he pet industry has been emerging in recent decades to become a major economic presence. Groomers have grown from being somewhat of an underground economy to being a mainstream, high-profile, valued business and service. We welcome this emergence into the cultural and economic mainstream. However, this increasing attention to our industry is bringing to light the need to purge some legacy practices still present in our industry that have long been illegal and problematic.
This higher public profile also likely explains why, when I opened my grooming salon a decade ago and called the Illinois state agencies to set up my sales tax and other legalities, the official on the phone said to me, quite earnestly, “You had better report everything correctly—we are on to you all in the grooming industry!” While I was surprised he said that, I assured him that we would follow the law carefully.
Resources for Legal Compliance
I also highly recommend everyone take a business course at a local community college, in person or online. These classes are affordable, not academically difficult, and can even be taken for no college credit. A business class will stand you in good stead all your life in helping you keep your own financial records, do your taxes, work safely and profitably, or grow your own economic security.
Many groomers still work for cash, which is illegal when not reported as income. Many employers pressure groomers to skirt the law with them by mutually agreeing to not treat the groomer as a legal employee, putting both at risk. Other trade industries such as beauticians, plumbers, and electricians have become more regulated and even licensed. This regulation and licensure is surely coming our way and has already been proposed in several states.
Groomers are subject to all the same federal and state labor laws as everyone else. If you are a business owner who has other staff working for you and do not have the current year’s federal and state labor law poster hanging on your wall, you are in violation of the law. These can be purchased for a nominal fee each year.
Employers must abide by laws regarding medical leave, paid time off (PTO), hours worked, minimum wage, overtime rules and mandatory reporting. Many states have requirements unique to that state, such as a requirement for annual sexual harassment training for all staff in a workplace. Your local or state Chambers of Commerce may be able to guide you, or you can call your county government officials. Your county animal control may have regulations applicable to your business as well.
Without a doubt, in a service industry like ours, labor is always the business owner’s highest percentage of expenses…and owners are always trying to find ways to cut costs. But workers’ rights must be respected, because these workers are the ones enabling the owners to make money. A good relationship between owners, managers and workforce will mean more productivity, more loyalty and higher-quality work. A stressed workforce invariably produces lower-quality work and reduces productivity.
All grooming businesses with employees, no matter where they are located, must have Worker’s Compensation insurance. Check requirements in your area. Also, Sole Proprietorships must pay half of their Social Security and Medicare for themselves throughout the year. This requirement cannot be ignored, and it will benefit you years from now. Business licenses are also usually required, but find out if it is by county, city or state in your area.
Groomers must comply with all zoning issues and local ordinances, even if they are working from their home. Find out what zoning and local ordinances apply to you. We must also set up and pay sales tax if we have any retail items such as grooming tools, treats or pet supplies.
There are often environmental requirements in most localities. These could affect trash removal and how you manage cleanliness, waste, sanitation, etc. You also must have appropriate types and numbers of fire extinguishers on premises and know how to use them. Fire extinguishers must be inspected and tagged regularly to ensure they are always working. Regular fire marshal inspections are generally required as well, no matter where your business is set up to operate from.
The American Kennel Club, International Professional Groomers and other pet industry organizations offer voluntary, but valuable, safety certifications for individual groomers and salons. These grooming-industry-based credentials are not legally required, but they do enhance your expertise and are a great thing to brag to your clients about, setting you apart from competitors.
Do not try to avoid paying taxes—it is truly a no-win situation for you. As the gentleman on the phone with the Illinois Commerce Commission told me, they are “on to us,” and they know that our industry has a legacy culture of working for cash under the table. If you are found guilty of not paying taxes, or violating labor laws or other legal requirements, you can be fined and put out of business, as well as held personally liable, which means your home and possessions could be at risk.
Many grooming businesses, however, still are using this model illegally. When businesses illegally pay groomers as independent contractors, it places the responsibility on the groomers to report the income on their personal taxes. Groomers often do not even know their obligations, so they end up as a tax cheat either knowingly or out of ignorance of the law, which we all know is no excuse. Workers new to the country are especially vulnerable.
If we do any remodeling, building or improvements, we must get a building permit as required by law. Building codes can be local, county, state or national. No matter where you groom, you are responsible for following codes that are applicable to where you are doing your grooming.
Carrying business and/or liability insurance may or may not be required, but it certainly is a good idea if want to keep your business. There are myriad of laws that could affect what we do every day, especially since we work with animals. Some states, for example, have bite laws that require them all to be reported, no matter the severity of the bite. A pet getting sick or injured, or worse; or a person getting injured on your premises, could happen at any time.
To learn more about the many miscellaneous laws that can affect you, consult with local Chambers of Commerce or an attorney, or search on your state’s legislative websites using keywords or search terms for laws that might affect you. Better yet, join your state grooming association or form one if your state does not yet have one. Contact the World Alliance of Grooming Associations (WAGA)1 and they will help your state to create a grooming association if it does not have one.
The problem we face is the urge people often have to increase their earnings by cheating the government and the public coffers by doing something illegal or taking advantage of their employees. Instead, be knowledgeable and be proud that you are the kind of person who knows and follows the law with integrity. Laws are a public good, and everyone following them makes life safer and better for all of us.
- World Alliance of Grooming Associations Inc. https://waga.wildapricot.org/