Dog Grooming Business Plan: Free Template, Sample Plan and Startup Costs (2026)

By The Zarla Team · Updated September 2026

Typical startup costs of $9,385–$52,000, what owners really earn, the licenses you'll need in the US, how to write every section, and a complete sample plan for Tidy Tails Grooming — free to download as a Word template or PDF, or make it yours in five questions.

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Dog grooming business plan at a glance

Starting a dog grooming business in the US typically costs $9,385–$52,000, with salon space and working capital the biggest lines. Typical monthly costs run $1,500–$8,450 before owner pay and tax. Typical published US price for a full dog groom: $40–$90.

Licenses and permits in the US (5 in all): a business license, and a home-occupation or zoning permit for a home salon; a state grooming facility license in the few states that require one; and liability insurance with animal bailee cover — the rules vary by state.
The plan: eleven sections, from the executive summary to what a lender, a landlord or an investor will ask for, written from five questions — free, no sign-up to write it.
The sample plan on this page: Tidy Tails Grooming, Boise, ID — a fictional dog grooming business, a one-groomer salon for dogs of every size, with a bather added once the book is full.
The first 30 days: 9 steps, starting with “Decide your model”.
Downloads: the fill-in template as Word and PDF, and the sample plan as PDF — free, no email address.

Facts checked September 25, 2026. Every figure is a published US range, not a quote; the sources are listed on this page, which covers how to write a dog grooming business plan, the complete sample plan and the free template.

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The numbers first

$9,385–$52,000to start a dog grooming businessTypical US range, required lines

$40–$90typical published US price for a full dog groom; about $60 for a medium dog, more for large breeds and matted coats

+$20–$40what mobile groomers typically charge on top of the salon price for the van coming to the door

$35,360US median pay for animal caretakers, the occupation groomers are counted in, May 2025 (BLS)

Startup costs

What it costs to start a dog grooming business

Typical US ranges, whole dollars. Optional lines are marked and left out of the total. The struck-through lines are what a Zarla plan covers, with the reason beside each; the generator turns this table into your own list.

Dog grooming business startup costs
Item	Low	High
Grooming equipment: tub, table, dryers, clippers and shearsPublished retail prices: a grooming tub about $400–$1,500, a professional table $200–$800, clippers and shears $300–$600, a dryer $150–$500 — plus blades, combs, kennels and a second dryer once you're busy.	$2,000	$7,000
Salon space: lease deposit, plumbing, drainage and fit-outA small storefront or a salon suite needs hot water, drainage with a hair trap, ventilation and washable floors. Many groomers start in a rented room or a home salon where zoning allows, and the mobile van below is the other route.	$3,000	$25,000
Insurance (first year): liability with animal bailee coverInsureon's median for pet groomers is about $50 a month for general liability ($65 for mobile groomers). Ask for animal bailee cover by name — it's what pays when a dog in your care is hurt.	$600	$1,800
Grooming facility license and local business licenseMost US states have no groomer license; a few license the facility — Connecticut's is $200, renewed every two years — and most cities want a business license.	$50	$500
Opening supplies: shampoos, blades, towels and cleaning	$500	$2,000
Business registration, LLC and EINState filing fees run about $35 to $500 depending on where you register; the EIN from the IRS is free.	$35	$500
Website and Google Business ProfileIncluded with ZarlaYour Zarla plan includes the website with your prices, photos and online booking, and walks you through your Google Business Profile — a designer typically charges $2,000 or more to build one.	$0	$2,500
Booking, reminders and payments software (first year)Mostly included with ZarlaOnline booking, reminders, invoicing and customer records come with your Zarla plan; card-processing fees are separate.	$0	$1,200
Signage, business cards and appointment cards	$200	$1,500
Working capital: rent and living costs for the first monthsA new groomer's book takes months to fill, and the rent and the insurance are due from the first week.	$3,000	$10,000
Grooming school or certification, if you are new to grooming (optional)Optional — typically $500–$10,000. Online courses run about $1,000–$4,500 and in-person schools about $5,000–$10,000 or more. No US state requires a grooming certificate, but most groomers learn under an experienced one, and voluntary certification tells clients you've been tested.	$0	$0
Mobile grooming van instead of a salon (converted or turnkey) (optional)Optional — typically $20,000–$85,000. A used cargo van runs about $15,000–$30,000 before a $5,000–$15,000 conversion and the equipment, and a turnkey grooming van about $45,000–$85,000; most are financed. It replaces the salon space line — mobile groomers charge about $20–$40 more per groom and pay fuel and a van payment instead of rent.	$0	$0
Typical total (required lines)	$9,385	$52,000

