Dog Grooming Industry Trends & Stats: 2026 Report

The dog grooming business has never been in a stronger position. Pet ownership in the U.S. hit record levels during the early 2020s and has held steady, and the segment of owners who treat their pets like family members — the ones who pay for professional grooming rather than bathing a dog in the backyard — has only grown. If you're running a grooming business or thinking about starting one, understanding where the market is heading helps you make smarter decisions about your services, pricing, and investments.

Here's a clear-eyed look at where the dog grooming industry stands in 2026 and what the trends mean for working groomers.

The Market by the Numbers

The U.S. pet grooming and boarding market is valued at over $11 billion annually and has grown at roughly 7–9% per year over the past five years. Pet grooming specifically (excluding boarding) accounts for a substantial share of that figure, driven by:

• Rising pet ownership: Approximately 66% of U.S. households own a pet, with dogs in roughly 45% of homes — that's about 90 million pet dogs nationwide.
• Premiumization: Pet owners are spending more per visit. Average grooming ticket prices have risen 15–25% since 2021, driven by both inflation and a shift toward higher-end services.
• Frequency of visits: Regular grooming clients — those visiting every 6–8 weeks — represent the most stable segment of the market. Breeds requiring regular professional grooming (doodles, poodles, schnauzers, shih tzus, cocker spaniels) have surged in popularity and create consistent recurring revenue for groomers.

Trend 1: Doodle Breeds Are Reshaping Grooming Demand

The sustained popularity of doodle breeds — Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Bernedoodles, Sheepadoodles, and their many variations — has had a profound effect on grooming demand. These breeds require professional grooming every 6–8 weeks without fail; their curly, high-maintenance coats cannot be managed at home like a short-coated Lab.

The practical result: groomers with strong doodle clientele have built-in recurring revenue machines. A Goldendoodle owner who visits every 8 weeks generates 6–7 appointments per year. At a $120+ ticket, that's $720–$840/year from a single client relationship.

The flip side is that doodle grooming is labor-intensive, and many groomers are enforcing "maintenance groom" policies — requiring that coats stay above a minimum length to qualify for full grooms rather than shave-downs. This protects groomer time and client satisfaction simultaneously.

Trend 2: Mobile Grooming Is Growing Fast

Mobile pet grooming is growing at roughly twice the rate of the overall grooming market. The reasons are straightforward: convenience for clients, lower overhead for operators, and a natural fit for the one-on-one grooming environment that anxious or reactive dogs need.

Markets with high concentrations of suburban homeowners — Sun Belt metros, major Northeastern suburbs, Pacific Coast cities — have seen particularly strong mobile grooming growth. In some upscale neighborhoods, mobile groomers have waiting lists as long as top-rated salon groomers.

For existing salon owners, mobile represents an expansion opportunity. Some groomers operate a hybrid model: a home-based or small salon setup during peak hours, supplemented by mobile services for premium clients willing to pay for door-to-door convenience.

Trend 3: Technology Adoption Has Accelerated

The days of paper appointment books are effectively over for competitive grooming operations. In 2026, the majority of professional grooming salons use some form of scheduling and client management software. The adoption of digital intake forms, automated SMS reminders, and online booking has moved from "nice to have" to standard practice.

This matters because groomers who haven't adopted software are increasingly at a competitive disadvantage. When a client can book online with one groomer and has to call and leave a voicemail with another, the choice is usually straightforward.

The software landscape has also matured significantly. Platforms like Teddy, MoeGo, DaySmart, and Gingr have invested heavily in grooming-specific features — digital intake forms, breed cut notes, before/after photo storage, automated reminders — that go far beyond basic scheduling. Newer additions like AI receptionists (available on Teddy's platform) handle missed calls and client intake automatically.

For groomers evaluating software in 2026, the decision isn't whether to use it but which platform fits their operation.

Best Mobile Pet Grooming Software

Trend 4: Pricing Confidence Is Growing

Grooming prices have risen significantly since 2021, and — unlike some service businesses that have faced client pushback — groomers have largely maintained higher prices without major client loss. This reflects the inelastic demand that characterizes the grooming market: clients who use professional groomers tend to view it as a necessity for their dog, not a luxury to be cut during tight months.

The groomers seeing the most pushback are those who held artificially low prices for years and are trying to make large jumps at once. The lesson from the broader market: raise prices gradually and consistently, stay competitive within your market, and communicate the value of your work.

Breed-specific upcharges, coat condition fees, and matting charges are increasingly standard rather than exceptional. Clients who come in with a severely matted Doodle expecting to pay a standard full-groom price are encountering professional groomers who hold firm on appropriate charges — and for the most part, those boundaries are being respected.

