects? Simply sign-up. It’s easy. Just fill out a quick
little survey that will REALLY help us focus on creating the content in
our newer projects to best fit your needs. Once you do that - boom –
you’re on the Advanced Notification e-mail List!
Thanks,
~ Melissa
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Learn2Groom Dogs.com Revolutionizes Pet Grooming Industry
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