About The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon:
Company Size: 9+ employees
Where: Sammamish, WA
Client Industry: Startup | Pet store | Pet grooming
Joined OnPay: November 2017
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Following the yellow brick road to The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon
Founder and owner of The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon, Sheila Cole’s passion for animals started at an early age. She spent her childhood caring for family pets, bringing home “foundlings,” and even starting a club to raise money for a local animal shelter — selling homemade dog treats and collars.
Becoming a veterinarian was the original plan. But somewhere along the yellow brick road, she stumbled into the pet stylist profession and hasn’t looked back.
During her time as a pet stylist, Sheila saw it all. Moving from salon to salon, she learned what worked, and what didn’t, while envisioning how to put her own ideas into practice. Eventually, those visions became too much to ignore. It was time to build something of her own. Sheila knew exactly the kind of place she wished existed. The next step was to create it.
Drawing from her experience in both large corporate salons and independent shops, Sheila set out to build a business that prioritized both pets and people.
“Those early years taught me a lot about what I wanted to do differently,”
Sheila says. “Sometimes those new to the industry can get taken advantage of because they’re just doing what’s expected. I wanted to create a place where people feel truly valued and supported.”
That’s exactly what she wanted to change.
At The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon, Sheila built an environment where groomers are respected and supported. Even the salon’s name reflects its personality and magical roots. Inspired by the shop cat, Dorothy, and a nod to the “Emerald City,” the Wizard of Paws brand brings a bit of charm and whimsy to everything they do.
THE CHALLENGE
Doing payroll right from day one
Before opening her own shop, payroll wasn’t really on Sheila’s radar. But once she stepped into the world of business ownership, she knew that paying her team accurately and on time had to be a top priority. Sheila shares:
“I am terrified of the IRS and I wanted to make sure starting the business, I did everything right.”
Researching her options, Sheila focused on finding a payroll partner that offered:
- Flexibility to pay and manage full-time and part-time groomers
- Automation to simplify payroll and tax filings, plus expert support
- Affordability that fits a startup business budget
THE SOLUTION
Finding the right payroll partner for a new venture
Sheila didn’t rush her decision, taking time to compare providers, reading countless reviews, and exploring the features of each platform. In the end, OnPay stood out for its intuitive design, tax automation, and robust customer support.
Startup and entrepreneur review
“Choosing OnPay to manage my payroll has been one of my best business decisions. I know that the proper taxes are being taken out on time and that my employees have the ability to access their account easily.”
— Sheila C., Owner, The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon
THE RESULTS
A little less wicked and a lot more simple with OnPay
Since choosing OnPay, payroll at The Wizard of Paws Pet Salon has been so seamless — even flying monkeys could manage it. Paying employees is streamlined, efficient, and fully under control.
OnPay delivers everything Sheila needs in one place — from reliable tax support to flexible tools and integrated benefits. She can easily enter qualified tips for the One Big Beautiful Bill, and pay and manage her groomers in minutes, no matter where she is in the U.S.
Another benefit has been expanding the shop’s offerings to include top employee perks, such as retirement savings and health insurance, while also keeping compliant with workers’ compensation coverage. With guidance from a team of licensed experts, she found the right plans without added complexity, making the entire process feel effortless. As Sheila puts it:
“It’s just really a good one-stop shop for me, and knowing that I’m not going to get audited – or if I do, you know, it’s all good.”
Now, with more time back in her day, Sheila can focus on making an impact in her community. From working with local shelters to foster animals to helping clients find the perfect new family member, she’s able to do more of the work she loves.
