CozyCat’s big leap: How one side hustle won a £1,000 boost

Let’s be honest - turning a great idea into a real, thriving business takes guts. A couple of weeks ago, we hosted our first-ever Broadband Boss Academy in Liverpool to give local side-hustlers the tools, tips, and confidence to take their passion projects full-time.

But we didn’t just want to talk the talk. Our CEO, Kate Dohaney, had the brilliant job of hand-picking one standout entrepreneur to receive a £1,000 Fair Shot grant to turbocharge their business online.

The grand prize went to the lovely Fruz, founder of CozyCat - a wonderful, premium cat-sitting service keeping Liverpool's finest felines happy at home. We caught up with her to chat about conquering the side-hustle slump, navigating online admin, and how reliable connectivity keeps those vital kitty updates flowing.

Over to you, Fruz.

Before we dive into your journey, could you tell us a bit about CozyCat and the services you offer?

CozyCat is a premium, cat-specialist in-home sitting service based in Liverpool. I visit cats in their own home while their owners are away, so cats get to stay in their safe, familiar environment rather than being put in a cattery.

What inspired you to start a cat-sitting business?

It all started when I was planning a trip to a festival and couldn’t leave my cat, Kitty, at home alone. I found a cat sitter which seemed like the perfect solution, but they were always fully booked - and that’s when I realised there was a genuine gap in the market. I know cats much prefer being in their own environment, so the idea of bringing calm, trusted, in-home care to other cat owners just made complete sense.

You started CozyCat as a side hustle in 2024. What gave you that final push to just go for it and officially launch?

Honestly, I just wanted something that was mine. Something I had built myself that would give me a bit of extra income - whether that was for a holiday, a treat, or just that little bit of financial freedom. I launched in July 2024 alongside my part-time Teaching Assistant role, and over the summer, it just grew and grew. It got so busy that my mum, Kat, who is a huge cat lover herself, started helping out too - and she’s been invaluable. It’s already almost full-time in terms of demand, but juggling it alongside my job means I’m still limited on the time I can give to growing it further. That’s why going full-time in July 2026 feels like such an exciting next step.

What’s one thing people underestimate about running a business?

The admin! People assume we just sit and play with cats all day, and yes, that is absolutely the best part - but behind every visit, there is so much more going on. As a one-woman band, every interaction, every photo I take, I’m thinking about how I can make the content more engaging to reach new cat owners. I’m checking whether invoices have gone out, whether they’ve been paid, organising visits, making sure nobody gets let down - and that’s before the marketing, the bookings and the keys!

Running a local business means you’re always on the go. How does having a super reliable internet connection help keep your day-to-day running smoothly?

My business genuinely lives online. I have no physical premises, so every single interaction - from the first enquiry right through to the photo update at the end of a visit - happens digitally. At the end of every visit, I send photo and video updates to the owner over WhatsApp, so being connected while I’m out and about is non-negotiable. Owners are often abroad or away from home, and those updates are so important for their peace of mind. I also manage all my bookings, enquiries and social media on the go, so a reliable connection is essential.

What was your biggest “aha” moment from the Broadband Boss Academy?

Hearing all the panel speakers share their journeys and realising that every single one of them started at zero and, through hard work and belief, built themselves to where they are now, that was really reassuring. It was a real reminder that nobody arrives at success overnight and that consistency and showing up really do pay off. That was worth the day alone for me.

What did you learn from our panel of experts?

I had a lovely chat with PieFace after the panel discussion, and his story genuinely inspired me. A few things he said really stuck with me. First, you’ve just got to do it - stop waiting, start moving. Second, nobody on the internet knows if you have no confidence, so you can just pretend that you do until it becomes real. And third, your story matters - sharing it authentically is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business.

What’s one handy hack or trick you’ve learned along the way?

Done is better than perfect, especially on social media. I spent so long overthinking content in the early days. Now I just show up, share what’s real and trust that the right people will connect with it. And if it’s not for someone? They’ll just scroll past - most people aren’t sitting there judging you, they’re just living their own lives. My most engaged posts are often the most spontaneous ones, so just show up even when it feels scary!

What do you plan to use the grant for?

I’m using the grant to refresh my brand photos with a professional shoot and to create a signature video to properly showcase CozyCat’s services - something I’ve wanted for a long time but just didn’t have the budget for. I’m also planning to invest some in paid advertising, which is new for me beyond the odd boosted post. After the Academy and the conversations with the giffgaff team, I feel much more confident about taking that step.

What’s next for your business?

The big goal is, of course, going full-time in July 2026. The grant is going to help me get there by elevating how CozyCat looks and feels online and reaching more of the right people. Alongside that, I’m continuing to grow my social media presence, I was recently named a StartUp Awards 2026 North West Finalist, and I also had a feature in The Guide Liverpool. Things are really starting to move, and I can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us.

You spoke about confidence being one of the biggest things this grant would give you. Do you feel your mindset has already changed since winning it?

100% yes. I am just over the moon. The win itself is incredible, but it’s also all the support that has come with it - the congratulations, the kind messages, the people cheering CozyCat on in the background. It really shows that the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off. I started this not even knowing if anyone would book me, and now here I am chatting away to giffgaff and being mentioned by the CEO on LinkedIn. What a moment!

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