Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime And Dan Goulet
Hi Jaime and Dan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our business unofficially started in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. My husband (Dan) was a chef in the restaurant and hospitality business, and I was a gym manager. Both jobs were deemed non-essential and closed down for a short period of time. In late March of 2020, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and had to have emergency surgery due to a cancer scare in April to remove ovarian masses. I was 8 weeks post-op from surgery when Dan was injured on the job due to faulty equipment at the restaurant, and he was placed on worker’s compensation. In the state of SC, you only receive 66% of your income on Worker’s Comp. I was immediately propelled into putting my health crisis aside to focus on his injury recovery all the while taking on the huge stress and financial burden to be able to provide for our family as Dan was not allowed to work. To help offset the lost income, and being an avid animal-lover, I decided to offer pet sitting and walking services to our neighbors in our subdivision where we live. Let me tell you, the support we received far surpassed any expectations I would have ever had! When they say that referrals and word of mouth are the best forms of advertisement, they aren’t joking; to this very day, Dan and I have not spent a single penny on advertising to promote our business. One client led to two, two led to three, and before we knew it, not only did we obtain 20 clients in our neighborhood, we started expanding into other nearby neighborhoods because our clients shared their love for us with their friends. In August of 2023, my endometriosis continued to persist and required a hysterectomy. Nevertheless, I took a short 9 days off and continued to juggle both my gym manager job, as well as the pet sitting while Dan remained unable to work. In February of 2024, four gruesomely long years after Dan’s injury, we settled his WC claim and used some of the settlement funds to start our business officially. That same week we settled, we filed for our LLC and we are now proudly Sit Stay Goulet LLC. It’s now been a year that we have been operating and we have 109 clients on our roster that we care for. Dan is now working our business as his sole career and couldn’t be happier. As for myself, I’ve faced my now third endometriosis surgery just 8 weeks ago in December of 2024. I am busier than ever working our business and still working for the gym as well. Dan and I are convinced that 2025 will be a year of health and growth for us. We cannot wait to see where our business takes us!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road for us to get here. We have faced a cancer scare, endometriosis diagnosis, and three surgeries for me since 2020. My illness is chronic and there is no cure, so this is something I battle daily. For Dan, we’ve faced a permanent workplace injury, resulting in a diagnosis of CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) which is both painful and limits his range of motion in his left extremity. He faced isolation at home during an already challenging time in the economy, and couldn’t contribute in ways he had been able to in the past. It’s been extremely challenging to remain positive when we’ve faced so many challenges in such a short period of time. You never really know how strong you are until strong is the only choice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sit Stay Goulet LLC is a husband and wife owned, operated, and insured pet sitting and dog walking business. Dan and I run our business solely. We offer dog walking services, drop-in services (in the client’s home), as well as overnight stays (again, in the client’s home). We also offer pet-related errands such as transports and food/supply shopping. I think that we are successful because we truly care about the pets we care for. We take what we do very seriously and we take pride in our work. We are punctual, we are communicative, we are accommodating, we go above and beyond, and we are thorough and pay attention to detail. We are extremely proud of the reputation we have built along with the trust that has been earned from our clients. Hustle and heart will set you apart.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes, absolutely. The Covid-19 pandemic taught us resilience and perseverance.
Pricing:
- 30 minute walks- $20, $5 per dog starting at 3 dogs
- Overnight stays in your home- $70
- 30 minute drop-in visit $20
- Errands- price will vary
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sitstaygouletllc
- Facebook: Sit Stay Goulet LLC
