American Farriers Journal’s first-ever free online business event, the Farrier Business Success Academy, is now live. All on-demand sessions will be available from Friday, November 15 at 8:00 a.m. CST, through Sunday, November 17 at 11:59 p.m. CST.  You can sign up for free instant access here, and then choose the speakers and sessions you're most interested in and watch the video presentations on your own schedule.

In response to demand from farriers seeking a better understanding of footcare business best practices, American Farriers Journal editors created the Farrier Business Success Academy to deliver practical strategies and advice for hoof-care professionals on all aspects of operating a successful, profitable and growing footcare practice.

This 3-day virtual event — to be held November 15-17, 2019 — features a series of knowledge-building video sessions taught by some of the most widely recognized footcare business authorities today. Requiring no travel time away from your practice, no hotel expenses and no registration fee to attend, the Farrier Business Success Academy allows for in-depth, expense-free education through a unique online learning format. A

Presentation topics and speakers for the Farrier Business Success Academy include:

• “Select the Clients You Want and Train Them to be Clients You Want to Keep,” by Dave Farley of Coshocton, Ohio. Farley will share ideas on how to explain how to match yourself with the clients you want to work with and continue to communicate with them as you continue to educate them on better footcare. He also will explain how to institute change with existing clients.
• “Planning for Business Success and Life After Farriery,” by David Barron of Woodinville, Wash. Barron will give advice on how to plan for the time your career ends, whether it is due to an accident or planned retirement. Prepare your future and protect your established income.
• “Grading Your Clients: A Proven Way to Elevate Your Profitability,” by Lee Olsen of Brock, Texas. Olsen will share his strategies for building a practice and growing an existing practice. This session is helpful to improve your practice regardless where you are in your career.
• “Therapeutic Shoeing: Making It Worth Your Investment,” by Nick Denson of Sagamore Beach, Mass. Denson will talk about the business side of running a farrier business that includes therapeutic accounts. Make sure the time and resource investment in this work benefits your practice long-term.
• “Smart Money: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of Business and Personal Debt,” by Shane Westman of Davis, Calif. Westman will discuss practical business advice to avoid and eliminate debt. He will also explain the benefit of good debt vs. bad debt.
• “The Best Business Lessons from Outside the Farrier World,” by Misty Pleiness of Metamora, Mich. From her work in accounting, Pleiness has key insight in what helps and hinders small businesses. And as a competitive rider, she has spoken with her farriers about the business challenges they face. She'll help bridge the two worlds and deliver key insight on helping build a stronger farrier practice.
• “Evaluating What It Costs You to Trim or Shoe a Horse,” by Pat Broadus of Shelbyville, Ky. Broadus will explain how to break down costs to understand where to price your work at. He'll show how minor price increases can help you run a more profitable business. Making small changes today can result in a different financial outcome within a year.
• Panel: “Avoid These 9 Mistakes that Hold Farrier Businesses Back,” by Daisy Bicking of Parkesburg, Pa., Bob Smith of Plymouth, Calif., and Rich Armentrout of North Canton, Ohio. of Shelbyville, Ky. The best way to learn how to avoid mistakes is by listening to those who have made it. These three seasoned farriers will share key problems that farriers encounter and provide advice on how to correct them. The advice will cover all of the aspects of farrier practice and help any stage of a career.

Title Sponsors making the Farriers Business Success Academy possible include: