dog grooming salon business plan

How to Write a Dog Grooming Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

8 min. read

Updated February 20, 2024

Download a free one-page dog grooming sample business plan

The bond between humans and their canine companions has always been strong. But spurred by increases in dog ownership across the U.S. , household spending on pets has risen in recent years.

The $5.4 billion global pet grooming services market is projected to grow at a 7% annual rate through 2030, creating new opportunities for dog-loving entrepreneurs to turn their passion into a business opportunity.

Whether you’re starting a boutique grooming salon or a mobile grooming service—a business plan can significantly increase your chances of success.

Download a free dog grooming sample business plan and complete it as you work through this guide.

• What should you include in a dog grooming business plan?

Here are the common sections to consider when writing your dog grooming business plan.

• Executive summary
• Market analysis
• Services and products
• Marketing and sales strategy
• Operations plan
• Company summary
• Financial plan and forecasts

The details of your plan will differ based on factors like the services you offer, whether you hire full-time employees or contractors, and whether your business is based in a brick-and-mortar building or goes to clients’ homes.

Check out our step-by-step guide to writing a full business plan for more details.

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• The 8 elements of an effective dog grooming business plan

Don’t make your dog grooming business plan longer than it needs to be . If you’re writing it for yourself, stick with a few pages and cover the aspects that will help you run your business.

But if you’re writing the plan because you’re seeking a bank loan or investment , it will likely need to be more detailed.

1. Executive summary

The executive summary is a concise overview of your dog grooming business plan. The executive summary should briefly touch on your company overview target market but shouldn’t be more than 2 pages long.

Its purpose is to highlight the mission and unique aspects of your business, whether that’s to provide superior pet care or introduce innovative grooming techniques to your market. 

2. Market analysis

What’s the opportunity that exists for your business? 

The market analysis section is a detailed assessment of the market you’re entering. In this case, you should cover current trends in the dog grooming industry, such as increasing pet ownership rates and a growing emphasis on pet care and wellness.

You must also identify your primary customer segments . Include demographics that help define who your customers are and what they want. Maybe you target pet owners in urban areas, busy professionals, or families seeking convenient and comprehensive grooming services.

Be sure to list out key competitors in your region, noting their service offerings, pricing, and market positioning. This analysis will help you identify opportunities to differentiate your business. For instance, your research might lead you to realize there are a lack of options in your area for mobile grooming services, or specialized care for anxious pets.

3. Services and products

The products and services section is where you detail the full range of grooming services and products you plan to offer. 

Consider writing them out as a list, like this example:

Basic services

• Washing and drying
• Hair trimming
• Nail clipping
• Ear cleaning.

Specialty services

• Breed-specific grooming
• Skin care treatments
• Flea and tick treatments

Also, consider incorporating related products for sale, such as dog shampoos, conditioners, brushes, and other grooming tools. Whatever mix of products and services you choose to offer, connect them to your market opportunity. At its most basic, running a successful business is about identifying customer problems and providing solutions .

Detailing these services and products gives your customers a clear understanding of what your business provides and its value proposition .

4. Marketing and sales strategy

Your marketing and sales strategy turns your market research into a set of marketing strategies you can execute to attract customers. 

Through your research, you should understand how your target customers find dog grooming services — online, in print advertisements or commercials, through social media or word of mouth, etc.

Based on what you think are the most relevant marketing channels , develop strategies to make your business more visible. Strategies to consider include:

• Advertising online or in local publications
• Creating a website and establishing a social media presence
• Interacting with the public at community events
• Pursuing partnership opportunities with local pet stores

You may also want to consider discounts or special offers for repeat customers to build loyalty. 

Whatever tactics you deploy, it’s crucial to measure the impact of your marketing efforts through key performance indicators, and adjust your strategies based on what delivers value.

5. Operations plan

The operations section outlines how you will run your dog grooming business efficiently day to day. 

Whether you’re operating out of a brick-and-mortar building, a mobile van, or in clients’ homes, include details on the physical setup of your grooming salon, equipment needs, and staff requirements.

You should also discuss the process for booking appointments and managing customer relationships. Detail any software or systems you’ll use for scheduling and record-keeping. Also, outline your plan for meeting regulatory requirements and maintaining a clean, safe environment for pets.

6. Milestones

Outlining the key milestones for your business can help you determine how long it will take to meet your goals. You can keep these brief, even writing them in bullet points. Milestones for a dog grooming business could include:

• Obtaining initial financing
• Securing relevant permits
• Initiating marketing efforts
• Acquiring a certain number of clients
• Reaching specific revenue benchmarks

Each milestone should have an estimated completion date and designated team members responsible for achieving them.

7. Company summary

Summarize the history of your business, including its legal structure and location. Also, highlight your background in pet grooming and your reasons for wanting to start a dog grooming business.

If you’re just starting out, discuss the initial startup costs required to get the business off the ground. If you’re writing your business plan to secure a bank loan, state how much funding you need, what you will use it for, and how it will benefit your grooming business.

8. Financial plan

The financial plan is where you provide a look into your dog grooming business’s financial projections, including sales , costs , and profitability .

Remember, financial forecasts are really just educated guesses created to give you a sense of how your business can be profitable over the long term. 

They’re meant to be adjusted over time as your actual financial numbers come in, helping you determine which aspects of your business are performing as expected and where you might need to adjust your strategy.

Your financial plan should include a cash flow statement , income statement , and balance sheet .

• Tips for writing a dog grooming business plan

Understanding pet owners’ needs and how you can best serve them is vital for writing a dog grooming business plan that you can actually use to help your business grow.

As you write the plan, give some attention to these key points.

1. Consider your business structure

Choosing the right structure is pivotal. When writing the company overview section, consider factors like taxation, liability, and business growth potential to determine whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation best suits your needs. This decision will influence your operational flexibility, financial management, and legal obligations.

2. Develop a pricing strategy

Establishing a pricing strategy that balances market competitiveness with profitability is essential. As part of your market analysis, take the time to explore pricing tiers and client expectations. Offering a variety of service packages can cater to different customer needs and enhance revenue streams. Connect those packages and pricing tiers to your projected revenues and expenses as you create your financial forecasts.

3. Create an online presence

A strong online presence is non-negotiable. So, even if you plan to leverage traditional marketing channels, you will still want to have digital marketing efforts be part of your plan. 

At a minimum, invest in a professional website, optimize for local search , and engage actively on social media platforms. This visibility attracts new clients and serves as a platform for showcasing your work and customer testimonials.

4. Highlight your credentials and training

Highlighting your credentials and commitment to ongoing professional development can set your business apart. 

Regular training in new grooming techniques, customer service excellence, and pet safety reassure clients of the quality and reliability of your services. Start by mentioning the qualifications of you and your team and include any supporting documentation, like resumes or awards, in your appendix.

5. Build on success with client referrals and reviews

Encourage satisfied customers to refer others and leave positive online reviews . Word-of-mouth and digital endorsements can significantly impact your business’s reputation and trustworthiness. Consider implementing a referral program to incentivize clients to share their positive experiences.

• Download your free dog grooming one page sample business plan

Download your dog grooming business plan sample now for free. You can also explore Bplans’ collection of over 550 sample business plans to find other examples.

Writing a business plan for your dog grooming business helps you stand out in a crowded market. It’s one of numerous reasons that a business plan increases your chance of success. 

The plan is essential for getting your business funded. But even if you don’t need a bank loan, thinking through each aspect of your business will help you make the best strategic decisions and use your limited resources effectively.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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Dog Grooming Business Plan

MAR.18, 2023

1. Dog Grooming Business Plan Sample and Template

Dog grooming is a growing industry, with many pet owners seeking out services to care for their furry friends properly. A well-crafted business plan can help you to create a successful business that caters to the needs of dog owners.

The main objective of this business plan is to create a successful and sustainable dog grooming business by providing high-quality services to customers. It seeks to build a strong brand and customer base and maximize profitability.

This business plan works well as a Dog Training Business Plan and other businesses.

2. Executive Summary

Business overview.

Furry Friends Dog Grooming is a full-service dog grooming business that specializes in providing quality services to all breeds of dogs. We strive to offer a modern, clean, and relaxing atmosphere for both our customers and their pets. Our services range from traditional grooming, such as baths and nail trims, to more specialized services, such as breed-specific cuts and specialty treatments.

In the Dog Walking Business Plan , we understand the importance of proper grooming in the healthy maintenance of a dog’s coat and skin, as well as its overall health and appearance. Our team of highly trained and certified groomers provides a safe, humane, and stress-free environment for your pet. We strive to ensure that each customer is satisfied with their experience and that their pet looks and feels their best.

We understand the importance of providing a safe and comfortable experience for our customers and their pets. That is why we take great care to ensure our facility is clean, organized, and well-maintained. We use only the highest quality products and equipment, and our team of certified groomers is experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of dog grooming.

At Furry Friends Dog Grooming, we offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of our customers. Our services include

• Basic dog wash, Brushing, and pet grooming
• Nail trimming
• Fur trimming
• Ear cleaning
• Teeth cleaning
• Paw pad trimming
• Anal gland expression
• Flea and tick control
• Deshedding treatments
• Coat coloring
• Skin treatment
• Nail grinding
• Pet cologne

Customer Focus

At our dog grooming salon, we are committed to providing the highest quality dog grooming services to our customers. In the Dog Daycare Business Plan , our team of certified groomers is experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of dog grooming and is dedicated to providing a safe, humane, and stress-free environment for your pet. In running a dog grooming business, we strive to ensure that each customer is satisfied with their experience and that their pet looks and feels its best.

Management Team

The management team at Furry Friends Dog Grooming consists of experienced pet groomers and professionals who have the knowledge and skills to provide the best service possible. We believe that our team is essential to the success of our business and strive to provide our employees with the best working conditions and benefits.

Success Factors

In the Veterinary Clinic Business Plan , the success of Furry Friends Dog Grooming will be based on our commitment to providing the highest quality of service and care to our customers and their pets. We will also focus on building a strong reputation in the community through word of mouth and referrals.

Financial Highlights

The business plans to raise initial funding of $50,000 to cover the costs of launching the business, including the purchase of grooming equipment, the lease of the property, and the hiring of staff. Launching the business is anticipated; dog grooming start-up costs $35,000, and the remaining $15,000 will be used to cover operating expenses for the first three months.

• Initial funding: $50,000
• Launch costs: $35,000
• Operating costs for first three months: $15,000
• Total revenue for the first year of operations: $75,000
• Net profit for the first year of operations: $45,000

3. Company Overview

Who is furry friends dog grooming.

Furry Friends Dog Grooming is a small business owned and operated by two lifelong dog lovers who have years of combined professional experience in the pet care industry. When we opened a dog grooming business, our first location was in 2015, and since then, we have grown to serve clients all over the Greater Los Angeles area. Our mission is to provide our clients with the best possible grooming experience and ensure their dogs feel safe and comfortable with us.

Furry Friends Dog Grooming History

Furry Friends Dog Grooming was founded in 2015 to provide high-quality and affordable dog grooming services to the Greater Los Angeles area. Since our founding, we have grown to serve clients all over the area and become a trusted dog grooming name. We strive to provide our clients with the best possible grooming experience and to ensure their dogs feel safe and comfortable while with us.

Furry Friends provides professional grooming services, including bathing, brushing, trimming, and styling, all tailored to each pet’s individual needs.

Furry Friends also provides a range of products to help keep dogs looking and feeling their best. The store carries a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and other grooming products, as well as nutritional supplements, beds, and toys.

The key elements of the business concept are the following:

• High-quality services: At Furry Friends Dog Grooming, we strive to provide the highest quality of grooming services available. We use the best tools and products to ensure our clients’ dogs look and feel their best.
• Experienced and friendly staff: Our staff are all experienced in the pet care industry and are passionate about their work. We strive to make our clients and their dogs feel comfortable and safe during their grooming.
• Affordable prices: We believe that everyone should be able to afford quality grooming services for their dogs, which is why we strive to keep our prices as affordable as possible.
• Safety: Safety is our top priority. We take all necessary precautions to ensure our client’s dogs are safe and comfortable during their grooming.
• Customer service: Furry Friends Dog Grooming is committed to providing our clients with the highest level of customer service. We strive to ensure all our clients are satisfied with their experience with us.

4. Industry Analysis

The pet grooming industry is growing rapidly. It is estimated that the pet grooming industry achieved $8.5 billion in total revenue in the United States in 2020, representing a 5.5% increase from the previous year. The industry is expected to continue to grow over the next five years, achieving an annual growth rate of 3.8%.

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet grooming spending in the US alone was expected to reach $11.80 billion by 2023. The increasing number of pet owners and the rising demand for professional grooming services drives this growth. With more people owning pets and the increasing popularity of social media, pet owners are becoming more aware of the importance of proper grooming for their pets. As a result, pet grooming business owners can capitalize on this growing trend and tap into the lucrative pet grooming market.

The industry is also expected to benefit from increased demand for pet grooming services as pet owners seek to maintain the health and hygiene of their pets. Additionally, the industry is expected to benefit from the introduction of new technologies such as mobile dog grooming services and automated pet grooming equipment.

5. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Our primary target market is dog owners in the local area. Our customers will range from younger owners of small dogs to older owners of larger dog breeds. We anticipate that our customer base will be comprised of a diverse range of ages, incomes, and lifestyles. Specifically, our target customers are likely to include:

• Dog owners aged 35-65, with an average household income of $70,000+
• Dog owners with a passion for their pets and the time to care for them properly
• Dog owners who value convenience and are willing to pay for the convenience of having their pets groomed professionally
• Dog owners who are looking for a quality service that they can trust

Customer Segmentation

In order to effectively meet the needs of our target market, we will need to segment our customers. Our customer segmentation will be based on factors such as the breed of dog, size, lifestyle, and budget. Specifically, our customer segments may include

• Small breed owners: owners of small breed dogs such as Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles
• Large breed owners: owners of large breed dogs such as Labradors and German Shepherds
• Active pet owners: owners of active breeds such as Greyhounds and Border Collies
• Luxury pet owners: owners of high-end breeds such as Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
• Budget-minded pet owners: owners of lower-priced breeds such as Beagles and Shih Tzus
• Specialty pet owners: owners of rare breeds such as Basenjis and Chinese Crested Dogs

By segmenting our customer base, we can better target our services and marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of each group. This will enable us to create more personalized and effective marketing campaigns that will result in increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

6. Competitive Analysis

The pet grooming industry is highly competitive and diverse. The sector is made up of both small independent businesses, as well as larger companies that offer a wide range of services. In order to remain competitive and differentiate ourselves from other grooming businesses, our plan is to offer high-quality services coupled with an excellent customer service experience.

Direct and Indirect Competitors

Direct Competitors

There are a number of direct competitors in the pet grooming industry in our area. Some of the main ones include

• Pawfect Pet Grooming: a full-service pet grooming business that offers grooming, bathing, nail trimming, and other services. They have been in business for over 20 years and have a good reputation in the local community.
• Furr-ever Friends: another full-service pet grooming business that offers a wide range of services, including brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and more. They have good reviews and a loyal customer base.
• Pets 4 Paws: a smaller, independent pet grooming business with a focus on natural and organic products. They have a small but loyal customer base and have a good reputation in the local community.

Indirect Competitors

In addition to direct competitors, there are a number of indirect competitors in the pet grooming industry. These include pet stores, pet supply stores, and online pet grooming services. These businesses may offer some of the same services as our business, but they may not be as specialized or customized as our services.

Competitive Advantage

Our competitive advantage over our competitors is our focus on high-quality services and customer service. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction will set us apart from the competition and will help us to build a loyal customer base. We also plan to offer a wide range of services, including bathing, brushing, nail trimming, and more. This will help us to attract customers who are looking for a full-service pet grooming experience.

7. Marketing Plan

Furry Friends Dog Grooming will be marketed through various channels, including direct mail, print media, radio and television advertisements, and social media campaigns.

• Direct Mail: We will send out direct mailers to local pet owners, veterinary clinics, and other pet-related businesses in the area. These mailers will include information about our services, prices, and promotions.
• Print Media: We will advertise in local newspapers, magazines, and pet-related publications. We will also distribute flyers and brochures in pet stores, veterinary clinics, and other pet-related businesses.
• Radio and Television: We will purchase radio and television advertisements to reach a wider audience. These advertisements will include information about our services and prices.
• Social Media: We will use social media to reach potential customers. We will create social media profiles and post updates about our services, promotions, and events.

Furry Friends Dog Grooming will have several direct and indirect competitors in the area. The direct competitors will include other dog grooming businesses, while the indirect competitors will include pet stores, veterinary clinics, and pet boarding facilities.

Direct Competitors:

• Pawfect Pet Grooming
• Furr-ever Friends
• Pets 4 Paws

Indirect Competitors:

• Veterinary Clinics
• Pet Boarding Facilities

Promotions Strategy

In the dog grooming business plan outline, we will use a variety of promotions to attract and retain customers. Our promotions will include discounts, loyalty programs, and referral programs.

• Discounts: We will offer discounts to new customers and returning customers. These discounts can be used for services, products, or both.
• Loyalty Programs: We will offer loyalty programs to reward customers for their loyalty. These programs will include rewards such as discounts, free services, and special offers.
• Referral Programs: We will offer referral programs to reward customers for referring their friends and family to our business. These programs will include rewards such as discounts, free services, and special offers.

Our pricing strategy will be based on market research and competitor analysis. We will offer competitive pricing that is in line with the market rates while also offering discounts and loyalty programs to attract and retain customers. We will monitor our competitors’ pricing and adjust our pricing accordingly.

8. Operations Plan

Operation functions.

Grooming: The primary function of the business will be providing pet grooming services. This includes bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and hair styling. The business will use high-quality products and tools to ensure the best results for each pet.

Boarding: The business will also offer overnight boarding services for cats and dogs. The boarding area will be clean and comfortable, and the pets will be given food, water, and plenty of attention throughout their stay.

