“I started doing jobs for some shelters,” says Kimberly Santore. “Then I had people start asking if I could come to their houses because either the people were old or handicapped or didn’t drive, or they had geriatric dogs that couldn’t get in cars or dogs that were scared to death of being left somewhere.”

House-call grooming is not easy. It can be very challenging physically and mentally, but also very rewarding. If you think you have what it takes, how do you get started?

First you decide the size and weight limit of the dogs you will accept, and if you want to groom cats. Next you’ll map out where your service area will be. It’s best to start with a small area before you branch out.

You’ll also need to get business insurance from a company that deals with professional groomers. They can write a policy that will cover everything from a pet injury to a scuff on a client’s wall that happens when you are bringing your equipment in. And, since you will be carrying most of your equipment with you in your vehicle, you want to make sure you have adequate coverage for the vehicle and everything that is in it, should it get totaled or stolen.

When it comes to tools and styling products that you’ll use in your house-call business, try to keep it simple. Remember, you have to carry all of your equipment into the client’s house and then back out to your vehicle.

“This was a real struggle for me at first,” says Hannah Gibson. “I really had to sit and think about everything and what I needed. After a few grooms I realized half the things I was bringing with me I really never used. I have my main bag that I carry my everyday essentials in, and then the rest of my tools are stored separately and only taken with me when I know I’m absolutely going to need them.”

“I looked into a durable rolling bag,” Leticia Ybarra shares. “The one I decided on not only fits everything I need, but it has cup holders and seconds as a seat for me during the groom, which is a must! I put all my tools including shampoos and conditioners inside. I attach my high-velocity dryer on top and secure my table arms in the pockets. Then I can make one trip (table in one arm and rolly dragged by the other).”

“When you set up in someone’s home, try not to be near fragile knick-knacks or papers on a desk—anything that your dryer could blow off,” Chris Anthony warns. “And, when you choose your dryer, be conscious of how many amps it uses. Some are so powerful they will trip the circuit breaker in your client’s home.”

“I least like the cleanup,” Alysse Bowman says. “But I use equipment that makes it easier on me, like my 2-in-1 dryer and vacuum cleaner. Now I have less stuff to carry and a quicker clean up.”

“It’s perfectly acceptable to say to a client, ‘If you leave out your vacuum, I will clean up after myself,’” Chris Anthony adds. “You can also say, ‘I try to clean up very well, but there might be some hair left over.’ Some of my clients schedule their pet’s grooming the day before their cleaning lady comes.”

In some parts of the country, a lot of grooming is done outdoors. Decide what your temperature cutoff will be in both directions; how hot is too hot and how cold is too cold to perform grooming services outdoors?

“I’m in Florida and groom big dogs, which clients prefer to do outside,” says Leticia Ybarra. “So for me, the heat is the hardest. I’ve started to find little ways to make it more tolerable for myself and the pups with multiple fans and even a cooling pad for the dog to be on during the groom.”

Another advantage of having your own house-call business is that you can set your own rules and policies.

“I don’t wash dogs in people’s homes,” says Christine Pasieka. “My policy is that the client bathes their dog the day before the appointment. I’m strictly haircut, nails, and ears.”

With house-call grooming being a female-dominated profession, going by yourself into people’s homes can be scary, but you can do things to protect yourself.

“Most of my clients are by referral,” says Molly Dunham. “When someone reaches out to me through social media, I will usually look into their profiles and see if I can get a feel for what kind of person I may be dealing with. I trust my gut. If something feels off, it’s a no go.”

“One of the least appealing things about house-call to me is the initial anxiety of new clients and having to vet them before going to their home,” Erika Tesnow shares. “I screen my clients by doing a deep Google search. I’m checking all the socials and their family’s social media accounts as well to make sure the person is legit. My state also allows for open records on arrests so I’m able to check if a person has any criminal record.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to keep most of my old salon clients, so I feel really safe and confident,” Alysse Bowman says. “For new clients, I do a $20 consultation where I travel to the home, meet the dog and owner, and discuss grooming details, etc. My significant other has my location on these occasions and if I do not feel it’s a good fit, I will not book an appointment and refer them elsewhere.”

“Your safety is paramount,” Chris Anthony adds. “Always let someone know where you are. It’s a good idea to make the call or text right in front of the client, such as, ‘I have arrived at Mary Perkins’ at 123 Main Street. I will be here for approximately one and a half hours. I’ll call you when I’m on my way to the next client.’”

Pricing your services can be a challenge, but as a rule of thumb you should charge as much or more than the mobile groomers in your area.

“If there’s any piece of advice I could give, it would be to know your worth,” advises Autumn Onopiuk. “Surprisingly, my least favorite part of house-call isn’t cleaning up, packing, etc. I would say my least favorite is dealing with clients who don’t value my time.”

“House-call is the most convenient for the customer and the most inconvenient for the groomer. A lot of people don’t realize that you need way more ‘people skills’ when you are house-call,” shares Chris Anthony emphatically. “In a salon, you may have a receptionist and you never even speak with the client. In mobile, you talk with the client at pick-up and drop-off. The rest of the time you are alone in your van. With house-call, you are right there in their kitchen, etc. If you are not comfortable making small talk as you work, that might be a problem.

“Oftentimes, clients want to talk and talk—especially those that are homebound. You can factor in the chat time when you are pricing your services,” Chris continues. “Depending on the client and circumstances, they can pay me for the extra ‘chat time’ with money, or with cookies and a hug.”

In this day and age, the house- call groomer is no longer “alone.” There are many Facebook groups, podcasts and groomers associations to keep you connected.

“Having a community of house-call groomers in grooming groups is so important,” says Erika Tesnow. “The amount of useful information others have and can give to you is invaluable. I’m learning something new every day on what products are best, or how to troubleshoot issues with clients. With house-call, you need a community to bounce ideas off since you have no other coworkers to ask.”

“House-call grooming is so worth it,” Savana Everett says. “You have a closer relationship with dogs and their owners than you ever would in a salon. I get to see new things everyday. And, I get mental breaks between the grooms.”

“For me, it’s the interactions with the pets and their owners,” Leticia Ybarra adds. “I see how pets are just so much more comfortable in their own home with the whole process. I do this alone so if I do need assistance, I can call the owners in and have them assist. I feel it’s very educational for them and builds a stronger bond.”

“What I enjoy most is assisting animals who are afraid to be groomed in unfamiliar environments,” shares Hannah Gibson. “I’ve had numerous dogs who can’t be groomed at commercial salons, but when I’m set up in their house, I have no problems at all. After realizing how many dogs I am really helping, and seeing how happy their owners are, I don’t think I could go any other path.”

House-call grooming—are you ready to get in on the next big thing?