Dog Grooming Business - Mobile or Premises?

[JULES!]

I am in the stages of planning my business of dog grooming. My main two issues at the moment are training and the overheads after the end of my training. I have been advised to start up as a mobile groomer for the first few months to start up. However, I do not drive and the cost of learning to do so will only push up the initial cost of start up. My training alone is around £2,000.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make this worth while? It has also been suggested that I do it from home by picking up dogs and bringing them there, either in my room or my shed. Can this be done?

xx

 

[lm11]

Hi Jules,

Do you have a lot of kit to carry? Why not just do the dogs at the owners house?

Ok you will have to sort out busses and possibly a taxi but thats it..

Luke

 

[am:pm graphics]

Is learning to drive really not an option? It might not cost that much, especially if you have someone you can drive around with for practice between lessons, once you are more confident...I know you would then have the cost of a car but maybe something to aim for, if not now?

In the meantime by working from home and having people bring their dogs to you means you will have less outgoings and so you can be more competitvely priced. Perhaps a good thing for the current market. Not sure about the shed though...is it a big shed..will you be catering for all dogs (big and small) :|

Good luck with it

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I am in the stages of planning my business of dog grooming. My main two issues at the moment are training and the overheads after the end of my training. I have been advised to start up as a mobile groomer for the first few months to start up. However, I do not drive and the cost of learning to do so will only push up the initial cost of start up. My training alone is around £2,000.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make this worth while? It has also been suggested that I do it from home by picking up dogs and bringing them there, either in my room or my shed. Can this be done?

xx

As an accountant I (surprisingly) act for several dog groomers and can tell you both mobile and static can work, and work well.

My most profitable dog groomer is a lady who works from small rented premises and her clients bring their dogs to her. Incidentely she doesnt drive!

My advice would be to look at some small start-up premises from day 1 rather than operate from home. In that way you will build a business from day 1 and cost it accordingly.

If you want to PM me I'd gladly help further.

 

[geebs2006]

Yea I would consider learning to drive. Maybe even leanr automatic instead of manual. Can greatly reduce cost of lessons as generally you need fewer. This could in turn get you on the road quicker.

 

[Venka]

Why not approach a local vet/pet store to see if you can operate from their premises?

You benefit from the passing trade and you may get a good deal on rent.

P.S. If you are in SE London, can you groom my HUGE German Shepherd please as other groomers refuse to go near him (he is HUGE but an absolutele sweetie)

 

[sadgrove]

Mobile groomers generally have a van, which is not cheap to fit out. You'll need a purpose-made interior, with bath, driers, and stand; plus plumbing and electricity, ramps and so on.

If you use your house, and get people to bring their dogs to you, this is simpler, as long as you have a secure room in which to groom; and again you will need bathing and drying facilities.

If you lease premises, they will need to be kitted out.

If you're worried about the cost of learning to drive, it sounds as though you are seriously under capitalised. Many new businesses fail just as they get going due to lack of cash to continue trading.

The cheapest option is working from home.

To succeed, you will need to invest in advertising - which means a constant drip feed. And be prepared to offer free or cut price work until your diary begins to fill and you get repeat customers.

Good luck.

 

[Billmccallum]

How old are you? Where are you based? How much cash do you have available?

As you are currently training, it may be possible to get a small grant for start-up and depending on age the Princes Trust might be accessible.

If you would like some free advice, drop me a PM.

 

[Rufford]

I am in the stages of planning my business of dog grooming. My main two issues at the moment are training and the overheads after the end of my training. I have been advised to start up as a mobile groomer for the first few months to start up. However, I do not drive and the cost of learning to do so will only push up the initial cost of start up. My training alone is around £2,000.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make this worth while? It has also been suggested that I do it from home by picking up dogs and bringing them there, either in my room or my shed. Can this be done?

xx

I can comment because I guess spend money on dog grooming and have businesses although I have no direct knowledge of the dog grooming business.

I feel you have been given the correct advice: start mobile. I presume you mean using a vehicle designed to work within. Therefore setup includes driving lessons and the test; a vehicle (bespoke) once you have a licence; vehicle and business insurance ; money for marketing; equipment etc. Not a small amount of money.

There are franchises and maybe you should consider those as a business model.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Venka.

I rather suspect that the reason that you are having this problem is that part of the professional dog grooming process is a good shampoo during which the anal glands are queezed and all the swelling puss released. Not easy on a snappy little terrier but a bloody big German Shepherd - Yea Right.

Seriously. If the dog hasn't been properly groomed for some time and you haven't done it yourself you really should take your dog to the vets. Not doing so can lead to all sorts of problems bad breath - wind etc and some really far more serious digestive problems.

Rob

 

[oldeagleeye]

Whoops. Meant to add. Your probably find quite a few people offering a dog walking service in you area OP. They could help get you clients.