Pet Supplies: The business will also offer basic pet supplies such as food, treats, toys, and grooming tools. These supplies will be available for purchase in-store and online.

3/15/202X – Establish a business plan and timeline

3/22/202X – Acquire the necessary licenses and permits

4/1/202X – Design and implement a marketing plan

4/8/202X – Hire qualified staff

4/15/202X – Purchase the necessary equipment, supplies, and materials

4/22/202X – Design a customer service plan

5/1/202X – Design and implement a safety plan

5/8/202X – Set up an online presence

5/15/202X – Develop a customer loyalty program

5/22/202X – Develop a pricing structure

9. Management Team

Company staff.

Owner has been in the pet care industry for the last ten years. He has a degree in business management and is the founder of Dog Grooming Enterprises. The owner has developed a reputation for providing high-quality pet care services and grooming to various pet owners.

• Manager/Operations
• Office Manager
• Receptionist
• Customer Service Representative
• Administrative Assistant

10. Financial Plan

We are seeking funding of $50,000 to cover start-up costs and initial operating expenses. This funding will purchase equipment, rent a space, and hire staff. We will also use the funding to pay for marketing and advertising expenses. The funds will be repaid after three years through profits generated by the business.

Key Revenue & Costs

Key Revenue

The primary source of revenue for our dog grooming business will be from services provided to customers. Services offered will include basic dog grooming, nail trimming, and flea and tick treatments. We will also offer additional services such as specialty baths, fur trimming, and creative styling. We will also offer pet supplies for sale.

• Dog Grooming Services – 40%
• Nail Trimming – 20%
• Flea and Tick Treatments – 10%
• Specialty Baths & Fur Trimming – 15%
• Creative Styling – 10%
• Pet Supplies – 5%

The main costs associated with running our business are salaries for staff, rent for our facility, insurance, utilities, and supplies. We must purchase grooming equipment such as clippers, dryers, and tables. We must also purchase supplies such as shampoos, conditioners, and brushes.

• Salaries – 25%
• Insurance – 5%
• Utilities – 15%
• Supplies – 20%
• Grooming Equipment – 25%

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Funding Requirements

Startup Costs: $12,000

Use of Funds

• Rent: $2,500/month
• Furniture and Equipment: $5,000
• Legal/Accounting: $1,500
• Insurance: $500/year
• Licenses: $500
• Marketing: $1,000
• Miscellaneous: $1,000
• Salaries and wages: $3,000/month
• Advertising and marketing: $500/month
• Utilities: $300/month

Key Assumptions

Excellent work.

excellent work, competent advice. Alex is very friendly, great communication. 100% I recommend CGS capital. Thank you so much for your hard work!

The essential assumptions necessary to reach the income and cost estimates in the financials and to obtain the company loan are shown in the following table.

Grooming services will be offered at the rate of $25/hour

Retail products will have a 10-20% markup

Rent will be fixed at $2,500/month

Insurance and Licenses will be renewed annually at a fixed cost

Salaries and wages will be fixed at $3,000/month

Advertising and marketing will be fixed at $500/month

Utilities will be fixed at $300/month

Financial Projections

Income statement, projected balance sheet, cash flow statement.

• What is a dog grooming business plan? A dog grooming business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the business objectives, strategies, operations, and financial goals of a dog grooming business. It serves as a roadmap for the business’s success, providing a clear plan of action and strategies to reach the desired goals. It also outlines the resources needed to make the business successful and the strategies to acquire them. A good dog grooming business plan should include an executive summary, market analysis, business model, operational plan, marketing plan, financial plan, and personnel plan.
• What are the main types of dog groomers? There are a few main types of dog groomers. Mobile groomers provide services from their own vehicle, which they can drive to a customer’s home. Self-employed groomers run their businesses from their homes or a grooming salon. Salon-based groomers work in a grooming salon and are supervised by a professional groomer. Finally, there are pet groomers who work in pet stores. These groomers are usually supervised by a veterinarian and often require some veterinary training.
• What are the main sources of revenues and expenses for dog grooming? The main sources of revenue for dog grooming are services such as bathing, brushing, nail trimming, and haircuts. Expenses for dog groomers include the cost of supplies such as shampoo, clippers, scissors, and combs; rent for the grooming space; wages for groomers; and insurance.
• How do you get funding for your dog grooming business plan? One way to get funding for a dog grooming business plan is to apply for a loan. There are many different types of loans available, such as small business loans, unsecured lines of credit, and even government-backed grants. Before applying for a loan, it is important to create a detailed business plan that outlines the goals of the business, the expected costs, and how the business will be profitable. This will help lenders understand the business’s potential and make an informed decision about loaning money. Additionally, having a good credit history and collateral may help secure a loan. Other sources of funding may include crowdfunding or private investors. These methods may require more effort and care to be successful, but they can be a great way to get the funding you need for your dog grooming business.

Download Dog Grooming Business Plan in PDF

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Dog Grooming Business Plan: How-To Guide & Best Practices

BUSINESS  |   2/22/21 10:28 AM  |  by Gingr

Thinking of starting your very own dog grooming business, or incorporating grooming services into your new dog daycare resort or boarding facility? Maybe you’ve always been a dog lover ever since you got your first pet as a kid, or you’ve dreamed of becoming a self-made entrepreneur and owning your own business. Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place!

At Gingr , we’ve helped hundreds of pet care professionals get their businesses up and running. With the help of our pet business software, groomers, boarders, and daycare owners can stay organized and efficient with scheduling tools, communication features, and a speedy payment processing program. We’ve been around the block a few times, and we know what it takes to set yourself up to become the most pup-ular business owner around town. 

We’ll cover the basics of creating a dog grooming business plan in the following sections: 

Key Questions to Ask Before Starting a Dog Grooming Business

Components of a successful dog grooming business plan.

• Pet Grooming Business Plan Best Practices

As with any new business, starting a pet business comes with its own set of risks. But as the saying goes: nothing ventured, nothing gained. The benefit of owning your own business is that YOU have the power to make your own decisions, course correct when you face challenges, and reap the direct benefits of your hard work. 

This guide will answer key questions, provide guidelines for creating your business plan, and offer concrete steps to take to get your business underway. Let’s get started!

Before you embark on your dog-grooming journey, there are probably a lot of questions on your mind about what starting a pet care business will entail. We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about starting a dog grooming business to help address your concerns.

How profitable is a dog grooming business?

Dog grooming has the potential to be a very profitable venture, but the success of your business will depend on a few factors:

• How quickly you can grow your customer base
• What you decide to charge for your services
• Your startup and operational costs
• The level of competition in the local market

Your profitability will depend on localized aspects such as the cost of rent or how many competitors there are in the area. You also may have to factor in new costs as you grow, such as employee wages.

The good news is that the pet industry is seeing a striking growth spurt, with an estimated $99 billion spent on pets in 2020. We know that people are willing to spend piles of cash to pamper their pets. To become profitable, you must entice them to spend their money at your business rather than competitors’.

What is the best setup for a dog grooming business?

One benefit of starting a dog grooming business is that you have a few options for how you want to set up your business. 

Groomers can operate out of their homes, use buses or vans in a mobile set-up, or rent or purchase a space to set up their own grooming facility with a storefront. Home and brick-and-mortar businesses are more traditional options, while mobile pet grooming is a rising pet industry trend . Each option has pros and cons:

Home business

• Pros: You can eliminate commute time by running your business from home. Plus, you don’t have to worry about overhead costs like commercial rent.
• Cons: It can be hard to strike a work-life balance when working from home, and you’ll have to rely on word of mouth or digital marketing as you won’t have a physical storefront to draw in customers.

Brick-and-mortar store

• Pros: Your business will benefit from having a physical presence and sign that can attract people passing by, and you can offer extra services to customers such as a self-wash station where they can wash their own dogs inside your facility.
• Cons: You’ll have traditional business costs such as commercial rent and utilities.

Mobile grooming

• Pros: Taking your business on the road is convenient for customers, less stressful on pets, and a safer option for health-conscious clients during the pandemic.
• Cons: You’ll have to check local laws and regulations about where you can park your mobile business, and you’ll have overhead costs for gas and vehicle maintenance.

As you can see, each option comes with advantages and disadvantages. Decide what matters most to you (having a flexible schedule, room to grow, lower operating costs, etc.) and go with the option that best aligns with your overall business strategy. 

For example, say you have a dream to expand your business into a large operation with several staff members and a vast client base. In that case, you’d want to consider a brick-and-mortar store to have room to grow.

What do you need to start a pet grooming business?

You already have one of the most important assets needed to get your dog grooming business started—a passion for pets! In addition, here’s the basic equipment you’ll need to get your business underway:

• Bathtubs/sinks
• Doggie shampoo and nail clippers
• Grooming tables
• Pet clippers and grooming shears
• Deshedding and dematting tools
• Puppy accessories (bows, bandanas, etc.) 
• Cleaning supplies

Along with your physical equipment, be sure to invest in a proper dog grooming business software system . Your business software can handle the organizational side of your business, from scheduling appointments to collecting payments. It will take much of the stress of running your business off your hands by allowing you to manage your digital processes more efficiently.

Finally, you’ll need a comprehensive business plan to give your business a solid foundation and a guide for completing your goals. Read on for an explanation of what a dog grooming business plan should look like.

Your dog grooming business plan offers a high-level overview of your business and can help guide your decision-making or help you access a business loan. If you are using this document to acquire a loan, be sure to tailor your language to be as persuasive and positive as possible to present your business as a dependable investment that will achieve long-term success. Your business plan should include these seven sections:

Company Description 

At the start of your business plan, introduce yourself and your vision for the business. Explain who you are and your qualifications. Describe the need in your community for this service and how your business will stand out from competitors (perhaps you’ll be a fully-mobile groomer or specialize in tough-to-groom breeds such as gigantic Newfoundlands or shaggy Old English Sheepdogs).

Products and Services

In this section, describe the goods and services you’ll be offering to customers. Will you just offer dog grooming services, or will you also provide products such as leashes, bandanas, or specialty dog shampoos? Emphasize the unique features of your products and/or services (e.g., you’re the only mobile grooming company in town, or you’re the only business with a full line of boutique shampoos) that meet an existing need in the market.

Market Research

Prove your expertise in the dog grooming industry within the market research section of your business plan. Answer these questions as you research: 

• Market need: What gap in the market do you intend to fill with your products and/or services?
• Competition: Who will be your local competitors? What do they have to offer? 
• Pricing: How much are competitors charging for their goods and services? 
• Target customer: What is your target market? Who are you trying to reach with your services? 

Describe how your new business will fit into this puzzle and emphasize your competitive advantage . For instance, you might have special training or experience at national dog shows, a prime location, or state-of-the-art equipment. Any feature that your business will have that competitors lack gives your business an edge in the market that can draw in more investors.

Marketing and Advertising

Describe your plan to market and advertise your business to attract customers. Perhaps you’ll launch a digital marketing campaign with targeted social media ads and geofencing strategies to reach people in a specific geographic location. You may also choose to send out direct mail flyers or purchase local radio or TV ad spots promoting your new grooming business. 

Use the data you gathered while creating the market research analysis to justify your marketing decisions. For instance, if you found in your market research that your target customer is likely a suburban resident in their early thirties to mid-fifties, you can place flyers in mailboxes in neighborhoods in your area as part of your marketing strategy.

Management Summary

Provide an outline of your management structure and descriptions of the key personnel involved. If you already have a few staff members on board, explain who they are and what their duties will be. If you’re bringing on additional staff members, describe the qualifications you’re looking for in new employees and what their day-to-day responsibilities will entail.

Financial Analysis

In this section, you’ll create a breakdown of important financial information. Include profit projections, a balance sheet, and cash flow statements:

• Profit projections: Broadly, your profit will be your business’s total revenue minus total expenses. Your expenses will include variable costs (expenses that fluctuate regularly, including charges for hourly wages, cleaning services, etc.) and fixed costs (costs that rarely change, such as rent or utility payments). Your revenue will be how many dogs you predict you’ll groom multiplied by how much your charge per dog. Use this information to create a profit projection chart for how you envision your business will stay profitable over the first five years of operation. 
• Cash flow statement: Similarly, your cash flow statement will show how much money you need to make in a given period such as a month or year to remain in business. It will paint a picture of where the needed cash will come from and also where money will be flowing out of your business to pay for expenses. 
• Balance sheet: This is a breakdown of your assets and liabilities. Assets are your resources or investments that help your business generate income, such as your state-of-the-art grooming equipment. Liabilities are debts or financial obligations you owe such as loans or mortgages. 

Overall, your financial section should include a profit breakdown and a more complex financial analysis for how you see your business growing over a five-year period. If you’re using your business plan to solicit a loan, be sure to include the monetary amount you’re seeking and what the funds will be used for.

Legal Requirements

Prove that your business is qualified and fit for operation by describing how it adheres to all legal requirements. 

First, define your business structure—whether you’re operating as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. If you decide to structure your business as a corporation, you’ll have to register with your state’s Secretary of State office. Registering your business as a corporation establishes it as a separate legal entity, protecting you from personal liability if you were to be sued by a customer. 

Additionally, acquire any necessary business licenses issued by your state or local government and show proof of these licenses in your grooming business plan. This will protect your business from fines and ensure you can operate without any legal ramifications. 

Finally, research your options for business insurance and invest in a solution that meets your needs. Check out this guide to pet business insurance for detailed explanations of each type of insurance, including commercial liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and property insurance. 

Commercial liability insurance covers your business as a whole if an accident were to take place such as a customer slipping on a wet spot and getting injured in your facility. Professional liability insurance accounts for liabilities that are directly related to grooming businesses, such as a dog being injured while getting a haircut. Lastly, property insurance protects your business if any unexpected disasters were to occur like a tornado or fire. 

Once you’ve finalized your legal considerations, you’ll have a completed business plan to present to investors or use as a guiding force as you get started with your business. Be sure to take your time with this document. Think deliberately and realistically about your overall business strategy to create an accurate portrayal of your grooming business.

Pet Grooming Business Best Practices

In addition to creating a business plan, there are several best practices to adhere to that can take your grooming business to the next level. These include finding a niche, enhancing customer service, and leveraging powerful dog grooming software.

1. Define Your Pet Grooming Business Niche

Take the time to pinpoint your pet grooming business’s niche and how you will describe this niche to potential customers. 

First, define the breeds you will groom and how they will be served by your grooming business. For instance, will you serve all breeds, or specialize in a few such as large breeds? 

Further, think deliberately about your grooming business operating concept —the setup you choose to run your business out of. For any setup you choose, decide which unique offerings you’ll provide to customers. For example, if you choose a brick-and-mortar operation, you may decide to offer luxury doggie spa services to customers. Or, if you go with a mobile option, you can also provide dog-walking services.

However, you must also ensure the scope of your business is well-defined. You don’t want to offer too much to customers and confuse them about the purpose of your business, or offer too little and cause them to go with a competitor’s services instead. Take a Goldilocks approach and start by offering a few services that you can focus on growing and perfecting. 

Defining your niche up front gives you a focus point for all your planning as well as more time to hone your business’s concept. Once you have a clear picture of your business offerings, you’ll be better positioned to enact effective marketing campaigns that describe your business more accurately.

2. Focus On Customer Experience

As a new business owner, it’s critical to refine your customer service strategy. Providing clients with a streamlined, pleasant experience will keep them returning to your business each time their pet needs a trim.

As you gain new customers, keeping track of all customer interactions and pet information can quickly become an unwieldy task. This is where grooming business software can become a key asset to help you stay organized and give your customers an easy, hassle-free experience with your business. 

For example, Gingr’s grooming software allows groomers to develop appointment cards for each canine customer to track important information such as grooming history, behavior notes, and rates. You can use these cards to quickly access information at check-out time and schedule appointments while the customer is right in front of you.

Further, through your dog grooming business software, you can create custom email and text messages to ensure customers hear from you regularly and know when and how they can schedule their appointments. 

Customer service is more important now than ever because you need to communicate about how you’re prioritizing customer health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic . Clients will appreciate knowing that your business has responsibly instituted social distancing measures during pet drop-offs and pick-ups and increased sanitization efforts.

3. Leverage Effective Dog Grooming Software

When thinking about ways to set your business apart from competitors, it’s clear that investing in quality dog grooming software will not only make your life as a business owner easier but provide a framework for growing your client base. Dog grooming business software has the following advantages: 

• Saves time. You can schedule and view upcoming appointments, assign staff members to clients, and manage time-off requests all within one system. You won’t have to worry about keeping track of employee schedules or upcoming appointments within a complex spreadsheet or ad-hoc email chain. 
• Helps you communicate more effectively. You can automated email and text messages to go out to customers to save you time from having to plan and manually send messages. This boosts your marketing efforts by ensuring regular communication between you and your customers. 
• Increases profitability. Streamlined payment processing within your business software system ensures you get paid on time and accurately for your services. You can even increase your tip income by presenting tip options at check-out time.

Your business software is the last piece of the puzzle that will kick your business plan into high gear and impress prospective customers. Be sure to contact us here at Gingr with any questions about how dog grooming business software can enhance your business management operations and fit into your business strategy.

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to create a dog grooming business plan and how to use your competitive advantage to set your business apart, you’ll soon be ready to open your doors to a flood of new furry friends and give them the most stylish haircuts they’ll ever receive. Be sure to check out these additional resources as you get prepped to open your business: 

• Starting a Dog Grooming Business: The Complete Guide . Check out this article for another perspective on starting your very own dog grooming business. 
• 10 Pet Industry Trends to Know. This guide outlines current pet business trends to consider implementing in your business.
• COVID-19 and Pet Care Businesses: The Essential Guide. The pandemic has changed the way pet care businesses operate. Find out what this means for your grooming business with this guide.

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Here is a free business plan sample for a pet grooming salon.

