Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zan Raynor, CEO of ELLAS Animals INC., located in Crystal River, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
ELLAS Animals INC is a nonprofit that teaches people with disabilities to train their own service dogs through online lessons and individual, customized support. Part of our mission is to encourage people to train rescue dogs for this when possible, so our motto is "Improving two lives with four paws." Not only do people develop the dog they need to assist them in increasing their independence and quality of life, but they also reap the therapeutic benefits of building a relationship with a dog and gaining more control of their situation.
The owner/trainers that work through our program also earn their professional dog trainer certifications so they can develop marketable skills toward a new career and even pay it forward by helping others train their own dogs.
Tell us about yourself
Our world continues to experience a steady increase in people struggling with Autism, Clinical Depression, Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, and other psychological challenges. Animal shelters and rescues overflow with dogs who just need a good home and a solid purpose. By bringing these two issues face-to-face, we rediscover how healthy, and mutually beneficial relationships with appropriate dependency can overcome obstacles and ease burdens.
However, trained service dogs can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000, and the need is so great that many clients wait years to receive a service dog. It is our mission to reduce the costs and the wait time for service dogs to people in need by supporting volunteer trainers to prepare service dogs for themselves or a family member or friend.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm a learning designer, a linguist, and a certified dog trainer. These skills met in the middle as I developed an online curriculum that helps people learn to "translate" and communicate with their dogs. I've written scalable, standardized lessons while maintaining individual, personal, customizable support so our owner/trainers can live anywhere in the country and aren't limited in their resources to train a service dog based on their isolated location or mobility.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of operating our nonprofit is leveraging social media to publicize the resources available to people with disabilities to train a service dog. It takes a lot of time to create informative and engaging content, but it also takes a thick skin to wade through negative comments and inaccuracies to ensure genuine questions and inquiries are responded to.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start small and manageable, but with a plan for growth. A common mistake is to see a business venture as all of nothing. Think of ways you can start with small investments of time and money and gain a toe-hold, then grow your business as your clients and success warrants. Don't limit yourself with too-small thinking, but don't jump the gun and get in over your head.
- Do your research and make sure you've got your legal paperwork and financial structures in place to protect yourself from liability and set yourself up for success.
- Focus on the people over the profit at first. Focus on quality over quantity at first. If you're doing it well, growth and success will follow.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ellasanimals.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellasanimals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellas_animals_inc/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellas-animals-inc/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.