When to hire a full time bather

[PetsRus]

Ok I know we have discussed this before but I am torn here.
I am very busy and have a part-time bather for only a few hours a week. Right now I am at my max for myself and this bather (she can't work anymore hours). I only have about 10 openings left for the whole month of April. When have you guys determined you need to hire? When you are completely booked for an entire month? When you get a certain # of regulars? I get a minimum of 5 calls a day to book appointments and they all don't seem to mind the wait but I am worried it is going to get worse and I will loose clients. My worry is that we will be very steady for all of summer then drop off in the fall and I may have to not have the bather in for long periods of time.

[Dawn125]

How about hire another part time bather with the possibility of going full time during the busy months. It sounds like you will soon be turning business away at this rate so I would think another bather would pay for itself in no time.

[azoci]

build your pre-booking clients now

Now is the time to build regular clients, that you can book in on a 4,5,6 weeks basis. do this while clients are at a premium, then when things drop off you'll still have the regular bookings...if they won't book in ahead of time...so sorry, they might not get an appointment! You have to manage the clients, not just let them have free will to call you when ever...that's bad planning on your part.

[PetsRus]

Now is the time to build regular clients, that you can book in on a 4,5,6 weeks basis. do this while clients are at a premium, then when things drop off you'll still have the regular bookings...if they won't book in ahead of time...so sorry, they might not get an appointment! You have to manage the clients, not just let them have free will to call you when ever...that's bad planning on your part.

I know I am really trying to get the ones that say oh well I will call to book. I tell them that when they call for an appointment it will be several weeks out. It like flies over thier heads. Then they call and I tell them the date and they go "Oh my, don't you have anybody to help you". Well if I could count on your business I would (LOL)! I have a lot regulars now but the ones that are overloading me are the ones that are every few months and a ton of new people that are iffy if they will be regulars or even call again. My regulars now are on a yearly schedule. They love it and so do I. Less time trying to fit them in.