Trend 5: The Labor Shortage Remains a Challenge

The grooming industry has a workforce problem that's been building for years. Formal grooming education programs produce a fraction of the trained groomers the market demands, and apprenticeship structures at salons vary widely in quality.

For salon owners, this creates two practical challenges: finding qualified staff and retaining them. Groomers with strong skills and a loyal client following have real leverage in the current market — they know it, and salon owners know it.

The groomers and salons navigating this best are those investing in training pipelines — bringing in bathers and training them up — and creating workplace environments worth staying in. Flexible scheduling, good tools (software that makes the job less administrative), and fair compensation all matter.

Some salons are also revisiting their service mix: rather than trying to serve every client who comes through the door, they're capping appointment volume at a level that keeps staff from burning out, maintaining quality, and commanding premium prices.

Trend 6: Reviews and Online Reputation Drive New Client Acquisition

For a grooming business in 2026, your Google review profile is your most important marketing asset. Pet owners searching "dog groomer near me" are overwhelmingly choosing from the top results — and the top results are almost entirely determined by review volume, recency, and rating.

A salon with 150 reviews at 4.8 stars will consistently outperform a salon with 20 reviews at 5.0 stars in local search results, even if the higher-rated salon is objectively better. Volume signals legitimacy and longevity to both Google's algorithm and prospective clients.

The most effective way to build reviews: ask for them at the right moment. That moment is when you hand the dog back to the owner and they're looking at a great groom. A simple "If you're happy with Biscuit today, a quick Google review would really help us out" converts at a surprisingly high rate.

Automated review request texts (a feature available in most grooming software) take the awkwardness out of asking by sending a polite follow-up message after the appointment.

Trend 7: Wellness Add-Ons Are Expanding Service Menus

The "spa" model of grooming — offering wellness-oriented add-ons alongside standard grooming services — has moved from boutique novelty to mainstream expectation in premium markets. Services that were considered extras five years ago are now standard offerings at well-positioned salons:

• Blueberry facials and aromatherapy rinses
• De-shedding treatments (especially for Huskies, Shepherds, Labs)
• Teeth brushing
• Ear cleaning and ear hair removal
• Pawdicures with paw balm
• Conditioning mask treatments for dry or damaged coats
• CBD-infused grooming products for anxious dogs

These add-ons typically carry 80–95% margins (the materials cost is minimal) and significantly increase average ticket value. Training clients to expect and request add-ons is a revenue-per-visit game that compounds over a long client relationship.

What This Means for Your Grooming Business in 2026

The overarching story of the grooming industry in 2026 is one of strong fundamentals with meaningful competitive pressure. The pet population is large and spending is up. But the groomers and salons capturing that growth are the ones who are professional, tech-enabled, and strategic about their positioning.

The operational checklist for competing effectively in 2026:

• Software for scheduling, communication, and client records — this is table stakes now
• Digital intake forms and service agreements — for professionalism and liability protection
• Active Google review collection — the single highest-ROI marketing activity
• Consistent, confidence-backed pricing — charge what your market and your skills justify
• A differentiated identity — a niche, an aesthetic, or a specialty that makes you the obvious choice for a specific client type

Everything You Need to Start a Dog Grooming Business

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the dog grooming industry growing?

Yes. The U.S. pet grooming market has grown 7–9% annually over the past several years and shows no signs of slowing. Rising pet ownership, premiumization of pet care, and the popularity of high-maintenance breeds like doodles are all tailwinds for the industry.

How much revenue does an average grooming salon make?

Revenue varies enormously based on market, size, and operation type. A solo groomer doing 7 dogs/day at $80 average generates roughly $140,000/year in gross revenue. A small salon with 2–3 groomers can gross $250,000–$500,000+. Net profit depends heavily on whether you own or lease space and your labor costs.

What are the most popular dog breeds for professional grooming?

Doodle breeds (Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Bernedoodle), poodles, Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, Schnauzers, and Maltese are among the highest-demand breeds for professional grooming due to their coat types.

Is it a good time to start a dog grooming business?

For most markets, yes. Demand is strong, average prices are up, and the client base is sticky — once you build a loyal following of 6–8 week regular clients, your income is relatively predictable. The main challenges are startup costs, licensing, and competition for qualified staff if you plan to scale.

What technology do grooming businesses use today?

Professional grooming businesses use dedicated scheduling and client management software, digital intake forms, automated SMS reminders, and online booking. The top platforms purpose-built for grooming include Teddy, MoeGo, DaySmart, and Gingr. Increasingly, AI tools for missed call handling are also entering the market. Teddy (tryteddy.com) is one of the platforms leading that shift with grooming-specific workflows and AI receptionist tools for small salons and mobile groomers.