The Complete Dog Grooming Business Checklist
You got into grooming because you love dogs. Not because you love ABN registrations, insurance certificates, and cancellation policy documents.
But here's the truth: the groomers who last aren't just the most skilled with a blade. They're the ones who treated it like a business from day one. They got their foundations right before worrying about which booking app to use.
This guide is the checklist we wish existed when we started. It covers everything, from the boring-but-essential business registration stuff, through to the operational decisions that most groomers figure out the hard way, and finally into going digital with a system that actually understands how grooming works.
Whether you're just starting out or you've been grooming for years and want to tighten up your operation, work through this at your own pace. Skip what you've already sorted. Linger on what makes you think "yeah, I probably should sort that out."
Important disclaimer: This guide is general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Business registration, tax, insurance, legal, and regulatory requirements vary by state, territory, and local council, and change over time. Always consult a qualified accountant, lawyer, insurance broker, or relevant professional before making business decisions. Petboost is a software company, not an advisory firm, and we don't accept liability for decisions made based on this guide. When in doubt, get professional advice specific to your situation.
Part 1: Starting Your Grooming Business in Australia
Already registered and established? Skip ahead to Part 2. This section is for anyone who's just starting out or hasn't ticked all the boxes yet.
Starting a grooming business is exciting. You've done the courses (or you've been grooming long enough to know what you're doing), and you're ready to go out on your own. Before you take your first paying client, here's what's generally needed. Requirements vary by state, territory, and council, so always verify with the relevant authorities and your professional advisors.
Business Registration
- Register for an ABN (free at abr.gov.au) - This is your Australian Business Number. Without one, businesses paying you may be required to withhold tax from payments. Registration is free and typically takes about 10 minutes online.
- Decide your business structure - Sole trader is simplest (and most common for groomers starting out). Talk to an accountant before choosing a company or partnership structure, there are tax and liability implications.
- Register your business name (if trading under anything other than your personal name) - Done through ASIC. Check current fees at asic.gov.au (as of early 2026, approximately $39 for 1 year or $92 for 3 years, but verify before registering).
- Register for GST (if your turnover exceeds the current GST registration threshold, which is $75,000 as of early 2026, check the ATO website for the latest) - You can register voluntarily below this threshold. Talk to your accountant about what makes sense for your situation.
Insurance
This is non-negotiable. One incident without insurance and you could lose everything.
- Public liability insurance - Many pet industry professionals carry $10-$20 million in cover, though the right level for your business depends on your circumstances. Speak with an insurance broker who understands pet businesses. This protects you if a dog (or person) is injured on your premises, or if you cause property damage.
- Professional indemnity insurance - Covers you for advice or recommendations that cause harm. If you recommend a product and the dog has a reaction, this is what protects you.
- Personal accident / income protection - Optional but worth considering. If you injure your wrist or back and can't groom for 6 weeks, how do you pay your bills?
Real talk: Shop around. Pet industry-specific insurance brokers often understand grooming better than generic business insurers. Get quotes from at least three providers and compare what's covered, not just the premium. Your industry association may also offer member insurance schemes worth comparing.
Licencing and Permits
- Council registration - Requirements vary by council. Some require a home-based business permit if you're grooming from home. Some require specific zoning approvals. Call your local council and ask.
- Noise and nuisance compliance - If you're home-based, be aware of noise restrictions. Dryers and barking dogs can trigger complaints.
- Water usage and waste disposal - Commercial grooming can use significant water. Some councils have requirements around greywater and chemical disposal.
Qualifications
- Formal qualifications (recommended) - Certificate III in Animal Studies, Certificate III in Companion Animal Services, or a grooming-specific diploma are common qualifications. Regulatory requirements vary by state and territory, so check what applies in your jurisdiction. Many insurers require formal qualifications, and clients increasingly expect them.
- First aid training - Pet first aid is different from human first aid. Consider a pet-specific first aid course. This is also a selling point for your business.
- Ongoing professional development - Grooming techniques evolve. Breed standards change. Stay current through industry associations, workshops, and breed-specific training.
Industry Associations
- Consider joining a professional association - The Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), the National Dog Groomers Association of Australia (NDGAA), or state-based grooming guilds. Membership often includes insurance discounts, training opportunities, and credibility with clients.
