Question by LadyAB: Would you say a Dog grooming career is rewarding and flexible?
Wondering what people think of this line of work. Would you say this is a rewarding career or business to have? Is it flexible in a sense that one can go into business for themselves? Also does it have a potential to earn good money? I know it takes dedication and hard work and love, but can it also pay well if you are in business for yourself?
Best answer:
Answer by Lioness
Well, for starters, how do you feel about being hunched over a dog in a bath tub for hours on end? It’s not something I have any interest in doing. I didn’t know this until I tried it for myself.
I really think this is absolutely something you MUST do for yourself before you even consider it. Once you start a business, you’re in it, there’s no walking away. You’d better be darn sure you like it… and you’re good enough at it to make money.
Do you have any training in grooming? That’s where you need to start.
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About Justin
Dog grooming can be very tedious and also dirty. You don’t always get the wonderful dog that will sit still to let you clip their nails or their coat. There are some that will snap, bite, growl, fight with you, etc. Not to mention expressing the anal glands in a dog. They will shake when they are being bathed to remove excess water which will get all over you, and some will definitely put up a fight about getting in and out of the tub. I would say it’s rewarding work if you are dedicated, and don’t mind the icky parts.
I wouldn’t recommend going into grooming for yourself. Many do and are successful, but is that the majority? I would say no. There are large companies that provide dog grooming services and unless you have a shop, enough saved up for the proper advertising, and clients that are willing to follow you, it would take some work to get a grooming business going. You can earn decent money, but you’re not going to be rolling in it. Some dog owners will tip, others will not. Otherwise, you are paid an hourly wage unless you work for yourself. If you work for yourself, you must determine price (reasonable, yet still profitable. Reasonable enough to where you’re competition for larger business), handle all finances, keep customers coming back, do the dirty work, etc. Unless you are completely prepared, aware of what you’re getting into, and are very dedicated to the work, I wouldn’t say it would be for everyone to try and set up a dog grooming business.
Guess it depends on what you consider to be good money. You can make enough to live frugally on but not really to support a family nor retired on. Shop owners generally only make slightly better than their groomers after paying all the bills. Grooming is very hard physically & mentally. Many ppl become burned our after 1,2 yr or get injured on the job. I have a pinched nerve in my back that is there causing me pain permanently & almost every groomer I know as some kind of injury. It is probably easier to start a grooming shop compared to other business but unless you have years of experience & clientèle especially now when everyone is cutting back, it is likely to fail or barely survive.
Did you know that dog grooming was listed on Discovery Channels Dirty Jobs? That ain’t no joke.
It can be rewarding, A good earner, But it takes it’s toll on your body. Bad back, Arthritis in hands., neck and shoulders. Getting bitten pooped on, peed on.,trust me, I speak from experience. I had to retire this year as I could no longer hold the clippers, lift up my arm and use the scissors. Other than that a great job, if you own the business.
The groomer I take my dog to LOVES her job. I asked her about it. I am nosy–LOL! She said that she loves her job SO much that she never “works”. She loves to be able to work when she wants, and take off when she wants. She does it out of her own home. I have thought about doing it as well!
It can really be a wonderful job! It can be really dirty, exhausting, and stressful as well. I work for a large chain salon though and I pretty much make my own schedule (we aren’t required to groom so many dogs a day) and I do get commission but I get to meet so many amazing people and dogs, and there are those dogs that just tug on your heart strings. Emotionally, it’s a big pay off. However, you need to be really good at it and have done it for a while to make good money at it. If you own the salon, you may make good money. Do research though, see what the other salons in your area are like. However, if you love what you do, getting good at it shouldn’t be a problem.
Best of luck.