or most of us, a complete groom covers a relatively standard list of services for each pet. Usually this involves the pet being washed, conditioned, dried, brushed and combed. Shedding hair is removed, the nails are trimmed, ears checked and cleaned, and the requested haircut is given. Beyond the basics, though, creatively thinking groomers can offer a myriad of other options if they choose to.
For some, however, offering a list of extra services is off-putting. Groomer Jennifer Regis shares her opinion on charging for add-ons: “I don’t do add-ons; I do what the dog needs. I charge an hourly rate so the client is charged based on time, not by breed and not by extra things. I simply give the dog the care it needs. If this means I need to do a sugar or salt scrub due to crazy flaky skin and heavy-duty conditioning treatment, so be it.”
Many other groomers echo her sentiment, but some find that offering extra services works for them. Famed groomer Olga Zabelinskaya shares her process for add-ons: “I groom very small to medium dogs only and offer keratin, jojoba oil, and argan oil masks. I also have salty paw treatments for winter and Dead Sea mud spa treatments. These are usually $15-20 extra each. I have a toothbrushing, nail filing, and anal gland expression package for $30, which is the most popular.”
Some additional services lend themselves readily to a standard groom. For example, customers frequently request that their pet be washed in a medicated shampoo sold to them by their veterinarian for a specific purpose. To make the most of a medicated shampoo, the dog should first receive a primer bath with regular shampoo to remove dirt, dust, dander and debris. Then, the medicated shampoo should be applied as directed and allowed to remain in contact with the dog’s skin for 5-10 minutes to be effective. Most customers easily accept an additional fee because they can understand that that time must be paid for.
or most of us, a complete groom covers a relatively standard list of services for each pet. Usually this involves the pet being washed, conditioned, dried, brushed and combed. Shedding hair is removed, the nails are trimmed, ears checked and cleaned, and the requested haircut is given. Beyond the basics, though, creatively thinking groomers can offer a myriad of other options if they choose to.
For some, however, offering a list of extra services is off-putting. Groomer Jennifer Regis shares her opinion on charging for add-ons: “I don’t do add-ons; I do what the dog needs. I charge an hourly rate so the client is charged based on time, not by breed and not by extra things. I simply give the dog the care it needs. If this means I need to do a sugar or salt scrub due to crazy flaky skin and heavy-duty conditioning treatment, so be it.”
Many other groomers echo her sentiment, but some find that offering extra services works for them. Famed groomer Olga Zabelinskaya shares her process for add-ons: “I groom very small to medium dogs only and offer keratin, jojoba oil, and argan oil masks. I also have salty paw treatments for winter and Dead Sea mud spa treatments. These are usually $15-20 extra each. I have a toothbrushing, nail filing, and anal gland expression package for $30, which is the most popular.”
“I’ve done dog walking as a pleasant add-on,” adds groomer Lori Bowman. “I have a few people who love that I will do this, as they are not able to.”
Some additional services lend themselves readily to a standard groom. For example, customers frequently request that their pet be washed in a medicated shampoo sold to them by their veterinarian for a specific purpose. To make the most of a medicated shampoo, the dog should first receive a primer bath with regular shampoo to remove dirt, dust, dander and debris. Then, the medicated shampoo should be applied as directed and allowed to remain in contact with the dog’s skin for 5-10 minutes to be effective. Most customers easily accept an additional fee because they can understand that that time must be paid for.
Dogs that have interacted with a skunk also require extra time and products to combat that noxious odor. In my experience, customers are delighted to shell out extra cash when we help with that particularly smelly problem.
In contrast, there are other add-on services that are less for the wellbeing or health of the pet and more for the visual appeal or novelty, and may interest only certain specific customers. Some of these include:
- Nail polish (Be sure to use only pet-safe varieties.)
- Seasonal scents, such as floral for spring, cinnamon for fall and pine for winter
- Facial scrubs
- Mud treatments
- Adding color in the form of chalk, dye or airbrush (Again, only use pet-safe products.)
- Carving shapes or designs into the pet’s coat
- Whitening or color-enhancing shampoos
- Express service (For the customer who wants their pet to spend the least possible amount of time at the groomer due to health issues, special needs, nervousness, age, etc.)
- Daycare service (This would include keeping the pet even after the grooming service is completed and should consist of taking it outside for potty breaks.)
- Pet photography (Set up a dedicated photo area with a backdrop and props and take pictures of the pet’s finished groom as requested by the customer.)
- Reiki or canine massage (These should only be performed by those professionally trained in the practice.)
The options of add-on services and packages that can be offered beyond the standard groom are endless. Groomer Michelle Saadeh shares one option that is very popular in her salon: “We do a walk-in service that we call a ‘Quick Fix.’ We charge $35, and we trim the nails, clean the ears, trim the paw pads and sanitary area, as well as around the eyes and mouth, and do a quick brush-out. This is a very popular service for in-between grooms.”
The consensus of groomers I talked to about the benefit of offering additional services was that if a standard groom covered all the pet’s basic needs, offering extras as an option was an acceptable practice. Groomers who do offer add-on services find that they can increase their per-ticket price on a percentage of the pets they groom. Pricing for these services should be based on the extra time each option will take to perform and the additional cost of any supplies purchased for the service.
Another bonus to offering add-on services is that they can be a fun diversion from our daily grooming routine. Putting on a little nail polish, fashioning a feather boa collar or using products different from our standard ones keeps things interesting. The delighted response of happy customers is also something that can brighten an otherwise average day. Offering add-ons can be exciting for stylists and pet owners alike—and boost your bottom line!