A Groomer's Day in Texts: Why Unlimited Matters

Nobody decides to send 900 texts a month. It just happens, one "Bella's ready!" at a time. That's why grooming software with unlimited texting sounds like a minor feature until you count what you send.

So we counted. Below is one ordinary day at a two-groomer salon, message by message. The shop is a composite, but if you run one you'll recognize every line.

One Wednesday, 14 dogs

7:15 a.m. Six reminder texts go out for tomorrow's first appointments. Four clients reply "C" to confirm. One replies "can we do 11 instead of 9?" You answer. She says thanks. (13 messages)

8:05 A regular texts a photo of a hot spot and asks if you can still groom. You reply with a question. She answers. You say yes, you'll work around it. (5)

8:30 to 9:30 Seven drop-offs. Two owners text from the car park that they're outside. You reply to both. (4)

10:10 You text a doodle owner a photo of the matting behind the ears and ask to go shorter. He replies "do what you need to." You confirm the new price. He thumbs-up. (4, one with a photo)

10:45 New inquiry from your website: "Do you take huskies?" Four messages back and forth. Booked for next week. (5)

11:30 to 1:00 Six "ready for pickup" texts with a photo. Three clients reply with hearts or "omw." (9)

1:20 A client asks if you sell the shampoo you used. You do. (3)

2:00 Tomorrow's remaining eight reminders go out. Six confirm. (14)

2:40 Someone running late: "10 min away sorry!!" You reply. (2)

3:00 to 4:30 Eight more pickups, eight more photo texts, four replies. (12)

4:45 You send three rebooking nudges to clients who hit six weeks without a visit. One books. (5)

5:10 Two review requests to today's happiest owners. (2)

Total: 78 messages. On an unremarkable Wednesday.

Multiply it out

Now look at how that's billed. Texting in grooming software usually comes in one of three ways.

Check how your current provider counts. Some count only automated reminders. Some count every outbound message. Some count inbound replies too. Photo messages often cost several times a plain text.

The cost you don't see: rationing

The real damage from metered texting isn't the bill. It's what you stop sending.

• You skip the "ready" photo because it costs more.
• You don't ask before going shorter because it's another three messages.
• You stop the six-week rebooking nudges.

Each of those is a small cut to the client's experience, and the rebooking nudges are money. One recovered $85 groom pays for most software subscriptions on its own.

Rebooking comes up constantly on The Daily Groomer podcast. The episode with the largest independent mobile grooming business in Tampa, on hiring, technology and rebooking, is a good companion to this post.

How Teddy handles it

Every Teddy plan includes unlimited two-way texting. That covers reminders, replies, photos and anything you ask the assistant to send for you. It's on the $49 Budget plan as well as the higher ones, and it's spelled out on the texting and reminders page.

Automated reminders start on the Core plan. On any plan you can also say "text everyone on tomorrow's schedule that we're opening an hour late" and it's done after you confirm.

Other platforms handle this differently. Gingr states SMS is included in its plans. MoeGo lists unlimited auto messages on its top tier. GrooMore and DaySmart Pet both support texting, so ask each what's included at the plan you'd buy.

[ADD TEDDY DATA: average texts per account per month][ADD TEDDY CUSTOMER QUOTE: a groomer on what they started sending once texts were unlimited]

Six texts worth sending every time

Copy these.

Day-before reminder"Hi Jen, Coco's groom is tomorrow at 9:30. Reply C to confirm or text us if you need to change it."

Permission to adjust"Coco has some tight matting behind her ears and on her legs (photo attached). To keep her comfortable we'd like to go shorter than usual. OK with you? It adds $15."

Ready for pickup"Coco's all done and looking gorgeous. Ready whenever you are!"

Running behind"Heads up, we're about 20 minutes behind today. Coco will be ready closer to 12:20. Sorry for the wait."

Rebooking nudge"It's been six weeks since Coco's last visit. Want her usual Wednesday morning slot? We have the 14th or the 21st."

Review ask"So glad you loved Coco's cut. If you have a minute, a Google review helps us a lot: [link]"

More wording, including confirmation and no-show follow-ups, is in our reminder templates post.

Texting etiquette that keeps clients happy

• Get consent on your intake form. A tick box is enough.
• Keep business texts inside business hours unless the client texts first.
• One reminder the day before is plenty for most people. Add a second for new clients.
• Put the dog's name in every message. It's the difference between a notice and a note.
• Always give a way to reply. One-way "do not reply" numbers frustrate people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is two-way texting for groomers?

It means clients can reply to your messages and you see the conversation in one thread, as opposed to one-way reminder blasts.

How many texts does a grooming salon send each month?

It varies widely. Our composite two-groomer shop sent about 1,700. Count your own for a week to find out.

Which grooming software has unlimited texting?

Teddy includes unlimited two-way texting on every plan. Gingr says SMS is included, and MoeGo lists unlimited auto messages on its Ultimate tier. Confirm current terms with each.

Do photo messages cost more?

On metered plans, usually yes. On unlimited plans it makes no difference.

Do I need client consent to send texts?

Yes. Collect it on your intake form and honor opt-outs right away.