How to Open a Pet Grooming Business

The most basic service for a pet grooming business is, of course, basic grooming and cleaning services. However, there is a growing market for services such as facials and other pampering services for the animals as well. Some grooming businesses focus on a certain kind of animal, such as only working with dogs, while others offer more diverse services for a more diverse range of animals.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

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Start a pet grooming business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Pet Grooming Business
  2. Form your Pet Grooming Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Pet Grooming Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Pet Grooming Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Pet Grooming Business
  7. Get Pet Grooming Business Insurance
  8. Define your Pet Grooming Business Brand
  9. Create your Pet Grooming Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your pet grooming business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Pet Grooming Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a pet grooming business?

The costs of opening a pet grooming business can be particularly low if you are able to operate out of your own home or operate in a mobile fashion (such as visiting pet owners’ homes or working with local kennels). Doing so eliminates most of the overhead associated with the business and reduces the start-up costs primarily to obtaining high-quality tools and advertising your services. The costs of the tools you will need (which include clippers, shears, slicker brush, blades, smock, and greyhound comb) can cost up to $1000. Additional grooming supplies (including shampoo, conditioner, nail clippers, safety supplies, hydraulic drier, and a grooming table) can cost a little over $1000. These represent the bare essentials for your business, and if you choose to specialize in certain services (such as the aforementioned pet facials), it will necessitate additional tools and supplies. Aside from this, you must invest in advertising your business; consider a minimum of $1000 for “traditional” advertising (including radio, print, and possibly television) to start with, along with social media and advertisement via your own website which are, aside from your time investment, free.

What are the ongoing expenses for a pet grooming business?

The beauty of a small grooming business is that its ongoing costs are very small. As mentioned above, operating out of your own home, a kennel or pet store, or simply traveling to customers’ homes eliminates the need for costly rent and utilities. Your primary ongoing expenses are cleaning supplies and advertising. While the exact charge varies depending on how busy you are, it should take $100 or less each month to obtain a few gallons of shampoo/conditioner (this should cost twenty dollars or less per gallon and, for most pets, be good for about a hundred baths) and to replenish safety supplies and minor equipment. Beyond that, you are paying for ongoing advertisement, and you should probably spend less than five percent of projected annual profits on this; once you are established, much of your traffic will come from referrals, social media engagement, and networking within your community.

Who is the target market?

Arguably, the best clients for a pet grooming business are those who have had their pets for several years. This is because those whose pets are younger (and the owners themselves may also be younger) tend to be overprotective and nervous about leaving their animal in the care of others. Veteran pet owners are more experienced in the process of bringing their pet to the groomer, so they will often have fewer concerns about leaving their pet in your care. 

How does a pet grooming business make money?

At the most basic level, a pet grooming business makes money by charging different charges for its various services. In this way, it is not too dissimilar from a regular salon. So, you would charge customers a fixed amount for a haircut on their pet, and another amount for things like baths, facials, and so on. This means that becoming more proficient at completing these services will translate to more money each month for your business.

How much can you charge customers?

A good “average” to keep in mind for a pet haircut is around fifty dollars, though it is wise to consider charging more for particularly large dogs, as those jobs tend to take longer. This price typically includes bathing the animal, clipping its nails, and cleaning its ears, though you may consider charging a lower amount for someone wanting these services separately without the haircut itself. For an average of about ten dollars, you may consider services such as brushing the animal’s teeth, de-matting its fur, removing odors, and so on. You should also charge between ten and thirty dollars more to cut without clippers, and if your business involves traveling to the owner’s home, it is proper to charge a convenience fee between ten and fifteen dollars more.

How much profit can a pet grooming business make?

Pet grooming is a potentially very profitable business, with some estimates saying that a successful business can bring in anywhere between $75,000 and $100,000 per year. While there are startup ideas with higher potential profits, the very low cost to start this business and the extremely low ongoing expenses mean that the vast majority of that income goes directly to your pocket.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider selling other items and services related to pets to make your grooming business more profitable. Some groomers have a sideline job of selling specialty pet tubs to owners who want to wash their pets themselves, for instance, while others make good extra money selling everything from unique animal toys to special animal treats. There is a market for everything from grooming equipment to animal clothing, and the more you can situate your business as a “one-stop-shop” for pet owners, the more potential customers you will have!

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your pet grooming business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your pet grooming business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a pet grooming business business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Pet Grooming Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Pet Grooming Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a pet grooming business

As mentioned above, traditional advertising can work well, including radio ads and print ads. Television ads are also effective, but can sometimes be cost-prohibitive when you are starting out. Printing out business cards is an affordable and easy method of advertising your business, and if you already have a good relationship with local vets, kennels, and pet stores, you may be able to advertise your services there. Consider creating a professional webpage as well as a social media presence, both of which increase customer engagement long after you first establish them.

How to keep customers coming back

In addition to the aforementioned methods of advertisement, consider attracting customers by offering discounts and free services (say, a free haircut with a bath) in order to help establish your quality. Consider a rewards program that continues to offer some of those discounts and freebies to frequent customers and those who refer others to you. Also, consider holding pet-related events to draw community interest; these may include parties where customers can meet each other, enjoy snacks and drinks, and buy discounted products and services; as an added inducement, you can give a portion of the proceeds to local shelters and other animal rescue agencies.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

First and foremost, this is a job for animal lovers. Both cleaning and grooming the animals require that the animals be relatively calm, so someone who is good with pets will have an easier time completing these tasks. On the flip side, this job is also good for those who are good with people, as you must be able to convince pet owners who highly value their pets that you will take care of their beloved animal without hurting it.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a pet grooming business?

The exact nature of your daily activities will vary somewhat depending on where you conduct business. Some groomers work in their own homes, some work in the homes of pet owners, and still others work in places like kennels or coordinate with local pet stores. Regardless of location, daily activities including returning calls and emails, cleaning and grooming animals (including cutting and brushing fur, cleaning animals’ ears, clipping their nails, and styling their fur), sanitizing your equipment, and providing detailed follow-up reports to pet owners.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful pet grooming business?

One immediately useful skill for this business is prior grooming experience. While there are formal training plans available, this experience can also be obtained by working for someone else’s grooming business or simply “practicing” by grooming the pets of various friends and family members. It is also helpful to already have a positive relationship with local vets and pet stores so that you can get referrals from their customers.

What is the growth potential for a pet grooming business?

The growth potential for a pet grooming business is relatively steady. Some research estimates that the jobs in this market will grow by over 20 percent through 2018. This is a direct indicator of the market for such a business, so your own business could very well corner this niche market of a community.

Not sure if a pet grooming business is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a pet grooming business?

Obtaining a grooming certification can help establish the legitimacy of your business and bring in more customers. Observing and “shadowing” another groomer is a great way to learn the ins and outs of the business. Consider setting your business apart by offering sales and free samples of “extras” such as dog cologne, toothbrushes, and ear cleaners, which helps promote you as a kind of one-stop-shop for pet grooming and cleaning.

How and when to build a team

Like many businesses, the decision to build a team is contingent on a rise in your business. If you have too many people who need pet haircuts, baths, and so on than you can reasonably tackle, it’s time to bring more people in. It is possible for you and others to still use either your home, each others’ homes, or pet owners’ homes in order to conduct business, which lets you maintain the attractively low overhead while doubling or tripling your business. This also represents an opportunity to cover multiple areas or cities under the same recognizable brand name. With a team that small, though, it is important to work out ahead of time what their pay will be in order to ensure your profits continue to grow.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading