Dog Grooming Pricing Calculator - What Should You Charge? | Pawpreneur Suite

🐕 Stop Guessing Your Grooming Prices

Our free calculator shows exactly what you need to charge to make a proper living from your grooming business — in under 2 minutes.

1
Business Basics
2
Services
3
Core Expenses
4
Running Costs
✂️

Let's start with the basics

Tell us about your grooming business

👤
Solo Groomer Just me
🚐
Mobile Groomer I travel to clients
🏪
Salon Owner Fixed location
✖️
No I'm the only groomer
✔️
Yes I have staff who work
Vacation/Sick Days Per Year 14 days
Include holidays, sick days, and personal time off
Days Per Week 5 days
Hours Per Day 8 hours
Dogs Groomed Per Day (Average) 6 dogs
Be realistic — this should reflect what you consistently achieve, not your maximum
🛁

What services do you offer?

Select all that apply

$
This helps us compare your pricing to what you should charge
Full Groom min
Bath & Brush min
Nail Trim min

Your typical weekly mix

What percentage of your bookings are each service type?

Full Grooms 50%
Bath & Brush 30%
Nail Trims 20%
Total: 100%
💰

Your monthly core expenses

Fill in as many fields as possible for accurate pricing

🏠 Property & Utilities

$
Commercial property only. Home groomers: enter business portion (10-20%)
$
$
Liability, property, business insurance combined

👤 Personal Income

$
What monthly amount do you want to take from the business?

🧴 Consumables & Supplies

$
Shampoos, conditioners, cleaning products, blades, ear swabs, etc.
📊

Your monthly running costs

These ongoing costs are often overlooked but essential for accurate pricing

📋 Services & Admin

$
$
Card machine fees, Stripe/Square fees, etc.
$
$

🚗 Vehicle & Travel

$
Fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs. Essential for mobile groomers.

💡 Mobile Groomer? The 2026 IRS mileage rate is $0.725/mile. The Pro Calculator automatically tracks and calculates your vehicle costs for you. Learn more →

📣 Marketing

$

🔧 Equipment & Maintenance

$
Set aside monthly for clippers, dryers, tables, etc.

🎉 Here's what you should be charging

Based on your $0 monthly costs

Adjust your profit margin

Slide to see how different margins affect your pricing

30%
10% (Break-even) 30% (Recommended) 50% (Premium)
Full Groom
$75
90 min
Bath & Brush
$45
45 min
Nail Trim
$15
15 min

💡 Pricing Insight

You're currently charging $65 for a full groom. Based on your costs, you should be charging $75 — that's $10 more per groom!

Your Hourly Rate
$50
Per hour worked
Annual Revenue
$156,000
At full capacity
Annual Profit
$46,800
After expenses
Working Days/Year
246
After time off

Break-even pricing at different capacity levels

If you can't stay fully booked, here's what you need to charge

Capacity Hourly Rate Full Groom Bath & Brush Nail Trim
100% (Fully Booked) $50 $75 $45 $15
80% (Realistic) $62 $93 $56 $19
70% (Conservative) $71 $107 $64 $21
60% (Starting Out) $83 $125 $75 $25

💡 Tip: If you're 80% booked and charge these prices, you'll cover costs and make your target income.

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Disclaimer: These prices are estimates only and should be used as a guide. Always consult with a financial professional before making pricing decisions.

Common questions about grooming prices

What other groomers are asking

How much should a dog groomer charge in the US? +
Dog grooming prices in the US typically range from $30-$90 for a full groom, depending on location, dog size, coat condition, and services included. Urban areas like NYC or LA tend to be 20-40% higher than rural areas. Your pricing should be based on your actual costs plus a healthy profit margin (we recommend 25-40%).
How much do dog groomers make per hour? +
Self-employed dog groomers in the US typically earn $25-$60 per hour, depending on their pricing, efficiency, and overhead costs. The key is to calculate your true hourly rate after ALL expenses — many groomers are surprised to find they're earning less than minimum wage when costs are factored in. Use this calculator to find your true hourly rate.
How long does a full groom take? +
A full groom typically takes 1.5-3 hours depending on the dog's size, coat type, and condition. Small dogs with simple coats may take 60-90 minutes, while large dogs or those with matted coats can take 2-3+ hours. Factor in check-in/checkout time, breaks, and cleaning between appointments.
Should I charge more for difficult dogs? +
Yes! Dogs that are aggressive, anxious, or require extra handling should be charged 20-50% more. This compensates for the extra time, stress, and potential risk. Be upfront about these fees during booking. Many groomers also charge extra for severely matted coats, which require significantly more time and effort.
Is dog grooming profitable as a business? +
Dog grooming can be very profitable with proper pricing and business management. Successful groomers report profit margins of 30-50%. The key factors are: pricing based on your actual costs (not just what competitors charge), staying consistently booked, and controlling expenses. Mobile groomers often have higher profit margins due to lower overhead, while salon owners can scale by hiring additional groomers.
How do I raise my prices without losing clients? +
The best approach is gradual, transparent price increases. Give clients 30-60 days notice, explain the reasons (increased costs, added value), and consider grandfathering loyal clients for 3-6 months. Most groomers who raise prices report losing only 5-10% of clients, while significantly increasing revenue. The clients who leave are often the most price-sensitive and hardest to serve.

Last updated: January 2026 • Based on US groomer data

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