Pet groomers in the right place can earn an excellent living. You might be surprised to know that many are making upward of six figures in their own business. It’s true that if you work for someone else, your payment will be lower. But if you start your own business, hire others to work for you, and find the right clients, your business will be very successful.
Training and Certification
You’ll need to find a school that teaches you how to groom dogs if you don’t already know how. Most areas don’t require any type of specific certification, so it’s not always necessary to get the certificate. However, it is essential to know how to do it properly without harming the animal. One way to get training is to get an entry-level position at a pet store that offers grooming.
Getting Legal and Protected
Once you are ready to set up your business, you need to get legal so that you are protected. There is always a chance that injury can occur even if you’re careful. Because of this, you need to set up an LLC or an INC and keep your business funds and expenditures totally separate from your personal funds and expenditures to protect you and your family from liability. You probably also need some form of insurance to protect you.
Setting Up Your Business
Once you have the rest set up, you will need to figure out how you’re going to set up your business. Will you have a retail location? Will you build a mobile grooming vehicle or a combination of the two? The easiest way to start is probably by setting up a mobile grooming vehicle so you can make house calls.
Pricing Your Services
When you price your services, you need to consider all your expenses associated with the service so that you can price accordingly. Check around your local area for competition and price similarly or slightly higher. Add to your services to make them stand out.
Marketing Your Business
You’ll need to develop an online presence via a website and social media. Don’t count on using someone else’s platform (like Facebook, for example) as your website or landing page. You can create a simple self-hosted WordPress site for less than $100 a year all in. There is no reason not to have your own online site that you control 100 percent. You’ll also want a mailing list sign-up form so that you can collect email addresses from your potential customers.
If you love grooming pets and are patient and kind, this is a business that can be very satisfying. You can start by going to people’s homes, you can build a mobile groomer business, or you can set up a retail location. It’s up to you, and the possibilities for side businesses and shoot-offs from this are enormous. For example, you can sell grooming supplies, toys, and pet food to your customers too.