Part 2: Getting Your House in Order
This is where most groomers skip ahead too quickly. They jump straight to "which booking app should I use?" without sorting the fundamentals that make any system actually work.
A booking system can't create your pricing structure for you. It can't write your cancellation policy. It can't decide how many dogs you can realistically do in a day. Those decisions need to come from you, and they need to be solid before you go digital.
Money Foundations
Let's start with the boring stuff that saves you thousands.
- Dedicated business bank account - Stop mixing personal and business money. It makes tax time a nightmare, it makes BAS lodgement harder, and it makes it nearly impossible to understand your actual profitability. Most banks offer free or low-cost business accounts. Just do it.
- Accounting software set up - Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks. Pick one and commit. If you're a sole trader doing fewer than 50 transactions a month, even the cheapest tier is fine. The key is that every dollar in and every dollar out is tracked from day one.
- Accountant and/or bookkeeper engaged - You don't need both straight away. A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day records clean. An accountant handles your tax return and gives strategic advice. At minimum, get an accountant for your first tax return so you understand your obligations. A good one will save you more than they cost.
- BAS obligations understood - If you're registered for GST, you'll need to lodge BAS (Business Activity Statements) quarterly or monthly. Your accountant or bookkeeper can advise on your specific lodgement schedule and deadlines. The ATO website has current information on BAS obligations.
- Pricing that makes you profitable - We'll go deep on this below, but the question right now is: do you actually know your numbers? What does it cost you to groom one dog (rent, products, utilities, insurance, your time)? What margin do you need to be sustainable?
Your Pricing Structure
This is where you need to be honest with yourself. Not "what does the groomer down the road charge?" but "what do I need to charge to be profitable, pay myself fairly, and build a sustainable business?"
Ask yourself:
- How do you categorise your grooms? By breed size? By weight? By coat type? By a combination? There's no single right answer, but you need a system that's consistent and explainable to clients.
- What's included in each service level? When you say "full groom," what exactly does that mean? Bath, blow dry, brush out, sanitary clip, nail trim, ear clean, scissor/clipper finish? Write it down. Clients need to know what they're paying for.
- How do you handle price variation within a size category? A well-maintained Poodle is not the same job as a matted Poodle. Do you quote "from $X" with a range? Do you have a separate matting surcharge? Do you quote after seeing the dog?
- Do you offer add-on services? Nail trim only, teeth brushing, de-shedding treatment, flea treatment, nail painting, bandana included? Which are standard and which are extras?
- Do you charge differently for first-time clients? An initial groom often takes longer because you don't know the dog yet. Some groomers charge a consultation fee. Others build extra time into the first appointment.
- What about puppies? Puppy intro grooms are usually shorter and cheaper. At what age do you start? What's included?
Pro tip: Write your complete service menu on a single page. Service name, what's included, duration, price (or price range). If you can't fit it on one page, you probably have too many services. Simplify.
Here's a recommended structure to think through:
YOUR SERVICE MENU:
├── Full Groom
│ ├── Small Dogs (under 10kg): $X - duration
│ ├── Medium Dogs (10-25kg): $X - duration
│ ├── Large Dogs (25-40kg): $X - duration
│ └── XL Dogs (40kg+): $X - duration
├── Bath & Tidy
│ ├── Small / Medium / Large / XL
│ └── (What's included vs full groom?)
├── Puppy First Groom
│ └── (Age range, what's included, duration)
├── Breed-Specific Styling (if applicable)
│ └── (Which breeds? What makes it different?)
├── Add-On Services
│ ├── Nail Trim Only: $X
│ ├── Teeth Brushing: $X
│ ├── De-shedding Treatment: $X
│ └── [Your other add-ons]
└── Surcharges
├── Matting Fee: $X (or per-time increment)
├── Difficult Behaviour: $X
└── [Any other surcharges]
Your Rules and Policies
Every groomer learns these the hard way. The client who cancels 5 minutes before. The dog that bites. The owner who disputes a charge. Get your policies written down before you need them, not after.
- Cancellation policy - How much notice do you require? 24 hours? 48 hours? What happens if they cancel late? A flat fee? The full groom charge? Be clear and communicate it at booking time.
