When the economy went to the dogs so did Paulette Rioux of Massachusetts.
Facing a brutal decline in the housing market, the one time real estate agent decided to pursue her long-time dream of working with canines. Rioux invested fourty-thousand dollars and bought a Bark Busters Franchise, the largest dog training company in the world. Around the globe, Bark Busters boasts roughly a half-million dogs trained.
“I always had a passion for dogs and wanted to follow that passion and I thought why not start now,” said Rioux.
For 600 dollars she offers in-home instruction for both dog and owner but, the real draw is the guarantee- unlimited follow-ups for a year.
The deal appealed to Ariana and Joe Costa of Milford who own two rambunctious labradors, a black lab named Charlie and a brown lab named Layla.
“They have a lot of energy,” said Ariana. “Barking, running at the door and charging.”
But, the real breaking point came when “Charlie developed a food aggression thing,” said Ariana.
In just the first week working with Rioux the Costas say they’ve gotten their money’s worth.
“It’s great. It’s a world of difference,” said Joe.
“They’re definitely barking less. They’re calmer all the time,” said Ariana.
While launching a business in the midst of a recession is risky, labor statistics show the numbers of self-employed workers are growing. Over 20 million people work for themselves across the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
It’s something Rioux finds fullfilling and profitable. She says she makes as much now as she did selling real estate. It’s been such a success her son John opened a franchise to serve the Cape Cod area.
“I love working with my clients. I love the end results and the satisfaction I get here and the appreciation I get from them after the fact. There’s no better reward,” said Rioux.