With a love for pets and travel, Jason and Ta Ratliff wanted to create a dog boarding and grooming facility. Focusing on service, quality, and cleanliness, this business aims to supply peace of mind for traveling pet owners. Looking for help with employee setup, marketing, and community outreach, Jason registered for advising with the Oklahoma SBDC (Small Business Development Center), working with Business Advisor Emily Beesley.

Emily walked Jason and Ta through the process of filling out employee paperwork, obtaining workplace posters and safety materials, and implementing best practices for human resources. To strengthen their marketing efforts, Emily encouraged them to contact the El Reno Chamber of Commerce to prepare a ribbon cutting and open house for their business. While working to plan the organization of the open house, Jason would continue to create marketing materials and invitations to spread the word about his business. This effort not only led to a successful ribbon cutting for Reno’s Boneyard but also increased its visibility within the El Reno and Yukon communities. With a successful launch and a strong start to marketing, Jason and his wife are using the momentum and their dedication to grow their community presence even more.

“… You know, I never heard of [the Oklahoma SBDC] before,” says Jason, “and it’s free, and it’s a good resource to use… I think that no matter what stage of planning, or business, [or industry] you’re in, I think there’s help… It’s a resource that should be used.”

Need help with your business?

No matter the size or stage of your business, the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center has the knowledge, tools and resources to help your Oklahoma business start, grow and succeed. We provide no-cost, confidential consulting to help Oklahoma’s businesses start, sustain, or expand.

Want to be one of our success stories? Click the button below to get started!

Request Advising