One of the first questions every new mobile groomer asks is how much to charge. Copying the salon down the street is tempting, but a mobile business has different costs and offers clients something a salon cannot: you come to them. Your prices should reflect both.
Instead of guessing, use a method. Work out what each groom actually costs you, add what you need to earn, and then check the result against your local market.
Step 1: Add Up Your Fixed Monthly Costs
These are the costs you pay whether you groom 10 dogs or 100:
- Your trailer payment, if you financed it
- Your tow vehicle payment
- Insurance on the trailer, the vehicle, your business liability and the animals in your care
- Phone, booking software and website
- Business license and professional fees
- Marketing
- Money set aside for maintenance and equipment replacement
Step 2: Estimate Your Variable Costs Per Groom
These go up with every appointment:
- Shampoo, conditioner and other products
- Blades, sharpening and small tools
- Towels, laundry and sanitation supplies
- Water
- Generator fuel
- Fuel for driving between appointments
Track these for a few weeks once you start. Your real numbers will beat any estimate.
Step 3: Be Honest About Capacity
Mobile groomers usually do fewer dogs per day than a busy salon because of drive time, setup and one-on-one handling. That is fine. It is part of what clients pay for. Figure out how many grooms you can realistically do per day, then multiply by the days you will work each month. Leave room for cancellations, rain days and slow seasons.
Step 4: Find Your Cost Per Groom
Use this formula:
Cost per groom = (fixed monthly costs ÷ grooms per month) + variable cost per groom
That number is your break-even. Charge less and you lose money on every dog, even if the calendar is full.
Step 5: Add Your Pay and Profit
Your break-even does not include your own wages. Decide what you need to earn per month, divide it by your grooms per month, and add it. Then add a profit margin for growth, slow months and the next trailer.
| Line | How to calculate |
|---|---|
| Fixed cost per groom | Fixed monthly costs ÷ grooms per month |
| Variable cost per groom | Supplies, water, generator fuel and road fuel per appointment |
| Your pay per groom | Monthly income goal ÷ grooms per month |
| Profit | A percentage of the subtotal for growth and reserves |
| Base price | The total of the four lines above |
Step 6: Build a Price List
A single base price is a starting point. Real dogs vary, so most groomers price by:
- Size: small, medium, large and giant breeds take different time and product.
- Coat type: double coats, doodles and heavy undercoats take longer.
- Service: full groom, bath and tidy, nails only.
- Condition: a matted coat or a dog who needs extra handling takes more time.
Base each tier on the time it really takes. If a doodle takes twice as long as a small terrier, it should cost noticeably more.
Add-Ons
Teeth brushing, special shampoos, nail grinding and de-shedding treatments add value for clients and income for you.
Travel Zones
Some groomers include travel within a core service area and add a fee for appointments farther out. Zones also help you group appointments by neighborhood, which cuts drive time.
Step 7: Check Your Local Market
Now compare your numbers with what salons and other mobile groomers in your area charge. Call a few, check their websites and read their reviews. If your price lands far above the market, look for ways to cut drive time or raise capacity. If it lands well below, you may be underpricing the convenience you offer.
Groomer communities like the AKC Groomer Hub are a good place to learn how other groomers handle pricing, policies and client communication.
Policies That Protect Your Prices
Your pricing only works if your calendar holds. Put a few simple policies in writing and share them when clients book:
- Cancellations and no-shows: how much notice you need, and what happens without it.
- Matted coats: when a dematting fee applies, or when a shave-down is the humane choice.
- Behavior: how you handle a dog that needs extra time or handling.
- Payment: how and when you collect.
Raising Your Prices
Costs rise, and your prices should follow. Give existing clients notice before a change, explain it briefly and keep the message friendly. Clients who value a groomer who comes to their door and knows their dog usually understand. New clients can start at your new rates right away.
Is Mobile Grooming Profitable?
It can be, when your prices cover your real costs and your schedule stays full. Routes matter: grouping appointments by area cuts fuel and lets you fit more grooms into the day. Repeat clients on a regular schedule smooth out your income. Review your prices at least once a year as costs change.
Your Trailer Is Part of the Math
Your grooming trailer is one of your largest fixed costs, so it is worth getting right. Our built-to-order grooming trailers start at $13,100, and our dog grooming trailer cost guide explains what each tier includes. If you are still deciding between platforms, read our comparison of a pet grooming van vs. trailer, or design a custom mobile grooming trailer around your workflow.
Come walk through a grooming trailer at 8834 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236, just south of Atlanta. We are open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM. Call (770) 603-8511 or text (404) 383-8194 and tell us how you want your grooming day to run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I figure out what to charge for mobile dog grooming?
Add up your fixed monthly costs and divide by the grooms you can do each month, add your variable cost per groom, then add your pay and a profit margin. Compare the result with your local market.
Do mobile groomers charge more than salons?
Many do, because mobile grooming brings the service to the client's door and usually involves one-on-one handling. Check what groomers in your area charge to see where your prices fit.
Should I charge a travel fee for mobile grooming?
Some groomers include travel within a core service area and add a fee for appointments farther away. Travel zones also help you group appointments and cut drive time.
Is a mobile dog grooming business profitable?
It can be when your prices cover your real costs and your schedule stays full. Grouping appointments by area and building repeat clients both help.
How much does a grooming trailer cost?
Our built-to-order grooming trailers start at $13,100. Our dog grooming trailer cost guide explains what each tier includes.