Why is dog grooming so expensive?

Owning a dog is a huge financial commitment, there’s no two ways about it. Between the initial layout of purchase or adoption price, beds, crates, leads, toys, harnesses, and the ongoing costs of vaccinations, vet trips, holiday care, day care and food – you really need to be in a strong financial position to be able to afford to take care of a dog properly.

 

Grooming is an essential part of health care for your dog. Some dogs are lower maintenance than others in the grooming department (eg: shorthairs such as Staffies, Dachshunds and Boxers) and may be able to be managed at home with the right amount of time, patience and equipment.

 

However, in recent years, there has been a growing popularity of cross breeds, such as spaniel and poodle mixes. Owners and would-be owners should be aware that these breeds come with more complex grooming needs and professional grooming should be factored into your monthly costs.

 

But why is it so expensive?

 

This is something that dog groomers hear a lot. We don’t like the term “expensive” because it sounds like you’re paying for something you’re not getting, and this couldn’t be less true in the world of dog grooming. There is a huge list of costs that your dog groomer must meet, before they even make any money for themselves.

 

1. Initial rent payments, insurances, qualifications, and equipment such as grooming tools, clippers, scissors, grooming tables, tubs, dryers, shampoos, conditioners, towels, and other grooming supplies can be into the region of several thousand pounds and it’s likely that your groomer will be paying this investment back month on month.

 

2. Commercial premises cost a fortune. Your groomer will be paying well into the hundreds for rent and business rates each month. When you add that to the ever-rising energy and water costs, it’s a truly sizeable sum. Mobile groomers will have a van to work from instead of a fixed premises, however they will have a comparable bill for fuel and the cost of the custom fit out and maintenance.

 

3. Administrative costs are more than you’d think. Dog business owners need necessary licenses and complex, comprehensive insurance policies which don’t come cheap. Then there are things like accounting which requires software and the services of a bookkeeper. The card machine you use not only has a monthly payment, but also takes a percentage of each payment you make, which can be around 2-4%! Lots of places also use online booking systems which usually come at a monthly cost.

 

4. Marketing and advertising are an essential part of any business. Lots of groomers rely on word of mouth, but the dog industry is a competitive space and as demand increases, so does supply. That means it’s important to have a professional presence online, so whilst social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are free to set up and very useful, they take time and effort to manage properly. So, this can be an added cost if a social media manager is being employed. Websites are very expensive and, also have a monthly maintenance cost to include hosting, security etc. They also need to pay for logo design, and any other printed marketing materials such as price lists and business cards.

 

5. Staffing costs don’t end at minimum wage per hour. Most employed groomers will require more than minimum wage as it’s a skilled occupation, and employers also must factor in employer’s national insurance contribution and pension contribution. There will also be additional charges for an accountant to cover payroll, and extra costs for cover staff for holidays (or indeed they just lose the revenue altogether.)

 

6. All self-employed people have to pay their own personal tax national insurance contributions. Some groomers will also meet the threshold to pay VAT, and so 20% of what you pay your groomer has to be paid straight to the government.

 

7. Maintenance and repairs must be factored in on a monthly basis. Equipment needs to be serviced and safe to use. Many dog grooming items are consumables and so need to be purchased regularly.

 

8. Certifications are an important aspect, and lots of groomers in business like to keep up to date with the latest techniques which can mean courses and certifications. At a minimum, most dog groomers will keep up to date with canine first aid.

 

9. The bane of every groomer’s life…no-shows. No shows cost grooming businesses hundreds in lost revenue each year.

 

These factors all must be considered in a dog grooming business, added to the fact that you are paying a professional to do a job which requires years of skill, expertise, patience and understanding about all breeds of dog and their temperaments too. You can see from this list that being a dog groomer is far from playing with dogs all day. While it’s a calling for dog lovers to build a business around taking care of pooches, the business side is extremely complicated, costly, and takes a lot of management.

 

So now you have an idea of just how much has to be managed and paid for in a dog grooming business, the price tag seems more than fair, doesn’t it? And after all, a happy, healthy dog is totally priceless, and we love our groomers for taking such good care of our furry pals.

Looking for a recommended dog groomer?

Take a look at our Wooflinks local services here.