Startup ranges: published US retail prices for grooming tubs ($400 to $1,500), tables ($200 to $800), clippers and shears ($300 to $600) and dryers ($150 to $500); published mobile grooming van prices (a used cargo van about $15,000 to $30,000 plus a $5,000 to $15,000 conversion, a turnkey unit $45,000 to $85,000); grooming-school tuition (online about $1,000 to $4,500, in person $5,000 to $10,000 or more); Insureon's median premiums for pet groomers (general liability about $50 a month, $65 for mobile groomers); state business-registration filing fees (about $35 to $500); and state rules — Connecticut's grooming facility license ($200, renewed every two years) and Colorado's Pet Animal Care Facilities Act license — compiled 2026 as ranges. Ranges are what a small operation typically pays in the US; replace them with real quotes as you get them.

Monthly costs

What it costs to run each month

Typical monthly operating costs for a small operation, before the owner's own pay.

Cost	Typical monthly range
Rent and utilities (hot water, drying and ventilation)	$1,000–$3,500
Shampoo, conditioner, blades, towels and cleaning	$200–$600
Liability and animal bailee insurance	$50–$150
Blade sharpening, clipper service and equipment repair	$50–$200
Booking, reminders and payments software (included with Zarla)	$0–$100
Marketing and local advertising	$100–$500
Phone, bookkeeping and card fees	$100–$400
Bather or assistant wages (once the book is full)	$0–$3,000

Typical total: $1,500–$8,450 a month. Monthly ranges: published US salon rents, grooming supply and blade-sharpening prices, pet groomer liability premiums, pay for bathers, and local marketing prices, compiled 2026. Prices and pay: published US dog grooming price guides (a full groom about $40 to $90, around $60 for a medium dog; mobile grooming about $20 to $40 more), and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 median pay for animal caretakers ($35,360), the occupation groomers are counted in, checked 2026. Lines marked (included with Zarla) are what those tools cost separately — with Zarla they are part of one monthly plan.

How much a dog grooming business makes

A one-groomer business earns dogs groomed per day times the average ticket, so the plan turns on two numbers you control: how many full grooms fit in a day without rushing a dog, and how many clients rebook before they leave. A doodle or a poodle on a four-to-eight-week cycle is worth a dozen grooms a year, which is why a full book of regulars — not a stream of new dogs — is what makes a grooming business work. Large, matted or anxious dogs take far longer than a medium dog on a standard clip, so price by size and coat, and put the matting and behavior surcharge in writing. A salon adds rent and gains a bather and a second table; a mobile van charges about $20–$40 more per groom, fits fewer dogs a day around the driving, and swaps rent for fuel and a van payment. The pay figure is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 median for animal caretakers, the occupation groomers are counted in — a skilled groomer with a full book of their own earns well above it.

$40–$90 — typical published US price for a full dog groom; about $60 for a medium dog, more for large breeds and matted coats
+$20–$40 — what mobile groomers typically charge on top of the salon price for the van coming to the door
$35,360 — US median pay for animal caretakers, the occupation groomers are counted in, May 2025 (BLS)

Licenses and permits

Licenses, permits and insurance for a dog grooming business

What you need before you can legally trade in the US. Rules vary by state and city — confirm each item with your local licensing office and an accountant.

