If you have always been a dog lover, then the idea of making a career out of spending time with them all day must sound like a dream. There are various services you can provide if you want to work with dogs, such as becoming a professional dog walker, starting a doggy daycare, or a dog grooming business.
The latter can be an exciting job, as well as a lucrative choice. Dog owners will pay good money to have their dogs professionally groomed, as this is all part of caring for their pets properly, and it saves them the sometimes-challenging task of doing it themselves. If you think you would like to start a dog grooming business, here are some key costs you’ll need to consider.
Qualifications
You don’t necessarily need dog grooming qualifications to get started, but it can be a worthwhile investment. Having certifications can help to inspire more confidence in your clients when it comes to your abilities and professionalism. Furthermore, it can help you feel more confident in your skills, and arguably, you could charge higher fees if you have these.
Having some formal training in dog grooming, especially if you haven’t done much of this before, will certainly help to legitimise your business and give you the right skills to do the job well. These courses can cost anywhere between £200-£6,500, depending on the program you want to take.
Leasing a Workspace
You can run a dog grooming business out of your home, which can keep overheads down. However, this will only be suitable if you have enough space on your property for all of the correct equipment and an area for the dogs. You might also have to consider upgrades to your property to ensure a safe environment for you and the dogs when they are under your care.
If you can’t operate out of your home, you’ll need to find suitable premises to set up your dog grooming business. Leases for these spaces will vary, and you can find good rates if you shop around. However, this can be some of the more expensive aspects of running your business, so keep this in mind when trying to figure out what to charge clients to cover your overhead costs.
Equipment
Of course, you can’t groom dogs without the necessary equipment, and although this might be an expensive purchase initially, good quality equipment should last. For instance, a higher quality brush from a specialist site like Christiesdirect.com will last much longer and do a better job than one from a cheap retailer.
On sites like this one, you can find various other essential equipment for dog grooming, including clippers, shampoo, etc. You’ll also need a grooming table, straps for support, scissors, and support frames.
Promoting Your Business
If you want to attract clients quickly and steadily, you’ll also need to set aside some money to invest in promotion and marketing for your business. Setting up a website is a good start, and using social media can be a free/cheap way to promote your business too.
However, paying for adverts in local papers and handing out business cards and flyers can also help to spread the word.
There will likely be other costs attached to setting up a dog grooming business, but these are some of the main things you’ll need to think about when getting started.