Have you been toying with the idea of opening a pet grooming salon but feel overwhelmed about where to start?

In the content that follows, we will guide you through a comprehensive sample business plan tailored for a pet grooming salon.

As any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you, a detailed business plan is a cornerstone of any successful venture. It provides a roadmap for your salon, outlining your vision, objectives, and the strategies you'll employ to thrive in the pet grooming industry.

To streamline your planning process and get started on the right paw, you can fill out our pet grooming salon business plan template. Our team is also on standby to review and polish your plan at no extra cost.

How to draft a great business plan for your pet grooming salon?

A good business plan for a pet grooming salon must cater to the unique aspects of the pet care industry.

Initially, it's crucial to provide a comprehensive overview of the pet grooming market. This includes current statistics and the identification of emerging trends within the industry, as illustrated in our pet grooming salon business plan template .

Your business plan should articulate your vision clearly. Define your target market (pet owners, breeders, pet stores), and establish your salon's distinctive services (eco-friendly products, mobile grooming, breed-specific expertise, etc.).

Market analysis is the next critical component. This requires a thorough understanding of local competitors, industry trends, and pet owner preferences.

For a pet grooming salon, particular emphasis should be placed on the services you intend to offer. Describe your range of services - such as bathing, haircuts, nail trimming, and additional pampering treatments - and explain how they cater to the needs and expectations of your clientele.

The operational plan is vital. It should outline the location of your salon, the design of the grooming space, equipment procurement, and the grooming process.

In the pet grooming business, it is important to highlight the quality of grooming products, the expertise of staff, and adherence to animal welfare and safety standards.

Then, delve into your marketing and sales strategy. How do you plan to attract and maintain a loyal customer base? Consider promotional tactics, loyalty programs, and value-added services (like pet daycare or retail products).

Implementing digital strategies, such as a user-friendly website or an active social media presence, is increasingly important.

The financial section is another critical element. This should include your startup costs, revenue projections, ongoing expenses, and the point at which you will break even.

In a pet grooming salon, it's essential to understand the financials because services can vary widely in terms of time and resources required. For assistance, refer to our financial forecast for a pet grooming salon .

Compared to other business plans, a pet grooming salon's plan must address specific factors such as pet handling experience, specialized grooming equipment, and the potential for add-on services.

A well-crafted business plan will not only help you clarify your strategy and vision but also attract investors or secure loans.

Lenders and investors are looking for a solid market analysis, realistic financial projections, and a clear operational strategy for managing a pet grooming salon.

By presenting a detailed and substantiated plan, you showcase your dedication and preparedness for the successful operation of your salon.

To achieve these goals while saving time, you can fill out our pet grooming salon business plan template .

A free example of business plan for a pet grooming salon

Here, we will provide a concise and illustrative example of a business plan for a specific project.

This example aims to provide an overview of the essential components of a business plan. It is important to note that this version is only a summary. As it stands, this business plan is not sufficiently developed to support a profitability strategy or convince a bank to provide financing.

To be effective, the business plan should be significantly more detailed, including up-to-date market data, more persuasive arguments, a thorough market study, a three-year action plan, as well as detailed financial tables such as a projected income statement, projected balance sheet, cash flow budget, and break-even analysis.

All these elements have been thoroughly included by our experts in the business plan template they have designed for a pet grooming salon .

Here, we will follow the same structure as in our business plan template.

Market Opportunity

Market data and figures.

The pet grooming industry is a robust and growing sector with significant figures.

Recently, the global pet grooming market was valued at several billion dollars, and this upward trend is expected to continue in the coming years, driven by the increasing pet ownership and the rising demand for pet care services.

In the United States, there are over 70,000 pet grooming businesses, contributing to a total annual revenue of around 8 billion dollars for the pet grooming sector.

These figures underscore the importance of pet grooming services in American pet care culture and their substantial economic impact.

Current trends in the pet industry reflect a shift towards more personalized and health-conscious services for pets.

Organic and natural grooming products are gaining popularity, as pet owners seek safer and more eco-friendly options for their furry friends. There is also a growing trend for mobile pet grooming services, offering convenience for busy pet owners.

Technological advancements, such as pet grooming apps and online appointment booking systems, are simplifying the way people access pet care services.

Additionally, there is an increasing demand for luxury pet services, including spa treatments and creative grooming, as owners are willing to spend more on the well-being and appearance of their pets.

Finally, the emphasis on pet health and wellness is leading grooming salons to offer additional services such as teeth cleaning, nail trimming, and even pet massage, catering to the comprehensive needs of pets.

These trends highlight how the pet grooming industry is evolving to meet the changing preferences and expectations of pet owners in the 21st century.

Success Factors

The success factors of a pet grooming salon hinge on several key elements.

Firstly, the quality of service is paramount. A salon that provides gentle, thorough, and high-quality grooming is more likely to build a loyal clientele.

Innovation in service offerings, such as introducing new grooming styles or health-focused treatments, can also be a significant differentiator in a competitive market.

Location plays a vital role, as a conveniently located salon can attract more foot traffic and become a preferred choice for local pet owners.

Exceptional customer service, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, is crucial for creating a positive experience for both pets and their owners, encouraging repeat visits.

Finally, effective cost management, commitment to sustainability, and the ability to adapt to industry trends, such as offering organic grooming products or mobile services, are essential for the long-term success of a pet grooming salon.

The Project

Project presentation.

Our pet grooming salon project is designed to cater to the needs of pet owners who seek the best care and grooming services for their beloved animals. Situated in a pet-friendly community or near veterinary clinics, this salon will offer a comprehensive range of pet grooming services, including baths, haircuts, nail trimming, and ear cleaning, all performed by skilled professionals with a passion for animal welfare.

The emphasis will be on the comfort, health, and appearance of pets to ensure a positive and stress-free grooming experience.

This pet grooming salon aims to become a trusted destination for pet owners, enhancing the well-being and appearance of their pets while providing exceptional customer service.

Value Proposition

The value proposition of our pet grooming salon project is centered on delivering top-notch grooming services that prioritize the health and happiness of pets.

Our dedication to using gentle grooming techniques, high-quality products, and providing a safe and welcoming environment offers a superior grooming experience for pets and peace of mind for their owners.

We are committed to fostering a community where pets are pampered and cared for, and aim to educate our customers about the best grooming practices and the importance of regular pet maintenance.

Our pet grooming salon strives to be a cornerstone in the community, offering a reliable and professional service that enhances the lives of pets and their owners.

Project Owner

The project owner is an experienced pet groomer with a deep love for animals and an understanding of their grooming needs.

With a background in veterinary assistance and a certification in pet grooming, they are determined to establish a pet grooming salon that stands out for its commitment to animal care, comfort, and style.

With a vision of compassion and excellence, they are resolved to provide high-quality grooming services while contributing to the overall health and happiness of pets in the community.

Their dedication to animal welfare and their expertise in grooming make them the driving force behind this project, aiming to offer a luxurious and health-focused grooming experience for all pets.

The Market Study

Market segments.

The market segments for our pet grooming salon are diverse and cater to a variety of pet owners.

Firstly, we have pet owners who are looking for regular grooming services for their pets to maintain their health and hygiene.

Additionally, there are pet owners who seek specialized grooming treatments, such as de-shedding treatments, flea and tick prevention, or skin care solutions for sensitive pets.

Our market also includes customers who are interested in aesthetic services, such as creative grooming or breed-specific styling.

Finally, veterinarians and pet care professionals can be a significant segment by referring clients to our salon for post-operative care or regular maintenance grooming.

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis of our pet grooming salon project highlights several key factors.

Strengths include a skilled team of professional groomers, a commitment to using pet-friendly and high-quality grooming products, and a strong reputation for excellent customer service.

Weaknesses might involve the initial costs of setting up a fully equipped salon and the challenge of building a client base in a competitive market.

Opportunities can be found in the growing pet ownership trend, the potential to offer unique services such as mobile grooming, and the ability to upsell additional products and services.

Threats could encompass the presence of established competitors in the area, the sensitivity of clients to price changes, and the potential for seasonal fluctuations in demand for grooming services.

Competitor Analysis

Competitor analysis in the pet grooming industry indicates a competitive landscape.

Direct competitors include other local pet grooming salons, pet stores offering grooming services, and mobile grooming businesses.

These competitors vie for the attention of pet owners who value convenience, quality, and a safe environment for their pets.

Potential competitive advantages for our salon include specialized services, a loyalty program, exceptional customer service, and a strong online presence with excellent reviews.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors is crucial for carving out a niche in the market and ensuring customer loyalty.

Competitive Advantages

Our pet grooming salon's competitive edge lies in our dedication to the well-being and comfort of the pets in our care.

We offer a wide range of grooming services, from basic washes and trims to luxury spa treatments, all performed by experienced groomers who are passionate about animals.

Our commitment to using eco-friendly and hypoallergenic products not only appeals to environmentally conscious pet owners but also ensures the safety and health of their pets.

We also prioritize customer engagement and education, providing tips and advice on home grooming and pet care, which fosters a strong community around our brand.

You can also read our articles about: - the customer segments of a pet grooming salon - the competition study for a pet grooming salon

The Strategy

Development plan.

Our three-year development plan for the pet grooming salon is designed to establish us as a premier service provider in the area.

In the first year, we aim to build a strong local clientele by offering exceptional grooming services and customer care. We will also focus on creating a welcoming environment for pets and their owners.

The second year will be geared towards expanding our services to include mobile grooming units, allowing us to reach customers beyond our immediate location.

In the third year, we plan to diversify our offerings by introducing additional pet wellness services such as spa treatments and nutritional consultations.

Throughout this period, we will prioritize the well-being of the pets, customer satisfaction, and staying abreast of industry trends to ensure we remain competitive and relevant in the market.

Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas for our pet grooming salon focuses on pet owners who value high-quality grooming and wellness services for their pets.

Our value proposition is centered around providing top-notch grooming services, a stress-free environment for pets, and knowledgeable staff.

We offer our services through our salon and mobile grooming units, utilizing key resources such as our skilled groomers and state-of-the-art grooming equipment.

Key activities include grooming, customer service, and maintaining a clean and safe environment for the pets.

Our revenue streams are generated from grooming services, product sales, and additional wellness offerings, while our costs are associated with staff, equipment, and marketing efforts.

Access a complete and editable real Business Model Canvas in our business plan template .

Marketing Strategy

Our marketing strategy is centered on building a strong brand reputation for quality and care.

We plan to engage our target audience through social media, showcasing our work and happy customers, and through partnerships with local pet businesses and veterinarians.

Referral programs, loyalty discounts, and community events will help us build a strong local presence and customer loyalty.

We will also invest in search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure that potential customers find us easily online when searching for pet grooming services.

Risk Policy

Our risk policy for the pet grooming salon is focused on mitigating risks associated with pet safety, customer satisfaction, and business operations.

We will adhere to the highest standards of pet care, ensuring that all grooming is done in a safe and humane manner, and that all equipment is regularly sanitized.

Customer feedback will be actively sought and addressed promptly to maintain high satisfaction levels.

We will manage operational costs carefully to maintain financial stability and have comprehensive insurance to cover any potential liabilities related to our services.

Our priority is to provide excellent grooming services while ensuring the safety and happiness of our pet clients and their owners.

Why Our Project is Viable

We are committed to launching a pet grooming salon that meets the growing demand for high-quality pet care services.

With our dedication to excellence, customer service, and a comprehensive understanding of pet wellness, we believe our salon will become a beloved part of the community.

We are enthusiastic about enhancing the lives of pets and their owners while building a successful and sustainable business.

We remain flexible to adapt to the market's needs and are excited about the bright future of our pet grooming salon.

You can also read our articles about: - the Business Model Canvas of a pet grooming salon - the marketing strategy for a pet grooming salon

The Financial Plan

Of course, the text presented below is far from sufficient to serve as a solid and credible financial analysis for a bank or potential investor. They expect specific numbers, financial statements, and charts demonstrating the profitability of your project.

All these elements are available in our business plan template for a pet grooming salon and our financial plan for a pet grooming salon .

Initial expenses for our pet grooming salon include the acquisition of professional grooming equipment, fitting out the salon space to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for pets, purchasing high-quality grooming products that cater to various pet needs, training for staff in animal care and customer service, as well as costs associated with branding and launching targeted marketing campaigns to attract pet owners in the community.

Our revenue assumptions are based on a thorough analysis of local demand for pet grooming services, taking into account the increasing trend of pet ownership and the willingness of owners to invest in their pets' well-being.

We anticipate a steady growth in clientele, starting with a conservative number of appointments and expanding as our salon's reputation for excellent service spreads.

The projected income statement outlines expected revenues from our grooming services, operational costs (grooming supplies, labor, utilities), and overhead expenses (lease, marketing, salaries, etc.).

This results in a forecasted net profit that is essential for assessing the long-term viability of our pet grooming salon.

The projected balance sheet will display assets unique to our salon, such as grooming tables, tubs, dryers, and inventory of grooming products, alongside liabilities including loans and projected operational costs.

It will provide a snapshot of the financial standing of our pet grooming business at the end of each fiscal period.

Our projected cash flow statement will detail the inflows and outflows of cash, enabling us to predict our financial needs at any point. This is crucial for maintaining a healthy cash balance and preventing liquidity issues.

The projected financing plan will enumerate the sources of funding we intend to tap into to cover our initial outlays.

The working capital requirement for our pet grooming salon will be diligently tracked to ensure we have sufficient funds to cover day-to-day operations, such as restocking grooming supplies, managing inventory, and disbursing wages.

The break-even analysis for our venture will calculate the volume of grooming sessions required to offset all our costs, including the initial investments, and to begin generating profits.

It will signal the point at which our business becomes financially sustainable.

Key performance indicators we will monitor include the profit margin on our grooming services, the current ratio to evaluate our ability to meet short-term liabilities, and the return on investment to gauge the efficiency of the capital we have deployed into our salon.

These metrics will assist us in gauging the financial health and overall success of our pet grooming salon.

If you want to know more about the financial analysis of this type of activity, please read our article about the financial plan for a pet grooming salon .

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How to Build a Dog Grooming Business Plan

by MoeGo on Mar 21, 2023 1:01:28 PM

Thinking of starting a pet grooming business? You're definitely barking up the right tree, but getting started can be a real paw-stopper. Lucky for you, we've dug up all the essential elements of a pet grooming business plan and put them together in this blog post. Sit, stay, and read on!

Types of Business Plans

There are two types of business plans:

• a business plan that includes market research and in-depth analysis that you can use to secure a loan to fund your pet grooming business, and;
• a practical business plan that functions as a checklist to help you, the new owner, take the right steps toward opening your first business.

In this blog, we’re focusing on the second type of business plan to give you the practical tools and information you need to build a successful grooming business.

What to Include in Your Pet Grooming Business Plan

Your dog grooming business plan should include the following elements. Don't worry, we’ll get to all of them below!

• Business Model
• Supplies & Equipment

Your Customer Focus

• Marketing & Advertising
• Financial Funding

Pricing Strategy

👋 New to grooming? Kickstart your business and apply for the MoeGo Care Program ! 

Choosing the Right Business Model

There are three types of dog grooming businesses: at-home, mobile, and brick-and mortar.

• At-home dog grooming services generally take place in the groomer's residence, providing a personal touch and comfortable environment for pets.
• Mobile dog grooming services , on the other hand, bring the grooming services to the client's doorstep. This convenience saves time and energy, eliminating the need for pet owners to transport their furry friends to a grooming salon.
• Brick-and-mortar dog grooming shops , also known as grooming salons, are traditional storefronts that provide a range of pet grooming services. These businesses often have a team of experienced groomers and advanced grooming equipment to cater to various pet grooming needs.

Each type of dog grooming business provides unique advantages that cater to different pet owners' preferences and schedules. At the end of the day, the "best" business model boils down to your preference, needs, and lifestyle as the owner.

🐶 Unleash the power of MoeGo and watch your grooming business grow!  hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(21611652, 'eb91c94e-4850-455e-a993-b1a59040199c', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});

Business Model Pros & Cons

At-home business

• Pros: Eliminates commute time and overhead costs. 
• Cons: May be challenging to maintain work-life balance and attract customers without a physical storefront. 

Brick-and-mortar store

• Pros: Physical presence can attract passing customers and offer extra services. 
• Cons: Traditional business costs involved such as commercial rent and utilities. 

Mobile grooming

• Pros: Convenient for customers and pets while being safer during the pandemic. 
• Cons: Overhead costs for gas and vehicle maintenance, and local laws and parking regulations can get tedious. 

🐶 Check out our in-depth look at each grooming  business model: Salon vs. Mobile vs. At-Home

Grooming Supplies & Equipment 

The exact supplies you need will depend on your business model. That said, here's a checklist of some essential items you will need to include in your business plan:

• Dog Grooming Clippers : Essential tools for groomers in order to maintain a consistent, efficient, and quick grooming process.
• Clipper Blades : A range of removable clipper blades are necessary to address different coat types.
• Clipper Oil : Helps maintain clipper blade function.
• Coat Stripping Tool (like the Coat King): Necessary for longer-coated canines to remove undercoat.
• Scissors : Groomers require a variety of straight, curved, and thinning scissors to style and shape hair.
• Slicker Brushes : Use these brushes to brush out and untangle matted fur.
• Combs : Necessary for detangling and grooming hair.
• Sterilizer : A basic need for cleansing metallic grooming equipment.
• Shampoo : Need a variety of shampoos that cater to different skin concerns and coat types.
• Finishing Spray : Helps provide a long-lasting scent customers will love.
• Professional Dryer : A reliable tool that dries dog's fur quickly.
• Grooming Table : Can choose between hydraulic or non-hydraulic models to accommodate budget and needs.
• Tub / Sink : Necessary for bathing dogs before grooming.
• Bath Equipment : Mitts, sponges, combs, and towels are essential for bathing dogs.
• Nail Clippers : Vital for preventing claw infections and clipping nails.
• Leashes / Leads : Necessary for safely controlling each dog.
• Grooming Shoes : To protect your feet from hair slivers and keep them dry.
• Accessories: Bows, bandanas, etc. to keep your furry customers looking their best.
• Cleaning supplies : To keep your grooming space tidy and grime-free.
• Vacuum : To clean up excess hair after blow drying and clipping.