Working at home is not really an option unless you can asign space with at least a twin legnth sinks draingng boards . couple of stainless steel working tables. You will also need electrics for dryers and what many newbes forget at least 4-6 big and small cages to house dogs waiting to be processed or for owners to collect. Some who will leave the dog for for the whole morning or afternoon etc so you will need a back yard of some sort so the dogs can relieve themselves.

And finlly. With low overhraeds you can make a living at this. You didn't start right however by paying £2K for a course. Working a few days as a helper at another parlor would have done it and given you more practical general biz advice as well including the fact that it is damned hard work.

Rob

Rob

 

[cjd]

There's a dog grooming business in a nearby town that does very well. 'Doggie Fashion' you can watch people smile at the name and point at the shop as they walk past.
The owner grooms the dogs on a table in the shop window and sells all sorts of dog accessories.

I suspect that the showmanship and location is a big part of their success - it promotes and advertises itself for free all day everyday. The high street in many of our towns now have a lot of empty premises that landlords may be happy to rent at a relatively low rate; I think I'd look seriously at that option first.

 

[AdamJ]

Venka.

I rather suspect that the reason that you are having this problem is that part of the professional dog grooming process is a good shampoo during which the anal glands are queezed and all the swelling puss released. Not easy on a snappy little terrier but a bloody big German Shepherd - Yea Right.

My old collie used to have to have his bum glands squeezed regularly as they got bunged up and irritated him and sometimes it really does jet out and stinks like nothing else - basically concentrated liquid poo. The vet was telling me when he was relatively new he'd been doing a dog and forgot the basic rule of 'stop talking and keep your mouth shut'... He got a perfect shot right into his mouth. Aparrently he was throwing up for hours afterwards

 

[gordano]

I am in the stages of planning my business of dog grooming. My main two issues at the moment are training and the overheads after the end of my training. I have been advised to start up as a mobile groomer for the first few months to start up. However, I do not drive and the cost of learning to do so will only push up the initial cost of start up. My training alone is around £2,000.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make this worth while? It has also been suggested that I do it from home by picking up dogs and bringing them there, either in my room or my shed. Can this be done?

xx

I know someone who runs dog grooming from home, they use networking and free ad sites such as www.allpetservices.co.uk to get new clients.

Starting from home will keep costs low, you can expand into a leased property and/or mobile van(s) as you grow. Go for it

 

[oldeagleeye]

Your spot on there CJD. I arranged the finance many years ago for a number of Poodle Parlours as there were known then and without exeception all the owners were into breeding and showing their own dogs at Crufts etc. Needless to say they knew all about grooming and were pretty shrewd in business too.

I ended up buying 2 poodles for my ex in a year. Offspring of prize winners. That was a cool £1,000 in our Edna's back pocket. Then of course there was the £30 quid a month grooming them and that was a long time ago.

Nice little business then but I would suggest only for genuine dog lovers. Anyone seen in the biz just for the money simply wouldn't get the custom because there is a huge amount of trust needed here.

The mention of which. Another option. I am sure there are a lot of vets with quite large premises out there. I know there are near me. Rent a spare room perhaps or a shed just for grooming.

In fact I am pretty damn sure if they had the on-site facility a lot of vets would insist on it given the state of some of the dogs I have seen at the surgery.

A great little lesson to be learned from the Beauty Salon. Rent a chair or space.

Now off the the shops in the snowand don't you get pity those small dogs. Talk about freezing your bollockeeeeeeeeeers off.

Rob

 

[Morgan]

I think if you had a proper room set up with sink, dryer etc ie convert your garage you could quite successfully operate a successful business of this nature working from home but I'm not sure I'd pay to have my dog groomed in a shed. Unless it was a swish shed!

I probably wouldn't want them groomed at my house either as I'd rather someone else had the clearing up afterwards although that's probably just me as I'm sure being mobile is a viable option - I've seen a few round here. You would have to drive though, no way could you carry your equipment without having your own transport.

 

[M-wad]

I am also looking to start my business from home and I have a cabin set up with all the equipment. I’m not planning on starting it until December but I wanted to get the ball rolling.
I have no idea whether I need business permission to do so as I will only be doing part time and not changing anything to my house.
Then paid pollution should be minimal as it is fully insulated and double glazed.

 

[Prime81]

My friend just started a dog grooming business from her garage. She has lots of clients who are happy to drop off and pick up the dogs from her house. Buying a van was way too expensive and not worth it if you have space at home.

 

[Mr D]

deleted

 

[bojo]

One major advantage of having a van is that you can have it wrapped/sign written with your business name and logos etc. Just the best advertising space. Once that's paid for, it's pretty much free advertising.

 

[Energise Accounting]

I think you need a van whichever route you take. Our dog groomer used to pickup and bring back our dog for a fee of course. however, we now just take him to pets at home where it is half the price of our old dog groomer. Can you offer the service for £20

 

[rpbizman]

Start from home because its the fastest way to get started, get online get out there, then focus on getting on the road.

A van with a big bright advert along with a professional social media presence will shoot your business to the moon.

Best of luck!

 

[Gecko001]

This is a nine year old thread.