On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Stroudsburg Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) invited a guest speaker to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month.
Kolby Thane Keller, the owner and founder of a dog grooming business called Kolby’s Klipz, came in to talk about his journey to success. Members who attended the meeting gained valuable insight into what it is like to start, manage, and grow a business.
In an interview with Kolby, he explained that after losing his job to the pandemic, he struggled to realize how he could utilize his skills.
“My aunt actually encouraged me and gave me the idea, and that’s when I got into it,” he shared. With prior experience in the grooming industry, Kolby managed to launch his business.
The success of his business came as a surprise. “I honestly thought I was just gonna do dogs myself and never have to worry about a staff,” he said.
His business, which started with five dogs per day, soon grew to 30 dogs during the holidays. With an increased amount of work, Kolby decided to expand his business by hiring new groomers and providing more services. “We like to be readily available,” Keller said.
Managing a business is difficult, especially one started during the pandemic. The “most challenging part was having the courage to start on your own,” Keller said.
Keller advises “to know how to take care of yourself, have determination, and have drive” to someone interested in starting their own business. He added, “It takes a lot of patience and a lot of your inner self.”
Keller shared with us how he attracts customers and stands out from other grooming shops. “We work with every dog breed in every size. We love dogs that can be aggressive, and a lot of groomers don’t do that.”
To stand out above the rest, Keller explained that a business must provide unique services. Keller also said that to have a successful business, there must be a “great environment, good team, and great space.”
Owning a business comes with many new opportunities. One of Keller’s most rewarding moments was when he won runner-up to Coconut’s best job groomer. Keller was also invited to Kalahari for dinner and many other competitions, “where [he] would earn runner up in all of them!”
Through Keller’s entrepreneurial story, members of Stroudsburg FBLA learned how it’s possible that the unexpected paths in life can end up becoming a life passion.
FBLA members learned how to start, manage, and grow a business by listening to guest speaker Kolby Keller.