The Pros and Cons of Starting Your Own Dog Grooming Business
Are you thinking about starting a dog grooming business? If so, you should weigh its pros and cons. Like with all businesses, there are both advantages and disadvantages to starting your own dog grooming business. Neglecting to perform due diligence could lead you down the wrong career path. Here are some of the top and pros and cons of starting your own dog grooming business.
Pro: Work With Dogs
By starting your own dog grooming business, you’ll have the opportunity to work with dogs on a daily basis. If you’re interested in this career choice, you’re probably fond of dogs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many professions outside of the veterinary medicine field that allow you to work with these furry and fun-loving animals. Grooming, however, is an exception. As a professional groomer, you’ll perform services such as bathing, drying, clipping nails, all while working with dogs.
Pro: Strong Demand
There’s strong demand for the services offered by dog grooming businesses. According to data by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), over 38% of U.S. households own at least one dog. While some owners groom their dogs themselves, many of them prefer to use a professional groomer. As long as you put forth the effort to promote your dog grooming business, you won’t have trouble attracting customers. Furthermore, dog grooming businesses tend to have a high rate of returning customers. Once a customer has used your dog grooming service, he or she will likely return.
Pro: No Formal Education Required
Unlike most veterinary medicine professions, you don’t need any formal education to start a dog grooming business. All you need is the right set of skills as well as the determination to make your grooming business succeed. With that said, obtaining a formal education can’t hurt. There are several certifications available for dog grooming that can make you stand from competing dog groomers.
Pro: Expand Into Other Pet Grooming Services
You don’t have to limit yourself to only offering grooming services for dogs. Many professional groomers begin by exclusively offering dog grooming services. After gaining a foothold in their respective market, though, they’ll expand their grooming services into other animals. Cats, for instance, require grooming just like dogs. And considering that 25% of U.S. households own at least one cat, according to the AVMA, offering cat grooming services will allow you to reach more customers.
Con: Startup Costs
There are certain startup costs involves when launching a dog grooming business. Among other things, you’ll have to secure grooming brushes, shampoos, conditioners, a grooming table and nail clippers. Of course, the biggest expense is probably the location from which you want to operate your business. You’ll have to either rent or lease a building, or you can start a mobile dog grooming business using a van. Either way, you’ll incur costs when starting your own dog grooming business. Without the necessary funds or financing, you may struggle to get your dog grooming business up and running.
Con: Requires Insurance
When operating a dog grooming business, you’ll need insurance to protect against liability claims. Without liability insurance, a customer could sue you if his or her dog is injured while under your care. Alternatively, a customer’s dog could escape and bite someone or cause property damage. Liability insurance will protect you from claims such as these. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it, but if an incident involving a customer’s dog occurs, you can rest assured knowing that you are financially protected against claims.
Con: Hard Work
Running a dog grooming business isn’t easy; it requires hard work. Grooming is a hands-on job that’s somewhat laborious. Some breeds are easier to groom than others. Small breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers are usually easier to groom than their larger counterparts. Regardless, you’ll have to work with your hands to provide customers with a valuable grooming service that encourages them to come back. As your dog grooming business grows, however, you can hire employees to make it a little easier.
Con: Long Hours
You may have to work long hours when operating a dog grooming business. A complete grooming service involving bathing, drying and nail clipping can take several hours to complete. Assuming you service multiple dogs per day, you can expect to work long hours. Thankfully, you can free up your work schedule by hiring employees to help run your dog grooming business. Instead of performing all grooming services yourself, you can assign some of the appointments to your business’s employees.
Starting any business requires time and hard work — and a dog grooming business is no exception. You’ll have to secure all the necessary tools and equipment, purchase liability insurance and work long hours. On the other hand, starting a dog grooming business can be rewarding. You’ll be able to work with dogs while providing them with essential grooming services.
