Dog Grooming Business Plan
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We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their dog grooming businesses.
Below is a template to help you create each section of your Dog Grooming business plan.
Executive Summary
Business Overview
Fur Friends Dog Grooming is a startup dog grooming business located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Company is founded by Lisa Williams, an experienced dog groomer who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a dog grooming business during the past five years while working at Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming. Now that Lisa has experienced managing a dog grooming business, she is ready to start her own company, Fur Friends Dog Grooming. Lisa is confident that her dog grooming skills combined with her customer service experience will enable her to run a profitable dog grooming company of her own. Lisa is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a dog grooming business – sales and marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, product procurement, and janitorial operations.
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will provide a wide selection of dog grooming services for dog owners in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Fur Friends will be the go-to dog grooming business in Wilmington for high quality dog grooming services delivered by expertly trained groomers. The Company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while offering the best prices in the area.
Product Offering
The following are the services that Fur Friends Dog Grooming will provide:
- Bathing
- Shampoo
- Brushing
- Blow Dry
- Massage
- Conditioner
- Teeth Cleaning
- Nail Trimming
- Clip & Hair Cut
- Eye & Ear Cleaning
Customer Focus
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will target dog owners in Wilmington, Delaware. The Company will target owners of dogs of all breeds, sizes, and grooming needs. No matter the customer, Fur Friends Dog Grooming will deliver the best communication, service, and prices.
Management Team
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be owned and operated by Lisa Williams. Lisa is a graduate of Delaware University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. She has over ten years of experience working as a dog groomer for another local business, the last five of which she has worked as the manager for the company. Lisa will be Fur Friends Dog Grooming’s Owner and Manager. She will oversee the training, scheduling, and day-to-day operations of the grooming staff.
Lisa has recruited Scott Smith, an experienced marketing director, to be the Company’s Marketing Director. Scott has a Master’s degree in Sales & Marketing and has worked as a marketing consultant for numerous companies in the pet industry. Scott will handle all sales and marketing campaigns, tactics, and strategies for the Company.
Success Factors
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:
- Skilled team of dog groomers who will ensure every customer receives the best service and every dog receives the best care possible.
- Fur Friends Dog Grooming makes it easy for customers to obtain the Company’s services. The Company will have a brick and mortar location and a mobile operation to give customers more flexibility in the way they can get their dog’s grooming services.
- The Company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.
Download the dog grooming company business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Financial Highlights
Fur Friends Dog Grooming is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to launch its dog grooming business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the retail space and purchasing dog grooming business equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Retail space build-out: $100,000
- Dog grooming equipment, supplies, and materials: $70,000
- Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $110,000
- Marketing costs: $10,000
- Working capital: $10,000
The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Fur Friends Dog Grooming.
Company Overview
Who is Fur Friends Dog Grooming?
Fur Friends Dog Grooming is a newly established dog grooming company in Wilmington, Delaware. Fur Friends will be the first choice for busy dog owners in Wilmington and the surrounding communities for convenience with its centrally located brick and mortar location and its mobile operation that brings grooming services straight to their door. The Company also has a convenient app customers can use to schedule their appointments, pay for services, and monitor their dogs during the grooming process.
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to guarantee the best of care and high quality service provided by professionally trained and capable dog groomers. All groomers go through a rigorous vetting process to ensure that all dogs are groomed by only the best talent.
Fur Friends Dog Grooming History
Fur Friends Dog Grooming is owned and operated by Lisa Williams, an experienced dog groomer who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a dog grooming business during the past five years while working at Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming. Now that Lisa has experienced managing a dog grooming business, she is ready to start her own company, Fur Friends Dog Grooming. Lisa is confident that her dog grooming skills combined with her customer service experience will enable her to run a profitable dog grooming company of her own. Lisa is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a dog grooming business – sales and marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, product procurement, and janitorial operations.
Since incorporation, Fur Friends Dog Grooming has achieved the following milestones:
- Registered Fur Friends Dog Grooming, LLC to transact business in the state of Delaware.
- Has signed a lease to rent the retail space.
- Reached out to numerous contacts to include former customers, dog owners, friends, and family members to help spread the word about the new dog grooming business.
- Began recruiting a staff of accountants, dog groomers, janitorial, and sales personnel to work at Fur Friends Dog Grooming.
Fur Friends Dog Grooming Services
The following are the services that Fur Friends Dog Grooming will provide:
- Bathing
- Shampoo
- Brushing
- Blow Dry
- Massage
- Conditioner
- Teeth Cleaning
- Nail Trimming
- Clip & Hair Cut
- Eye & Ear Cleaning
Industry Analysis
Dog grooming is part of the larger pet grooming industry. The United States pet grooming market is valued at $2.1M and is expected to grow by 6.3% by the year 2030. There are approximately 154,000 pet grooming businesses with over 295,000 employees across the country.
The pet grooming industry is dominated by the dog grooming segment, followed by smaller segments of cat grooming and other pet grooming. There are more than 90M dogs in the United States. Market drivers include an increased focus by pet owners on their dog’s health and wellbeing as well as a growing demand for aesthetic and styling services. Regular grooming keeps dogs clean and healthy while protecting them from allergies, skin infections, and other diseases. Pet owners spend over $123B per year on their pets. Dog owners currently spend more money on dog care than ever before, spending on everything from regular grooming to costumes and toys.
