Online Booking Solutions: What Groomers Are Using

Online booking has gone from “nice to have” to “clients expect it.” But which solutions are groomers actually using — and more importantly, which ones are actually working?

We surveyed 150 groomers across the U.S. and analyzed the current online booking landscape. Here’s what we found.

The State of Online Booking in Grooming

Adoption Snapshot

Most groomers have adopted online booking — and among them, there’s a clear preference for industry-specific solutions.

Why Some Groomers Haven’t Adopted Online Booking

The 38% without online booking cited these reasons:

1. “I prefer to talk to clients first” (45%)
   They want to assess the dog before confirming.
2. “Seems complicated to set up” (28%)
   Technology hesitation.
3. “My clients are older, they call” (15%)
   Demographic assumptions.
4. “I tried it, didn’t work for me” (12%)
   Poor prior experience.

Interestingly, groomers who switched from “talk first” to request-based booking (where they approve each appointment) reported high satisfaction.

Online Booking Models Explained

Not all online booking systems function the same way. Understanding the models helps you choose correctly.

Model 1: Direct Booking

Clients select a time and it’s automatically confirmed.

Pros

• Maximum convenience
• Schedule fills without manual input

Cons

• No screening
• Risk of incorrect service selection
• Difficult dogs may slip through

Best For: High-volume salons with standardized services.

Model 2: Request-Based Booking

Clients request a time. You review and approve (or suggest alternatives).

Pros

• Full control
• Ability to screen new clients
• Avoids problematic bookings

Cons

• Requires timely responses
• Slightly more admin work

Best For: Independent groomers and specialists.

Model 3: Hybrid Booking

Returning clients book directly. New clients go through approval.

Pros

• Efficient for known clients
• Maintains screening for new ones

Cons

• More complex setup

Best For: Growing businesses with established clientele.

Recommendation: For most independent groomers, request-based or hybrid booking offers the best balance of control and efficiency.

The Tools Groomers Are Using

Grooming-Specific Platforms

Teddy

Market Share (Survey): 18% (growing)

What groomers said:

• “Finally something that doesn’t nickel and dime me on texts.”
• “The booking request system is perfect — I see who’s booking before confirming.”
• “Setup was straightforward. I was taking bookings the same day.”

Standout Feature: Unlimited SMS included.

Booking Model: Request-based with optional direct booking for trusted clients.

Teddy is gaining traction among independent groomers who want modern software without enterprise-level complexity.

MoeGo

Market Share (Survey): 24%

What groomers said:

• “Comprehensive features, steep learning curve.”
• “Great for bigger operations with staff.”
• “Per-message SMS costs add up fast.”

Standout Feature: Deep customization and multi-location support.

Booking Model: Direct, request-based, or hybrid.

MoeGo is a feature-rich market leader, best suited for larger operations with time for configuration.

Gingr

Market Share (Survey): 15%

What groomers said:

• “Built more for boarding. Grooming feels secondary.”
• “Works well if you do both.”
• “Interface feels dated.”

Standout Feature: Combined boarding and grooming management.

Booking Model: Configurable, commonly direct booking.

Best for multi-service facilities offering boarding and grooming together.

DaySmart (formerly 123Pet)

Market Share (Survey): 12%

What groomers said:

• “Reliable but not exciting.”
• “Customer support is hit or miss.”
• “Does the job, nothing innovative.”

Standout Feature: Longevity and stability.

Booking Model: Multiple options.

A legacy platform that works but hasn’t evolved as quickly as newer competitors.

General Scheduling Tools

Acuity Scheduling (Squarespace)

Market Share: 9%

What groomers said:

• “Fine for basic booking.”
• “No pet profiles — I track that separately.”
• “Looks professional.”

Best For: Basic appointment scheduling without pet management.

Limitation: No grooming-specific features.

Calendly

Market Share: 5%

What groomers said:

• “Free tier helped me start.”
• “Very limited for grooming.”
• “Outgrew it quickly.”

Best For: Testing online booking before upgrading.

Limitation: Built for meetings, not pet services.

Square Appointments

Market Share: 7%

What groomers said:

• “Already using Square for payments.”
• “Basic but functional.”
• “Wish it understood dogs.”

Best For: Groomers already using Square payments.

Limitation: No pet profiles or vaccination tracking.

Website-Based Contact Forms

Market Share: 10%

These aren’t true booking systems. Clients submit forms, and you follow up manually. Functional — but not modern online booking.

What Groomers Actually Want From Online Booking

Must-Have Features

1. Mobile-friendly booking (94%)
   Clients book from phones. Mobile optimization is essential.
2. Automated confirmations & reminders (89%)
   Immediate confirmation and reminder texts (48h + 24h).
3. Service & pet type selection (85%)
   Reduces back-and-forth.
4. New vs. returning client workflows (78%)
   Different intake needs require different flows.

Nice-to-Have Features

5. Request-based approval (67%)
6. Deposit collection (54%)
7. Waitlists (48%)
8. Multiple pet booking (45%)

Surprisingly Low Priority

• Social media booking integration (23%)
• Gift card/package sales (19%)
• Loyalty integration (15%)

Groomers prioritize reliability over extras.

Implementation: What Actually Works

Groomers Who Succeeded

They:

• Set realistic availability (not every slot online)
• Responded to booking requests quickly
• Educated clients about the new system
• Kept phone booking available
• Tracked booking data and adjusted

Groomers Who Struggled

They:

• Chose generic tools without pet features
• Misconfigured services or durations
• Failed to promote the new system
• Expected instant adoption
• Over-complicated the booking flow

Adoption typically takes 2–3 months.

ROI: Is Online Booking Worth It?

Time Savings

That 35% after-hours booking rate represents revenue that would otherwise be lost.

Revenue Impact

One avoided $75 no-show per week = $3,900/year recovered.

Client Satisfaction

Clients overwhelmingly prefer it.

Our Recommendations

Independent Groomers (1–2 People)

Best Choice: Teddy

• Request-based control
• Unlimited SMS reminders
• Simple setup
• Modern interface

Runner-Up: MoeGo (if you need advanced features).

Small Teams (3–5 Groomers)

Best Choice: MoeGo or Teddy

Choose MoeGo for advanced customization. Choose Teddy for simplicity and ease of management.

Grooming + Boarding Facilities

Best Choice: Gingr

Designed for multi-service facilities.

Testing Online Booking

Best Choice: Square Appointments or Calendly

Low-cost, quick setup, ideal for proof-of-concept.

Making the Switch

Week 1: Setup

• Configure services, durations, and availability
• Set up automated reminders
• Test the booking flow yourself

Week 2: Soft Launch

• Enable booking for existing clients
• Send personal announcements
• Collect feedback and adjust

Week 3–4: Full Launch

• Open to new clients
• Add booking links everywhere (website, social, Google Business)
• Monitor usage

Month 2+: Optimize

• Analyze booking patterns
• Adjust availability
• Consider adding deposits

Final Thoughts

Online booking is no longer optional. Clients expect it — and groomers who offer it reduce administrative work while increasing bookings.

The key is choosing a tool built specifically for grooming. Pet profiles, grooming-specific services, and automated reminders make a measurable difference.

For most independent groomers, starting with Teddy or MoeGo provides the right balance of modern client experience and operational control.

Your schedule is your business. Choose tools that protect it.

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