How Much Does It Cost To Start a Dog Grooming Business?

Updated 2025.

Key Points

Introduction

How much does it cost to start a dog grooming business? Starting your own company can be an extremely lucrative and fulfilling endeavor – but it doesn’t come cheap! In order to launch (and run) a grooming business, you’ll need to invest in a variety of equipment. Moreover, you’ll need supplies, software, salon space, marketing materials, and more!

Here’s the good news: we’ve done all this research for you! In this article, you’ll find an exhaustive list of all the estimated expenses associated with starting a dog grooming business from scratch. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need to save up and invest in your new venture.

So, keep reading to learn how much it costs to start a dog grooming business!

Is a Dog Grooming Business Profitable?

To begin, it’s worth it to examine a very important question: is a dog grooming business profitable? Is dog grooming in high demand in the first place?

Luckily, the answer to both of these questions is yes! In fact, market research suggests that the global pet grooming industry is only going to keep being in higher demand and being more profitable over the coming years. By 2030, it’s purported that the global industry will reach a global market value of USD $10.35 billion, which a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.33% between 2025 and 2030!

This means that now’s an optimal time to break into the world of professional dog grooming – you just have to do it the right way in order to better your chances of long-term success. To make your business successful, you’ll need to offer high-quality services at competitive prices. You’ll also need to create a strong branding strategy and build a loyal customer base.

If you can do all of that, then there’s no reason why your dog grooming business can’t be profitable!

How Much Does It Cost To Start a Dog Grooming Business?

Startup Costs

In addition to the above items, you’ll also need to invest in a few key supplies and pieces of grooming equipment, all of which are essential for running your dog grooming business smoothly and efficiently:

A complete list of the grooming tools we personally recommend can be found here. Keep in mind that the cost of these items can vary depending on the brand, quality, etc. So, be sure to do your research before making any final decisions!

Additionally, we recommend investing in professional dog grooming supplies whenever possible. Though they may cost a bit more upfront, they will save you money in the long run by lasting longer and standing up to regular wear and tear.

TOTAL COST FOR STARTUP EXPENSES

The exact amount will depend on several factors, including the size of your business, the quality of the equipment you choose, and whether you’re operating from a home-based salon or renting a professional space. On average, though, you can expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 (in startup costs) to launch your dog grooming business.

Dog Grooming Business Expenses: One-Time Fees Vs. Recurring Fees

One-Time Startup Expenses

These are expenses that you’ll incur when first starting your dog grooming business. You can expect to invest the following amounts into your one-time expenses:

TOTAL COST FOR ONE-TIME STARTUP EXPENSES

When you combine all these costs, your total one-time startup expenses can range from approximately $1,850 to $10,100. Again, the exact value will vary based on factors such as the size of your business and the quality of the resources you choose to invest in.

Recurring Monthly Expenses

Once your business is up and running, there are specific expenses that you’ll need to budget for on a regular basis. Examples of recurring expenses include, but aren’t limited to:

Additionally, don’t forget to account for other recurring expenses, such as equipment repairs and maintenance, subscription fees for any software you use (e.g., scheduling software), and professional memberships or certifications you wish to maintain. Having a clear understanding of these costs will enable you to manage your budget effectively and ensure your dog grooming business remains financially sustainable.

TOTAL COST FOR RECURRING MONTHLY EXPENSES

When you combine all these costs, your total recurring monthly expenses can range from approximately $900 to $4,400 per month. Again, though, the exact value will depend on several factors such as the size of your business and the quality of resources you choose to invest in.

Of course, these are just general estimates. The actual costs will vary depending on the size and scope of your business. Either way, as you can see, starting a dog grooming business is not cheap – but it’s also still very much affordable. In order to give yourself the best chance at success, it’s important to be aware of all the potential costs involved BEFORE making any final decisions!

The 9 Categories for Your Estimated Business Expenses

To get an even better understanding of how much it costs to start a dog grooming business, we’ve broken down all the estimated expenses into 9 categories:

1. Education/certification costs
2. Business formation expenses
3. Equipment and supply expenses
4. Salon space expenses
5. Software expenses
6. Website costs
7. Advertising and marketing costs
8. Employee expenses
9. Freelancer expenses

1. Education/Certification Costs

If you want to be a professional (and successful) dog groomer, it’s STRONGLY recommended that you receive the proper education and industry certification. The cost of these programs can vary quite a bit, but you can expect to spend $500-$2,000 on average.