The pet grooming industry can be separated into segments based on service type. The most common service segments are the spa and massage service category and the shear and trim service category. Some industry operators specialize in one particular category, while others provide a wide range of services.
The dog grooming industry can also be divided into segments based on channel of operations. The most popular category is the commercial or physical brick and mortar segment. The fastest growing category is the mobile pet grooming segment. Although this segment is much smaller than the commercial segment, it is expected to grow exponentially over the next several years as more people are coming to prefer the convenience and comfort for their pets that a mobile service can provide.
Download the dog grooming company business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will target dog owners in Wilmington, Delaware. The Company will target owners of dogs of all breeds, sizes, and grooming needs. No matter the customer, Fur Friends Dog Grooming will deliver the best communication, service, and prices.
The precise demographics for Wilmington, Delaware are:
| Total | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,680,988 | 100% |
| Male | 838,675 | 49.9% |
| Female | 842,313 | 50.1% |
| 20 to 24 years | 114,872 | 6.8% |
| 25 to 34 years | 273,588 | 16.3% |
| 35 to 44 years | 235,946 | 14.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 210,256 | 12.5% |
| 55 to 59 years | 105,057 | 6.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 87,484 | 5.2% |
| 65 to 74 years | 116,878 | 7.0% |
| 75 to 84 years | 52,524 | 3.1% |
Customer Segmentation
Fur Friends will primarily target the following customer profiles:
- Gen Z dog owners with disposable income
- Millennial dog owners with disposable income
- Gen X dog owners with disposable income
- Baby Boomer dog owners with disposable income
Competitive Analysis
Direct and Indirect Competitors
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.
Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming
Founded in 2005, Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming is one of the largest independently owned dog grooming businesses in Wilmington, Delaware. The company provides a full suite of pet grooming services including shampoo and conditioner bath, nail care, dental care, brushing, blow dry, and styling. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming operates six brick and mortar locations throughout the city. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming aims to deliver high quality service for all of its customers. The company has a strict dog groomer vetting program to ensure only the top talent is entrusted with the care of the customers’ precious pups. Fuzzie Wuzzlez Dog Grooming’s team of experienced dog grooming professionals have years of experience working with dogs of all temperaments and grooming needs so they are well equipped to care for any dog.
Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming
Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming is a small dog grooming business catering to local show dog owners in Wilmington, Delaware and surrounding areas. Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming provides mobile dog grooming services using three fully-equipped vans. The company provides a variety of grooming services for small to medium sized dog breeds to prepare them for dog shows and competitions. The owners of Paul’s Paw Pals Dog Grooming are former dog show competitors themselves, so they have a unique understanding of the specific grooming needs of their customers’ dogs who are preparing for competition. The company provides grooming services for non-show dogs as well, but grooming for show is their specialty.
Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming
Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming is a trusted Wilmington, Delaware-based dog grooming business that provides superior dog grooming service to consumers in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. The company is able to provide a wide variety of services to pamper pups from head to toe using proven dog grooming techniques and products. Ball of Fluff Dog Grooming serves local dog owners with the piece of mind that all products used on their dogs are natural, safe, and effective. The company only uses all natural, vegan products and works with local suppliers to help support other small business owners.
Download the dog grooming company business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Competitive Advantage
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:
- Skilled team of dog groomers who will handle all dogs with the best of care and attention. The Company’s dog groomers are all expertly trained and vetted for excellence in customer service and dog care.
- Fur Friends Dog Grooming makes it easy for customers to obtain the Company’s services. Customers can schedule appointments through the app, online, over the phone, or in person. Customers can also choose to bring their dog into the centrally located facility or have the mobile unit come out to their homes for even more convenience.
- The Company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.
Marketing Plan
Brand & Value Proposition
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:
- Fur Friends Dog Grooming provides flexibility and convenience. Customers can schedule appointments, make payments, and monitor their dogs through the Company’s app. Customers can also choose whether they want to bring their dog in or have the mobile unit come out to their homes.
- The Company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.
Promotions Strategy
The promotions strategy for Fur Friends Dog Grooming is as follows:
Social Media Marketing
The Company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. They will ensure Fur Friends maintains an active social media presence with regular daily updates and fun content to get customers excited about the Company’s dog grooming services.
Professional Associations and Networking
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will become a member of professional associations such as the Dog Grooming Association, American Dog Groomers Society, and the Delaware Pet Grooming Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the Company’s vendor and customer network.
Print Advertising
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The Company will also send direct mailers to local businesses where potential customers frequent.
Website/SEO Marketing
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the Company’s website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Fur Friends is able to provide. The website will also list information on all the products Fur Friends uses such as shampoos, conditioners, and flea baths.
The marketing director will also manage Fur Friends’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “dog grooming service” or “dog grooming near me”, Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be listed at the top of the search results.
Pricing
The pricing of Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services. Fur Friends will give new and regular customers discounts to encourage repeat business.
Operations Plan
The following will be the operations plan for Fur Friends Dog Grooming.
