When to Add a Van, Launch a Product, or Scale a Team 📈
How to grow when hiring is tough, demand surges, and clients expect more than just a haircut!
Happy Friday Daily Groomers!
🚨 Quick reminder: we're less than a week away from our next free online workshop!
RSVP 👉How AI And Technology Will Transform Your Grooming Business in 2025
This session is all about what forward-thinking grooming business owners are doing with tech and AI—from smarter socials to virtual receptionists and beyond.
I’m helping shape the content this time around… and I’ll be honest: the info is 10/10, the design is maybe 4/10. But hey, it’s not about looking pretty—it’s about what actually works.
Exhibit A: here’s my “About Me” slide….
If you like Australian Shepherd, thin crust sausage pizza, or just good vibes, I better see you at the workshop!
Alright now to the good stuff…
Let’s talk scaling. The thought has probably crossed your mind.. “is it time to grow my business with one more van, one more salon, or one service line?”
I sat down with Jason Anderson, the founder of Wet Paws Mobile in Albuquerque. In just three years, Jason scaled from zero to five vans and launched a full second business line—Pet Pal Services, offering dog walking, pet sitting, and calming supplements to his grooming clients.
And here’s the kicker: Jason isn’t a groomer. He spent 26 years in banking. But he’s built a thriving mobile business by doing one thing really well—thinking like an operator.
Whether you're just starting out or eyeing your next move, this episode is full of insights you’ll want to steal.
Here’s my notes…
Hiring as a Non-Groomer: Lead, Don’t Micromanage
Jason’s up front with new hires—he’s not a groomer, and he’s not pretending to be. But that transparency has worked in his favor. His model?
“I give them the van, the tools, a full schedule—and then I get out of their way.”
He only hires experienced pros (no apprentices or bathers), offers competitive pay, and checks in with ride-alongs. The result? His groomers feel trusted, less stressed, and more loyal.
How He Finds Groomers (and Keeps Them)
Hiring’s the hardest part, even for him. But Jason cracked a repeatable system:
- Posted across multiple job boards, then tracked where hires came from (Indeed won out)
- Showcases his business publicly (his vans are everywhere, and people take notice)
- Built community partnerships with shelters and nonprofits
- Focuses on autonomy in the interview (“You’ll have everything you need, and I’ll let you do your thing”)
The Secret to Scaling From 1 to 5 Vans
Jason didn’t just buy more vans—he built systems that could scale from day one:
- All vans are the same brand and layout (for easy training, repairs, and swapping)
- Shared van usage 6 days/week, with 1 dedicated maintenance day
- Groomers rotate vans, reducing idle time
- He added a dedicated office manager to stay focused on growth
He noticed real operational friction at van #3—that’s when scheduling complexity and customer service bottlenecks started to show. By van 5, he had a full playbook in place.
Customer Experience > Fancy Grooms
Jason’s goal wasn’t to have the “best cuts in the Southwest”—his focus has always been on customer experience:
- Online booking
- Text confirmations
- Transparent pricing
- Branded apparel for every door knock
And that mentality shows up everywhere—even in how he chooses his credit card processor. He once turned down a cheaper option because it would add friction for groomers in the field. Why? “It’s not always about saving a few bucks—it’s about removing obstacles.”
Going Horizontal: Introducing Pet Pal Services
Jason didn’t just add vans. He added new revenue streams:
- Pet sitting (his most requested add-on)
- Dog walking
- Waste cleanup
- His own line of calming chews, hip & joint, and skin supplements
The idea? Grooming growth is vertical. But horizontal services let you grow by expanding your relationship with existing clients—without needing another professional groomer or $100K van.
How He Did It (Without Losing Focus)
Jason’s secret weapon? Time blocking.
He spends mornings in the office with his ops manager, and reserves afternoons for working on the business—testing new partnerships, meeting vendors, or launching services like Pet Pal.
His mindset:
“Grooming will take every last minute of your day if you let it. You have to make space to grow.”
How He Decides When to Add Another Van
It’s not just vibes—it’s math:
- When wait times stretch past 2–3 weeks, that’s the signal
- He aims to bring on a new van once he knows it’ll be at least 50% full
- He always has groomers bench-ready to slot in when the van’s ready
By holding off just long enough to build real demand, he derisks each expansion.
What You Can Steal From Jason’s Playbook
Here are 5 takeaways you can use:
- Standardize your vans and equipment early
- Survey your clients before launching new services
- Track your hiring funnel like a marketer
- Invest in your support team before you're underwater
- Treat your vendors like partners, not transactions
Listen To The Full Episode
This episode was a good one for anyone scaling—or thinking about expanding beyond grooming. Jason's approach is methodical, clear-headed, and totally doable.
Whether you’re adding a van, hiring your first groomer, or just trying to get through another Monday, let Jason’s story be a reminder: you don’t need to grow fast—you just need to grow with purpose.
You can do it!!!!
For the love of grooming,
Alex
PS - reply if you know a good guest for the podcast! Filling out next month’s recording scheduling and would love to hear from you!
📝Hiring Corner
Introducing a new section to shine a spotlight on local Daily Groomer businesses hiring right now.👇
- The Spaw in Oxford, MS is hiring for an experienced groomer. $30-$60k per year. Apply here.
- Barkbus in Dallas, TX is hiring for a full-time mobile stylist role. $25-32 per hour. Apply here.
- AZ Pet Stylist in Queen’s Creek, AZ is hiring for a full-time mobile stylist role. $1,500-$2,500 per week. Apply here.
Hiring and want to be featured in front of 10,000+ groomers? Post your open role here!
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