04/17/2026
Stole this pic from a friend to make a point. (It's not my groom or my dog).
The groom on the left cost $90
The groom on the right cost $140
The groom on the left may have come from a high volume, busy shop with big overhead.
The groom on the right may have come from a high volume, busy shop with big overhead.
The groom on the left may have come from a home groomer, who works one on one with little to no overhead.
The groom on the right may have come from a home groomer, who works one on one with little to no overhead.
If the dog comes home happy and safe and calm both times, which groom would you rather have?
Does it matter if the groomer works at a shop or at home?
Does smaller overhead mean the home groomer should make less money, if they clearly have a superior skillset?
If the at home groomer is attending seminars, shows, expos, webinars, competitions, continually learning about the best products to make your pup's experience better, and they can put out grooms like the one on the right, don't they deserve to be well paid?
I am working hard on finding the balance between fair pricing for clients, and fair compensation for myself. I have days where I end up making $20/hr once things are all said and done. And that's not sustainable.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a groomer.
Cheap isn't always good, and good certainly isn't cheap.