The cost of each item on this list can vary widely. If you're just starting out, look into mid-range or affordable options so that you can figure out what your preferences are for certain tools. As your business grows, look into upgrading to tools that include the features most important to you.

Your customer focus will help you answer the two critical questions when it comes to your target market: "Who do you want to buy your grooming services?" and "Who is your ideal customer?" By identifying your target audience, you can tailor your marketing efforts to attract them effectively.

This might include understanding their dog's breed, size, and personality to offer grooming services that meet their unique needs. It could also include targeting specific neighborhoods to reach high-earning pet parents.

If you're just starting out, you may not know who your ideal customer is yet - and that's okay! This can change over time as you build your customer base and launch various marketing efforts.

Tips to Build Your Customer Base

• Leave your business card at local vets, coffee shops, doggy daycares, and community boards.
• Offer referral discounts for existing customers
• Encourage all customers to leave reviews on Google, etc.
• Use social media to promote your business (Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook groups, etc.)
• Ask customers if they'd like to rebook before they leave, or offer a small discount for rebooking before they leave.
• Partner with local animal shelters to give free nail trims or discounts to newly adopted dogs.
• Give discounts to veterans and emergency responders

Also, remember that retaining clients is just as important as getting them through the door the first time. Create a pawsome customer experience by handing out new customer welcome bags, for example.

You could also consider offering loyalty programs that provide customers  with special discounts or perks if they return for repeat business. Providing a personalized experience can help build stronger relationships and positive word-of-mouth referrals for your business within your pet-loving community.

Marketing & Advertising 

As a dog groomer, marketing and advertising can help you attract new clients and is an important part of your business plan. Social media, online advertisements, and your business website are all ways to help your business stand out from the competition. Here, we'd like to focus on two of the most important ones: your website and Google. 

Your Website

Your business website is like a digital business card. You can use it to feature your services and pricing, offer discounts, and as a landing page for paid ads (if you want to invest in them). A few common website builder platforms include Wix, Squarespace, and Wordpress.

Pet grooming website best practices:

• Clearly define your services and the city where you provide them
• Include before and after pictures of dogs you have groomed 
• Showcase customer testimonials
• Have a contact page with your business address (if applicable), phone number and email address
• Feature an “About Us” page so visitors can learn more about you
• Feature offers or discounts, if you offer them (such as a veteran's or first-time customer discounts) 
• Make sure the website is easy to read on mobile devices, because most people search from their phones (Many website builders can do this for you)

The cheapest way to build a website as a dog groomer is to do it yourself. However, this can take a lot of time - something most new business owners don't have a lot of. That said, hiring someone to build it for you can be expensive, not to mention maintenance or changes to the website you may want to make. 

If you want to avoid the cost of a website altogether, consider using a grooming software like MoeGo that includes a website landing page in its online booking portal. This can help you show up when people search for your business on Google.

🐶 No website? No problem! Book a demo to see how MoeGo's online booking portal can help - plus a bunch of other cool features, too!  hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(21611652, 'eb91c94e-4850-455e-a993-b1a59040199c', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});

Your Google Listing

Google listings (Google Business Profiles) are a great way to help customers find your business online. Plus, they're free! A Google listing will allow customers to find you through Google searches and Google Maps, so it’s an important (but often overlooked) part of your new business plan.

Here are some steps for setting up your Google listing:

• Visit the Google Business website and sign in with your Google account
• Enter your business name and address (you may need to verify ownership of the location)
• Add a profile photo, logo, and other relevant information about your business
• Include additional images of your grooming services or dogs you’ve groomed
• Set up your hours and contact information
• Monitor your reviews and respond to them appropriately
• Include a link to your website (if you have one)
• Add any additional categories or services you offer 

Having a Google listing also allows customers to leave reviews and feedback, which can help establish your credibility in the pet grooming industry.

Google Ads can be used to target potential customers who are looking for pet grooming services in their area, as well as those searching for specific services such as dog washing, nail trimming, and styling. Here are some tips for setting up Google Ads and maximizing your budget:

• Research keywords related to your services to ensure you reach the right audience
• Create targeted campaigns for each service you offer
• Set a daily budget so that you don’t overspend
• Monitor and adjust bids for keywords regularly to get the most out of your budget
• Check reports regularly to make sure you’re getting the most out of your campaigns
• Try different ad types such as display or video ads to target a wider audience
• Link ads back to relevant pages on your website for better conversion rates

To fund a pet grooming business, you can use personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, or angel investors. Most pet grooming businesses rely on personal savings and bank loans for funding. But, to get a bank loan, you must submit a convincing business plan that ensures loan repayment with interest. The loan officer will assess your business plan and financial projections to see if your business can thrive.

Just like any business, pet groomers need to have a strong brand to stand out from competitors - especially at the beginning. Here are a few things you'll want to have in place as part of your business plan to create a strong and memorable brand:

• Your mission and values
• Appealing brand colors and logo
• A memorable business name
• Services and products offered

Setting the right prices for your dog grooming business is crucial for success, so include it in your business planning. Not only does it play a role in gaining and retaining customers, but it also affects your profitability. 

Creating a pricing menu that outlines each service's cost and how those prices vary based on the dog's weight is usually the best approach. Weight-based pricing is more effective because it eliminates confusion between owners about what size category their pet falls under.

It’s important not to undervalue your services to attract new business. Charging what's fair for your valuable grooming services is best for long-term success, opposed to setting the precedent that your services are worth less than competitors.

Here are a few tips for creating a pricing strategy that works:

• Different dog breeds and sizes make pricing grooming services complicated.
• Pricing should be weight-based instead of by standard size categories.
• Beware of undervaluing services while accounting for competition.
• Charging what's fair for valuable grooming services extends the understanding of their true worth to customers.

If you like this post, check out our tips for starting a dog grooming business ! 😍

How Profitable Can a Dog Grooming Business Be?

While dog grooming has the potential to be a very profitable venture, there are multiple factors that may impact your success. These factors include:

• Customer base: The speed at which you can grow your customer base will impact your profitability, as a larger customer base may lead to more revenue.
• Pricing strategy: What you charge for your services can affect how much revenue you generate. Pricing too high may drive potential customers away, while pricing too low may lead to lower profits.
• Startup and operational costs: The costs associated with starting and running your dog grooming business may impact your profitability. Larger costs may require more revenue to offset them.
• Competition: The level of competition in your local market will impact your profitability, as more competition may lead to fewer customers.
• Cost of rent: Depending on your location, the cost of rent may be a significant expense that affects your bottom line.
• Employee wages: As your business grows, you may need to hire employees to keep up with demand, which will impact your profitability.

The Growing Pet Industry

Despite these potential challenges, the pet industry is experiencing remarkable growth. In 2020, an estimated $99 billion was spent on pets. In 2022, 2 out of 3 U.S. households had a pet and  $124 billion was spent on them - roughly the net worth of Bill Gates. In other words, the pet industry is growing and so is the need for pet care professionals, including groomers. 

Puppy Grooming: How to Introduce Puppies to Professional Grooming

How Platinum Paws Built a Salon Culture with People Magic

How Bark Avenue Redefines Pet Business Branding with 10 Social Media Best Practices

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• Expert Advice (10)
• Marketing (5)
• Product Updates (4)
• Groomer Care (3)
• Grooming Tools (3)
• Online Booking (3)
• Pricing (3)
• Start New Business (3)
• Success Stories (3)
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• Feature Collection (1)
• Haircuts by Breed (1)
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Pet Grooming Business Plan Template

• Written by Dave Lavinsky

Table of Contents

Pet grooming business plan.

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their pet grooming companies. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a pet grooming business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Pet Grooming Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your pet grooming business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Pet Grooming Business

If you’re looking to start a pet grooming business or grow your existing pet grooming company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your pet grooming business to improve your chances of success. Your pet grooming business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Funding Sources for Pet Grooming Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a pet grooming business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for pet grooming companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a pet grooming business.

If you want to start a pet grooming business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your pet grooming business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of pet grooming business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a pet grooming business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of pet grooming businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the pet grooming industry.
• Discuss the type of pet grooming business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of pet grooming business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of pet grooming businesses:

• Mobile pet grooming: This type of pet grooming business operates using a van or other vehicle to house all of its equipment and comes directly to customers’ homes or other convenient locations to provide its pet grooming services.
• Home-based pet grooming: This type of business owner provides pet grooming services in their own home. Customers come to them for pet grooming services.
• Pet grooming salon: This type of pet grooming business involves renting or purchasing a salon space. The pet grooming business owner has a variety of options for how to run this type of business including owning the salon as the sole groomer, renting a space in another proprietor’s salon, owning a salon and renting out space to other groomers, or managing the salon themselves and hiring groomers to work for them.

In addition to explaining the type of pet grooming business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, the number of pets groomed, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the pet grooming industry. While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the pet grooming industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your pet grooming business plan:

• How big is the pet grooming industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your pet grooming business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your pet grooming business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of pet grooming business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other pet grooming businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of businesses that offer pet grooming services such as a veterinarian, boarding kennel, or a pet store. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of pet grooming business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for customers to acquire your services?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

    Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Marketing plan.

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a pet grooming business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of pet grooming company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide nail trimming, ear cleaning, hair brushing, or shampooing services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your pet grooming company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your pet grooming business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone salon, or in a suburban home? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your pet grooming marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your pet grooming business, including answering calls, scheduling appointments, greeting customers, cleaning the salon, collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth pet groom session, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your pet grooming business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your pet grooming business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing pet grooming businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a pet grooming salon or successfully running a small mobile pet grooming operation.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you hire 3 groomers and will each one groom 5 pets per day? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your pet grooming business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a pet grooming business:

• Cost of equipment and pet grooming supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your salon location lease or photos of some of your freshly groomed pets and happy customers.   Summary Writing a business plan for your pet grooming business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the pet grooming industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful pet grooming business.  

Pet Grooming Business Plan Template FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my pet grooming business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your pet grooming business plan.

How Do You Start a Pet Grooming Business?

Starting a pet grooming business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Pet Grooming Business
• Create Your Pet Grooming Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Pet Grooming Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Pet Grooming Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Pet Grooming Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Pet Grooming Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Pet Grooming Business Equipment
• Develop Your Pet Grooming Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Pet Grooming Business
• Open for Business

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business planning advisors can create your business plan for you.   Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Dog Grooming Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Dog Grooming Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Dog Grooming business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their dog grooming businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Dog Grooming business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming is a startup dog grooming business located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Company is founded by Lisa Williams, an experienced dog groomer who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a dog grooming business during the past five years while working at Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming. Now that Lisa has experienced managing a dog grooming business, she is ready to start her own company, Fur Friends Dog Grooming. Lisa is confident that her dog grooming skills combined with her customer service experience will enable her to run a profitable dog grooming company of her own. Lisa is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a dog grooming business – sales and marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, product procurement, and janitorial operations.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will provide a wide selection of dog grooming services for dog owners in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Fur Friends will be the go-to dog grooming business in Wilmington for high quality dog grooming services delivered by expertly trained groomers. The Company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while offering the best prices in the area.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Fur Friends Dog Grooming will provide:

• Conditioner
• Teeth Cleaning
• Nail Trimming
• Clip & Hair Cut
• Eye & Ear Cleaning

Customer Focus

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will target dog owners in Wilmington, Delaware. The Company will target owners of dogs of all breeds, sizes, and grooming needs. No matter the customer, Fur Friends Dog Grooming will deliver the best communication, service, and prices.

Management Team

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be owned and operated by Lisa Williams. Lisa is a graduate of Delaware University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. She has over ten years of experience working as a dog groomer for another local business, the last five of which she has worked as the manager for the company. Lisa will be Fur Friends Dog Grooming’s Owner and Manager. She will oversee the training, scheduling, and day-to-day operations of the grooming staff.

Lisa has recruited Scott Smith, an experienced marketing director, to be the Company’s Marketing Director. Scott has a Master’s degree in Sales & Marketing and has worked as a marketing consultant for numerous companies in the pet industry. Scott will handle all sales and marketing campaigns, tactics, and strategies for the Company.

Success Factors

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of dog groomers who will ensure every customer receives the best service and every dog receives the best care possible.
• Fur Friends Dog Grooming makes it easy for customers to obtain the Company’s services. The Company will have a brick and mortar location and a mobile operation to give customers more flexibility in the way they can get their dog’s grooming services.
• The Company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Fur Friends Dog Grooming is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to launch its dog grooming business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the retail space and purchasing dog grooming business equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Retail space build-out: $100,000
• Dog grooming equipment, supplies, and materials: $70,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $110,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Fur Friends Dog Grooming.

Company Overview

Who is fur friends dog grooming.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming is a newly established dog grooming company in Wilmington, Delaware. Fur Friends will be the first choice for busy dog owners in Wilmington and the surrounding communities for convenience with its centrally located brick and mortar location and its mobile operation that brings grooming services straight to their door. The Company also has a convenient app customers can use to schedule their appointments, pay for services, and monitor their dogs during the grooming process.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to guarantee the best of care and high quality service provided by professionally trained and capable dog groomers. All groomers go through a rigorous vetting process to ensure that all dogs are groomed by only the best talent.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming History

Fur Friends Dog Grooming is owned and operated by Lisa Williams, an experienced dog groomer who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a dog grooming business during the past five years while working at Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming. Now that Lisa has experienced managing a dog grooming business, she is ready to start her own company, Fur Friends Dog Grooming. Lisa is confident that her dog grooming skills combined with her customer service experience will enable her to run a profitable dog grooming company of her own. Lisa is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a dog grooming business – sales and marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, product procurement, and janitorial operations.

Since incorporation, Fur Friends Dog Grooming has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Fur Friends Dog Grooming, LLC to transact business in the state of Delaware.
• Has signed a lease to rent the retail space.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include former customers, dog owners, friends, and family members to help spread the word about the new dog grooming business.
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, dog groomers, janitorial, and sales personnel to work at Fur Friends Dog Grooming.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming Services

Industry analysis.

Dog grooming is part of the larger pet grooming industry. The United States pet grooming market is valued at $2.1M and is expected to grow by 6.3% by the year 2030. There are approximately 154,000 pet grooming businesses with over 295,000 employees across the country.

The pet grooming industry is dominated by the dog grooming segment, followed by smaller segments of cat grooming and other pet grooming. There are more than 90M dogs in the United States. Market drivers include an increased focus by pet owners on their dog’s health and wellbeing as well as a growing demand for aesthetic and styling services. Regular grooming keeps dogs clean and healthy while protecting them from allergies, skin infections, and other diseases. Pet owners spend over $123B per year on their pets. Dog owners currently spend more money on dog care than ever before, spending on everything from regular grooming to costumes and toys.

The pet grooming industry can be separated into segments based on service type. The most common service segments are the spa and massage service category and the shear and trim service category. Some industry operators specialize in one particular category, while others provide a wide range of services.

The dog grooming industry can also be divided into segments based on channel of operations. The most popular category is the commercial or physical brick and mortar segment. The fastest growing category is the mobile pet grooming segment. Although this segment is much smaller than the commercial segment, it is expected to grow exponentially over the next several years as more people are coming to prefer the convenience and comfort for their pets that a mobile service can provide.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Wilmington, Delaware are:

Customer Segmentation

Fur Friends will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Gen Z dog owners with disposable income
• Millennial dog owners with disposable income
• Gen X dog owners with disposable income
• Baby Boomer dog owners with disposable income

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming

Founded in 2005, Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming is one of the largest independently owned dog grooming businesses in Wilmington, Delaware. The company provides a full suite of pet grooming services including shampoo and conditioner bath, nail care, dental care, brushing, blow dry, and styling. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming operates six brick and mortar locations throughout the city. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming aims to deliver high quality service for all of its customers. The company has a strict dog groomer vetting program to ensure only the top talent is entrusted with the care of the customers’ precious pups. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming’s team of experienced dog grooming professionals have years of experience working with dogs of all temperaments and grooming needs so they are well equipped to care for any dog.

Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming

Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming is a small dog grooming business catering to local show dog owners in Wilmington, Delaware and surrounding areas. Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming provides mobile dog grooming services using three fully-equipped vans. The company provides a variety of grooming services for small to medium sized dog breeds to prepare them for dog shows and competitions. The owners of Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming are former dog show competitors themselves, so they have a unique understanding of the specific grooming needs of their customers’ dogs who are preparing for competition. The company provides grooming services for non-show dogs as well, but grooming for show is their specialty.

Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming

Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming is a trusted Wilmington, Delaware-based dog grooming business that provides superior dog grooming service to consumers in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. The company is able to provide a wide variety of services to pamper pups from head to toe using proven dog grooming techniques and products. Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming serves local dog owners with the piece of mind that all products used on their dogs are natural, safe, and effective. The company only uses all natural, vegan products and works with local suppliers to help support other small business owners.

Competitive Advantage

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Skilled team of dog groomers who will handle all dogs with the best of care and attention. The Company’s dog groomers are all expertly trained and vetted for excellence in customer service and dog care.
• Fur Friends Dog Grooming makes it easy for customers to obtain the Company’s services. Customers can schedule appointments through the app, online, over the phone, or in person. Customers can also choose to bring their dog into the centrally located facility or have the mobile unit come out to their homes for even more convenience.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Fur Friends Dog Grooming provides flexibility and convenience. Customers can schedule appointments, make payments, and monitor their dogs through the Company’s app. Customers can also choose whether they want to bring their dog in or have the mobile unit come out to their homes.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Fur Friends Dog Grooming is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The Company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. They will ensure Fur Friends maintains an active social media presence with regular daily updates and fun content to get customers excited about the Company’s dog grooming services.

