If your grooming shop needs discounts to stay busy, your menu is doing the selling for your competitors. Price clarity and add-on structure change who you attract and how much they spend.
Most small grooming businesses underprice base services and overwork staff.
A menu that separates base, coat condition, and behavior factors keeps margins honest.
The goal is to make your best customers self-select into the right tier and to make your team’s time visible and valued.
Build the three-layer menu:
Start with a base that includes bath, basic brush, nails, and ears.
Add a coat condition tier that acknowledges matting, undercoat density, or extra drying time. Add a behavior tier for anxious or reactive dogs which funds slower, low-stress handling.
Publish all three so owners understand why time costs different amounts.
Use time ranges instead of flat quotes:
Replace “Small dog full groom $55” with “Small dog full groom 60–90 minutes, from $65.” Time ranges justify price variation and protect you when a dog needs breaks.
You are selling professional time more than a shampoo.
Add-ons that make sense to owners:
Upgrade brush-out packages before shedding seasons.
Offer a seasonal skin routine with hypoallergenic shampoo and gentle rinse for allergy months. Nail shaping with a grinder can be an add-on that owners see and appreciate.
Loyalty that rewards the right behavior:
Reward six-week schedules with a small rebook bonus or priority slots rather than blanket discounts. Predictable schedules improve revenue and dog comfort.
What to publish on your website:
Publish a transparent menu, time ranges, photo examples, and preparation tips. Add a cancellation policy that is firm and kind. Include a first-time visit page that explains how you read stress signals and what owners can do to help, like a quiet drop-off and a no-rush pickup window.
Simple numbers:
Raise prices for the next quarter by five to eight percent if you have never increased them. Test a weekend surcharge only if weekday capacity is full. Measure revenue per hour rather than tickets per day.
FAQs:
How do I raise prices without losing clients?
Give thirty days’ notice, explain the time-based structure, and offer rebooking benefits for regular schedules.
What if a dog arrives matted?
Use photos to show the work involved, move the coat to the correct tier, and remind owners that regular brush-outs prevent extra cost.
Do packages cheapen the brand?
Packages focus attention. As long as base pricing covers time, packages guide choices rather than discount value.
Can I charge more for anxious dogs?
Yes, if the fee funds extra handler time and a low-stress approach. Be clear and kind in your explanation.
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