- No-show policy - What happens when someone just doesn't turn up? You've blocked out time, turned away other dogs, and now your table is empty. Common approaches include charging a percentage of the service fee or a flat no-show fee, but set whatever works for your business.
- Late arrival policy - If they're 15 minutes late for a 90-minute groom, do you still have time to finish? At what point do you rebook?
- Terms & Conditions document - This is your safety net. Common areas to cover include: services provided, pricing, payment terms, cancellation/no-show policy, liability limitations, photo consent, vaccination requirements, and behaviour expectations. Have a lawyer review your T&Cs to ensure they're enforceable in your state or territory.
- Grooming consent / waiver form - Separate from your T&Cs. Areas to consider covering include: consent to groom, acknowledgement that grooming carries inherent risks (clipper irritation, brush burn, skin sensitivity), consent to shave if matting is severe, consent for emergency veterinary treatment if needed. Have a lawyer draft or review this to ensure it provides the protection you need. Have clients sign before the first groom.
- Vaccination policy - Which vaccinations do you require? C3? C5? Kennel cough? How do you verify? Do you accept titre testing? What happens when a vaccination expires between appointments?
- Aggressive dog policy - At what point do you refuse to groom? What's the escalation path? Who makes that call if you have employees? Document this clearly. It protects you and your staff.
- Senior dog and puppy policy - Older dogs may need breaks during long grooms. Puppies need shorter sessions. Do you have specific protocols for these? Extra care instructions?
Real talk: The waiver isn't about being paranoid. It's about professionalism. The best groomers in Australia have their paperwork sorted. It protects the dog, it protects you, and it sets clear expectations with the client from day one.
Emergency Procedures
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
- Vet contact details on hand - Not just your personal vet. The nearest emergency vet to your grooming location, with address and phone number displayed where all staff can see it.
- First aid kit - Styptic powder (for nail quicking), wound wash, bandaging supplies, muzzles in multiple sizes. Check and restock regularly.
- Emergency procedure for common incidents: What do you do if...
- A dog has a seizure on the table?
- You nick the skin with clippers?
- A dog has an allergic reaction to a product?
- A dog collapses or becomes unresponsive?
- A dog bites you or a staff member?
- Client emergency contact - Always have a second contact number, not just the owner's mobile.
Understanding Your Capacity
This is crucial and it's where a lot of groomers get into trouble. They say yes to everything, overbook themselves, rush jobs, burn out.
- How many dogs can you realistically groom in a day? Not "on your best day with easy dogs." On an average day, with average dogs, including breaks and cleanup.
- How long does each service actually take? Time yourself honestly. Include setup, the groom itself, and cleanup. A "90-minute groom" that actually takes 2 hours including cleanup is a 2-hour appointment.
- Buffer time between dogs - How long do you need between appointments? For cleaning the station, sanitising tools, having a cuppa, and mentally resetting? 15 minutes? 30 minutes? Don't skip this or you'll burn out.
- Working days and hours - What days do you work? What hours? Are you open weekends? Early mornings? Do you want to be? Write down your ideal schedule, then be realistic about whether it works financially.
- One dog at a time or overlapping? Solo groomers typically do one at a time. Salons with multiple staff might have one dog in the bath while another is being dried. How does your space work?
- Seasonal variation - December is chaos. January is quiet. Do you adjust your capacity, pricing, or hours seasonally?
How Clients Currently Find and Book You
Before changing anything, understand what you're working with:
- How do people currently book? Phone calls? Text messages? Facebook DMs? Instagram messages? Walk-ins? A mix of everything?
- What's working well? (Don't break what works.)
- What's painful? (Late-night messages you feel obligated to answer? Spending 20 minutes on the phone while a dog is on your table? Double-bookings because you forgot to update the diary?)
- How do you currently confirm appointments?
- How do you send reminders?
- How do you follow up for rebooking?
- Where do you keep client and pet information? A notebook? A spreadsheet? Your head?
What Would You Want From a Booking and Payment System?
Before you look at any software (including Petboost), answer these honestly. Write your answers down. They'll guide your decision.
- Booking control: Do you want clients to book themselves online, or do you prefer to control every appointment manually? There's no wrong answer, just a preference that matters.