Requirement	What it means
A business license, and a home-occupation or zoning permit for a home salon	Most US cities require a business license for a grooming business, and a salon in your home usually needs a home-occupation permit — some neighborhoods don't allow customers' dogs coming and going at all, so check the zoning before you plumb in a tub.
A state grooming facility license in the few states that require one	Most US states have no license for groomers or grooming salons. A few do: Connecticut requires a grooming facility license from its Department of Agriculture ($200, renewed every two years, with the town's zoning sign-off), and Colorado licenses grooming facilities under its Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, renewed each year. Other states have debated groomer licensing, so check yours when you register.
Liability insurance with animal bailee cover	Not a license, but the thing that protects the business: general liability covers a client who trips in the salon, and animal bailee cover pays when a dog in your care is cut or injured. Insureon's median for pet groomers is about $50 a month for general liability.
Sales tax registration where it applies	In the US, shampoos, collars and treats sold over the counter are taxable retail sales in most states, and some states tax pet grooming itself as a service — register with your state's revenue department if either applies to you.
Business registration and EIN	Most US groomers form an LLC; state filing fees run about $35 to $500. The EIN from the IRS is free, and you'll need it to open a business bank account and hire a bather.

How to write it

How to write a dog grooming business plan

The sections a lender, a landlord or an investor expects to see — and what goes in each one for a dog grooming business. Tidy Tails Grooming's sample plan below follows this outline exactly.

Executive summary

One page, written last: what the business is, where it trades, who it serves, what it costs to start — typically $9,385–$52,000 for a dog grooming business — and where that money is coming from. Someone who reads nothing else should still know the whole plan. For Tidy Tails Grooming below, that page says: a one-groomer salon for dogs of every size, with a bather added once the book is full in Boise, ID, $28,843 to start.

Products and services

What you offer and how you charge for it. For a dog grooming business that usually means full grooms: bath, haircut, nails and ears; bath and brush-outs between haircuts; and breed trims, hand scissoring and puppy first grooms. Keep the base offer simple and price the add-ons separately.

Market analysis

Who pays, and why they'd pick you: owners of doodles, poodles, shih tzus and other breeds whose coats need a cut every four to eight weeks; busy owners who want a regular standing appointment and a groomer who knows their dog. Name the two or three local competitors a customer would compare you with and the one thing you do better. Skip the market-size statistics — a lender wants your customers, not the industry's.

Marketing strategy

How those customers find you: rebooking at the end of every groom — a standing appointment is worth more than any new client; Google Business Profile and Google — “dog groomer near me” is searched with the dog in the car, and the reviews and photos decide the call; and before-and-after photos on Instagram and Facebook, which clients share themselves. Put a cost and an expected result beside each channel, and say which one you'll start with.

Operations plan

The week to week, plainly: prices set by size and coat, with a matting and behavior surcharge written on the price list and explained before the groom starts; vaccination records on file for every dog before the first appointment; and every client rebooked before they leave, and reminders sent before each appointment. If the plan can't say who does what on an ordinary Tuesday, it isn't finished.

Startup costs

Every line you'll spend before you start, with a running total — typically $9,385–$52,000 for a dog grooming business, and the two biggest lines (salon space; working capital) move it most. The table above is the starting list; replace each range with a real quote as you get one.

Financial plan

Typical monthly costs ($1,500–$8,450 a month for a small dog grooming business, before your own pay), the monthly sales you're aiming for (Tidy Tails Grooming plans on $10,500 a month), and how many months it takes to recover the startup budget. Use ranges until you have quotes, and never invent a revenue forecast to make the page look full.

Milestones, risks and the appendix

The first 30 days as a dated to-do list. Tidy Tails Grooming's begins: decide your model — a home salon, a rented room, a storefront or a van — because the costs and the permits are different. Then the risks, said out loud: a dog hurt on the table or in a dryer is the risk every groomer fears — never leave a dog unattended, and carry animal bailee cover. Then the licenses and permits you'll need, and what a lender will ask for beyond the plan: two years of personal tax returns and a personal financial statement, for a start.

The sample plan

Tidy Tails Grooming is a fictional dog grooming business in Boise, ID — a one-groomer salon for dogs of every size, with a bather added once the book is full. The plan below is exactly what the free generator writes from five answers, in the outline above, with every number calculated from the figures on this page rather than invented. Read it as a worked example, then make it yours.

