If grooming prices feel inconsistent, stressful to explain, or suspiciously unprofitable… it’s probably not a you problem.
It’s usually a time problem.
Grooming is hands-on labor. Time is the main thing you sell. And when pricing isn’t aligned with time, a few things happen fast:
- large dogs quietly eat your schedule
- small dogs end up subsidizing everything else
- groomers feel rushed or burned out
- the business works harder without actually earning more
Let’s fix that.
This article walks you through a pricing system that keeps your prices fair, predictable, and sustainable without “charging by the hour” or confusing your clients.
Why Grooming Prices Get Out of Balance
Most grooming price lists didn’t start out wrong. They just… evolved.
A price got set years ago. Another got rounded. A large dog price felt “too high,” so it got softened. A doodle price became a guess. Eventually, the math stopped mathing.
Here’s what often happens behind the scenes:
- A small dog takes 60 minutes and is priced at $60 → $1 per minute
- A large dog takes 115 minutes and is priced at $100 → $0.87 per minute
Same business. Two very different effective rates.
No one intended to discount large dogs — but it happens all the time. And when it happens even once a day, that lost time adds up to thousands of dollars per year.
The Two Hourly Rates Every Grooming Business Needs to Know
Before we talk price lists, we need to talk about two different hourly rates that get confused constantly.
1. Your Pricing Hourly Rate (Not Client-Facing)
This is the hourly rate your prices are built from.
It lives behind the scenes and never has to be shown to clients.
You are not charging by the hour. Clients still see:
- menu prices
- breed ranges
- predictable expectations
Example:
- A groom takes 90 minutes and costs $90
- $90 ÷ 90 minutes = $1 per minute = $60/hour
That $60/hour is your pricing hourly rate.
Every groom on your menu should quietly follow the same math.
2. Your Hourly Cost of Doing Business
This is what it costs per hour just to exist as a business.
It includes:
- Rent/lease (or vehicle payment if mobile)
- Utilities (gas/maintenance if mobile)
- Insurance
- Software
- Grooming and office supplies
- Professional services
- Licensing and fees
- Payroll
If your pricing hourly rate isn’t higher than this number, you’re not actually making money — you’re just moving dogs through the building.
How to Estimate Your Hourly Cost of Operation (The Simple Way)
You don’t need an accounting degree to get a useful estimate.
Step 1: Add up annual operating expenses
Use last year’s numbers if you have them from your Schedule C. If you’re newer, estimate conservatively.
Step 2: Calculate annual hours open
Example:
- Open 5 days a week
- 52 weeks per year
- 9 hours per day
That’s 2,340 hours per year.
Step 3: Divide
Annual expenses ÷ annual hours open = hourly operating cost
If your expenses are $49,000:
- $49,000 ÷ 2,340 = ~$20.94/hour
That means it costs about $21 per hour just to keep the doors open.
A Reality Check That Saves a Lot of Heartache
For a solo groomer or one-person operation, a common guideline is:
Your pricing hourly rate should be 3–4× higher than your hourly cost of operation.
This isn’t a law. It’s a gut-check.
That gap is what funds:
- your actual income
- taxes
- reinvestment
- repairs
- time off
- breathing room
If those two numbers are too close together, the business will always feel tight, no matter how booked you are.
Why Grooming Time Standards Matter (For Pricing and Payroll)
Time standards aren’t about rushing. They’re about fairness.
Without written standards:
- pricing becomes inconsistent
- employees feel judged instead of supported
- expectations change depending on the day or the dog
Good standards protect:
- pets (humane handling comes first)
- groomers (realistic expectations)
- owners (accurate pricing)
Faster does not automatically mean better.
But slower doesn’t automatically mean higher quality either.
The goal is reasonable, humane, repeatable time ranges.
How to Set Grooming Time Standards That Actually Work
Start with real data, not guesses.
Track actual grooming times by:
- service type (bath-only vs full groom)
- breed or dominant mix
- coat condition (normal vs impacted)
- behavior level (standard vs special handling)
Then create time ranges, not single numbers.
Why ranges matter:
- pet sizes vary
- coats vary
- equipment matters
- interruptions happen
- not every “Golden Retriever” is built the same
New groomers, experienced groomers, and groomers with physical limitations should not all be held to identical expectations.
Documenting this protects everyone.
Turning Time Standards Into Fair Price Ranges
This is where everything comes together.
Step 1: Choose your pricing hourly rate
Example: $75/hour
Step 2: Convert to per-minute
$75 ÷ 60 = $1.25 per minute
Step 3: Multiply by your time range
If a groom takes 45–60 minutes:
- 45 × $1.25 = $56.25 → round to $57
- 60 × $1.25 = $75.00
Your BASE price range becomes $57–$75.
That’s it. That’s the math.
How to Use Price Ranges Without Stress
Price ranges exist for real reasons:
- size differences
- coat density
- drying time
- extra bathing needs
Charge toward the higher end when:
- the dog is larger than average
- the coat is heavier than “normal”
- extra bathing or drying is required
Do not bury everything into your base price.
Minimum Charges and Add-Ons (Protect Your Base Pricing)
If your math produces a number below your minimum service charge, bump the range up.
That’s not dishonest. That’s reality.
Add-ons should be clearly defined and separate:
- dematting
- deshedding
- special handling or behavior
- express / one-on-one appointments
- specialty shampoo protocols
- severe coat neglect
Your base price assumes reasonable condition.
Anything beyond that deserves its own line item.
What Your Clients Actually Need to See
Your internal worksheet can be detailed. Your public price list should not be.
Client-facing pricing works best when it shows:
- service type
- breed or size category
- price range
- clear notes about add-ons and condition
Price ranges don’t confuse good clients…they prevent arguments and protect your time.
Final Thoughts (From One Groomer to Another)
You’re not charging more because you’re greedy.
You’re charging accurately because your time, skill, and body matter.
Time-based pricing:
- keeps your prices fair
- keeps your schedule sane
- keeps you paid, insured and able to save for retirement
- keeps your employees’ wages competitive
Booked solid is impressive.
Booked smart is sustainable.
If you’d like the FREE Smart Pricing Framework for Groomers worksheet, CLICK HERE.
