Dog Grooming Prices: How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost?

The average annual cost of owning a dog in 2024 is now estimated to be $4512. One thing many pet parents must factor into their budget is dog grooming prices. While some dogs are more high maintenance in the hair and nails department than others, pet grooming is a cost most dog owners incur.

The average cost to groom a dog falls somewhere between $15 and $23 per hour. This range can fluctuate depending on factors like coat type, size, and additional services.

If you’re starting a dog grooming business, below are a few things you’ll need to consider when pricing your dog grooming services. Striking that balance between affordability and profitability will be key.

Dog grooming prices: How to price dog grooming services.

When starting your business and determining your dog grooming prices, you’ll need to consider 3 key elements of cost and profit:

• Fixed costs: These costs remain constant regardless of the level of services provided and can include employee salaries, rent or mortgage, and insurance.
• Variable costs: These costs fluctuate based on the number of dogs being groomed each week and may include expenses for grooming supplies, shampoos, and towels.
• Profit margin: Ensuring your business generates more revenue than it incurs in costs is crucial. You’ll need to consider your profit margin when setting grooming prices to ensure you cover your expenses and generate a profit.

With these in mind, here’s what to think about when deciding what you’ll charge for your professional grooming services. 

1. Location.

Location is a huge factor in setting prices for grooming services because a place with a higher cost of living means you’ll have to spend more to keep your business running. As a result, you’ll need to charge more—as will other grooming services in the area.

The cost of living varies between states, so the first thing to do is check out the local competition when getting an idea of how to set dog grooming prices. If you’re in Brownsville, Texas, comparing your prices to someone in Manhattan won’t be useful. Instead performing market research in your local area will be the best way to figure out your prices.

2. Services.

Your prices will also vary between the services you offer. For example, an ear cleaning and nail trimming on a Cocker Spaniel will typically cost less than a full bath and haircut on a Great Dane. 

Additionally, you may be able to charge higher prices if you offer specialty services that other grooming salons in your local area don’t. 

Services that you could offer to set you apart from your competition include:

• Mobile Grooming
• Pet Photography
• Senior Care Specialization
• Creative Grooming
• Spa Days
• Show Grooming

3. Groomer credentials.

While there are no official qualifications required to become a dog groomer, there are some available, and those with qualifications will be able to set higher prices than those without. 

For example, the NDGAA, powered by the American Kennel Club, offers its own dog grooming qualification. They offer a 600-hour dog grooming hybrid program as well as specific diplomas (such as massage therapy). If you hire groomers who have these qualifications (or acquire them yourself before starting your business), you will be able to charge more.

More than that—people will be willing to pay more because the groomers are qualified. 

4. Dog age and breed.

A dog’s age and breed are also a factor in grooming, and groomers typically set different prices for different sizes of dogs—and different challenges. A small dog is going to take less time, materials, and resources to groom, as well as present less of a challenge if they’re difficult, so prices are typically lower. 

Larger dogs, or dogs with different coats that require more maintenance such as doodles or double-coated breeds, take more time and resources, and may also require more skill to groom. This is why the cost to groom them is generally higher.

How much does it cost to groom an aggressive dog?

Grooming an aggressive dog requires more time, patience, and often specialized skills, which not all groomers possess. Finding a groomer willing to take on an aggressive dog can be challenging, and the cost associated with such services can be significantly higher.

Some salons will not consider grooming an aggressive dog, as the risks can outweigh the benefits. The safety of the groomer and the well-being of the dog are paramount, and not all salons are equipped to handle the stress and potential danger involved.

Those who do accept reactive dogs typically aren’t priced the same amount as calmer dogs to compensate for the additional time, effort, and potential hazard. The increased fee reflects the need for extra precautions, such as muzzles, additional staff assistance, or specialized equipment, to ensure the process is safe for both the groomer and the dog.

If you don’t feel qualified to provide regular grooming for an aggressive dog, you can consider referring clients to their veterinarian. 

Vets are trained to handle a wide range of animal behaviors, including aggression, and can often provide grooming services under sedation. Sedation can make the process much less stressful for the dog and safer for the person performing the grooming. 

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5. Risk factors.

There are a few risk factors other than aggressive dogs which should also be taken into consideration when pricing your services.

Coat condition.

