How to Price Dog Grooming Services

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The hardest conversation in any new grooming business: what do I charge? Price too low and you work yourself into the ground for less than minimum wage. Price too high (without the reputation to support it) and you lose clients before they try you. Here's a framework that actually works.

Start With Your True Cost Per Appointment

Before you set a single price, you need to know what each appointment costs you to deliver. Add up your monthly fixed costs (rent, utilities, insurance, software) and divide by your monthly appointment volume. Then add your labor cost per appointment (your groomer's hourly rate × average appointment time).

Most groomers, when they do this math for the first time, discover their breakeven is $35–$55 per appointment before they've paid themselves anything. If you're charging less than that, you're subsidizing your clients.

Breed-Based Pricing Is the Industry Standard

Your coat type determines your time investment more than anything else:

• Short smooth coats (Labs, Boxers, Beagles): $35–$55. Fast bath, minimal drying, basic nail trim.
• Double coats (Huskies, Goldens, Shelties): $65–$100. Deshedding treatment, extended drying, brush-out.
• Curly/wavy coats (Poodles, Doodles, Bichons): $65–$120. Scissoring and shaping add significant time.
• Silky/flowing coats (Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzus): $55–$85. Mat risk increases with coat length between appointments.
• Giant breeds (Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees): $120–$225+. Time-based pricing — charge hourly, not by breed.

The Add-On Strategy Is Where Margin Lives

Base grooms cover your costs. Add-ons build your profit. The secret is offering them at every appointment without being pushy:

• Teeth brushing: $10–$15 (3 minutes, near 100% margin)
• Blueberry facial: $8–$12 (product cost under $1)
• Deshedding treatment: $15–$35 (visible results clients love)
• Nail grinding: $8–$15 (upgrade from standard clip)
• Ear cleaning: $8–$12 (often overlooked, high perceived value)

A groomer who consistently attaches 2 add-ons per appointment at $10 each adds $20 per appointment. At 30 appointments per week, that's $600/week or $31,200/year in additional revenue — from the same number of dogs.

When and How to Raise Prices

Review your prices at least once per year. Signs it's time to raise:

• You're booked out more than 3 weeks without a waitlist
• Your supply costs have increased more than 10%
• You haven't raised prices in more than 18 months
• You're working more than 45 hours per week and still not making enough

The raise: give 30–45 days notice. Keep the increase to 10–15%. Add a value element (upgrade a shampoo, add a report card). You'll lose 3–5% of your most price-sensitive clients — the ones who were least loyal anyway. Your revenue per hour will go up.