The pet professional’s guide to planning and launching a new service

Sarah Crimp
Jun 16
4 min read

Launching a new service can feel exciting at first - and then suddenly overwhelming. If you’ve ever had a brilliant idea for a course, workshop or membership… only to feel buried in the planning (or lack of it), you’re not alone.

This post isn’t about sales strategies or marketing funnels. It’s about the real-life, behind-the-scenes practicalities of bringing an idea to life, without burning out in the process.

Let’s talk about the classic launch experience, summed up by a meme (or possibly pre-meme, since it originated in the 1970s) that goes something like this:

The Six Phases of a Project

Enthusiasm
Disillusionment
Panic
Search for the guilty
Punishment of the innocent
Praise and honour for the non-participants

Feel familiar?

Here’s what a better version of what your launch could look like along with some things that can help at each step.

Creating a plan to launch a new service

Start with the end date in mind and work backwards. Map out the key phases, add buffer time, and make space for testing. Look at what else is going on in your calendar (client work, holidays, life stuff). You can’t pour from an empty tank, so factor in rest too.

If planning feels overwhelming, start with a mind map. Brain-dump what you already know, and look for the gaps. Think about what your clients will need to know - and when.

Don’t forget to plan in time to test things: double-check your links, ask a friend to try your booking form, or preview your emails before they go out.

Different types of planners and planning

You don’t need to go full Gantt chart (unless that’s your thing). Your launch planning can be:

Level 1: Scribbles and sticky notes – messy, but it works
Level 2: Clear but flexible – dates, phases, and a rough structure
Level 3: Full orchestration – detailed task lists, shared documents, and automation

Use what works for you: a notebook, a whiteboard, a spreadsheet, Trello, ClickUp, Notion… the best tool is the one you’ll actually use.

Budget and boundaries

Now that the excitement’s worn off, you might realise: this thing takes more time, energy or money than you thought. That’s OK.

What’s your realistic budget - in terms of money and capacity?
What are the essentials vs. the nice-to-haves?
Can you start small, then expand later?
Will your budget affect your timeline?

Budgeting isn’t just about how much you spend - it’s also about protecting your time and not trying to do it all in one go. Future-you will thank you.

Delegation and support

This is the “why did I think I could do this?” phase - and it’s often where people try to push through alone.

Instead, try:

Batching small admin tasks together
Letting go of things that aren’t essential
Getting help - even a few hours can make a big difference (collaborating, family or friends, a VA)
Exploring how AI can help

You can delegate things like:

Formatting and scheduling emails
Creating booking forms or pages
Setting up automations
Coordinating speakers or contributors
Managing attendee comms or FAQs
Uploading content

👉 Not sure what to hand over? Download the delegation checklist for ideas and a way to prioritise.

Tech and tools

Right, let’s talk tech - often the biggest sticking point and an easy one to blame when things go wrong. There’s so much choice, and it can feel overwhelming if you're not confident with the tools you’ve got.

Here’s a checklist of the main areas to consider:

Website updates
Booking or payment systems
Email sequences
Automation tools
Hosting platform (for a course, membership or event)
Asset list (copy and images for banners, landing pages, social posts, etc.)

Start by asking: what do I already have? Can my current setup handle bookings, payments, or landing pages - or will someone else need to help?

Be honest about your tech comfort level. What’s the minimum you need to get things working smoothly? Automation is your friend here - especially for things like confirmation emails or reminders.

And don’t leave your asset list till the last minute. Think through every place your message needs to appear, and in what format.

Hot tip - Canva’s Magic Resize tool can save loads of time if you're juggling multiple platforms.

Managing your energy

You’ve made it to the launch point - but now you're exhausted, or snapping at the dog, or questioning your life choices.

It’s easy to accidentally take things out on yourself or those closest to you when you’re running on empty. That’s why your planning should include rest and recovery, too.

After launch:

Block off a recovery day (or two)
Reflect on what worked and what didn’t
Make notes for next time while it’s fresh

Communication: clear is kind

Good communication underpins every part of your launch — and it’s often where things unravel.

You’ll need to stay clear and consistent with:

Your audience – what it is, who it’s for, how to sign up, and what to expect
Existing clients – especially if your availability is changing
Collaborators – what you need, when you need it, and how to reach you
Your future self – leave notes and reminders like you won’t remember later

Think about the communication journey: Where do people first hear about your offer? What do they need after they sign up? Assume they’re busy and distracted - and plan to send reminders.

Create a simple FAQ to cut down on repeated questions, and a quick-reference cheat sheet for yourself (e.g. password resets, missing emails, upload instructions, or a list of all the graphics you need).

You can’t really over-communicate during a launch - but you can under-explain. And that’s when the inbox overwhelm starts.

A final note: Start where you are

You don’t need a full project plan with dashboards and deadlines if that’s not your style.

Start with the planning level that works for you:

Level 1: Scribbles and sticky notes
Level 2: Clear but flexible outline
Level 3: Fully mapped out and delegated

And if you need a hand? That’s what I’m here for.

Whether you’re gearing up for your next big idea or still figuring out what to offer, here are two helpful next steps:

📝 Download my free checklist: What You Don’t Have to Do – A Delegation Checklist for Your Next Launch

💬 Need a hand? Visit the Launch Wizard page to see how we can work together - or book a call.

Launching doesn’t have to mean chaos. Let’s make it smoother.