Professional Associations and Networking

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will become a member of professional associations such as the Dog Grooming Association, American Dog Groomers Society, and the Delaware Pet Grooming Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the Company’s vendor and customer network.

Print Advertising

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The Company will also send direct mailers to local businesses where potential customers frequent.

Website/SEO Marketing

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the Company’s website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Fur Friends is able to provide. The website will also list information on all the products Fur Friends uses such as shampoos, conditioners, and flea baths.

The marketing director will also manage Fur Friends’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “dog grooming service” or “dog grooming near me”, Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services. Fur Friends will give new and regular customers discounts to encourage repeat business.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Fur Friends Dog Grooming.

Operation Functions:

• Lisa Williams will be the Owner and Manager of the Company. She will oversee the activities and schedules of the dog groomers, the day-to-day upkeep of the facility, and customer relationships. Lisa has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Scott Smith – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.
• Susan Smith – Accountant/Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Jill Davis – Lead Mobile Dog Groomer who will oversee all activities of the mobile grooming unit.

Milestones:

Fur Friends Dog Grooming will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize the lease on the facility.

11/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Fur Friends Dog Grooming management and dog groomer teams.

12/1/2022 – Begin build-out and remodel of the facility and purchase equipment and supplies.

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.

1/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for initial grooming product suppliers.

2/15/2023 – Fur Friends Dog Grooming officially opens for business.

Lisa has recruited Scott Smith, an experienced marketing consultant to be the Company’s Marketing Director. Scott has a Master’s degree in Sales & Marketing and has worked as a marketing consultant for numerous companies in the pet industry. Scott will handle all sales and marketing campaigns, tactics, and strategies for the Company.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Fur Friends Dog Grooming are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the Company’s dog grooming services. The pricing of Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services. Fur Friends will give new and regular customers discounts to encourage repeat business.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a dog grooming business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, grooming equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of grooming sessions per month: 2,500
• Average fees per month: $10,000
• Overhead costs per year: $140,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, dog grooming company business plan faqs, what is a dog grooming company business plan.

A dog grooming company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your dog grooming company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your dog grooming company business plan using our Dog Grooming Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Dog Grooming Companies?

There are a number of different kinds of dog grooming companies , some examples include: Designer dog grooming, Mobile dog grooming, and Franchise dog grooming.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Dog Grooming Company Business Plan?

Dog grooming companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Dog Grooming Business?

Starting a dog grooming business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Dog Grooming Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed pet grooming business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your dog grooming business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your dog grooming business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Dog Grooming Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your dog grooming business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your dog grooming business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Dog Grooming Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your dog grooming business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your dog grooming business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful dog grooming business:

• How to Start a Dog Grooming Business

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How to Write a Dog Grooming Business Plan

So you are thinking about launching a dog grooming business; it’s not a bad idea because there are many dogs in every city and town that require trimming, cutting and a host of other grooming services on a routine basis to keep their health up. Your next step in planning is to learn how to write a dog grooming business plan , and do it accurately.

Although not all owners do it, every dog should be groomed at least twice a year. With the rapid growth of the pet industry, this guarantees dog groomers a steady stream of clientele.

When people think of pet groomers, they think of doggy haircuts and facial cleaning, but there is actually much more to it than that. Many of the services that dog groomers offer are needed by all canines, not just long-haired breeds, including:

• Nail Trimming
• Ear Cleaning
• Flea and Tick Treatments
• Teeth Brushing

Dog grooming is the type of undertaking that pretty much guarantees there will be a large amount of potential customers close by to wherever you want to set up shop. A word of caution to the wise though, even though it may seem like a simple business to start, there is a lot more that goes into starting a dog grooming business than meets the eye.

If you’re just beginning to think about starting a dog grooming business and you’d like a little more information, check out our column How to Start a Dog Grooming Business . You’ll find lots of information about what to expect when starting your business and what you can do to ensure it is a success. We're currently expanding our Business section, so be sure to check back with Top Dog Tips  for the most up to date dog business information, dog product reviews and dog supplies news.

RELATED: How to groom a dog at home?

If you don't believe that you will need a business plan for your dog grooming business, you are mistaken! Creating a business plan will ensure that you understand what will be required of you in starting the business, becoming licensed and certified, and it will give you a plan to follow to put your business on the track to success for the future.

Your dog grooming business plan is essentially your business's first impression to investors, business partners, and the bank. Just telling someone about your plans and hoping for the best is not going to cut it. You need a concrete plan with researched evidence that proves your business has a good chance of success. That's what will be included in your business plan.

Even if you're planning to fund the business yourself and you aren't going to have a business partner, you still need to create a business plan. This plan will include your goals for the future of your business, and you will be able to use it as a guide to get your business where you want it to be in 12 months, 3 years, 5 years, or even more.

Access the Need for Dog Grooming

The first thing that needs to be done before even thinking about how to write a dog grooming business plan is to access the need for a business of that type in your area. When assessing the need, you have to look at such things whether the area is already saturated with that type of business or if the area has the proper income level to support that type of enterprise.

You'll also want to see just how many dog owners live in your area. Grooming services may be something that people are willing to travel a small distance for, especially if there are no dog groomers in the towns around you. If you live in a rural area, you can get information on the number of dogs licensed in your town, or surrounding towns, by checking with the local animal control office or at the town office.

RELATED: How to Become a Dog Groomer?

If you live in a more urban area it should be even easier to find out how many dogs are in your neighborhood. Take a walk down the street, visit a local dog park, or swing by a doggy daycare in your area. If there are a lot of dogs around you, chances are a dog grooming business would do very well in that area.

If there is another groomer in your area, don't count yourself out just yet. Is there enough of a need that two groomers could both run successful businesses in your area? Would you be able to offer different services or something unique that would help your grooming business stand out and gain attention from dog owners? You may still be able to make it work, it might just take a little more planning.

Your business plan needs to clearly state that you've researched the need for a grooming business in your area. Investors want to see that your business has a good chance of success. They aren't going to waste their money on a business that looks like a failure right out of the gate.

State Your Pet Grooming Business Goals

The fist part of your business plan will be where you state your short and long term business goals. You can tie in the need for your business here. Where do you see your business in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and what is your ultimate goal? This section should be short and to the point. Investors aren't looking for specifics in this section, just a broad view of what you would like for your grooming business.

If there is a large need in your area perhaps you see your business expanding quickly. If you're in a more rural area, maybe you don't want to expand your business at all and you just want to gain enough loyal customers to turn a decent profit. Whatever your goals are, make sure to state them clearly so investors will be able to see exactly what you want for your company's future.

Listing out these goals will help give you a perspective on the business startup and also give you some concrete goals to focus on for the future. These goals will show the bank or your investors exactly where you plan to take this business , and they will be looking for details in other parts of your business plan about how you will get there.

In this section you should also include whether or not you will have a business partner(s) and what type of entity your business will be. Will it be a sole proprietorship, a single member LLC, or an S-Corp?

RELATED: Do You Tip Dog Groomers?

Most of the time, dog grooming businesses start out as a sole proprietorship for the first year or two. Then once you have all the paperwork, bills, and tax requirements under control you can start looking into filing for an LLC to separate your personal assets from your business.

If you have decided to start your business with a partner, you need to decide now if you will run it as a limited liability company (LLC), a corporation, or a partnership. You need to discuss all of this with your business partner and be sure to make all major business decisions together.

Dog Grooming Business Scope

The next step is to define the scope of the business. You need to plan such things as what breeds you will groom and how the dogs will get to your grooming salon; will you offer a pick-up service or will the customers come to you? Are you planning on offering a mobile grooming service or having a commercial location?

Mobile dog grooming businesses can be very enticing to pet owners that don't have the time or the means to get their dog to regular grooming appointments. Commercial locations work well too, but you need to make sure that the location you choose will be convenient for customers to get to and that it is located in a high traffic area where lots of dog owners will see it.

Another piece to add when talking about the scope of your business is what services you will offer. If you want to stand out you may want to offer some specialty doggy spa services, or something similar, so your clients know you are different than other local groomers.

You want your business to stand out, but you don't want to offer so many services that your scope is too large.  This can be confusing to dog owners who are just looking for a standard grooming for their furry friend. Select a handful of services that you are good at performing and grow from there.

RELATED: How to Start a Dog Walking Business

Decide how big you want your business to be in the beginning. Will you hire employees or do all the grooming yourself? Doing everything yourself will save you money, but it will also limit the amount of dogs you can take. Remember, more clients doesn't necessarily mean more money.

The larger the scope of your business, the more it will cost to run. Extra supplies and employee salaries will get quite expensive. Also, the larger your business, the more space you will need. More space leads to higher rent and utilities. Make sure to weigh the costs against what extra money you will be making if you start your business on a larger scale. It may be more beneficial to start small and grow over time.

Competition and Pricing

These two aspects of a business plan go hand-in-hand. You need to establish who your competition is, what services they provide, and what their prices are. You can easily do this by performing a quick internet search, making some anonymous phone calls, or stopping in to your competitors establishments and asking a few simple questions.

You already know what services you will offer, now it is time to set prices. You need to price your self competitively with similar businesses in your area or you may not have any business at all. If your prices are too high it will drive customers away.

When thinking about prices figure out how much the supplies for the service will cost you, and make sure that you are paid for your time as well. You may not want to price your services too high, but you still need to pay your bills as well. It's a fine line in the beginning, but as your business expands and your reputation grows with it, you will able to start increasing your prices to make a greater profit.

Advertising and Marketing

Now you need to plan for the advertising and marketing that you'll do to promote your business. Don't be intimidated. You won't need to take out billboards in Times Square. Your marketing plan can be as simple as handing out business cards and brochures. You just need to come up with a plan that will work in your area.

RELATED: How to Start a Pet Business with Dogs

Advertising can get expensive. Radio slots and television advertisements are great, but they also cost a lot of money. Try to keep things simple in the beginning. Maybe you could start by posting flyers at your local dog park, pet store, or other location where dog owners frequent. You could spend an afternoon handing out business cards in these locations as well.

If you're going to offer a specialized service, like mobile grooming, think about your target market before you advertise. Dog owners that would be interested in mobile grooming are probably do not have the means or are unable to take the time to bring their pet to the groomer. Try advertising at senior centers where many residents may not be able to drive or in the business district of your city where lots of busy businessmen and women are likely to be. Thinking outside the box while advertising will be more beneficial in the long run and will probably save you money too.

Here's where things get tricky. You need to plan for your future expenses. Nothing has to be set in stone, just a ballpark figure of how much startup capital you'll need and what you'll be spending it on. You will likely need quite a bit of startup capital for your business, even if you're running it out of your home.

Some of the expenses you'll need to plan for are:

• The facility itself including rent and utilities
• The cost of renovating the space, if required
• Equipment (bathing tubs, dryers, grooming tables, etc…)
• Grooming supplies (shampoo, brushes, clippers , etc…)

Those are your major expenses. These will vary, of course, depending on your particular business. If you'll be running your business out of your home, your expenses may be a little less, and if you need to buy and convert a van into a mobile grooming parlor, they may be a little more.

When figuring your finances, don't forget to include your advertising costs as well as your office expenses. You will need a computer, business telephone, and other office equipment. Don't forget about the desk, chair, and other furniture you may need for your human clients.

When planning your finances and creating your initial budget, leave no stone unturned. Think about every aspect of your business and all the day to day duties you will be performing. Make sure to list as much as possible, so your budget will be as close to accurate as you can get it.

RELATED: How to Write a Dog Training Business Plan

When writing your dog grooming business plan, it is best to over estimate in this case. You don't want to underestimate and then have your business fail quickly because it was underfunded. Do your research and be as accurate as possible, but make sure to leave yourself a little bit of wiggle room. There are bound to be expenses that you didn't plan for when starting your dog grooming business.

Legal Responsibilities

This is the last section of your dog grooming business plan, but it is also the most important. Making sure that your legal responsibilities are taken care of needs to be a top priority. If you don't take the proper legal precautions, it could mean big trouble for yourself, your employees, your investors, and your clients. Not to mention it would quickly ruin your reputation as a groomer .

Your legal responsibilities will vary depending on where you live. Different states and cities have their own rules and regulations for business owners, so make sure you abide by the ones that govern you and your business.

Be sure that your dog grooming business plan addresses:

• Your licensing and certification responsibilities
• Liability waivers for your clients
• Any specific laws in your region
• Client contracts

Again, and I can't say this enough, your business plan is not set in stone . You don't need to stick to your plan 100%, in fact, I don't believe there are many business owners that have. This is your guideline to make sure that you've thought your plan through fully and you know where your business is headed. Once you begin to research and write your dog grooming business plan, you will realize that there is a lot more to it than you thought.

The more serious you are with your business planning, the more serious you will look to the bank and potential investors. A solid business plan will be the foundation of your success, so it should not be taken lightly.

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How to write a business plan for a pet grooming salon?

Creating a business plan for a pet grooming salon is an essential process for any entrepreneur. It serves as a roadmap that outlines the necessary steps to be taken to start or grow the business, the resources required, and the anticipated financial outcomes. It should be crafted with method and confidence.

This guide is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary for creating a pet grooming salon business plan, covering why it is so important both when starting up and running an established business, what should be included in your plan, how it should be structured, what tools should be used to save time and avoid errors, and other helpful tips.

We have a lot to cover, so let's get to it!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for a pet grooming salon?

• What information is needed to create a business plan for a pet grooming salon?
• What goes in the financial forecast for a pet grooming salon?
• What goes in the written part of a pet grooming salon business plan?
• What tool can I use to write my pet grooming salon business plan?

Having a clear understanding of why you want to write a business plan for your pet grooming salon will make it simpler for you to grasp the rationale behind its structure and content. So before delving into the plan's actual details, let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the primary reasons why you'd want to create a pet grooming salon business plan.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

Small businesses rarely experience a constant and predictable environment. Economic cycles go up and down, while the business landscape is mutating constantly with new regulations, technologies, competitors, and consumer behaviours emerging when we least expect it.

In this dynamic context, it's essential to have a clear roadmap for your pet grooming salon. Otherwise, you are navigating in the dark which is dangerous given that - as a business owner - your capital is at risk.

That's why crafting a well-thought-out business plan is crucial to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your venture.

To create an effective business plan, you'll need to take a step-by-step approach. First, you'll have to assess your current position (if you're already in business), and then identify where you'd like your pet grooming salon to be in the next three to five years.

Once you have a clear destination for your pet grooming salon, you'll focus on three key areas:

• Resources: you'll determine the human, equipment, and capital resources needed to reach your goals successfully.
• Speed: you'll establish the optimal pace at which your business needs to grow if it is to meet its objectives within the desired timeframe.
• Risks: you'll identify and address potential risks you might encounter along the way.

By going through this process regularly, you'll be able to make informed decisions about resource allocation, paving the way for the long-term success of your business.

To get visibility on future cash flows

If your small pet grooming salon runs out of cash: it's game over. That's why we often say "cash is king", and it's crucial to have a clear view of your pet grooming salon's future cash flows.

So, how can you achieve this? It's simple - you need to have an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your pet grooming salon business plan already includes a financial forecast (which we'll discuss further in this guide). Your task is to ensure it stays current.

To accomplish this, it's essential to regularly compare your actual financial performance with what was planned in your financial forecast. Based on your business's current trajectory, you can make adjustments to the forecast.

By diligently monitoring your pet grooming salon's financial health, you'll be able to spot potential financial issues, like unexpected cash shortfalls, early on and take corrective actions. Moreover, this practice will enable you to recognize and capitalize on growth opportunities, such as excess cash flow enabling you to expand to new locations.

To secure financing

A detailed business plan becomes a crucial tool when seeking financing from banks or investors for your pet grooming salon.

Investing and lending to small businesses are very risky activities given how fragile they are. Therefore, financiers have to take extra precautions before putting their capital at risk.

At a minimum, financiers will want to ensure that you have a clear roadmap and a solid understanding of your future cash flows (like we just explained above). But they will also want to ensure that your business plan fits the risk/reward profile they seek.

This will off-course vary from bank to bank and investor to investor, but as a rule of thumb. Banks will want to see a conservative financial management style (low risk), and they will use the information in your business plan to assess your borrowing capacity — the level of debt they think your business can comfortably handle — and your ability to repay the loan. This evaluation will determine whether they'll provide credit to your pet grooming salon and the terms of the agreement.

Whereas investors will carefully analyze your business plan to gauge the potential return on their investment. Their focus lies on evidence indicating your pet grooming salon's potential for high growth, profitability, and consistent cash flow generation over time.

Now that you recognize the importance of creating a business plan for your pet grooming salon, let's explore what information is required to create a compelling plan.

Information needed to create a business plan for a pet grooming salon

Drafting a pet grooming salon business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast, and convince the reader that there is a viable commercial opportunity to be seized.

Below, we'll focus on three critical pieces of information you should gather before starting to write your plan.

Carrying out market research for a pet grooming salon

Carrying out market research before writing a business plan for a pet grooming salon is essential to ensure that the financial projections are accurate and realistic.

Market research helps you gain insight into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies and other key factors which can have an impact on the commercial success of your business.

In particular, it is useful in forecasting revenue as it provides valuable data regarding potential customers’ spending habits and preferences.

You may discover that pet owners in your area could be interested in a mobile pet grooming service. Additionally, market research might reveal that pet owners may be looking for pet grooming services that integrate holistic treatments for their pets.

This information can then be used to create more accurate financial projections which will help investors make informed decisions about investing in your pet grooming salon.

Developing the sales and marketing plan for a pet grooming salon

Budgeting sales and marketing expenses is essential before creating a pet grooming salon business plan.

A comprehensive sales and marketing plan should provide an accurate projection of what actions need to be implemented to acquire and retain customers, how many people are needed to carry out these initiatives, and how much needs to be spent on promotions, advertising, and other aspects.

