14/10/2026
🐾 A little insight into the reality of running a small dog grooming business.
I’ve had 3 last-minute cancellations this week, and unfortunately, I haven’t been able to fill those appointments.
As a self-employed groomer, when someone cancels at the last minute, that time is often lost income. I can’t simply replace every appointment at a few hours’ notice, and my bills don’t stop just because my diary has unexpected gaps.
Of those 3 cancellations, 2 were from repeat offenders. On this occasion, I felt I had to stand by my cancellation policy and charge the appropriate fee.
Unfortunately, both have since ignored my messages, and I’ve now lost two clients because I’ve asked them to honour the policy they were made aware of and signed paperwork for.
And honestly, that’s disappointing. Not just because of the lost income, but because nobody enjoys being put in the position of having to enforce these things.
But here’s the thing, I can’t afford to run my business on the understanding that my time and income don’t matter.
My cancellation policy is there for a reason:
✂️ Less than 48 hours’ notice: 50% of the groom price.
✂️ Less than 24 hours’ notice: 100% of the groom price.
I completely understand that life happens. Dogs get poorly, emergencies come up, and sometimes plans change. I’m human, and I will always try to be understanding where I can.
But there’s a difference between an unexpected situation and repeatedly cancelling at the last minute.
I’m a small business, a 1-1 dog groomer, I don’t pack many dogs into my day because I want my business to be personal, and I take time to give my dogs the best possible experiences.
I’m not sharing this to shame anyone. I’m sharing it because I think it’s important for people to understand the reality behind running a small, self-employed business.
Please respect your groomer’s time, give as much notice as possible, and understand that cancellation policies exist to protect our livelihoods. ❤️
Thank you to all my lovely, reliable clients who support me and my little business. I appreciate you more than you know. 🐾❤️