pricing advice needed
- Thread starter dane
- Start date
I've never used anyone around here but I have called around. None of them charged by the hour. Most wanted to know the size of my dog and what I wanted done. So I think it was per dog and depended on what I was asking for.
OK I reread that I don't think it helps at all other than to say not by the hour lol
OK I reread that I don't think it helps at all other than to say not by the hour lol
Most grooming salons charge depending on the size of the dog and what needs to be done. For example, a chihuahua who only needs a bath would be much cheaper than a toy poodle who needs a bath and clip, who would be much cheaper than a standard poodle who also needs a clip. They also charge a la carte for things like nail clipping, tooth brushing, ear cleaning, etc. if that's all the owner wants done.
So I'd work off of that, and then charge a flat fee for transportation. Or a sliding fee based on distance or something.
So I'd work off of that, and then charge a flat fee for transportation. Or a sliding fee based on distance or something.
When I managed a grooming place, we had a base price range for each breed, mixes we picked the closest fit. We had a range for bath and brush (which included pads shaved, feet and furnishings trimmed if necessary, nails, etc), a range for a kennel cut, and a range for a scissor pattern. We did have extra fees for dematting (that was by the hour, really by the 1/4 hour) and handling (if a dog had to be tranqued or was extra hard to do, requiring two people etc).
Where I work they have a base fee for grooms of different sized dogs, as well as just for a bath and comb out. It's based on the dog being groomed at home and not matted or hard to to work with. If the dog is shedding and needs ten minutes with a comb before it can be bathed it's one thing, if the dog has not seen a comb for a year and requires an hour of dematting it's another. The owners get told when they bring their dog in if there's likely extra charges. We don't just brush out or demat, owner's policy is the dog gets a bath and full treatment (anal glands, teeth, ears, nails) if they're coming in for a groom.
What she has started doing is if she's charging say $50 for a bath including the extras, and we can't touch the teeth because the dog is untrained or whatever, we spend that time trying or working towards eventually being able to do them and charge the owner the same rate for training. Teeth are usually the thing we can't get done if there's an issue, so we work on it a bit and send the owner home with instructions on how to work with the dog at home in hopes they can return and get it done the next time.
It is trial and error, if the dog is a total nightmare we just don't book them in again. Not worth it.
What she has started doing is if she's charging say $50 for a bath including the extras, and we can't touch the teeth because the dog is untrained or whatever, we spend that time trying or working towards eventually being able to do them and charge the owner the same rate for training. Teeth are usually the thing we can't get done if there's an issue, so we work on it a bit and send the owner home with instructions on how to work with the dog at home in hopes they can return and get it done the next time.
It is trial and error, if the dog is a total nightmare we just don't book them in again. Not worth it.