While ideally, a dog’s coat condition will look good when they come to the groomers, some haven't been maintained properly for a long time. These neglected coats can present a variety of challenges, such as mats and tangles that take a considerable amount of time and effort to remove. 

In severe cases, the dog's coat may be so matted that shaving becomes necessary to ensure the pet's comfort and health. Handling such conditions requires patience, skill, and sometimes even special equipment to safely and effectively manage the grooming process.

Given the additional time and resources needed to address these issues, it’s important to communicate with clients about the potential for an upcharge for dogs with severely neglected coats. 

Consider including a disclaimer in your business policy, informing clients that any dogs arriving in poor coat condition will require more thorough pet care at your salon, which may incur extra costs. This transparency helps manage client expectations and ensures that both the pet and the groomer receive the necessary care and compensation for the additional work involved.

Parasites

If a dog doesn’t have healthy skin, they may have parasites, which can be problematic in the salon. They may require a flea bath, have to be referred to a vet for medicine, and surfaces will have to be disinfected and cleaned thoroughly to ensure the parasites aren’t passed on.

Sick dogs: bacteria and viruses.

Similarly, if a dog is sick with a contagious disease like kennel cough, you should also consider setting a higher price to groom them. Ideally, sick dogs shouldn’t be brought into the salon, but some dog owners may not be able to fit another grooming appointment into their schedule. 

For these cases, if the dog is well enough to be groomed, you should think about charging a higher price for the post-grooming disinfection process of your salon. 

Dog anxiety: barking and biting.

A dog may not be reactive, but they may still be difficult to groom due to anxiety. Signs of anxiety include barking and biting, and these signs can become particularly elevated in unfamiliar and stressful situations which can, in turn, cause more time and resources.

To manage an anxious dog, groomers might need to implement calming techniques, such as using soothing voices, gentle handling, and taking frequent breaks to allow the dog to relax. Sometimes, special tools or products designed to reduce anxiety, like calming sprays or anxiety wraps, may also be necessary. 

The additional care and attention needed for anxious dogs could lead to a higher price set to groom them. 

Owner expectations.

Lastly, some pet parents may be difficult to work with. As much as we want to make our customers happy, some clients are difficult to please!

For customers who are particularly difficult and cause added stress, you can consider increasing your prices for them so they are less likely to come back. If they do decide to come back, you know you are being compensated for the additional stress they cause. 

This is only advised if you have multiple clients on the books and you won’t miss one!

The average cost of dog grooming.

There’s no one price that dictates the exact cost of dog grooming across the United States because it’s different in every area. However, the average starting rate in the country is $14.58 per hour, which goes up to $23.48 per hour. 

Some chain stores, such as Petco and Petsmart have similar prices across stores for a full grooming package.

Petco

Petsmart

Small dogs

$45 - $65

$31 - $61

Medium dogs

$55 - $75

$35 - $75

Large dogs

$65 - $95

$49 - $89

When considering these prices as a starting point, however, it’s important to note that these prices are approximate and that these stores tend to be on the more affordable end of pet grooming. 

Other businesses that aren’t chains tend to have higher prices, but may also offer more specialized attention and be more flexible in their services. Don’t be disheartened—when starting your grooming business, remember it does not have to be as inexpensive as theirs. 

Use PetExec’s software to help manage your business’s pricing.

While it can be stressful to get your grooming business set up and make sure your prices are within the ideal range, PetExec can take some of the weight off. Our software can not only schedule appointments for clients so you can focus on the higher level business projects, but it can also help with the finances too.

PetExec can store your set prices to ensure they’re consistent and take deposits from clients, so everything is transparent on either side.

Ready to start working on your grooming business? Check out a demo of our software!

Commonly asked questions.

How much do most dog groomers charge?

On average dog groomers charge between $14.58 to $23.48 per hour. The prices vary greatly depending on the services provided and the location of the business.

How often should a dog be groomed?

Specific breeds should see a groomer more than others. Some dogs with low-maintenance short coats may only need to come to the grooming salon once every six months, whereas others with easily matted and fast-growing coats are recommended to see a professional groomer as much as every six weeks. 

Is it worth getting a dog groomer?

It is absolutely worth factoring a dog groomer into the overall costs of being a pet parent. Without a dog groomer, your dog may not only look unkempt, but they could run into uncomfortable and even painful issues such as matting.