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION COSTS

2. Business Formation Costs

If you want to start a dog grooming business, you’ll need to take care of some legalities first.

This includes obtaining any necessary licenses and permits, as well as registering your business with your state – or provincial – government. Such licenses and/or permits might include a business license ($25-$500), as well as potentially a dog grooming license ($125-$1,000). Moreover, the type of business entity you choose will affect how much money you’ll need to spend on formation expenses.

So, ask yourself: “Do I want to operate as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation?”

To get a better idea of how to go about registering your specific business type within the United States, we recommend checking out this useful article by Clevver. Here are some additional resources, in case you live in a different country:

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR BUSINESS FORMATION COSTS

3. Equipment and Supply Expenses

To run a successful dog grooming business, you’ll need at least the following:

While some of this equipment might be expensive upfront – such as a professional bathing system – keep in mind that many of these items are one-time purchases. And once you have them, they should last you many years.

Other expenses, such as clipper blades and scissors, will need to be replaced on a semi-regular basis. However, these items are relatively inexpensive and easy to find at any pet store. Plus, lots of pet stores offer discount programs for professional groomers – so make sure to inquire with your local pet stores about that!

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY EXPENSES

4. Salon Space Expenses

You have 3 main options at your disposal:

1. Renting or leasing salon space;
2. Grooming out of your own home;
3. And mobile grooming.

5. Software Expenses

In today’s digital age, there’s a wide array of software options available to help you run your business smoothly and efficiently! The cost of software will vary depending on the features and functionality you need. However, there are also many great options available for FREE – or at a very low cost. For example, Google Sheets is a free alternative to Microsoft Excel that offers all of the same basic features.

Software Recommendations

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR SOFTWARE EXPENSES

6. Website Costs

A website is a great way to promote your business and connect with potential customers! However, there is a cost associated with creating and maintaining a website. This will vary, depending on the features and functionality you need. For example: a basic website with just a few pages will be much less expensive than an eCommerce site with dozens of pages and complex functionality.

In addition to the initial investment, you’ll also have to pay for monthly hosting and domain name costs.

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR WEBSITE EXPENSES

7. Advertising and Marketing Costs

Advertising and marketing are KEY ingredients to your success! After all, how else are you supposed to let people know about your dog grooming business and attract new clients? There are a multitude of different ways that you can market your dog grooming business. That said, some methods will obviously be more effective – and more expensive – than others.

For example: TV commercials, print ads, and social media ads (such as on YouTube or TikTok) can be a bit pricey. However, they do reach a wide audience – and they can generate a lot of buzz for your business!

On the other hand, targeted online ads and social media campaigns tend to be a lot cheaper and more budget-friendly. Of course, keep in mind that with a smaller budget comes a smaller audience reach. That said, they’re still incredibly effective!

At the end of the day, it’s up to YOU to decide which marketing channels makes the most sense for your dog grooming business. Generally, though, small businesses typically spend anywhere between USD $10,000 – $50,000 a year on advertising and marketing expenses (depending on the size and scope of the business, of course).

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING EXPENSES

8. Employee Expenses

If you plan on hiring employees to help you run your dog grooming business, then you’ll need to factor in the associated costs. These costs include employee salaries, as well as the cost of any benefits that you offer (such as health insurance, retirement plans, etc.). In addition, don’t forget to budget for employee training! After all, you’ll want to make sure that your employees are properly equipped to handle all of the demands of the job.

The cost of employees will vary depending on their experience level, the number of hours they work per week, and what the going living wage is in your area. However, you can expect to spend at least USD $2,500-$6,000+ per month on employee expenses.

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR EMPLOYEE EXPENSES

9. Freelancer Expenses

If you decide to outsource some of the work associated with running your dog grooming business, then you’ll need to factor in the cost of freelancers. The cost of freelancers will vary depending on their experience level and the scope of work. However, you can expect to spend at least USD $500-$1,000 per month on freelance expenses.

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR FREELANCER EXPENSES

Estimated Cost To Run and Operate a Dog Grooming Business Per Month

TOTAL ESTIMATED INVESTMENT REQUIRED PER MONTH: $4,780 – $16,802.50

4 Options For Funding Your Dog Grooming Business

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