- Real-time availability: How important is it that clients can see exactly when you're free?
- Automated reminders: Do you want the system to remind clients automatically? How many reminders? How far before the appointment?
- Payment processing: Do you want to take card payments? At booking time? On the day? After the groom? Do you want to offer EFTPOS, online payment, or both?
- No-show protection: Do you want to hold a card on file or take a deposit to reduce no-shows?
- Pet information storage: How important is it to store coat notes, style preferences, medical alerts, vaccination records, and photos per pet?
- Prepaid packages: Do you want to sell bundles (e.g., 5 grooms for the price of 4.5) for predictable revenue?
- Reporting: Do you need to see revenue by service, by day, by month? Rebooking rates? Busiest days?
- Mobile access: Do you need the system to work on your phone or tablet, not just a computer?
- Multiple staff: Will team members need their own schedules and access levels?
- Accounting integration: Does it need to sync with Xero, MYOB, or your accounting software?
The point of this exercise: When you eventually evaluate a booking system, you'll have a clear list of must-haves vs nice-to-haves. You won't get sold on features you don't need, and you won't miss features you do need.
Part 3: Setting Up Your Operations with Petboost
Your business foundations are solid. Your pricing is clear. Your policies are written. Your capacity is understood. Now it's time to bring it all together digitally.
This section walks through setting up Petboost specifically for a grooming operation. If you chose a different system in Part 2, the principles still apply (services, resources, packages, automations), but the steps will be different.
Quick Setup Checklist
Here's the full Petboost setup at a glance. Details for each follow below.
Services Setup:
- Create size-based services (Full Groom - Small, Medium, Large, XL)
- Set variable pricing ("from $X") for coat-dependent costs
- Create add-on services (Nail Trim, Teeth Brushing, De-shedding)
- Create internal-only services (De-matting Fee, Extra Time)
- Set up Initial Consultation service for new clients
Resources Setup:
- Create grooming stations as resources (Station 1, Station 2, etc.)
- Set capacity to 1 per station
- Assign services to appropriate stations
Packages Setup:
- Create 5-pack grooming bundle
- Create 10-pack grooming bundle (with better discount)
- Enable self-service purchase for packages
Automation Setup:
- Enable Pre-Hold Funds (72 hours before appointment)
- Enable Auto-Start at scheduled time
- Enable Auto-Complete when finished
- Enable Auto-Finalise for invoicing
- Enable Auto-Pay for card on file
Self-Service Setup:
- Enable self-service booking on services
- Configure eligibility rules (vaccinations, weight limits)
- Set up booking link for website and social media
- Test the full booking flow as if you were a customer
Services That Reflect How You Actually Groom
Remember that pricing structure and service menu you built in Part 2? Now you're translating it into your booking system.
The key principle: your software should mirror your real operation, not force you to simplify it.
What to set up:
Size-based services - Create separate services for each size tier (Small, Medium, Large, XL). Each gets its own pricing and duration. This isn't busywork; it's the only way to accurately reflect that a small dog groom and a large dog groom are fundamentally different appointments.
Variable pricing - Enable "from $X" pricing for services where the final cost depends on coat condition. The base price is your starting point; you adjust up when a matted Doodle walks in.
Add-on services - Nail trims, teeth brushing, de-shedding treatments. Make these bookable alongside core services so clients can add them at booking time.
Internal-only services - De-matting fees, extra time charges. These are services that only staff can add (not clients), for situations discovered during the groom. No awkward conversations, it just appears on the invoice.
Initial consultation service - A shorter, cheaper "first visit" service that gives you time to assess the dog, discuss preferences, and build the pet profile. Set it as a prerequisite for regular grooming services, so new dogs must complete it first.
Pro tip: Create a "first-time client" service that requires extra time for intake. Once they've had that first appointment, they automatically qualify for your regular booking slots. Elegant protection for your schedule without manual screening.
