CASE STUDY / Houndtrust
Pet-care business software
Turning a real home-boarding workflow into calm business software.
Houndtrust helps independent pet sitters manage client intake, bookings, signed forms, calendars, updates, and payments without taking a booking cut.
01 / THE PROBLEM
Start with the real decision.
A working dog-care business can scatter one booking across text threads, paper calendars, pet notes, unsigned forms, payment apps, and memory.
Marketplace software can solve discovery while charging a percentage of every booking. Independent operators also need software for the client relationships they earn and manage themselves.
02 / PRODUCT DIRECTION
A smaller, sharper workflow.
Start with one client link. The client adds contact and pet details, requests care, signs the liability waiver and emergency-vet authorization, and returns a complete request.
Keep every operational detail attached to the booking: dates, care notes, paperwork, reminders, updates, balances, and payment status.
Use a flat subscription for direct clients so the operator keeps control of rates, payment methods, and the relationship.
03 / WHAT SHIPPED
A working product, not a concept page.
- Mobile-friendly client and pet intake
- E-signed waivers and emergency-vet authorization
- Bookings, recurring schedules, calendar, and capacity checks
- Client updates through the portal, email, and optional text
- Payment requests, balance tracking, and accounting-ready exports
- A free plan, a no-card start, and a working public product demo
04 / PUBLIC EVIDENCE
What someone can verify today.
- The workflow was shaped inside a six-year Salt Lake City home-boarding business rather than from a generic scheduling template.
- The public site shows the complete inquiry-to-paid-stay flow and an interactive sample dashboard before signup.
- Published operator guides include a documented 33-stay fee record, editable calculators, and practical intake and waiver templates.
05 / DESIGN PRINCIPLES
01One complete booking beats five disconnected tools.
02Show the operational workflow before asking for an account.
03Keep direct-client economics visible and easy to verify.
EXPLORE THE PRODUCT