Reducing Labor Costs by 24% with Lauren Dunkle
If you have ever wondered whether you can turn a struggling pet care business into a strong, scalable company, this episode is for you.
Today I sit down with my friend, DogCo Team Member, and DogCo Mastermind member, Lauren Dunkle, to unpack one of the most inspiring business transformations I have ever witnessed.
Lauren went from ending a year at a major financial loss with a 78 percent labor cost to becoming profitable, paying herself a real salary, and building a team with insane retention.
This conversation is real, honest, tactical, and incredibly empowering for anyone who wants to run a healthier business without sacrificing values, team culture, or long term goals. I cannot wait for you to hear it.
Key Takeaways
• How Lauren cut her labor cost from 78 percent to 52 percent
• Why labor cost is the most important number in a team based pet care company
• How to make data based decisions even if numbers make you nervous
• What it looks like to restructure a business without losing momentum
• The truth about growth curves, slow seasons, and emotional resilience
• How to position staff pay, benefits, and pathways in a high cost of living state
• How letting data guide decisions can help you scale cleanly and profitably
Ready to elevate your business in 2026? Join the DogCo Mastermind and get access to exclusive trainings, support, and strategy sessions at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind
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.