This helps ensure that the right amount of resources is allocated to these activities in order to hit the sales and growth objectives forecasted in your business plan.

The staffing and capital expenditure requirements of a pet grooming salon

Whether you are starting or expanding a pet grooming salon, it is important to have a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) in order to ensure the success of the business.

Both the recruitment and investment plans need to be coherent with the timing and level of growth planned in your forecast, and require appropriate funding.

A pet grooming salon might incur the cost of hiring staff such as groomers, receptionists, and cleaning staff. They may also need to purchase equipment such as clippers, shampoo, brushes, and other grooming tools. Additionally, the salon may need to purchase or rent items such as tables, cages, and kennels.

In order to create a realistic financial forecast, you will also need to consider the other operating expenses associated with running the business on a day-to-day basis (insurance, bookkeeping, etc.). 

Once you have all the necessary information to create a business plan for your pet grooming salon, it is time to start creating your financial forecast.

What goes into your pet grooming salon's financial forecast?

The financial forecast of your pet grooming salon's business plan will enable you to assess the growth, profitability, funding requirements, and cash generation potential of your business in the coming years.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a pet grooming salon are:

• The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
• The projected balance sheet ,
• The cash flow forecast ,
• And the sources and uses table .

Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for a pet grooming salon shows how much revenue and profits your business is expected to generate in the future.

Ideally, your pet grooming salon's P&L statement should show:

• Healthy growth - above inflation level
• Improving or stable profit margins
• Positive net profit

Expectations will vary based on the stage of your business. A startup will be expected to grow faster than an established pet grooming salon. And similarly, an established company should showcase a higher level of profitability than a new venture.

The projected balance sheet of your pet grooming salon

Your pet grooming salon's forecasted balance sheet enables the reader of your plan to assess your financial structure, working capital, and investment policy.

It is composed of three types of elements: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: represent what the business owns and uses to produce cash flows. It includes resources such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: represent funds advanced to the business by lenders and other creditors. It includes items such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers), taxes due and loans.
• Equity: is the combination of what has been invested by the business owners and the cumulative profits and losses generated by the business to date (which are called retained earnings). Equity is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

Your pet grooming salon's balance sheet will usually be analyzed in conjunction with the other financial statements included in your forecast.

Two key points of focus will be:

• Your pet grooming salon's liquidity: does your business have sufficient cash and short-term assets to pay what it owes over the next 12 months?
• And its solvency: does your business have the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term?

The cash flow forecast

As we've seen earlier in this guide, monitoring future cash flows is the key to success and the only way of ensuring that your pet grooming salon has enough cash to operate.

As you can expect showing future cash flows is the main role of the cash flow forecast in your pet grooming salon business plan.

It is best practice to organise the cash flow statement by nature in order to show the cash impact of the following areas:

• Cash flow generated from operations: the operating cash flow shows how much cash is generated or consumed by the business's commercial activities
• Cash flow from investing activities: the investing cash flow shows how much cash is being invested in capital expenditure (equipment, real estate, etc.) either to maintain the business's equipment or to expand its capabilities
• Cash flow from financing activities: the financing cash flow shows how much cash is raised or distributed to financiers

Looking at the cash flow forecast helps you to make sure that your business has enough cash to keep running, and can help you anticipate potential cash shortfalls.

Your pet grooming salon business plan will normally include both yearly and monthly cash flow forecasts so that the readers can view the impact of seasonality on your business cash position and generation.

The initial financing plan

The initial financing plan - also called a sources and uses table - is an important tool when starting a pet grooming salon.

It shows where the money needed to set up the business will come from (sources) and how it will be allocated (uses).

Having this table helps understand what costs are involved in setting up the pet grooming salon, how the risks are distributed between the shareholders and the lenders, and what will be the starting cash position (which needs to be sufficient to sustain operations until the business breaks even).

Now that the financial forecast of a pet grooming salon business plan is understood, let's focus on what goes into the written part of the plan.

The written part of a pet grooming salon business plan

The written part of the business plan is where you will explain what your business does and how it operates, what your target market is, whom you compete against, and what strategy you will put in place to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified.

Having this context is key for the reader to form a view on whether or not they believe that your plan is achievable and the numbers in your forecast realistic.

The written part of a pet grooming salon business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

• The executive summary
• The presentation of the company
• The products and services
• The market analysis
• The strategy
• The operations
• The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

The executive summary, the first section of your pet grooming salon's business plan, serves as an inviting snapshot of your entire plan, leaving readers eager to know more about your business.

To compose an effective executive summary, start with a concise introduction of your business, covering its name, concept, location, history, and unique aspects. Share insights about the services or products you intend to offer and your target customer base.

Subsequently, provide an overview of your pet grooming salon's addressable market, highlighting current trends and potential growth opportunities.

Then, present a summary of critical financial figures, such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

You should then include a summary of your key financial figures such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Lastly, address any funding needs in the "ask" section of your executive summary.

2. The presentation of the company

In your pet grooming salon business plan, the second section should focus on the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide an overview of the business's legal structure, details about the owners, and their respective investments and ownership shares. This clarity is crucial, especially if you're seeking financing, as it helps the reader understand which legal entity will receive the funds and who controls the business.

Moving on to the location part, you'll offer an overview of the company's premises and their surroundings. Explain why this particular location is of interest, highlighting factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your pet grooming salon, you may want to focus on its potential for success. You could mention the area's population demographics, as well as its history of successful businesses, which could indicate the area's potential for continued success. You might also focus on the potential for growth, such as the area's access to major transportation routes or its proximity to potential customer bases. Additionally, you could emphasize the area's affordability, which could lead to higher profits. Finally, you could emphasize the potential for future investments, such as the opening of new businesses or infrastructure improvements in the area.

Finally, you should introduce your management team. Describe each member's role, background, and experience.

Don't forget to emphasize any past successes achieved by the management team and how long they've been working together. Demonstrating their track record and teamwork will help potential lenders or investors gain confidence in their leadership and ability to execute the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your business plan should include a detailed description of the offerings that your company provides to its customers. 

For example, your pet grooming salon might offer bathing services, haircutting services, and nail trimming services to its customers. Bathing services are important for maintaining your pet's hygiene and can help to reduce discomfort from skin and coat issues. Haircutting services can help keep your pet's fur neat and tidy and also help to prevent matting. Finally, nail trimming is important for both the health and comfort of your pet, as overgrown nails can cause pain and discomfort.

When drafting this section, you should be precise about the categories of products or services you sell, the types of customers you are targeting and how customers can buy them.

4. The market analysis

When outlining your market analysis in the pet grooming salon business plan, it's essential to include comprehensive details about customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and relevant regulations.

The primary aim of this section is to give the reader an understanding of the market size and appeal while demonstrating your expertise in the industry.

To begin, delve into the demographics and segmentation subsection, providing an overview of the addressable market for your pet grooming salon, key marketplace trends, and introducing various customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

Next, shift your focus to the target market subsection, where you can zoom in on the specific customer segments your pet grooming salon targets. Explain how your products and services are tailored to meet the unique needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include busy pet owners. These customers need a reliable, efficient and convenient solution for taking care of their pets, and are willing to pay for the convenience of having a groomer come to their home. They may also be interested in additional services such as pet sitting, obedience classes, or other pet care products.

In the competition subsection, introduce your main competitors and explain what sets your pet grooming salon apart from them.

Finally, round off your market analysis by providing an overview of the main regulations that apply to your pet grooming salon.

5. The strategy section

When writing the strategy section of a business plan for your pet grooming salon, it is essential to include information about your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

The competitive edge subsection should explain what sets your company apart from its competitors. This part is especially key if you are writing the business plan of a startup, as you have to make a name for yourself in the marketplace against established players.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you intend to remain profitable while still offering competitive prices to your customers.

The sales & marketing plan should outline how you intend to reach out and acquire new customers, as well as retain existing ones with loyalty programs or special offers. 

The milestones subsection should outline what your company has achieved to date, and its main objectives for the years to come - along with dates so that everyone involved has clear expectations of when progress can be expected.

The risks and mitigants subsection should list the main risks that jeopardize the execution of your plan and explain what measures you have taken to minimize these. This is essential in order for investors or lenders to feel secure in investing in your venture.

Your pet grooming salon faces a variety of risks. For example, you may experience a liability risk if one of your customers were to allege that their pet was injured or mistreated while in your care. Additionally, you might face a financial risk if a customer fails to pay for services or you are unable to obtain enough customers to keep the business profitable.

6. The operations section

The operations of your pet grooming salon must be presented in detail in your business plan.

The first thing you should cover in this section is your staffing team, the main roles, and the overall recruitment plan to support the growth expected in your business plan. You should also outline the qualifications and experience necessary to fulfil each role, and how you intend to recruit (using job boards, referrals, or headhunters).

You should then state the operating hours of your pet grooming salon - so that the reader can check the adequacy of your staffing levels - and any plans for varying opening times during peak season. Additionally, the plan should include details on how you will handle customer queries outside of normal operating hours.

The next part of this section should focus on the key assets and IP required to operate your business. If you depend on any licenses or trademarks, physical structures (equipment or property) or lease agreements, these should all go in there.

You may have key assets such as a pet grooming salon, website, or other physical location that could provide the services you are offering. Additionally, the intellectual property associated with your pet grooming salon, such as any logos, trademarks, or copyrighted material, might be an important asset as well.

Finally, you should include a list of suppliers that you plan to work with and a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms (price, payment terms, contract duration, etc.). Investors are always keen to know if there is a particular reason why you have chosen to work with a specific supplier (higher-quality products or past relationships for example).

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will include the financial forecast we talked about earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of the content of a pet grooming salon business plan, let's look at some of the tools you can use to create yours.

What tool should I use to write my pet grooming salon's business plan?

In this section, we will be reviewing the two main options for writing a pet grooming salon business plan efficiently:

• Using specialized software,
• Outsourcing the drafting to the business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your pet grooming salon's business plan

Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to create a pet grooming salon business plan.

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Hiring a business plan writer to write your pet grooming salon's business plan

Outsourcing your pet grooming salon business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are experienced in writing business plans and adept at creating financial forecasts without errors. Furthermore, hiring a consultant can save you time and allow you to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business.

However, hiring business plan writers is expensive as you are paying for the software used by the consultant, plus their time, and their profit margin of course.

From experience, you need to budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a complete business plan, more if you need to make changes after the initial version (which happens frequently after the initial meetings with lenders or investors).

You also need to be careful when seeking investment. Investors want their money to be used to grow the business, not spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services (and other consulting services such as legal services) needs to be negligible relative to the amount raised.

The other drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself: you just get the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business plan software - which makes it difficult to maintain the document up to date without hiring the consultant on a retainer.

For these reasons, outsourcing the pet grooming salon business plan to a business plan writer should be considered carefully, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of hiring outside help.

Ultimately, it may be the right decision for some businesses, while others may find it beneficial to write their business plan using online software.

Why not create your pet grooming salon's business plan using Word or Excel?

I must advise against using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write your pet grooming salon business plan. Let me explain why.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is highly technical and requires a strong grasp of accounting principles and financial modelling skills. It is, therefore, unlikely that anyone will fully trust your numbers unless you have both a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, like us at The Business Plan Shop.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the only option in the past, technology has advanced significantly, and software can now perform these tasks much faster and with greater accuracy. With the rise of AI, software can even help us detect mistakes in forecasts and analyze the numbers for better decision-making.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software makes it easier to compare actuals versus forecasts and maintain up-to-date forecasts to keep visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. This task is cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's talk about the written part of your pet grooming salon business plan. While it may be less error-prone, using software can bring tremendous gains in productivity. Word processors, for example, lack instructions and examples for each part of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they don't handle formatting for you.

Overall, while Word or Excel may seem viable for some entrepreneurs to create a business plan, it's by far becoming an antiquated way of doing things.

• A business plan has 2 complementary parts: a financial forecast showcasing the expected growth, profits and cash flows of the business; and a written part which provides the context needed to judge if the forecast is realistic and relevant.
• Having an up-to-date business plan is the only way to keep visibility on your pet grooming salon's future cash flows.
• Using business plan software is the modern way of writing and maintaining business plans.

We hope that this practical guide gave you insights on how to write the business plan for your pet grooming salon. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our team if you still have questions.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• In-depth business plan structure
• Key steps to write a business plan?
• Free business plan template

Know someone who owns or wants to start a pet grooming salon? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Home » Sample Business Plans » Pet

How to Write a Pet Grooming Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a pet grooming business? If YES, here is a complete sample pet grooming business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a pet grooming business.

We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample pet grooming marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for pet grooming businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start a Pet Grooming Business?

Starting a pet grooming business is not only a relatively easy business to start up, it can also be quite profitable especially if you have lain out strategies that make you stand out from your competitors in the industry. The demand for other services for pets asides the regular basic services have grown as owners now also want their pets to live long, stay healthy as well as happier.

However, before starting this kind of business, it would be best for if you have some sort of experience as well as a general passion for pets. Also, no matter how easy a business looks, writing a business plan is very essential especially if you do not have all the necessary funds at hand and intends to source for funds externally.

While the business plan for a pet grooming business might not need to be too technical, it needs to be comprehensive and show certain aspects that would make an investor comfortable enough to invest in the business. While writing a business plan might look intimidating, it should be as there are loads of free templates online to aid you in writing yours. Below is one of such, a sample pets grooming business plan;

A Sample Pet Grooming Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

According to franchise help, half of all the households in America which amounts to about 80 million own at least a pet – cat, dog, fish, bird, horse or lizard. This therefore means that there are over 300 million pets that needs to be cared for which has made the pets grooming business to leap in demand.

As at 2015, 65% of US households owned at least a pet and with a thriving pets industry, which provides toys, food, daycare, beds, trainings, cages, medical services, grooming and lots more, owners of these pets are being kept happy. It has been found that even though most of the pets might not care about such services, the owners do, which translates to 60% of those in high-income households.

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) in 2016 stated that the revenue expected from the pets industry will amount to $62.75 billion, which will be an increase of 4% from 2015. Over the last two decades, revenue has been growing steadily for this industry and has been at 5.4% since 2014.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the pets industry has seen a job growth of 11% from 2014 which is expected to continue till 2024. The largest segment where pet owners spent were on food with pets grooming being 5 th on the list and expected to bring in revenue of $5.73 billion in 2016 as compared to the $5.41 billion in 2015.

The reason for this growth in the services for pets business is due to the fact that most pet owners are seeing their pets as part of the family and some are beginning to treat their pets as human, which is why more people are getting quality foods as well as expensive medical treatments and accessories for their pets.

Also, the growth for pets’ specialized care in the industry is due to baby boomers, ages 55 to 64, who after their children have left home are replacing them with pets. A study has shown that baby boomers between these ages are the ones spending more on their pets.

However, the baby boomers are not the only ones that have developed a strong bond for their pets as millenials, those born between 1985 to 2010, started seeing pets as humans more than animals. These age groups spend their disposable income on pets and even spoil them as well.

The pets industry survived the economic downturn including the great recession, and so it is a strong industry that will continue to boom. The reason for this could be due to the HABRI study, which linked an improved savings in healthcare to the fact that those who owned pets fared better health wise.

2. Executive Summary

Petsky Groomer Salon is a business based in Nevada – California and established to cater to pet owners by offering grooming services to their pets. These grooming services also includes other pets services such as pets product retail, pets boutique, aroma and general healthcare, dietary supplements for pets, pets Self-service wash tubs, pets gourmet food, and consultation services.

Our aim is to set a standard amongst other pet grooming businesses and be amongst the top three pet grooming services here in Nevada – California, and to achieve this we have put forth strategies in place that we ensure that we attain these goals.

First off, we have a solid policy in place regarding the whole direction our business intends to take. We would keep reviewing and tweaking these policies as time goes by so as to remain adaptive and proactive to changes that might likely occur in the pets industry regionally and nationally.

We are serious about having a solid business structure and so we sourced for and hired competent and experienced employees who understand the business and its industry and who are attuned to our company’s vision and will take us from where we are to where we intend to be.

We would provide a conducive environment for our employees to work in and we are prepared to pay them very well as their welfare packages are one of the best across the industry for similar start-ups of our size. We also intend to train them so as not to only enhance their skills but to increase their productivity for Petsky Groomers Salon as well.

We offer an excellent customer care as our customer care executives are all trained on how well to treat and attend to customers. We are currently offering the best customer care as can be found in Pets grooming businesses here in Nevada.

We have great marketing strategies that will ensure that we penetrate the market and get a huge share of our target market. Our strategies which are in tune with our corporate goals will be carried out both physically and online on all our social media platforms and via our website as well.

Finally, our Chief Executive Officer and owner, Ms. Jackie Collins has the knowledge, passion and 10 years of expertise in the industry that is needed to bring this business to its desired level. Ms. Collins has worked in several pet stores and even a veterinary and we are confident of her ability to ensure the business attains its goals and objectives.

3. Our Products and Services

Petsky Groomers Salon is one that is being established not only to make profit but so that clients who care about their pets and want to give them properly groomed can have a place to go to.

Asides our grooming service, we also intend to offer other services and sell some products so as to boost our revenue base and conveniently sustain our business here in Nevada – California. Additionally, offering more services will attract more customers to our business, thereby allowing us more share of the market.

We intend to offer only services that are in line with grooming and caring for pets and to do so within the permissible laws of the united states of America. Some of the products and services we intend to offer at Petsky Groomers Salon are;

•  Pet grooming services
• Pet products retail
• Pets boutique
• Aroma and general healthcare
• Dietary supplements for pets
• Pets Self-service wash tubs
• Pets gourmet food
• Consultation services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• To set a standard and be amongst the first three preferred go-to pet salons in the whole of California.
• In order to achieve our vision, we have put in place strategies that will ensure that we stand out from our competitors in the market, here in Nevada and in the whole of California as well.

