How to Start a Dog Grooming Business: The First 90 Days

Most guides on how to start a dog grooming business hand you a list of twenty things and leave you to work out the order. Order is the hard part. Buy the tub before you've checked zoning and you own a very heavy mistake. So this one runs on a calendar: what to do in weeks one to four, five to eight, and nine to twelve.

It assumes you can already groom. If you can't yet, start with school or an apprenticeship. The Daily Groomer keeps a directory of grooming schools you can filter by state.

Before week one: pick your model

You have three realistic ways to open, and they have very different price tags.

These are broad ranges from what owners report, and your city can push them either way. Used equipment and a secondhand trailer sit at the low end. A new converted Sprinter sits at the top.

If you're still weighing whether the numbers work at all, read Is Starting a Dog Grooming Business Worth It in 2026 first.

Weeks 1 to 4: paperwork and place

Do the boring things first because they have waiting periods.

Week 1. Choose a business structure. Most solo groomers form an LLC so a bite claim or a slip in the lobby doesn't reach their personal savings. Register the name, get an EIN from the IRS (free, takes minutes online) and open a separate business bank account the same day.

Week 2. Call your city or county planning office. Ask three questions: is grooming a permitted use at this address, do I need a home occupation permit, and are there limits on client visits or signage. Mobile groomers should ask about parking a commercial vehicle at home and about wastewater rules. Some states also license grooming facilities, so check with your state agriculture or consumer affairs department.

Week 3. Get insurance quotes. You want general liability plus animal bailee coverage, which pays when a pet in your care is hurt or lost. Without the bailee piece, a standard policy may not cover the dog itself.

Week 4. Sign the lease or order the van only after weeks two and three come back clean.

Small business attorney Wendy Anderson walks through this sequence in plain English on The Daily Groomer podcast. It's worth an hour: The Exact Steps to Start a Grooming Business.

Weeks 5 to 8: build the room and the price list

Equipment that earns its cost

Spend real money on the things your body touches all day: an electric or hydraulic table, a tub at the right height, and a high-velocity dryer. Your back and shoulders are the business. Save on cages, decor and retail stock, which can all be bought used or added later.

Set prices from your costs, not from the shop down the road

Work out what one hour of your time has to bring in. Add up monthly rent or van payment, insurance, supplies, software, card fees, taxes and the pay you need. Divide by the hours you'll realistically groom, not the hours you're open. A solo groomer who needs $7,000 a month and grooms 120 hours needs about $58 an hour before anything is left over.

Then price by size, coat and time. A shih tzu in good condition and a matted goldendoodle are not the same job. The free Profit Calculator from The Daily Groomer does this math for you.

Write your policies before you need them

You need three documents on day one: an intake form, a service agreement with a matting and medical release, and a cancellation policy. Our no-show and cancellation policy template is free to copy.

Weeks 9 to 12: your first 30 clients

Thirty regulars on a six-week cycle is about five dogs a week before you've added anyone new. That's the first goal.

1. Claim your Google Business Profile. Add photos of real grooms, your hours and a booking link. This is where most local grooming searches end.
2. Tell every vet, trainer and daycare within three miles. Bring cards and a first-visit offer they can hand out.
3. Ask for a review at pickup. A happy owner holding a clean dog is the best moment you'll get.
4. Rebook before they leave. A new client who books the next visit at checkout is far more likely to become a regular than one who says "I'll text you."

Rebecah Murchie built Dockside Doggies to 2,000 customers by 29. Her episode is a good listen while you're setting up: 2,000 Customers at 29 Years Old.

The software question

You can start on a paper book. Most groomers move off it within a few months, usually after the first double booking. When you do, look for a calendar, client and pet records, reminders, and texting in one place.

Options at the starter end include MoeGo, GrooMore and Teddy. Teddy's Budget plan is $49 a month with unlimited two-way texting, intake forms and digital agreements, and a 14-day trial with no card. Compare a few on our ranked list of grooming software before you choose.

Five mistakes that cost new owners money

• Underpricing to fill the book. Cheap clients are hard to raise later. Start where you need to be.
• No deposit for new clients. First-timers no-show more than regulars.
• Booking back to back with no buffer. One matted dog wrecks the whole day.
• Skipping the written agreement. You'll want it the first time a senior dog has a bad reaction to a dryer.
• Mixing personal and business money. It makes tax season miserable and weakens your LLC protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start a dog grooming business?

Home-based setups commonly run a few thousand dollars to around $15,000. Mobile and storefront businesses cost far more because of the van or buildout. Get local quotes before you commit.

Do I need a license to start a dog grooming business?

You need a general business license almost everywhere. Some states and cities also license grooming facilities or require a home occupation permit. Your city planning office can tell you in one phone call.

How long until a new grooming business is profitable?

Home-based groomers with low overhead can cover costs within a few months. Salons with a lease and staff usually take longer. It depends mostly on how fast you fill a repeating book.

Should I start mobile or in a salon?

Mobile has no rent and commands higher prices, but you groom fewer dogs a day and the van is a big loan. A salon lets you hire and scale. Our post on how much mobile groomers make has the earnings side.

What's the first thing to do when starting a dog grooming business?

Check zoning for the address you plan to use. Everything else depends on that answer.