The Groom Room
“Rebooking at the till is the best marketing I do.”
HCHannah Clarke · The Groom Room · Since 2020
12-mo revenueabout $200k+14% vs last yearSquare
Based on 87 real dog grooming businesses in the US, including 26 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $2,290 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 3 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
Grooming certification. Some states require a facility permit.
Only in some cities and states.
Form an LLC with your state ($50 to $500). Get a free tax number (EIN) from the IRS.
Free to about $15 a month. Keeps business money apart from yours.
Sets up your books and files your first tax return.
$20.7k
Before costs. Spring and pre-Christmas peaks.
| Slow | Typical | Strong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $3.1k | $5.6k | $9.9k |
| Year 3 | $8.3k | $13.2k | $21.2k |
| Year 5 | $10.4k | $17.2k | $28.6k |
Slow: 1 in 4 make less than this. Typical: half make more, half make less. Strong: 1 in 4 make more than this.
“Rebooking at the till is the best marketing I do.”
“Deposits cut our no-shows from 14% to 3%.”
“The brand gave me the booking system on day one. The regulars came from doing the nervous dogs well.”
about $107k
Starting costs about $86.3k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.