Recommended service structure in Petboost:
CORE SERVICES (Regular type):
├── Full Groom - Small Dogs (1h 15m, $65+)
├── Full Groom - Medium Dogs (1h 30m, $85+)
├── Full Groom - Large Dogs (2h, $110+)
├── Full Groom - XL Dogs (2h 30m, $140+)
├── Bath & Blow - Small/Medium/Large
└── Puppy First Groom (45m, $45)
ADD-ON SERVICES:
├── Nail Trim ($15)
├── Teeth Brushing ($10)
├── De-shedding Treatment (from $25)
└── Flea Treatment ($20)
INTERNAL-ONLY SERVICES:
├── De-matting Fee (from $30)
└── Extra Time ($15 per 15m)
INITIAL SERVICE:
└── Initial Grooming Consultation (30m, $25)
Pet Profiles: Your Institutional Memory
This is where a digital system earns its keep. Every pet that comes through your door builds a permanent profile.
Coat type, cut preferences, sensitivities - All saved and visible to whoever grooms the dog next. When a client says "same as last time," you actually know what that means.
Body-area notes - Specific instructions per body area (shorter on the ears, scissor finish on the legs, sensitive around the feet) that persist across appointments and across staff members.
Vaccination tracking - Expiry dates tracked automatically. Reminders sent to clients before expiry. Non-compliant pets blocked from booking if you choose.
Photo documentation - Before/after photos, style reference images, coat condition notes. Attached directly to the pet's profile.
Medical alerts - Flags that appear at booking time for pets with special needs (heart condition, seizure history, arthritis, skin sensitivities).
Pro tip: Attach reference photos directly to the pet profile. "Teddy bear cut" means different things to different people. A photo eliminates all ambiguity.
Grooming Stations as Resources
If you thought about your capacity in Part 2, this is where it gets enforced digitally.
Create each grooming station as a resource with a capacity of 1. One dog per station at a time. The system physically prevents double-booking.
Solo Groomer:
Resources:
└── Grooming Station 1 (Capacity: 1)
Small Salon (2-3 stations):
Resources:
├── Station 1 - Main Table (Capacity: 1)
├── Station 2 - Bath Station (Capacity: 1)
└── Station 3 - Drying Area (Capacity: 2)
Mobile Groomers: Create your van as a resource with capacity 1. One van, one appointment at a time.
Prepaid Packages for Predictable Revenue
Packages transform your revenue model. Instead of one-off transactions, you're collecting payment upfront for future work.
Create bundles with volume discounts. Clients see the savings. You get cash flow certainty.
GROOMING PACKAGES:
├── 5-Pack Full Groom: $295 (save $30, 9% off)
├── 10-Pack Full Groom: $550 (save $100, 15% off)
└── 5-Pack Bath & Tidy: $180 (save $20, 10% off)
Balance tracking means clients see their remaining sessions before booking. Auto-deduction means usage happens seamlessly. Multi-pet family support means credits are shared across household pets.
The real value of packages isn't just revenue smoothing. It's commitment. A client with 3 sessions remaining on a 10-pack isn't shopping around. They're coming back.
Payments That Happen in the Background
Remember in Part 2 when we asked "how do you want to take payment?" Here's where it comes together.
Card on file captured at first booking. Pre-authorisation 72 hours before the appointment validates the card and can significantly reduce no-shows (businesses on Petboost have reported up to 80% fewer no-shows with pre-authorisation enabled). Auto-charge on completion means the appointment ends and payment happens, no invoice chasing, no "forgot my wallet."
The automation chain:
72 hours before → PRE-HOLD FUNDS (validate card)
↓
Scheduled time → AUTO-START (appointment begins)
↓
End time → AUTO-COMPLETE (appointment finished)
↓
Immediately → AUTO-FINALISE (invoice generated)
↓
+30 minutes → AUTO-PAY (card charged automatically)
Grooming-specific recommendation: If you regularly add charges during the groom (matting fees, extra time, add-ons discovered mid-groom), disable Auto-Finalise and Auto-Pay. Add your charges manually during the appointment, then finalise and charge when you're done.
Self-Service Booking: Let Clients Book When It Suits Them
Based on Petboost platform data, the majority of self-service bookings happen outside traditional business hours. That's revenue you'd struggle to capture with phone-only booking.
