How I Doubled My Team’s Tips
I’m sharing one of the more controversial strategies I’ve used in my business, and one that had a direct impact on increasing take-home pay for my team.
As a business owner, there are real limits to how much you can increase wages without putting pressure on your margins. I ran into that ceiling myself, and instead of pushing further on hourly pay, I started asking a different question: how can I increase what my team takes home in a way the business can actually sustain?
That led me to rethink how tipping works inside a service business, and more specifically, how systems influence behavior.
I walk through the exact shift I made, moving from an “opt-in” tipping model to an “opt-out” system, and how that simple change significantly increased tips for my team. We also talk about the concept of friction, how small barriers inside your systems shape client decisions, and why where you place that friction matters.
This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and I want you to make the decision that feels aligned for your business. But if you’re looking for ways to better support your team financially without breaking your model, this is worth thinking about.
Key Takeaways
• Wage increases are often limited by business margins
• Systems can influence behavior more than intention alone
• Opt-out models typically outperform opt-in models
• Friction determines what actions clients take or avoid
• Small system changes can create a significant financial impact
• Tipping can be structured intentionally, not left to chance
• Supporting your team may require creative problem-solving
• Transparency is key when implementing changes like this
Cheering You On,
M
Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit
If this conversation hit for you, this is exactly the type of work we’re going deeper into at the DogCo Business Summit.
October 2nd–4th, 2026
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Steve will be speaking live, and we’ll be working through these exact challenges, leadership, communication, and building stronger teams.
Learn more and grab your spot at: https://dogcosummit.com
Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?
If you want to see how clarity, leadership, and intentional systems can transform a pet care business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year. It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the outcome.
You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow sustainably.
To learn more about how DogCo Launch helps pet care companies grow and scale, visit dogcolaunch.com.
Michelle Kline is the founder of DogCo Launch, and the host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast. Michelle spends her time helping pet care companies in the industry grow and scale their teams, increase their revenue, and increase personal profits - all while protecting their time. Learn more about Michelle here.
