Back to Horse Business Basics
Image courtesy of Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman.
To Move Forward, You’ve Got To Go Back
“Let’s get back to the basics!”
No doubt you hear this phrase every time you participate in a riding clinic or audit one. That’s because the basic fundamentals of any skill, sport or activity are often ignored as you become more experienced. As your comfort level rises, time-saving short cuts and bad habits creep into your routine and draw you away from the always important basics.
I know you YOU know these, but here is a refresher.
Horse Business Basics
- Return phone calls and e-mails promptly
- Dress like an owner
- Keep your books up to date
- Treat prospects politely
- Refrain from complaining about business problems with customers
- Market your business daily
- Take at least one day off each week
- Be lavish with praise for customers and employees
- Put your goals in writing and review them regularly
- Look people in the eye
- Applaud your successes
- Get enough sleep each night
- Quote pricing confidently from your standard rate sheet
- Show up on time
- Learn from your mistakes
- Deliver what you promised
- Keep the office neat and the barn neater
- Tell the truth
Now, get those boots on and get to work practicing the basics!
New webinar course from the Profitable Horseman: “Charge What You’re Worth Without Feeling Guilty!”
This webinar is designed for horse business owners who know they are undercharging and want to do something about it.
- Do you feel forced to keep your rates low for services due to fear of your customers leaving and prospects searching for a better deal?
- Are your longtime customers for boarding, lessons and training viewed as friends and your guilt of insulting a friend prevents you from increasing your prices, even though your expenses have increased dramatically?
- Are you uncertain if you’re “good enough” or what you offer is valuable enough to charge higher rates similar to your competitors?
Click here to read more about this new course and take advantage of special pricing. Starts Tuesday, August 20th.
Doug Emerson helps professional horsemen struggling with the business half of the horse business.
Visit his website: www.ProfitableHorseman.com for more articles like this one and to subscribe to his free electronic newsletter about being profitable in the horse business.
