With six dogs of her own and a yearning to start a business, Areona Carter began Carter’s K9, a dog care company. She provides services like boarding, dog sitting, walks, trims, baths, and pooch parties, with more soon to come.
Carter started Carter’s K9 in January 2019, after working on Rover, a popular dog care company. “I wasn’t having really much luck working for other people,” says Carter. “I just decided that I could probably do it myself.”
However, after starting Carter’s K9, Carter says she realized she didn’t know how to market herself or her services. On Rover, the advertising was included so Carter had customers coming to her.
“That’s maybe where my downfall was starting since I really didn’t understand how to go out and market myself,” says Carter. “But, I took most of my clients from Rover when I started Carter’s K9.” She started Carter’s K9 where all of her Rover clients were: her hometown, Dallas. Soon, Carter will bring her services to the College Station area. Beginning in the fall, Carter will be a sophomore at Texas A&M University where she’ll pursue her degree in animal science with minors in agriculture journalism and agriculture business.
“After my bachelor’s degree I want to get my master’s in animal behavior,” says Carter. “And after A&M I really just want to go straight into business.”
Carter maintains her business while in school with the help of her mother, her business partner, and plans to expand Carter’s K9 post graduation.
“I just want to expand and see how far I can go,” says Carter. “My goal is to do everything: training, grooming, and maybe one day even open a clinic so I can work on behavior.”
Gaining new business during the pandemic has been difficult for Carter, admitting at the beginning of the pandemic every appointment she had scheduled was canceled.
“I can tell it’s going to start picking back up,” says Carter. “Since I published my website, I’ve been getting more traction.”
This July, Carter launched her website with the help of a fellow Aggie in business, Salina Williams. On the site, clients can leave reviews and suggestions for Carter to help her business bloom. In the future, Carter hopes to work more on animal behavior and have a nonprofit for livestock and wildlife animals.
“I knew eventually when I got older I wanted to go into business, so it would be best to start now,” saysCarter. “And I really enjoy dogs, so I thought it would be something beneficial to me.”
Visit www.cartersk9.com for more information about Carter’s K9.