Our Business Structure

To be able to attain our desired goals and objectives, we would need to ensure that we get our business structure right, which is why we have hired only competent employees with the necessary experience to help us set the right foundation from the beginning on which the business would be run.

Our employees do not only have the right expertise in handling the business, they are also committed to our vision of becoming the top three dog grooming business in the whole of California. This is as our management team is ensuring that we source for and hire only the best staff for Petsky Groomers Salon.

Our staffs have excellent customer service as we have already set a standard for having the best customer care in the pets industry here in California. Asides from having the best employees working at Petsky Groomers Salon, we also on our part have ensured that the environment is conducive enough and that the pay is right and competitive as regards similar start-up such as ours in the pets industry.

Below is the business structure we therefore intend to build at Petsky Groomers Salon;

Chief Executive Officer

Admin and Human Resource Manager

Grooming Supervisor

Marketing Team

Accountants/Cashiers

Customer Service Executives

Purchasing Manager

Security Guard

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Creates policies that will affect the strategic direction of the company
• Ensures that all polices are correctly interpreted and implemented by all the employees
• Engages in investment strategy on behalf of the firm to ensure that it is sustained
• In charge of sourcing for and recruiting competent employees based on the company’s business structure
• Drafts and implements policies that would affect the employee in the workplace
• Ensures that all the administrative functions in the salon as well as the paperwork are handled effectively
• In charge of ensuring that employees are trained to enhance their skills and increase productivity for the firm
• In charge of monitoring and coordinating all grooming activities on pets
• Reviews old techniques and comes up with better grooming techniques for pets
• Researches new markets on behalf of Petsky Groomers Salon, for possible penetration
• Drafts and implements effective marketing strategies on behalf of Petsky Groomers Salon
• Conducts direct marketing for the salon
• In charge of handling cash vouchers and receipts on behalf of the salon
• In charge of preparing financial statements on behalf of the salon
• Ensures that the books of the salon and that of the bank are reconciled every month
• In charge of answering customer’s enquiries and directing them to the right department
• Ensures that customers complaints are resolved promptly without denting the image of the salon
• Stores and updates accurate customer database on behalf of the salon
• In charge of purchasing all the needed equipment and supplies for the pets salon
• Sources for reliable vendors and suppliers and negotiates for a fair deal on behalf of the salon
• Prepares and reviews contracts of reliable vendors
• Ensures that the property of Petsky Groomers Salon and the premises are secured at all times
• Ensures that all the properties of customers are secured while at the salon
• Carries out any other duties as might be determined by the admin manager
• Ensures that the salon is kept clean at all times
• Takes care of the convenience for pets and ensures that it is cleaned with the right chemicals
• Takes care of the convenience for staff and customers use at all times
• Ensures that cleaning supplies are always in stock

6. SWOT Analysis

Because we understand how important it is to ensure that our business concept is right, we have engaged the help of a business consultant who is reputable here in Nevada and understands the industry thoroughly, to look through our business and determine if we were likely to make it in this business.

The business consultant made use of the SWOT ( Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats ) analysis to determine how likely we were to succeed if we started the pets grooming business here in Nevada. Below is a result of the analysis conducted on our behalf;

We have several factors that can be regarded as a plus for our business. First off, the products we intend to use for our grooming business are those that have been recommended by veterinaries and we will make this fact known whenever we are promoting Petsky Grooming Salon.

We also intend to offer a wide variety of service for pets so as to be able to attract diverse customers into our salon. Our employees are very competent and experienced as regards pets care and this is also to our advantage, finally, our Chief Executive Officer, Ms Jackie Collins has vast experiences that will be of great advantage to us in this business.

As with any other business, we have weaknesses that crop up during the start-up and running of the business, we do not have the necessary funds to be able to get all that we would need to conveniently serve our customers. However, we are looking into this as we have sought for funds from our bank.

We also would not be starting off with all the employees that we should and this might severally limit our competitive edge against our competitors, we are however sure that in 6 months, we would have made enough money to get more employees for our business.

• Opportunities

There are several opportunities that exist in this industry in the sense that more people are beginning to show care for their pets than before, leading into more booming businesses for pets grooming businesses. Also, opportunities exist for us to network at fairs and events held for pets in order to build a database for our pets grooming business.

Threats are considered as external factors that cannot be readily controlled; however, every business should be prepared for threats, as we have laid down strategies to ensure that we are proactive in dealing with our threats. One of the threats that we would likely encounter during the course of running the business are; other competitors especially those who have long been in the business before us.

Another threat that we are likely to encounter is in pet owners who groom their pets themselves or do it for their neighbours for a lower fee. As earlier mentioned, we are quite sure that we would be able to handle any threats that pop up.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The pets grooming business is one that is booming as more people are showing more than the average care for their pets and do not mind paying a very good amount in ensuring that their pets are happy. To run a standard pets grooming business, it will require that you have the necessary facilities in place and that you are located in an area that is very convenient for the client to get to.

This is why you should be careful when searching for a location, as searching for a place too far out even if it looks perfect might not result into growth for your business. Also, the business is one that requires being in a good network with other pet businesses so as to have loads of referrals from there.

Another trend lies with the employees. It is important that a business with focus employs only those who are competent and experienced enough to help run the business in order to attain its objectives. Also, employees hired should be committed to the goals of the business and know how best to ensure that these image is reflected to customers – either potential or existing. Employees working in the pets’ stores or salons are usually those that love pets and so would handle them the right way.

Technology has revolutionized businesses in the sense that more businesses have the opportunity to reach out to potential customers and penetrate the target market than they would have done if there hadn’t been technology. The rise of social media which is one best and inexpensive way at advertising and gaining publicity for the business whilst ensuring that customers become more aware of existing products and services has seen the pet grooming business boom in the pets industry.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for those who own pets in America is quite huge as according to a survey by the American Pet Product Association in 2015, there were more than 300 million pets owned by at least 65% of Americans. Most of those who owned pets and who had higher incomes and spent more on their pets were about 60%. This showed that a high number of people are willing to go the extra mile in ensuring that their pets get the best care.

To however help us accurately determine our target market, we conducted a thorough market survey so that we could get facts on our clients and determine what they likely expected from us and what behavior we should expect from them as well.

From our result, it would seem that we are in business to groom the pets of the following groups of people here in Nevada – California;

• Corporate Executives
• Business people
• Celebrities and important personalities
• Sports men and women

Our competitive advantage

Every business established to make profit has to contend with other similar businesses competitively in order to survive and sustain itself by having strategies that will enable it have an edge over others in the market.

Our first competitive advantage is the fact that we are offering quality and better services than any other pets grooming business here in Nevada; this has already given us an edge and has won us more customers already.

Secondly, we have hired competent and highly professional employees that understand the business thoroughly and therefore knows what is required. Our employees also undergo constant training that ensures that they remain productive. Also, we pay our employees better than most pets grooming salons here in Nevada, and this has put our business in a good light as employees are happy to work here.

We have the best customer service in the whole state as our customers are often repeat ones due to the personalized service that they get whenever they come to Petsky Groomers Salon. Due to this, we are constantly reviewing the customer care skills of our customer care executives so that we would remain on top.

Finally, our marketing team has top notch strategies that would see the awareness of our business increase tremendously as well as our bottom line.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Petsky Groomers Salon is the leading pets grooming business here in Nevada – California which has been established with the aim of generating revenue via its different services that will be offered to clients via their pets. Therefore Petsky Groomers Salon intends to generate income from offering the following services and products;

• Pet grooming services

10. Sales Forecast

Survey has found out that more American especially those that earned high income was going to cause an increase in demand for dog grooming services especially as the intention was to cause their pets to be happier. We have conducted a thorough sales forecast and with our strategic location here in Nevada, we are likely to generate and exceed our target in the first year of business, which we will then use in sustaining and growing our business.

The sales forecast we conducted was jointly carried out by a sales consultant and made use of accurate data so as to be able to correctly predict what we were likely to earn at the end of three years. Below are therefore the expected sales projections for a three year period conducted on behalf of Petsky Groomers Salon;

• First Fiscal Year-: $150,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $300,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $600.000

N/B : It should be noted that the above sales projection were conducted based on certain factors like lack of competitors and positive economy. Should a new competitor arrive or the economy changes for the worse or even better than what it is currently on, it would affect the sales projections and cause the figures to either increase or decrease.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Marketing is a dual sword for any business because it not only generates revenue for the business and sustains the business; it also inadvertently creates publicity for the business during the course of advertisement. This is why every business that intends to succeed pays serious attention to its marketing strategies and ensures that it picks the ones that are most suitable for the business.

Before we draft our marketing strategies, we intend to first conduct a survey on the market so as to understand our target market better and draft the best strategies that would be able to not only penetrate the business but also bring in customers as well.

It is for this purpose that we hired the services of a reputable marketing consultant who understands the industry thoroughly and knows what strategies would best suit us moving forward as a business. The survey was conducted based on information and data gotten from similar start-ups here in Nevada and in the whole of California as well.

Our marketing team has also been empowered to draft and review each strategy and ensure that they are in tune with our overall corporate organizational goals. We have also incorporated the use of technology into our strategies so as to be able to reach a wide segment of the market.

Below are the marketing strategies we intend to adopt at Petsky Dog Groomers Salon;

• Ensure that we place advertisements in local newspapers and magazines as well as on radio and television stations
• Engage in direct marketing
• Pass out fliers and handbills in conspicuous and strategic places
• Advertise our pets grooming business via our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• Ensure that we are listed in offline as well as online directories
• Throw a pet themed party at our grand opening launch so as to create and generate interest here in Nevada – California

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Even though Petsky Groomers Salon is a standard pets grooming business that offers the best care to pets, we would need to still engage in publicity especially if we intend for our business to achieve its intended goals and objectives and boost its bottom line for future sustainability. We know how good publicity is for our business and we intend to use it effectively in penetrating the market here in Nevada – California for the growth of our business.

To this end, we have hired a reputable publicity consultant here in Nevada who is quite skilled and understands the pets industry well to help us draft effective strategies that we can use in creating the needed awareness for our pets grooming business here in Nevada – California.

The strategies have combined several factors in ensuring that we use only what would be best for our business in the long run. Therefore the following strategies below are what we intend to use in promoting Petsky Groomers Salon to our customers.

• Ensuring that we place adverts in relevant media such as newspapers, magazines and on local radio and television stations.
• Attending pet events and fairs and networking with other pets businesses as well as pet owners
• Ensure that our fliers are properly distributed in conspicuous target locations
• Place attractive and colorful Petsky Groomers Salon flexi banners in conspicuous locations
• Leverage on our social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn by throwing up contests that will get the audience and keep them interested.
• Create an interactive and colorful website that is user-friendly

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Determining what prices to set for all the services that would be offered at Petsky Groomers Salon will depend on a whole lot of factors, such as location, overhead and running expenses. We have checked what our competitors are offering and coupled with the above named factors have set forth the right strategy that will allow us arrive at the right prices for our different services, especially as each service or product sold aren’t the same.

Our intention is to break into the market first and so we would slightly lower our prices for all the products we intend to sell and services we intend to offer for the first 6 months of operation, so as to bring in more customers as well as increase awareness for our salon. We have critically looked at the prices we intend to offer and have seen that even though they would lower our margins a bit, we would not be running at a loss throughout this period.

• Payment Options

Because we offer different services in addition to our core service, we are aware of the fact that our customers will have different payment preference for the different services and so we have created several payment platforms to accommodate this fact.

Therefore the payment options that will be made available in our salon are;

• Cash payments
• Payment via credit card
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via check

The above payment platforms are those that would be very convenient for all our various customers here in Nevada – California, and would be without any hitches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In starting and setting up a pets grooming business, we expect to spend the bulk of our capital on leasing a place, renovation, paying employee salaries as well as paying utility bills; this is because we intend to run a standard pet grooming salon here in Nevada – California for our clients and their pets.

Therefore the key areas where we expect to spend our start-up capital on are;

• Total fee for registering Petsky Groomers Salon in the United State of America – $750
• Obtaining certifications, licenses and permits as well as accounting software – $1,250
• Cost of hiring a business consultant – $1,000
• Insurance coverage (general liability, property insurance, workers’ compensation) – $5,000
• Marketing promotion expenses (general promotion expenses and grand opening promotion expenses) – $3,000
• Cost of leasing and renovating a facility for the period of one year – $20,000
• Operational cost for the first three months (employees’ salaries, payment of utility bills) – $50,000
• Start-up expenses and purchases (high-end grooming tables, dryers and tubs, grooming supplies and treats) – $10,000
• Other start-up expenses (stationeries, phones, computers, business cards, signage, tools and equipment) – $3,500
• Cost of launching a website – $500
• Cost of throwing a grand opening party – $2,000
• Miscellaneous – $4,000

From the above analysis, the total amount of $100,000 would be suitable to run a standard pets grooming salon here in Nevada – California. The bulk of the start-up capital will be used to lease a facility, pay employees and purchase the necessary tools and equipment that will make sure we attain our desired goals and objectives.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Petsky Groomers Salon Business

Petsky Groomers Salon is a business owned and operated by Ms. Jackie Collins. She is not only a lover of pets but a strong business woman who has all it takes to bring the business to its intended goals and objectives. Ms. Collins has decided not to go for any external partnership for her pets grooming business and so would seek for loans from these three major sources;

The three major areas that we intend to generate our start-up capital from are;

• From personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from commercial bank

N.B: We were able to generate the sum of $25,000 from the personal savings of Ms Jackie Collins. The sum of $15,000 was sourced from close family members and friends. We were able to secure an approval for the sum of $60,000 from our bank, and all the necessary documents have been signed, and we have been assured by our banker that the money would soon be credited into our account by the end of this week.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is vital that any business that intends to make profit and compete against its competitors in the industry draft sustainability strategies that would ensure that it remains in business for a long time to come. We have therefore identified the aspects – employing competent employee, offering excellent and additional services and ensuring that we retain a large number of our loyal clients – which we would focus our strategies on in order to ensure that we remain in business for a long time.

Employing staffs that are competent and experienced and that is clearly attuned to our vision of attaining our goals and objectives is a must for us. Our employees will always undergo continuous trainings that will enhance their skills, increase our productivity and give them an edge over their other colleagues in the same industry.

All our employees will be trained in the art of offering excellent customer care to clients and ensuring that the image of the company is positively projected at all times. We also intend to pay our employees well whilst ensuring that they work in an environment that is conducive for them.

We hope to remain proactive and innovative in the offering of our services, as we would continually look for new ways to attract more customers while also keeping the existing ones. Continually offering our clients new services for their pets would not only keep them loyal and make them refer others to us, it will also increase our popularity and bottom line as well.

Finally, we intend to ensure that we seek for different ways to retain our clients, by offering them excellent customer car, a special discount for old tie customers at certain times of the month, a referral program for those that refer us and bring in a client. We know how important our customers are and we intend to treat them right always. We know that if we adhere to these strategies, we would effectively sustain and then expand our business successfully.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting feasibility studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers / merchants: In Progress
• Purchase of trucks: Completed

More on Pet

Dog Grooming Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting a dog grooming business can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor, but developing a successful business plan is key. Knowing what steps to take and what information to include in your business plan is essential for success. With the #1 Dog Grooming Business Plan Template & Guidebook, you'll get a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to creating the perfect plan for your pet-grooming venture. From understanding the market landscape to creating a detailed financial plan - this guide will help you take the guesswork out of writing your dog grooming business plan.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Dog Grooming Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Dog Grooming Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Dog Grooming Business Names:

How to Write a Dog Grooming Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your dog grooming business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your dog grooming business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a dog grooming business:

Our mission at [Business Name] is to provide top-quality dog grooming services to our clients in an efficient, caring, and professional manner. We strive to offer a safe, clean environment for all furry friends to enjoy the pampering that they deserve. We strive to build lasting relationships with our clients through our values of trust, respect, and excellence.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Dog Grooming Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your dog grooming business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your dog grooming business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your dog grooming business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your dog grooming business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a dog grooming business?

• Professional dog grooming tools (brushes, clippers, scissors, combs, dryers, etc.)
• Shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for dogs
• Dog nail clippers and dremel tools
• Dog ear cleaning tools
• Towels and other grooming accessories
• Business permits or licenses specific to the area where the business is located

5. Management & Organization of Your Dog Grooming Business.

The second part of your dog grooming business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your dog grooming business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Dog Grooming Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a dog grooming business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a dog grooming business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your dog grooming business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your dog grooming business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your dog grooming business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Grooming Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a dog grooming business.

A business plan for a dog grooming business is essential to evaluate the potential of the business, clarify your vision and objectives, set strategy and target markets, establish projections, analyze the competition, estimate startup costs and forecast cash flow. It will help potential investors or lenders understand the potential of the venture and assess its risk factors. In addition, having a written business plan met allow you to track progress and make changes as necessary to ensure success.

Who should you ask for help with your dog grooming business plan?

You should ask a business consultant or an advisor with experience in small business planning, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). They will be able to help you create a comprehensive plan and identify any potential risks and opportunities. Additionally, your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office may have resources available to help you navigate the process.

Can you write a dog grooming business plan yourself?

Yes, it is possible to write a dog grooming business plan yourself. To do so, you will need to consider the various aspects of opening and managing such a business, such as market research and customer service, financial planning and business operations. Additionally, you will need to explain your vision for the business, including the services you plan to offer, pricing strategies and estimated startup costs. Also important are any strategies you may have for promoting your business and managing employees.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more .

How to Start a Dog Grooming Business: 11 Expert Tips

By Elizabeth Gray

Updated on Feb 6, 2024

According to Bloomberg, the global pet industry will be worth 500 billion dollars by 2030. 1 That statistic shows there’s money to be made if you’re interested in breaking into the pet care industry, and several busy dog owners pay groomers to keep their pups looking clean and neat. If you’re interested in being your own boss and love working with animals, a dog grooming business may be an option. Here are 11 expert tips on how to start a dog grooming business.

