Saving people time or just giving them a helping hand was Cindy Baker's intent when she started her company, ErrandRunners.
"There's just not enough hours in the day," she said. "The idea is to give people their weekends back."
Baker is a former real estate broker who lives in Fulton and is a member of the Fulton Garden Club and the Art House. However, her latest business is about to celebrate a milestone.
"It has been almost four years," she said of ErrandRunners. "It started out as just something I was going to do by myself, and currently, we have eight employees."
Territory also has expanded, she added.
"We cover four counties: Audrain, Callaway, Boone and Cole," Baker said.
The idea for the business came about during a dominoes game with friends, when a discussion ensued. How do you take care of not only your own immediate family and home and help other family members with needs, as well?
"We talked about how nice it would be to take some of those things off their plates," Baker said. "It's hard enough on your own to take care of your work and your house."
Baker said she realized larger cities have services also needed in smaller communities.
"There's a lot of services that aren't available in a small town that are in a large city," she said, adding those services could include dog walking, staging a house for sale and shopping. "We decided we could fill that service gap, and we hire people who have a wide variety of skills. Our staff sets us apart."
ErrandRunners performs housekeeping, senior services and errands.
"We have people who call us twice a year to rotate their closets," Baker said.
Houses can be decorated for the holidays, gifts wrapped, parties arranged - and then all cleaned up after the holiday.
"We've had clients call us when they're headed to Florida after Christmas and ask us to undecorate their tree," she said.
ErrandRunners' employees are licensed, insured and bonded and go through background checks. They can take care of the weeds in a flower bed, run to the grocery or drug store and help people pack to move.
"As part of our pet setting , I took care of a herd of alpacas," Baker said of an unusual experience. "I grew up riding, so large animals are not a concern."
She can also take care of special need pets and make sure they get their medications, too.
"It's random what we do," she said. "Anytime you need another person. Sometimes you're putting together an Ikea bookshelf, and you need help."
ErrandRunners employees can also assist businesses and schools.
"We help Westminster (College) set up for events," Baker said. "We've done surprise birthday parties."
And if, in the course of taking care of pets or vacation homes a problem arises, it can be fixed immediately.
"We were pet sitting somewhere recently, and they had a water line break in their refrigerator," Baker said. "I was able to find it and get it repaired by the time they got home."
Amy Wayant, manager, said she's worked for the company for three years.
"Cindy is the best boss I've ever had, and these are some of the best people I've ever met," she said of her coworkers. "And it's nice to have a job that's different every day."
Wayant said she enjoys working with people's pets, and the people they assist appreciate the help.
"We have a lot of elderly people who need help and working moms who don't have time," she added. "We're letting them have their lives back."
Now people are asking for her business model, Baker said. They also are asking about services for the upcoming holidays.
"We are getting requests for gift certificates, and we are redoing our website for that," Baker said. "And already people are booking pet sitting."
People can learn more about ErrandRunners' services at fultonerrandrunners.com, jeffcityerrandrunners.com or columbiaerrandrunners.com or on the firm's Facebook page.
Also, people can call the office at 573-220-0177.
