Dog Biscuit

When Nini Casey started her organic dog business she naturally developed a five-year business plan - revolving around her children.

Yeah, the part about growing your business as your children grow is a little unusual. But mom entrepreneurs are changing the face and structure of small businesses across the country. About 50 percent of all small businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, according to the Bank of America, and that number is expected to grow as more educated women leave the workforce. That means the way business is done will change too.

Look at Nini's story. She started making organic dog biscuits four years ago when her children were one and three. She knew she wanted to spend as much time with them as possible so she planned her schedule and business development to reflect that wish.

"I've been able to stick to my business plan as a mother owned, mommy operated business simply by enjoying mommy-hood and never losing focus on priorities," Nini says.

For the first couple years she planned to perfect her brand and recipes and sell to small retailers. She also decided to outsource much of the baking for the first two years because of the constraints on her time.

The first year she worked when her oldest daughter was in preschool and hired a babysitter for six hours a week to look after her youngest. When business got hectic she'd go to bed late and wake up at 4 am to get all the work done.

The second year she worked eight to ten hours a week while her youngest daughter went off to preschool. She continued to outsource the baking.The third and fourth years she worked fifteen to twenty hours a week while her youngest daughter entered the second year of preschool and her oldest entered elementary school. She brought her baking in house and purchased commercial grade equipment.

This year marks her fifth in business and both her daughters are in elementary school, which amps up the number of hours she can devote to work. Basically all of the time the girls are in school she can work, which is why she went after a national grocery store commitment this year. Hannaford is caring her product. She said even with Hannaford she's starting off slow. Her biscuits will be in twenty stores to begin with so she can wrap her arms around the production and sales rhythm. Once she understands how the biscuits are selling then she can expand.

Nini says she's not sure where Hannaford will take her but "I'm going to let it happen naturally. Rod's Pawz has taken its course of success without too many goals, maybe that's the secret."

That said Nini does have big dreams for her business, "I actually have dreams that someday Rod's Pawz will be a great part-time employment opportunity for the girls and their friends as they work their way thru high school and college - stay tuned."