Top 11 Tips on Starting a Dog Grooming Business:

1. get trained and certified as a groomer.

To run a successful dog grooming business, you need customers who trust you with their pets and believe you’ll do good work. Before starting your business, you must know how to groom dogs properly. The National Dog Groomer’s Association of America offers workshops and certifications. You could enroll in a grooming apprenticeship or take online or in-person courses to learn the details of breed-specific haircuts. In most areas, groomers aren’t required to be certified, but it can be helpful to show potential clients that you’ve put in the work.

2. Decide on a Location

Once you know how to groom dogs, it’s time to start planning the details of opening your business. First, you’ll need to decide where your business will be located. Will you operate out of your house or from a separate building on your property? Do you need to rent a space for your grooming salon, or are you opening a mobile business? Another option is to partner with a local veterinary office that wants to offer grooming services to their clients. Your start-up and operating costs will vary depending on where your business is located.

3. Make a Business Plan

Once you’ve decided where your dog grooming salon will be located, you can outline a business plan. Calculate the startup and operating costs for your dog grooming business. Research the dog grooming market in your area. How much competition will you have? How many dogs live in your area, and what type of grooming services might they need? The business plan helps you get an overall look at the kind of money you need and might make. It’s also an excellent tool to have on hand if you need to apply for business loans or woo potential investors. Banks want to know you have a plan to make their money back, and investors want to be sure they’ll get a return on the cash they provide.

4. Decide on Your Niche

Part of your business plan and model should be deciding your niche and ideal customer. What’s the hook or specialty that will make your grooming business stand out from others in your area? If you’re opening in an underserved area, your niche just be providing convenient access to a groomer. You could also focus on specialty haircuts or certain breeds of dogs. If you’re partnering with a veterinarian, you may be able to offer dog owners the convenience of combining their grooming visits with routine veterinary care. Some dog owners may feel more secure knowing a vet is on-site in an emergency too.

5. Choose a Business Name and Branding

A memorable, catchy name is essential to help dog owners find and recognize your grooming business. Choose a name that’s easy to pronounce, spell, and read. If you have a physical location, you could keep it simple and incorporate the name of the town, road, or neighborhood where you’re located. If you’re a mobile groomer, make sure people can tell that from your business name. You’ll also want to decide on branding for your business, such as a graphic logo, slogan, and color scheme. These visuals help people remember your business and can be used for all your marketing, including social media.

6. Register Your Business

Register your new grooming business by name as either a Limited Liability Company (LLC,) a solo owner, a partnership, or a corporation. Each of these business models offers different pros and cons. Consider speaking to a financial consultant to determine the best choice for your grooming business. You’ll also need a business bank account, checks, and possibly a business credit card. A financial consultant or business accountant can help with this process to ensure everything is to the letter of the law.

7. Get the Necessary Business Licenses and Permits

To legally operate your dog grooming business, you may need a business license or permits issued by your city or state. If you plan to hire employees, you’ll need an Employer Identification Number and various tax forms. Make sure you’re not committing zoning violations by operating a home business. If you plan to use a large truck or van for your mobile grooming business, you may need to earn a commercial driver’s license. Check with city, state, and county governments to ensure you comply with all applicable business regulations.

8. Buy Business Insurance

To protect yourself, your clients, and their dogs, it’s vital that you purchase insurance. You’ll most likely need liability insurance to cover you if clients or their dogs are injured on your premises. If you own or rent a business space, you’ll need property or renter’s insurance to protect your equipment and the building. Mobile grooming salons require the appropriate vehicle insurance too. If you operate out of your home, check with your homeowner’s insurance to see which additional policies you may need. You’ll need worker’s compensation insurance if you hire any employees and health insurance for yourself.

9. Purchase Equipment

Unless you take over an already-equipped grooming salon, you’ll need to purchase the equipment and tools you need to do your job.

• Cages, crates, or runs
• Grooming table
• Clippers and blades
• Combs and brushes
• Nail trimmers
• Shampoos and conditioners

Depending on the grooming services you’ll be offering, you may need other items. You’ll also need to arrange a blade sharpening service to keep your clippers in good working order. Items like shampoo and conditioner will need to be replaced as needed.

10. Promote Your Business!

It’s time to start promoting and marketing once you’re ready to open your dog grooming business. If you drive a mobile grooming truck, you’re advertising as you go. Traditional marketing techniques include passing out business cards, especially with other local pet care businesses and veterinary offices. You can also advertise in local newspapers, radio, and television markets.

However, nowadays, especially if you’re targeting younger dog owners, social media is probably the most important medium to promote your business. You should create a website for your business with links to all your social media accounts. Instagram is the perfect spot to post photos of your flashiest dog haircuts. Take advantage of TikTok trends to get as many eyes as possible on your account. Twitter and Facebook are good spots to post photos and information and engage with customers.

11. Focus on Keeping Your Customers and Keeping Them Happy

The best marketing strategy in the world isn’t going to help if you don’t provide your customers with a quality product and excellent service. You must ensure that dogs and owners enjoy visiting your grooming business. Offer treats and praise to help nervous dogs feel safe . Provide clear communication and consistently enforced policies to dog owners. Encourage customers to leave online reviews of your business and spread the word to their friends if they enjoy their experience. If your business grows enough that you need to hire new employees, ensure they’re trained to provide the same consistent service your customers expect.

While starting a dog grooming business can seem daunting, these 11 expert tips can help simplify the process. The safety and comfort of every dog you care for should be the priority of your business, and you can make arrangements with a local vet to provide care for your canine clients in the event of an accident or emergency . This type of precaution and attention to detail can be the difference between the success and failure of your dog grooming business.

• Global Pet Industry to Grow to $500 Billion by 2030

Featured Image Credit: Egrigorovich, Shutterstock

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BUSINESS PLAN FOR DOG GROOMING: Steps On How To Write a Business Plan For Dog Grooming

• by Folakemi Adegbaju
• August 10, 2023
• No comments
• 10 minute read

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How to start a dog grooming business, how to write a business plan for dog grooming, is a dog grooming business plan important, final thoughts, what is the target market for dog grooming, how long does it take to write a business plan, what dog breeds should not be groomed.

Are you considering starting your own dog grooming business, or adding grooming options to your new dog boarding or daycare facility? Maybe you’ve always loved dogs, ever since you got your first pet as a child. Given that many dogs in every city and town need regular trimming, cutting, and a variety of other grooming services to maintain their health, it’s not a bad idea. Learning how to accurately write a business plan for a dog grooming salon is the next step in your planning process. It is important that you know how to write a marketing plan because it is an important aspect of your dog grooming business plan.

Are you ready for the ride?

Let’s zoom off…

What Is a Dog Grooming Business?

Due to the fact that many dog owners find it difficult to properly clean and groom their dogs, dog grooming has become a talent in high demand. Most dog owners employ professionals to groom their dogs because they lack the knowledge, the time, or the desire to do it themselves. A professional groomer is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and attractiveness of dogs through washing, brushing, ear cleaning, haircuts, and ear clipping.

However, not every person who enters the dog grooming business succeeds. Most people who start grooming dogs to generate quick money don’t remain around long enough to reap the rewards of their labour. You’ll need a lot of patience and discipline, just like in any other business, to thrive in this one.

You must be totally committed to the idea and at ease being around dogs all day. It’s a physically demanding job that keeps you on your feet all day as you deal with obstinate owners or anxious dogs.

The good news is that if you act ethically, your business can be profitable. Also, it’s a very adaptable business concept with a range of alternatives.

Starting a dog grooming business might not be as simple and easy as it seems, but you don’t need to worry because we’ve listed below the steps you need to take to make it easier for you to start your own dog grooming business. Here are the steps:

#1. Research Your Target Market

Consider how much demand there will be for your services as you start your pet grooming business, and compare it to the extent of competition that already exists. Consider your “customer profile” to include both your human (and paying) customers as well as your animal “customers.”

Your clients may include owners of pets who require flea or parasite treatments or identity microchip implantation; owners of pet stores and boarding kennels who cannot perform the grooming themselves but offer a grooming service to their customers, and breeders of animals who need routine grooming. That’s why many pet owners choose to hire a professional to groom their animals on a regular basis because they lack the time or the requisite skills to do it themselves.

It’s important to keep in mind that most customers will entrust you with their cherished pets, so you should always treat them with respect and refrain from criticising their animal’s health or appearance. Also, it’s crucial to determine whether there is enough demand in your area to support a pet grooming service.

#2. Consider Some Professional Training

It’s important you get trained. Although training for dog groomers is not compulsory in the UK, enrolling in a recognised course will give you and your client confidence and establish the legitimacy of your company. To be thorough, it’s a good idea to take classes on grooming, care, and first aid. Apart from taking a recognised course, you can find a tonne of internet resources, such as blogs and videos, that will teach you how to groom dogs and offer business advice from other dog grooming professionals.

Customers might also inquire about dieting, coat upkeep, and maintenance, so it’s a good idea to be knowledgeable about these topics as well.

#3. Decide Which Services to Offer

The primary service that your company will provide will be dog grooming:

• Giving the animal a bath
• Combing, detangling, and trimming the coat
• hand removing (where appropriate)
• Nail trimming
• Ear cleaning and picking
• teeth brushing
• In dogs, the anal glands are expressed.

Prior to grooming the animal, be sure you thoroughly comprehend the owner’s expectations for the animal’s appearance after the grooming procedure. Try to estimate how long it will typically take you to groom an animal so that you can determine how many at most you can handle in a single day.

You might also choose to provide a variety of different services that will draw clients to your company. These may consist of:

• offering consumers in a specific area a free collection and drop-off service.
• making available a mobile grooming service.
• Using rinses to treat fleas and ticks
• Using identifying chips to implant
• provides pet owners and those who want to work in the grooming profession with training in grooming.
• Teaching canine obedience

#4. Price Your Services

It’s crucial to get the sale price. Make sure that the price you offer is sufficient to cover all of your running expenses, including payroll and your personal benefits. You might discover that you have to price in line with your rivals because the grooming industry is currently highly competitive. You’ll probably decide on a fee schedule based on the breed , size, and difficulty of the dog to groom, as well as the service, offered.

If you also intend to sell grooming products, you must pick the prices you will charge. Contact your suppliers if you’re unsure of what to charge; they might be able to provide you with suggested retail prices for their goods.

#5. Buy Professional Dog Grooming Equipment

Getting the right dog grooming equipment will make your dog grooming business easier and makes you work faster, it makes you deliver the best service. Generally speaking, dog groomers will use the equipment listed below.

• grooming table
• Nail clippers (various sizes)
• conditioner
• flea shampoo

#6. Create a Business Plan

Some people believe that business plans should only be written for investors. However, outlining the goals, deadlines, and milestones of your company can help you organise your ideas and decide on a clear plan of action.

This should also contain details about your competitors, clients, growth strategies, USPs, and financial data like startup expenses, spending plans, and anticipated sales growth.

Also, writing a business plan for a dog grooming salon can help you to understand how your dog grooming business will be run, how it will be marketed, and how it will expand.

To better understand the market you’re operating in and how you can provide something new, improved, or different from competing local companies, it’s also helpful to undertake competitor analysis. The importance of knowing how to write a marketing plan business plan for a dog grooming business plan can never be neglected. That’s why we’ve compiled one for your dog grooming business so as to ease the stress and fear of having to write one yourself.

Download the dog grooming business plan template created by us to help you when you want to write a strong plan for your dog grooming business.

#7. Consider Business Insurance

Owning a dog grooming business entails taking care of clients’ dogs. Therefore, clients want you to conduct yourself with care and professionalism. However, if something goes wrong, having a customised pet grooming insurance policy can protect you, your business, and the pets you are caring for.

#8. Set Up Your Home

Are you remodeling a space to house your company? Do you have a moving van in your garden? or create a unique unit? The answers will also help you decide what steps you need to take to set up your company, including any structural work and how visitors will access your property.

Here are some other issues to think about:

• Is your home accessible?
• Will you require signage to direct customers on the streets or on your property?
• Do you have the capacity to take more than one dog at a time?

Business Plan for Dog Grooming Salon

You are wrong if you think your dog grooming business won’t require a dog grooming business plan. Making a business plan can also help you understand the requirements for beginning the business, obtaining the necessary licences and certifications, and putting your company on the path to long-term success.

Dog-grooming business plan template

Writing a business plan without following the normal procedure might make the business plan less catchy and less attractive to your reader. We have listed below the steps you need to take to write a perfect dog grooming business plan that would be reasonable to your investor. Here they are:

#1. Executive Summary

Although it is the first to be written, this section appears at the end of your plan and should basically provide a concise summary of the other elements. This should also include the name of your company, its address, and the goods and/or services you will or already offer.

 #2. Market Analysis

The needs you intend to meet, demographic information, and market size information should all be included in this section of your dog grooming business plan, along with detailed information about your target market and potential clientele.

Information on the thriving pet industry should also be included. Include statistics on annual pet spending as well. Include as many statistics as you can to demonstrate that your goods and/or services would be successful and in demand in the market where you are submitting your proposal.

#3. Company Description

Your company description ought to include fundamental details like:

• Your business name
• Ownership type, i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation
• Who will run the company, and what are their credentials?
• Products and/or services you’ll provide or already do
• The clientele you’ll serve
• the number of personnel.
• The clients you’ll be serving

A brief mission statement outlining your company’s objectives should be included in this section as well.

#4. Legal Requirements

Define your company’s legal structure, including whether you’re a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietor. You must register with your state’s Secretary of State’s office if you choose to organise your company as a corporation. If you register your company as a corporation, it becomes a distinct legal entity, shielding you from any personal culpability in the event that a client sues you.

Also, obtain any appropriate local or state-issued business licences, and include documentation of these licences in your grooming business plan. This will shield your company from penalties and guarantee that you can function without running afoul of the law. You’ll have a strong business plan to offer to investors or use as a guide when you launch your business once you’ve settled your legal considerations.

#5. Products and Services

Describe the products and services you will be providing to customers in this section. Will you only give dog grooming services or will you also sell accessories like leashes and speciality dog shampoos? Highlight the special qualities of your goods and/or services that address a market demand, such as the fact that you are the only company in the area offering dog grooming or that you have a whole range of artisanal shampoos.

#6. Marketing Plan For Dog Grooming Business

The marketing plan for a dog grooming business is one of the most important aspects of the dog grooming business plan. This is where you’ll explain things like how you’ll advertise and market your brand, what media you’ll use, how you’ll try to expand your business, and what actions you’ll take to draw in and keep clients. A marketing plan for a dog grooming business also helps you to make plans for the marketing and advertising you’ll use to market your company.

You can also decide to advertise your new grooming business by purchasing local radio or TV ads, sending out direct mail flyers, or both, Distributing business cards and brochures can serve as the foundation of your marketing strategy. All you have to do is think of a plan that will be effective in your locality.

#7. Appendices

This could include a variety of records and information to help make your business idea as appealing as possible.

Yes, it is! A dog grooming business plan serves as a director. It serves as your compass as you embark on your new endeavour to prevent getting lost along the way. One of the biggest mistakes you might make when starting a dog grooming business is not creating a compelling business plan, it’s for the growth of your business.

You’ll discover that there is a lot more to writing and researching a dog grooming business plan than you initially believed when you start writing one. Your business will appear more serious to the bank and possible investors the more serious your business planning is. Your success will be built on a strong business plan, so don’t skimp on this step. Adding your marketing plan for dog grooming to your business plan for a dog-grooming salon will make it more attractive to your investor and will show how serious you’re to make the dog grooming business a successful and profitable one.

The target market for dog grooming is diverse and includes young families with children, empty nesters, retirees, and urbanites, as well as single people without children. When it comes to caring for their pets and choosing a dog grooming service, each of these groups has different reasons and behaviours.

We discovered that generally speaking, the most prosperous business owners prepared their business plans between six and twelve months after deciding to launch a company. In this timeframe, writing a plan raised the likelihood of venture viability success by 8%.

Dogs that shed large clumps of fur (part of their undercoat) yearly, such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, and other breeds, shouldn’t ever be shaved.

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Folakemi Adegbaju

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Dog groomer opens Mount Holly salon

It's safe to say Baylee Pinkelton is a dog person.

Pinkelton, 25, has five dogs of her own ― three shih tzus, a "mountain mutt," and a standard poodle. 

She's also been a professional dog groomer for seven years, something she has wanted to do since high school. This week, Pinkelton's years of work came to fruition: She opened her own storefront at 114 East Central Ave. in downtown Mount Holly, a salon for dogs.

"This was the biggest goal I've had forever and ever in my adult life. This was the dream," Pinkelton said. 

Hippie Hounds Dog Grooming offers baths, nail trimming, breed specific grooming, and other services ― "anything you can think of."

"We're going for a luxurious spa experience, like a human hair salon," she said. 

Pinkelton, 25, is a 2016 graduate of Stuart Cramer High School. She initially decided to go to college for nursing, but she began working as a dog groomer during that time and discovered her passion for it. 

"I've been the family's designated dog washer since I was a kid, too, so it just made sense," she said. "I loved nursing too. I just really liked the dog work."

After growing up in Stanley and Charlotte, Pinkelton moved to Mount Holly five years ago.

"I like the area. I'm familiar with it. I like the small town vibe, but it's still a nice small town, so I stuck around," she said. 

Pinkelton decided to open her own storefront in partnership with two of her clients, Betsy Patton and Mark Conn. The couple raises Havanese dogs, and Pinkelton groomed them. As business partners, Pinkelton will be the groomer, while Patton describes herself as "a silent partner," who handles the business management.

"I really just want to be the go-to for the area, be a staple in the community and provide the service because it's not something that's widely available right now in the area," Pinkelton said. "And of course pet dogs all day. That's the plan."

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Dog groomer opens Mount Holly salon

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