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Business plan

Sample plan · fictional business

A complete dog grooming business plan: Tidy Tails Grooming

Boise, ID · Startup plan · a fictional dog grooming business, written by the free generator from five answers

Executive summary

Tidy Tails Grooming is a new dog grooming business in Boise, ID offering full grooms: bath, haircut, nails and ears; bath and brush-outs between haircuts; breed trims, hand scissoring and puppy first grooms; nail trims, teeth brushing and de-shedding; and senior-dog and anxious-dog appointments. The model is one groomer, prices set by size and coat, every client rebooked before they leave, and a book of regulars on four-to-eight-week cycles that keeps the calendar full.

Startup budget: $28,843 across 10 items, funded from savings. Target: $10,500 in monthly sales.

Twelve months from now, success looks like this: A book full three weeks ahead, most clients rebooked every four to eight weeks, and a bather hired so the groomer only grooms

Products and services

Tidy Tails Grooming's core service is full grooms: bath, haircut, nails and ears. Every dog has vaccination records on file and notes on its clip, blade and temperament; matting and behavior surcharges are on the price list and explained before the groom; and no dog is ever left unattended on the table or in a dryer.

Full grooms: bath, haircut, nails and ears
Bath and brush-outs between haircuts
Breed trims, hand scissoring and puppy first grooms
Nail trims, teeth brushing and de-shedding
Senior-dog and anxious-dog appointments

Market analysis

The customers are owners of doodles, poodles and other breeds whose coats need a cut every few weeks, busy owners who want a standing appointment with a groomer who knows their dog, owners of senior, large or anxious dogs who need a calm one-on-one groom, and the vets, walkers and trainers asked where to go.

Owners of doodles, poodles, shih tzus and other breeds whose coats need a cut every four to eight weeks
Busy owners who want a regular standing appointment and a groomer who knows their dog
Owners of senior, large or anxious dogs who need a calm, one-on-one groom
Vets, dog walkers, trainers and boarding kennels asked where to get a dog groomed

Marketing strategy

Most new clients will come from Google and word of mouth. An owner searches “dog groomer near me” and books the groomer whose before-and-after photos and reviews they trust, so the Google Business Profile, the photos and a website with prices and online booking do the selling; recommendations at the dog park, from vets and from walkers do the rest. Rebooking at the end of every groom keeps them.

Rebooking at the end of every groom — a standing appointment is worth more than any new client
Google Business Profile and Google — “dog groomer near me” is searched with the dog in the car, and the reviews and photos decide the call
Before-and-after photos on Instagram and Facebook, which clients share themselves
Word of mouth at the dog park and from vets, walkers and trainers
A website with your prices by size, the services you offer and online booking

Operations plan

The groomer grooms, books and answers messages in year one, keeps notes on every dog, services the clippers and blades on a schedule, and tracks dogs per day and the rebooking rate every week. A bather is hired once the book is full three weeks ahead, so the groomer spends every hour on the work only a groomer can do.

Prices set by size and coat, with a matting and behavior surcharge written on the price list and explained before the groom starts
Vaccination records on file for every dog before the first appointment
Every client rebooked before they leave, and reminders sent before each appointment
Notes kept on every dog — the clip, the blade, the temperament, anything the owner mentioned
Dogs never left unattended on the table or in a cage dryer, and every lump, cut or skin issue reported to the owner at pickup
Clippers, blades and shears serviced on a schedule, and the tub, table and kennels cleaned between every dog

Startup costs

What it will take to open the doors, funded from savings.

Startup costs
Item	Amount
Grooming equipment: tub, table, dryers, clippers and shears	$4,500
Salon space: lease deposit, plumbing, drainage and fit-out	$14,000
Insurance (first year): liability with animal bailee cover	$1,200
Grooming facility license and local business license	$275
Opening supplies: shampoos, blades, towels and cleaning	$1,250
Business registration, LLC and EIN	$268
Website and Google Business Profile	$0
Booking, reminders and payments software (first year)	$0
Signage, business cards and appointment cards	$850
Working capital: rent and living costs for the first months	$6,500
Total	$28,843

Typical range to start a dog grooming business in the US: $9,385–$52,000. Your list is what you decided to spend — replace estimates with real quotes as you get them. Website and Google Business Profile: Your Zarla plan includes the website with your prices, photos and online booking, and walks you through your Google Business Profile — a designer typically charges $2,000 or more to build one. Booking, reminders and payments software (first year): Online booking, reminders, invoicing and customer records come with your Zarla plan; card-processing fees are separate.