Operation Functions:
- Lisa Williams will be the Owner and Manager of the Company. She will oversee the activities and schedules of the dog groomers, the day-to-day upkeep of the facility, and customer relationships. Lisa has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
- Scott Smith – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.
- Susan Smith – Accountant/Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
- Jill Davis – Lead Mobile Dog Groomer who will oversee all activities of the mobile grooming unit.
Download the dog grooming company business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Milestones:
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.
11/1/2022 – Finalize the lease on the facility.
11/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Fur Friends Dog Grooming management and dog groomer teams.
12/1/2022 – Begin build-out and remodel of the facility and purchase equipment and supplies.
12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.
1/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for initial grooming product suppliers.
2/15/2023 – Fur Friends Dog Grooming officially opens for business.
Management Team
Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be owned and operated by Lisa Williams. Lisa is a graduate of Delaware University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. She has over ten years of experience working as a dog groomer for another local business, the last five of which she has worked as the manager for the company. Lisa will be Fur Friends Dog Grooming’s Owner and Manager. She will oversee the training, scheduling, and day-to-day operations of the grooming staff.
Lisa has recruited Scott Smith, an experienced marketing consultant to be the Company’s Marketing Director. Scott has a Master’s degree in Sales & Marketing and has worked as a marketing consultant for numerous companies in the pet industry. Scott will handle all sales and marketing campaigns, tactics, and strategies for the Company.
Financial Plan
Key Revenue & Costs
The revenue drivers for Fur Friends Dog Grooming are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the Company’s dog grooming services. The pricing of Fur Friends Dog Grooming will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services. Fur Friends will give new and regular customers discounts to encourage repeat business.
The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a dog grooming business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, grooming equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.
Funding Requirements and Use of Funds
Fur Friends Dog Grooming is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to launch its dog grooming business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the retail space and purchasing dog grooming business equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Retail space build-out: $100,000
- Dog grooming equipment, supplies, and materials: $70,000
- Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $110,000
- Marketing costs: $10,000
- Working capital: $10,000
Download the dog grooming company business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Key Assumptions
The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.
- Average number of grooming sessions per month: 2,500
- Average fees per month: $10,000
- Overhead costs per year: $140,000
Financial Projections
Income Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Total Revenues | $360,000 | $793,728 | $875,006 | $964,606 | $1,063,382 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $64,800 | $142,871 | $157,501 | $173,629 | $191,409 | |
| Lease | $50,000 | $51,250 | $52,531 | $53,845 | $55,191 | |
| Marketing | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | |
| Salaries | $157,015 | $214,030 | $235,968 | $247,766 | $260,155 | |
| Initial expenditure | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $291,815 | $416,151 | $454,000 | $483,240 | $514,754 | |
| EBITDA | $68,185 | $377,577 | $421,005 | $481,366 | $548,628 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| EBIT | $41,025 | $350,417 | $393,845 | $454,206 | $521,468 | |
| Interest | $23,462 | $20,529 | $17,596 | $14,664 | $11,731 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Use of Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Taxable Income | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $6,147 | $115,461 | $131,687 | $153,840 | $178,408 | |
| NET INCOME | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 |
Balance Sheet
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $30,000 | $33,072 | $36,459 | $40,192 | $44,308 | |
| Total Current Assets | $184,257 | $381,832 | $609,654 | $878,742 | $1,193,594 | |
| Fixed assets | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $54,320 | $81,480 | $108,640 | $135,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $153,790 | $126,630 | $99,470 | $72,310 | $45,150 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $315,831 | $270,713 | $225,594 | $180,475 | $135,356 | |
| Accounts payable | $10,800 | $11,906 | $13,125 | $14,469 | $15,951 | |
| Total Liability | $326,631 | $282,618 | $238,719 | $194,944 | $151,307 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| Total Equity | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 |
Cash Flow Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 | |
| Change in working capital | ($19,200) | ($1,966) | ($2,167) | ($2,389) | ($2,634) | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | $19,376 | $239,621 | $269,554 | $310,473 | $355,855 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | ||||||
| Investment | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | ||||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Cash from debt | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow | $154,257 | $194,502 | $224,436 | $265,355 | $310,736 | |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | |
| Cash at End of Period | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 |
Dog Grooming Company Business Plan FAQs
What Is a Dog Grooming Company Business Plan?
A dog grooming company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your dog grooming company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.
What are the Main Types of Dog Grooming Companies?
There are a number of different kinds of dog grooming companies, some examples include: Designer dog grooming, Mobile dog grooming, and Franchise dog grooming.
How Do You Get Funding for Your Dog Grooming Company Business Plan?
Dog grooming companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.
What are the Steps To Start a Dog Grooming Business?
Starting a dog grooming business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.
1. Develop A Dog Grooming Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed pet grooming business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.
2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your dog grooming business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your dog grooming business is in compliance with local laws.
3. Register Your Dog Grooming Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your dog grooming business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.
4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your dog grooming business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.
5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.
6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.
7. Acquire Necessary Dog Grooming Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your dog grooming business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.
8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your dog grooming business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.
Learn more about how to start a successful dog grooming business: