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Free Pet Grooming Service Agreement Template
A service agreement is where your grooming business grows up. It's the document that turns unspoken assumptions — "of course they'll give notice to cancel," "surely they know matting costs extra" — into clear, agreed-upon terms. Without one, every awkward money conversation is a fresh argument. With one, you can point to a policy the client already accepted. This page gives you a complete pet grooming service agreement template you can adapt, plus the reasoning behind each section, so you can set professional expectations from the very first appointment.
Service agreement vs. waiver vs. intake — what's the difference?
These three documents get muddled, so let's separate them. An intake form collects information about the pet. A waiver documents consent to grooming's inherent risks. A service agreement sets your business terms — cancellation, no-show, payment, and late-pickup policies. Together they cover information, liability, and business rules. Many groomers combine all three into one document new clients sign once.
What your service agreement should cover
The copy-and-use agreement template
Adapt to your shop; have local counsel review anything you're unsure about.
[Business Name] Grooming Service Agreement
Cancellations: We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less notice may incur a fee of [amount or % of service].
No-shows: Missed appointments without notice may be charged [amount], and any deposit may be forfeited. Repeated no-shows may require prepayment for future bookings.
Late pickup: Please collect your pet within [grace period] of the ready notification. Late pickups may incur a fee of [amount] per [time].
Matting & add-ons: Severely matted coats and services beyond the standard groom (de-matting, de-shedding, special handling) are charged as add-ons and quoted before work begins where possible.
Payment: Payment is due at pickup. We accept [methods]. A deposit of [amount] may be required to hold [certain] appointments.
Behavior: We reserve the right to stop or decline a groom if a pet's behavior makes it unsafe, and to charge for time spent.
I have read and agree to these terms.
Client signature: ____________ Date: ________
Why the cancellation and no-show terms matter most
If you take nothing else from this, take the cancellation and no-show sections seriously — they protect your single most valuable asset, your time. A no-show is unrecoverable income, and a clear, pre-agreed policy (plus, for chronic offenders, a deposit requirement) is your best defense. It's not about nickel-and-diming good clients; it's about having a fair, stated rule so the occasional bad actor doesn't cost you a day's income. For the full toolkit, our no-show policy template drills into this specifically, and our guide on reducing no-shows covers the prevention side.
Deposits and prepayment: your strongest lever
The agreement is only as strong as your ability to enforce it, and deposits are what give it teeth. Requiring a deposit to book — especially for new clients, large dogs, or long appointments — dramatically reduces no-shows because the client has skin in the game. A stated policy plus a deposit is far more effective than a policy alone. Grooming software makes this practical: you can require deposits at online booking and take payment automatically, so enforcement isn't an awkward manual conversation.
Make it digital and get it signed once
Like intake and waivers, a service agreement works best digital and signed at the first booking. Clients accept your terms from their phone before they ever arrive, it's stored against their profile, and it's there if a dispute comes up. Teddy includes digital service agreements clients sign at booking, tied to the client record; MoeGo and DaySmart offer digital agreements too. However you deliver it, having every client agree to your terms up front is what separates a business with boundaries from one that absorbs every cancellation.
A service agreement is how you run a grooming business on your terms instead of your clients' whims — clear policies on cancellations, no-shows, matting, and payment, agreed up front. Copy the template, adapt it, review it locally, and move it to a digital form. If you want agreements, deposits, scheduling, and texting in one platform built for groomers, Teddy offers a free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a pet grooming service agreement include?
It should set your business terms: cancellation and no-show policies, late drop-off and pickup rules, how matting and add-ons are charged, payment terms and deposits, and a behavior clause. A signature makes it an agreed record you can point to later.
What's the difference between a service agreement and a waiver?
A waiver documents consent to grooming's inherent risks (accidents, matting, senior pets), while a service agreement sets your business rules (cancellations, no-shows, payment). They cover different things, and many groomers combine them with an intake form into one document.
How much should I charge for a grooming no-show?
Many groomers charge a percentage of the service price or a flat fee, and require a deposit that's forfeited on a no-show. The exact amount is up to you, but a clear, pre-agreed policy is what makes it enforceable and fair.
Should I require deposits for grooming appointments?
Deposits are one of the strongest tools against no-shows because they give clients skin in the game. Requiring them for new clients, large dogs, or long appointments dramatically reduces missed bookings, especially when collected automatically at online booking.
Can clients sign a grooming service agreement online?
Yes, and it's the best approach. Digital agreements let clients accept your terms from their phone at booking, store against their profile, and are available if a dispute arises. Grooming software like Teddy includes digital agreements for exactly this purpose.