Financial plan

The numbers below come from your own startup list and typical monthly costs for a one-groomer dog grooming business in the US. Rent and the groomer's own hours are the constraint, so the plan turns on dogs groomed per day, the average ticket and how many clients rebook — a mobile van swaps the rent for fuel and a van payment.

Typical monthly operating costs for a dog grooming business: $1,500–$8,450 a month, before the owner's own pay.

At $10,500 in monthly sales, Tidy Tails Grooming would clear $2,050–$9,000 a month before owner pay and tax, and recover the $28,843 startup budget in roughly 4–15 months.

Typical monthly operating costs
Cost	Typical range
Rent and utilities (hot water, drying and ventilation)	$1,000–$3,500
Shampoo, conditioner, blades, towels and cleaning	$200–$600
Liability and animal bailee insurance	$50–$150
Blade sharpening, clipper service and equipment repair	$50–$200
Booking, reminders and payments software (included with Zarla)	$0–$100
Marketing and local advertising	$100–$500
Phone, bookkeeping and card fees	$100–$400
Bather or assistant wages (once the book is full)	$0–$3,000

US ranges for a small operation; replace with your own figures as you learn them. Lines marked (included with Zarla) are what those tools cost separately — with Zarla they are part of one monthly plan.

Risks and honest downsides

Every dog grooming business plan should say out loud what can go wrong. For Tidy Tails Grooming, the real risks are:

A dog hurt on the table or in a dryer is the risk every groomer fears — never leave a dog unattended, and carry animal bailee cover
An empty book costs the same rent as a full one, and a new groomer's book takes months to fill
Groomers' wrists, shoulders and backs wear out: lifting large dogs, a hydraulic table and a sustainable number of dogs a day matter over a career
Matted, aggressive or elderly dogs take far longer than the price assumes unless the surcharge is on the price list and explained upfront
A single bad review about a nicked ear or an uneven cut travels fast in a local dog community
One groomer is one point of failure — illness or an injury closes the book until you're back

Licenses, permits and insurance

What Tidy Tails Grooming needs before it can legally trade in the US. Rules vary by state and city — confirm each item with your local licensing office and an accountant.

A business license, and a home-occupation or zoning permit for a home salon — Most US cities require a business license for a grooming business, and a salon in your home usually needs a home-occupation permit — some neighborhoods don't allow customers' dogs coming and going at all, so check the zoning before you plumb in a tub.
A state grooming facility license in the few states that require one — Most US states have no license for groomers or grooming salons. A few do: Connecticut requires a grooming facility license from its Department of Agriculture ($200, renewed every two years, with the town's zoning sign-off), and Colorado licenses grooming facilities under its Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, renewed each year. Other states have debated groomer licensing, so check yours when you register.
Liability insurance with animal bailee cover — Not a license, but the thing that protects the business: general liability covers a client who trips in the salon, and animal bailee cover pays when a dog in your care is cut or injured. Insureon's median for pet groomers is about $50 a month for general liability.
Sales tax registration where it applies — In the US, shampoos, collars and treats sold over the counter are taxable retail sales in most states, and some states tax pet grooming itself as a service — register with your state's revenue department if either applies to you.
Business registration and EIN — Most US groomers form an LLC; state filing fees run about $35 to $500. The EIN from the IRS is free, and you'll need it to open a business bank account and hire a bather.

