I was devastated after being made redundant but now work as a ‘butler’ earning £200,000 a year
AN ENTREPRENEUR has told how she started a business earning £200,000 a year after being made redundant.
The 53-year-old left the traditional 9-5 behind and became a ‘cat butler’ after losing her successful job in the wake of the financial crash.
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Sandra James, from Hertfordshire, was shocked when she was made redundant from her role as financial services manager in 2011.
But instead of letting it deter her, the new businesswoman took a leap of faith and set up her own cat shelter – and now she’s in the top 1% of earners.
“When I lost my job I was earning around £50,000, having worked in financial services for 22 years from the age of 18,” says Sandra.
“Being made redundant was initially a shock and I found it challenging because it is a major life change, but it was also a pivotal moment for me.”
Sandra decided to take the opportunity to turn her lifelong passion for animals into a career.
She said: “It provided an opportunity for reflection and to pursue my passion for working with animals, which has been on my mind for a long time.”
From suits to cardigans
Sandra launched The Cat Butler, an exclusive cat sitting service, near her home in Hertfordshire in 2015.
She came up with the idea for the business because she hadn’t been on holiday in five years because of her then cat Ziggy – a ‘beautiful Birman’ who was her world.
“Like many cats, Ziggy thrived on routine. He was the ultimate creature of habit and would hate going to the cattery,” Sandra explained.
“I knew he would be traumatized if I took him away from the familiar sights and smells of his own home.”
Sandra realized she probably wasn’t the only pet owner worried about their cats when they were away, and it sparked an idea.
“What if I knew there was a cat caregiver who could come to a customer’s home and care for their cat while they were on vacation?” she says.
“Imagine someone who was insured, who was DBS checked, who was trained to give medication.
“Someone who doesn’t just go in, feed the cat and leave, but someone who takes the time to get to know it and gives it the care and attention it deserves.
“And wouldn’t it be nice, I thought, if that person could also look after the customer’s house? Think of bringing in the mail, putting out the bins, closing the sun blinds.”
This is what a “cat butler” does.
Take a chance
Sandra explained that starting her own business came with its own initial risks.
She had to invest £3,000 of her own money upfront with no idea whether the business would succeed.
She said: “Any new venture comes with risks, but I believed wholeheartedly in the concept and the need for these types of services across the UK.”
Sandra started finding clients through word of mouth before sharing her business on social media platforms – and she has now amassed 600,000 followers.
Things went so well that she decided to expand her business and create a franchise that provides cat butlers across the country.
Using her earnings, she invested a further £80,000 to make her business the only UK franchise specializing in cat care.
She even reached out to vet networks to find the best Cat Butlers to join her growing team.
Things were going really well until the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
“We spent thousands of pounds making sure everything worked perfectly for franchisees – and in 2020 we went into lockdown.”
“It was really painful to watch my business completely dry up (because no one was traveling) and at the same time prepare to launch as a franchisor.
“After months of no business or income and then the uncertainty of being in and out of lockdowns, I often found myself wondering what on earth I was doing.”
“I wasn’t sure if I would even have a business left once we came out of the pandemic.
“It was so scary and uncertain that I considered throwing in the towel a few times, but I had invested so much in the franchise process that I had to take a chance and move on.”
Raining cats and dogs
After hard work and turmoil, Sandra relaunched The Cat Butler as a franchise business at the end of March 2021 – and now it is thriving.
The business has brought in over £600,000, with Sandra earning around £200,000 a year, including franchise royalties.
It now operates 12 locations across the UK, with more locations in the pipeline to open this year.
And it now employs former teachers, sales experts and even a bus driver who quit their old jobs in hopes of finding a better work-life balance through the franchise.
The company has also received international attention and Sandra says the brand is looking to expand further in the coming months.
Sandra said: “We have never looked back and have gone from strength to strength.
“The best part is seeing the positive impact our service has on the cats we care for and their owners.
“Knowing that they have peace of mind and that they can trust us to provide loving, professional care in their absence is incredibly rewarding.
“One thing people may not realize about the pet industry is its resilience – even in tough times, people prioritize the care of their pets.”
Sandra’s advice for starting a business later in life
Looking back, Sandra now believes that her resignation was a sign that she should follow her passion and do something else.
Running The Cat Butler offers much more flexibility and personal satisfaction than my previous 9-5 job,” she said.
“It is more demanding in some ways, but the joy and satisfaction I get from doing what I love makes it incomparably rewarding.”
Her advice for anyone looking to start their own business later in life is to make sure it is focused on something they are really passionate about.
“It’s never too late to follow your dreams, but success requires dedication, resilience and a willingness to adapt.”
“Your life experiences can be your greatest asset during the entrepreneurial journey.”
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