Before enabling self-service, check:
- Station capacity set to 1
- Vaccination requirements configured (if applicable)
- Weight limits set per service (if applicable)
- Minimum booking notice set (e.g., 24 hours)
- Buffer time between appointments configured
Then enable self-service on each service you want clients to book themselves. Share your booking link on your website, social media bios, Google Business Profile, and anywhere else clients might look for you.
Service-specific booking links let you create targeted links for individual services, perfect for social media promotions or specific landing pages.
Part 4: Going Live and Growing
Your system is set up. Services reflect your actual operation. Stations are configured. Packages are ready. Automations are on. Now it's time to switch over.
Your Launch Week
Day 1-2: Test everything yourself
- Book a test appointment as if you were a client
- Walk through the entire flow: booking, confirmation, reminder, check-in, completion, payment
- Try booking with expired vaccinations (should it block?)
- Try booking outside your capacity (should it prevent it?)
- Buy a test package and redeem a session
Day 3: Soft launch with a few trusted clients
- Pick 3-5 regulars who are tech-comfortable
- Send them your booking link personally
- Ask them to book their next appointment online
- Get their honest feedback on the experience
Day 4-5: Full client communications
- Send an email/message to all clients announcing online booking
- Keep it simple: "You can now book online 24/7. Here's the link."
- Mention the benefits to them (book anytime, see availability, manage their own appointments)
- Update your voicemail to mention online booking
- Update your website with the booking link
Day 6-7: Go live and monitor
- Watch for bookings coming in
- Respond quickly to any issues in the first few days
- Check your calendar looks correct
- Verify payments are processing
After the First Month
Once you're live and settled:
- Review your pricing - Now that you have data, are your service durations accurate? Is your pricing where it needs to be?
- Check your capacity - Are you being booked solid? Do you need to adjust buffer times? Open up more days?
- Look at package sales - Are clients buying them? If not, are they visible enough during booking?
- Review your no-show rate - Has pre-authorisation reduced no-shows? If you're not using it, consider turning it on.
- Gather feedback - Ask your regulars how they're finding the new system. Their feedback is gold.
Growing From Here
The foundations are built. The system is running. Now you can focus on growth instead of admin:
- Rebooking prompts - Encourage clients to book their next groom before they leave (or through automated follow-ups)
- Package promotions - Run seasonal package deals to boost cash flow during quiet periods
- Review and referral programs - Happy clients are your best marketing. Make it easy for them to leave Google reviews and refer friends
- Expand your services - Once your core operation is smooth, consider adding services (cat grooming, mobile grooming, retail products)
Common Questions
Q: I've been grooming for 10 years. Do I really need Part 1 and Part 2? A: Skim them. You'll probably find 2-3 things you've been meaning to sort out. The waiver form you never got around to. The pricing structure that's evolved ad hoc. The cancellation policy that lives in your head but not on paper.
Q: Should I create separate services for each dog size? A: Yes, if pricing and duration vary by size. A small dog full groom at $65 for 75 minutes and a large dog full groom at $110 for 2 hours are different products. Treat them that way.
Q: What if I need to add charges after the groom starts? A: Disable Auto-Finalise and Auto-Pay. Add charges during the appointment (matting fee, extra time, etc.), then finalise and charge manually when you're done.
Q: I'm a mobile groomer. Does any of this apply differently? A: Mostly the same, with a few tweaks. Your "station" is your van (capacity: 1). Your buffer times need to include travel. Your service areas matter more. And you might want zone-based pricing for travel surcharges.
Q: How do I handle clients who don't want to book online? A: You can always book appointments manually on their behalf. Self-service is an option for clients, not a requirement. Some clients will always prefer to call, and that's fine.
What This Checklist Doesn't Cover
This guide focuses on the operational side of running a grooming business. It doesn't cover marketing strategy, social media content, brand building, or client acquisition in depth. Those are important, but they're separate topics.
What it does cover is pointing you in the right direction on business setup, compliance considerations, operational foundations, and going digital. For specific legal, tax, and regulatory compliance, always work with qualified professionals.
Get the foundations right first. Everything else is easier when the base is solid.
Ready to Go Digital?
If you've worked through Parts 1 and 2 and your business foundations are solid, you can start your free trial of Petboost at business.petboost.com/register. No credit card required, no sales call needed.
Already using Petboost? Our support team is right there in the bottom corner of your screen.