Milestones: the next 30 days

The first month's to-do list for Tidy Tails Grooming, in order:

Decide your model — a home salon, a rented room, a storefront or a van — because the costs and the permits are different
Check your city's business license and zoning, and whether your state licenses grooming facilities
Register the business, take the free EIN and open a business bank account
Get liability quotes with animal bailee cover before the first dog
Price the tub, table, dryers and clippers, and plan plumbing, drainage and ventilation for the space
Write your price list by size and coat, with the matting and behavior surcharge, and your vaccination policy
Set up a free Google Business Profile and put your website live with your prices, photos and online booking
Introduce yourself to local vets, dog walkers, trainers and boarding kennels
Rebook every client before they leave, and ask each happy one for a Google review with a photo of their dog

Appendix: what a lender will ask for

This plan tells the story and shows the numbers. If you take it to a bank, expect to be asked for these documents as well:

Two years of personal tax returns and a personal financial statement
A month-by-month 12-month cash-flow projection built from dogs groomed per day and your average ticket
Your grooming experience, certifications or a reference from the groomer you trained under
The lease or letter of intent for the space, or the quote for the van
Quotes for the tub, table, dryers and plumbing work
Your business license, insurance quote and any state facility license
Your credit report

Every figure in Tidy Tails Grooming's plan is a typical US range from the tables above or arithmetic on the sample's own startup list and $10,500 monthly sales target — nothing is a market projection. The template downloads above are the same plan with [bracketed] lines for your own business.

Step two

Turn this plan into a website

Add your name and your city to the line, and Zarla builds the website with your services in place. You edit the rest in chat.

Or download the free template (Word)

Keep going

The plan is the thinking. These are the next pieces for a dog grooming business:

Dog grooming business plan FAQ

How much does it cost to start a dog grooming business?

Typically $9,385–$52,000 in the US, counting every required line in the table above. The range is wide because the biggest items (salon space; working capital) depend on what you already have and where you are. The free generator turns the table into your own list with your own figures.

How much can a dog grooming business make?

$40–$90 typical published US price for a full dog groom; about $60 for a medium dog, more for large breeds and matted coats; +$20–$40 what mobile groomers typically charge on top of the salon price for the van coming to the door; $35,360 US median pay for animal caretakers, the occupation groomers are counted in, May 2025 (BLS). A one-groomer business earns dogs groomed per day times the average ticket, so the plan turns on two numbers you control: how many full grooms fit in a day without rushing a dog, and how many clients rebook before they leave. A doodle or a poodle on a four-to-eight-week cycle is worth a dozen grooms a year, which is why a full book of regulars — not a stream of new dogs — is what makes a grooming business work. Large, matted or anxious dogs take far longer than a medium dog on a standard clip, so price by size and coat, and put the matting and behavior surcharge in writing. A salon adds rent and gains a bather and a second table; a mobile van charges about $20–$40 more per groom, fits fewer dogs a day around the driving, and swaps rent for fuel and a van payment. The pay figure is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 median for animal caretakers, the occupation groomers are counted in — a skilled groomer with a full book of their own earns well above it.

What licenses and permits do I need to start a dog grooming business in the US?

A business license, and a home-occupation or zoning permit for a home salon; a state grooming facility license in the few states that require one; liability insurance with animal bailee cover; sales tax registration where it applies; and business registration and EIN. Rules vary by state and city — confirm each item with your local licensing office and an accountant before you spend on it.

Do I need a business plan to start a dog grooming business?

You need the thinking more than the document: what you'll offer, who pays, what it costs to start, what it costs to run each month and how long the budget takes to recover. A lender, a landlord or an investor will ask for the document — and for things beyond it: two years of personal tax returns and a personal financial statement; a month-by-month 12-month cash-flow projection built from dogs groomed per day and your average ticket. The sample plan above has every section; the generator writes yours from five questions.

Can I turn this business plan into a website?

Yes — that's the point. Your plan's own marketing section says people will find you on Google and through word of mouth; a website is how both happen. Zarla builds your dog grooming business website from what you've already told us — free to build, pay when you publish.

Is there a free dog grooming business plan template?

Yes. The dog grooming business plan template on this page downloads free as a Word document or a PDF — no email, no sign-up. It's the complete plan for a placeholder business with [bracketed] lines to fill in, and the typical figures for a dog grooming business already in the tables. The generator writes the same plan with your own name, city, services and numbers in five questions.

What should a dog grooming business plan include?

The sections a lender, a landlord or an investor expects: an executive summary, products and services, market analysis, marketing strategy, an operations plan, startup costs, a financial plan, the risks, licenses and permits, milestones and an appendix. Tidy Tails Grooming's sample plan above has all eleven, and the section-by-section notes explain what goes in each one for a dog grooming business.