Dog Grooming Side Hustle
Groom dogs at your home salon or travel to clients as a mobile groomer. Strong recurring demand, good per-dog income, and clients who return regularly, but genuine training is required before working on client animals.
Income
$300–$2,500/mo
Startup cost
$3500
First $
1–3 months
Hours / week
8–25
How to start
- 01 Get hands-on training before taking paid clients. Apprenticing at a grooming salon for a few months is more useful than any online course, and many groomers will take on apprentices.
- 02 If formal training isn't accessible, enrol in a recognised grooming program. Paragon School of Pet Grooming offers a well-regarded home study course before working on client dogs.
- 03 Buy a solid grooming table, professional clippers, quality scissors, and a high-velocity dryer. These are the tools you'll use every session and quality matters for safety and results.
- 04 Get pet care liability insurance before taking your first paying client. A dog bite or an injury during grooming can result in a significant claim without it.
- 05 Start with breeds you're confident on. Labrador types, Doodles, and short-haired dogs are more forgiving than Poodles or Bichons that require precise breed-standard cuts.
- 06 Post in local Facebook Groups and Nextdoor as a new groomer offering introductory rates. Attach clear before-and-after photos of every dog you groom to build a visual portfolio quickly.
Pros
- + Recurring clients. Dogs need grooming every 4–8 weeks, which means a loyal client base produces predictable monthly income.
- + Per-dog rates are solid relative to time investment once you're efficient
- + Strong word-of-mouth. Dog owners who find a groomer they trust refer constantly within their social and neighbourhood networks.
- + Relatively low overhead once your equipment is purchased
- + Home salon model eliminates commute and gives you full control of your schedule
Cons
- − Training is genuinely required before working on client dogs. Grooming without proper training can injure the animal, and word travels fast in local pet owner communities.
- − Startup cost for a proper home salon setup is medium. Quality clippers, a grooming table, dryer, and tub represent a real investment before you earn a dollar.
- − Home salon startup costs are higher than most guides admit. A grooming table, professional tub, high-velocity dryer, and quality clippers add up to several thousand dollars minimum.
- − Physical demands are significant. Back strain from lifting dogs and bending over tables, repetitive scissoring causing RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome, and bite risk are all occupational realities for long-tenured groomers.
- − Some dogs are aggressive or reactive and require more time and skill than the booking rate accounts for
- − Mobile grooming dramatically increases startup costs. A used outfitted van starts around $16,000 and new fully-equipped vans run $70,000–$130,000.
- − No grooming license is required in any US state, but local zoning rules can restrict running a grooming business from a residential property
Skills needed
Where to work
Who this is actually for
You need to be comfortable handling dogs of all sizes and temperaments, and willing to learn proper technique before working on paying clients. Dog grooming is physical, hands-on work that requires genuine skill. An improperly executed groom can nick skin, cause clipper burn, or stress an animal significantly. Clients trust you with something they love, and mistakes aren’t forgiven easily.
If you already work in pet care and have relevant experience, grooming is a natural extension. If you’re starting from zero, apprenticeship or a structured training program is the right entry point, not buying clippers and figuring it out on client dogs.
Home salon vs mobile grooming
Home salon (the client drops off the dog at your home):
- Lower startup cost, though still significant: a hydraulic grooming table, stainless steel tub, high-velocity dryer, and professional clippers represent a realistic minimum of $3,000–$5,000 before supplies
- No fuel or vehicle costs
- You control the environment completely
- Works well in residential areas where clients are nearby
- Appointment volume is limited by how many dogs you can physically handle in a day
Mobile grooming (you drive an equipped van to the client):
- Premium rates since clients pay for the convenience of not leaving their home
- One-on-one attention with no other animals present, which suits anxious dogs
- Van conversion costs are significant ($5,000–$30,000 depending on setup)
- Ongoing fuel and vehicle maintenance are real costs
- Geographic range expands your market but also expands drive time between appointments
Most first-time groomers start with a home salon and expand to mobile or a rented booth at an established salon once their client base justifies the investment.
Training and certification
There’s no nationally required grooming license in the United States. That doesn’t mean training is optional. The National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA) and the International Professional Groomers (IPG) both offer Certified Professional Groomer designations that signal competence to clients.
The most practical path: apprentice at a salon for three to six months. You’ll learn breed-specific cuts, how to handle difficult dogs, and how to work efficiently, skills that a course alone doesn’t fully develop. Many salons will take on apprentices, sometimes for free, in exchange for the extra set of hands.
Insurance is essential
A dog bite, a nick from clippers, or an animal injury during a session can result in a claim against you. Standard homeowner’s or renter’s insurance doesn’t cover commercial grooming activity.
Two coverage types matter specifically for groomers:
General liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage, a client slips on a wet floor, a dog breaks something in your space. Available through providers like NEXT Insurance or Insureon for roughly $600–$800/year for a solo operator.
Animal bailee (also called care, custody and control coverage) covers a client’s pet being injured, escaping, or dying while in your care. This is the coverage most specific to grooming and the one most often overlooked. Both types together are non-negotiable before taking paid clients.
Building a recurring client base
Grooming is one of the strongest recurring-income models in pet care because dogs need it consistently. A client whose dog is groomed every six weeks is generating bookings for you on a predictable schedule. Once you fill your appointment slots with regulars, the scheduling and marketing effort drops significantly, most of your revenue comes from existing clients rebooking.
Client retention comes down to two things: the dog looks good when they leave, and the dog had a tolerable experience. An anxious dog that dreads grooming appointments is a client you’ll eventually lose.
Frequently asked questions
- How much can you make with Dog Grooming?
- Part-time Dog Grooming typically earns $300–$2,500/mo per month. Actual income depends on your location, experience, and the hours you put in — expect the lower end when starting out.
- How much does it cost to start Dog Grooming?
- Dog Grooming has higher startup costs — plan for around $3500 or more before taking on clients.
- How long before you make your first dollar with Dog Grooming?
- Most people earn their first income from Dog Grooming within 1–3 months of actively looking for clients or customers.
- How many hours per week does Dog Grooming take?
- A part-time Dog Grooming side hustle typically takes 8–25 hours per week, though this scales with how many clients or projects you take on.
- Can you do Dog Grooming from home?
- Dog Grooming typically requires you to be physically present with clients or at a specific location.
- Does Dog Grooming require a license or certification?
- No licence is legally required to get started in most places, though relevant certifications can help you charge higher rates and build trust with clients faster.