I’ve started a list of things that will be needed to get it up and running. I was wondering if you can let me know if I’m forgetting anything. I was a bather at a pet resort, so I do know what I’m getting myself into. I’m going to start off in my own home to build clients and referrals.
Schedule books
reciept books
leashes
muzzels
cages
towels
shampoo (by the gal.)
conditioner (by the gal.)
detangling spray
brushes
blowdryers
treats
scissors
clippers
booster tub
tropic shower system (warms the water)
nail clippers
flea treatments
toys
hydrosurge system (once enough money is raised)
my backyard is huge and has 3 seperate parts to it.
what should I ask of the owners, and how much should I charge?j
my business cards are in the process of being made. what should I write on them to let the customer that I’m training and that I want their pets to feel like my home is their home? I want it to be a very close intimate experience for them.
<3 thanks!
i have alittle ex. in grooming, i groom my own dogs (shih tzus) and the reason im doing this is to raise money to get thru the class to get a certificate. i work full time right now, but thats a different story.
the dogs i know i will be grooming will be mutts, therefore i wont need “crazy” training in that area. this is going to be more of a bathing thing, like a car wash (lol) for dogs. the clippers and scissors are only going to be for those in dying need of a trim 
)
oh yeah, im not going to advertise myself as a groomer. (not yet atleast) just a small time bather with a big time dream lol
wow, ok. everybody is making this out to be a HUGE business. i just want to bathe dogs on the side and then hopefully, with good planning, open up my own place. right now. im a local girl that wants to wash your dog for cheap.
do you have enough money for all that? i mean, a good table alone is 300-500 bucks.
price as you probably know since you have done this sort of thing before varies based on the dog, and what they are getting. you didnt specify how experianced you are with actual grooming. if you really dont know anything, and you are advertising that you are training, you probably wont get many customers, unless you are doing it for very cheap. i dont mean to be rude, but very few people can teach themselves to groom properly, and being a bather doesnt mean much b/c every salon has their bathers do different things.
you def. need to tell people when they book for a haircut that you are not a trained groomer, and will do your best. yoru going to get a lot of angry people if you dont say anything before hand. and again, dont expect much business, b/c most salons will not charge a customer for a groom if the dog is being used for training.
from the post below me-
not only ask, but insist they bring proof of rabies especially. another good one is bordatella. proof is the tags, actual certificate, or calling the vet
you should ask the owners if the dog has had its vaccines, that it has no spreadable desease
Do you know how to groom all breeds?? You are going to need some kind of grooming training and experience. People aren’t just going to hand their “little precious” over to you if you don’t know how to groom. I’m not being rude or anything…just there is a big difference in bathing and grooming.
But..back to your list…you are missing 2 HUGE things…a business license and an authroity to collect sales tax (if pet services are taxable in your state) You are going to need an accountant and a lawyer would be good to keep handy too. And some kind of ledger to keep track of all your income and expenses so you can pay taxes at the end of the year.
You need several different kind of shampoo to use on dogs depending on their skin…flea shampoo, hypo shampoo, oatmeal, medicated etc erc
Kwik stop
Kennel leads come in handy
rabies pole to get those cage aggressive dogs out of the back of the kennel
Several different size clipper blades
Should have 2 clippers..one as a back up
Same goes with shears…several pairs..curved, straight, blunt tipped
Comb (i like greyhound combs)
Im not sure what you mean by flea treatments..if you mean flea shampoo…fine. If you intend on applying things like Advantage etc…don’t…you can sell it, but I would let the owner apply that at home. That way, if there is a reaction…its not totally your fault.
As far as what you charge….you have to figure out what it costs to run the place per month along with supplies and what you want to make as a wage. Set your prices accordingly.
What you should ask owners…ALL Dogs should have rabies shots, distemper and kennel cough is recommended..they should bring in proof and keep all that info up to date.
If you are doing this out of your home, you may want to consider only taking pets that are already on a flea prevetion program…otherwise, you will end up with fleas all thru your yard and home.
Thats all I can thik of for now.
Why dont you sign up at petgroomer.com and take a look at the groomer message board…lots of info there.
Oh..a grooming table!
Personally, I think you should go thru grooming school first, then open up a shop.It would be misleading to the public if you say you are a groomer, and saying you are in training may not get you a whole lot of business.
Im not trying to make it into a big thing, but you will need insurance…pet owners are…crazy…some peoples dogs are everything to them and god forbid if you nick a pad or even a toenail on the wrong dog and you will have someone screaming lawsuit! Plus, if you are not legit, dont have a DBA license and are not paying taxes…your in big trouble.
Grooming does not require a vocational license..yet. There are things in the works that will require every groomer AND bather to have gone through so many hours of training etc etc. Like a hairdresser.
We are trying to get the message across that groomers are actually professionals. No offense to you, but we need to do things the right way…and stop charging so little for grooming. Don’t give your services away….makes it hard to earn a living that way!
Good luck
YOU FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON YOUR LIST…….INSURANCE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.WHAT IF A DOG BITES SOMEONE,OR A DOG DIES IN YOUR CARE.
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL SAY “ITS OK ITS JUST A DOG” IF THIS HAPPENS..THINK NOT.
I DONT MEAN TO BE MEAN,BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A BUISINESS..LET ALONE ONE WITH LIVE ANIMALS.
YOU THINK BECAUSE YOU GROOMED YOUR OWN DOGS,THAT GIVES YOU EXPERIENCE..MAN YOU HAVE LOTS TO LEARN.
WHAT ABOUT PERMITS,EMPLOYEES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE AN ACCOUNTANT,OR DO YOU PLAN TO SCREW UNCLE SAMS “IRS” AS WELL.
THINK BEFORE THIS THING BITES YOU IN THE A.S.S
I would rec commend a book on grooming, like certain cuts and how to preform them. Do not forget the cream rinse and oil rinse. Also you will need a license. If not you can get fined pretty big for evading taxes etc. Getting your small business license isn’t too hard though. Other then that, there isn’t much else you need yet, but as you go along you’ll realize you can use this or that. Take it easy and good luck! As for your bussiness card, put youself into it, a little saying, something unique and you!