.png)
A clear dog grooming price list is one of the most profitable things you'll ever build for your salon. It sets expectations, ends the awkward "so how much is it?" phone dance, and protects your time from undercharging. This template gives you a ready structure to copy, real examples by breed and size, and the surcharges most groomers forget to add. Use it as a starting point, then adjust the numbers to your market, your skill level, and the demand in your area. Pricing is yours to own — this just gives you the skeleton.
Why You Need a Written Price List
Groomers who quote off the top of their head lose money two ways: they lowball to avoid an awkward moment, and they get talked down by clients who sense uncertainty. A written, posted price list does the negotiating for you. It signals professionalism, makes online booking possible, and gives you a confident answer when a client pushes back. It also makes training a new groomer or front-desk helper far easier, because the numbers don't live only in your head.
How to Structure Your Pricing
Don't price by a vague "small/medium/large" alone. The best grooming price lists combine breed or size, coat type, and the time the groom actually takes. A 12-pound Shih Tzu with a matted coat can take longer than a clean 60-pound Lab, so your structure should let you charge for reality, not just weight.
Base Price by Size and Coat
Start with a base full-groom price organized by size band, then layer coat complexity on top. Here's a sample structure you can adapt.
Add-On and Surcharge Menu
This is where margins live. Build a clear menu of add-ons and surcharges, and apply them without apology — they reflect real labor.
Setting the Right Numbers for Your Market
Use the ranges above as a frame, then anchor to your local market. Call a few competitors as a "shopper," check what salons in your zip code charge, and factor in your experience and demand. If you're booked out three weeks, your prices are too low. Raise them annually — a small, predictable increase each year is easier for clients to accept than a sudden 30% jump after five frozen years.
Putting Your Price List to Work
A price list only pays off if clients see it and your booking reflects it. Post it on your website, include it in your intake conversation, and load it into your grooming software so online booking quotes the right service automatically. Tools like Teddy let you build your service menu with durations and prices so request-based bookings come in already matched to the correct service — MoeGo and DaySmart offer similar menu setups. Pair your price list with a solid intake form so coat condition and add-ons are documented before the dog's on the table.
Common Pricing Mistakes to Avoid
The most expensive mistake is pricing out of fear. New groomers undercharge to win clients, then discover they've trained their book to expect bargain rates that don't cover their time. Another trap is flat-rate pricing that ignores coat condition — the same number for a clean dog and a matted one means the matted dogs are subsidized by everyone else and your hardest work pays the least. A third is never raising prices, letting years pass while your costs climb and your effective wage shrinks. And a fourth is hiding your prices entirely, which forces a phone negotiation on every inquiry and signals uncertainty. Confident, transparent, condition-aware pricing fixes all four.
How to Raise Prices Without Losing Clients
Raising prices feels scary, but done right you'll keep nearly everyone. Give notice — a posted sign and a heads-up text a few weeks ahead respects your clients and removes the surprise. Keep the increase modest and regular, a small annual bump rather than a shock after five frozen years. Frame it around value: better products, more time per dog, or simply keeping pace with costs. The clients who leave over a fair increase were usually price-shoppers who'd have left anyway, while your loyal regulars rarely flinch. Most groomers who finally raise rates report the same surprise — almost nobody pushed back, and they should have done it sooner.
Bundling and Package Pricing
Beyond per-service pricing, packages can lift your average ticket and lock in repeat visits. A maintenance package — a standing appointment every four to six weeks at a slight discount — rewards loyalty while smoothing your schedule. Add-on bundles, like pairing teeth brushing and nail grinding at a small saving versus buying them separately, nudge clients toward higher-value visits. Just keep your packages simple enough to explain in a sentence; complexity at the front desk slows checkout and confuses clients. The goal is to make the higher-value choice the easy, obvious one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a dog grooming price list?
Start with a base full-groom price by size, add coat-type adjustments, then build an add-on menu for dematting, de-shedding, teeth, and special handling. Anchor the numbers to your local market and your experience, and post the list publicly.
Should I charge by breed or by size?
Use both. Size sets the base, but breed and coat type determine the real time involved. A small matted Doodle can take longer than a large smooth-coated dog, so let your structure capture that.
How much should I charge for dematting?
Most groomers charge a time-based surcharge, often $15–$25 per 15 minutes, on top of the base groom. Dematting is hard on you and the dog, so it should always carry a fee.
How often should I raise my grooming prices?
A small annual increase is healthiest. It keeps you ahead of rising supply and labor costs and is far easier for clients to accept than a large, sudden jump after years of frozen pricing.
Where can I put my price list so clients see it?
Post it on your website and Google Business Profile, mention it during intake, and load it into your grooming software so online booking quotes the correct service and price automatically.
