Steps To Start A Pet Grooming Business

Is pet grooming a lucrative industry? It depends on whether you’re seeking employment opportunities or planning to establish a separate business.

Entry-level positions in this industry let groomers earn around $40,000 every year. Profitability lies in entrepreneurship, where you can make between $75,000 ad $100,000 annually.

Americans aren’t misers when it comes to spending on their pets’ grooming- they invested $72 billion on animals in 2018 alone!

The animal service industry is expected to expand as millennials are more fond of keeping pets and spending on their cleansing. So, how can you establish a successful animal grooming business in 2021? Here are some basic steps you have to take:

Research the home-based dog grooming business market

What sort of animal services do pet owners in your vicinity want? It would be best to clarify how you plan to run your business before breaking into the market.

How will your company be any different from all the rivals out there?

Therefore, invest some time in research. Doing market research enables you to discover which species your potential customers own and how much they’re willing to spend.

Your company must resonate with consumer expectations. Also, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you planning to sell animal-related products as well?
• Will you start a business from scratch or acquire an established franchise?

Have a dog grooming business license and insurance

Many entrepreneurs prefer establishing a mobile pet-grooming service to reach more audiences.

You will need mobile dog grooming insurance if you or someone gets bitten by an animal or suffer from another misfortune. Or the animals may get injured while grooming/transporting.

That’s why obtaining the right insurance is crucial to safeguard your business interests and avoid unforeseen circumstances. It would be best if you didn’t neglect to acquire insurance for your business and protect it against accidents.

Choose a memorable pet grooming business name

Naming your business shouldn’t be too difficult; instead, it’s a rather enjoyable process. It would be best to search online about animal service companies already in business to get some inspiration.

However, the name you’ll choose must be simple, unique, and memorable. Don’t forget to be creative and put some cuteness in it as well!

Most importantly, don’t choose a name that’s not web-friendly, as you’ll also need to create a website to promote your business. Ensure that this name isn’t already taken.

Get yourself trained

Entrepreneurs don’t need to pursue formal education. But some training is imperative if you wish to succeed as a pet-grooming business owner.

Many reputed colleges and educational portals offer online courses for you to get certified in animal care/services without leaving the confines of your home.

There are several do’s, and don’ts of pet grooming, e.g., certain hairstyles are specific to particular breeds. Proper training helps you understand how owners wish pets to be groomed.

Select a concept

How do you plan to operate your business? You must choose an opening concept before launching the company.

We’ve already recommended the mobile pet-grooming industry that’s been trending since the last decade. Though you also have several other choices, some of them we’ll mention:

• Rent a salon
• Offer groomers to rent your salon
• You can start a home-based animal grooming company
• You can begin your salon and hire groomers to work for you

Buy the right tools

Now, it’s time to purchase the necessary equipment for your pet-grooming establishment. Beware! These materials may cost thousands of dollars, but that’s an investment you have to make initially to earn some profit later.

Here are some things without which you can’t become a pet groomer:

• Shears
• Combs
• Kennels
• Brushes
• Clippers
• Bathing tubs
• Grooming tables
• Cleaning products
• Nail clippers/grinders
• Shampoo & conditioner

Research dog grooming business start-up costs

How do you wish to set prices?

Some entrepreneurs attempt to surpass their competitors by charging lower prices. Offering “introductory rates” to customers after establishing your company will entice pet owners.

But this strategy can easily backfire as well. Therefore, don’t try competing on prices.

Instead, make your prices reflect genuine expenditures such as the taxes you pay and the insurance you have. Customers are seduced by quality. So, offer better quality services to attract more pet owners.

Hire the right talent

Since you’re an entrepreneur now, you can hire pet groomers to work at your establishment. They may contribute to your pet-grooming endeavors either as full-time or part-time employees.

At first, you might want to handle the customers by yourself. But, as the business expands, you can consider hiring workers or outsourcing animal service.

With business expansion, you’ll also encounter intense competition from rival establishments. So, attracting qualified professions can become tricky.

Including marketing in your dog grooming business plan

Now, it’s time to promote your pet-grooming business and let everyone know about your services. Marketing shouldn’t be expensive since your friends/family recommending their acquaintances can be quite effective.

A Nielsen survey shows that over 90% of consumers in the world trust word-of-mouth or suggestions by a relative. It would be best if you leverage digital marketing strategies to “spread the word” and generate buzz in your town.

Here are some steps you can take to market your business:

• Create an attractive logo
• Get active on social media
• Make your website visit-worthy
• Try launching a referral program
• Choose a memorable business name
• Give your business cards to veterinarians
• Use Google and Facebook ads to reach more people

Conclusion

If you enjoy working with animals, why don’t you turn your passion into a profitable production? The animal service industry continues to expand in the country.

Approximately 85 million American households owned pets back in 2018. These animal lovers don’t hesitate when it comes to spending their hard-earned cash on their beloved pet’s grooming and caring.

Your target audience consists of people in their fifties, 57% of whom are pet owners.

Similarly, 40% of folks in their thirties/forties own animals. Moreover, millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic today.

So, we can see that people of all ages are looking for quality products and dependable services for their pets – something you can provide them effectively.

Can you answer the question, how much does a dog grooming business make?