Mobile pet grooming is an increasingly popular service in an increasingly busy society. While many pet owners wish to provide their animals with the same care afforded to other family members, arranging the pick-up and drop-off of a cat or dog at a grooming salon can become a logistical nightmare. A mobile pet groomer solves this problem by coming to a pet owner’s residence, providing baths, cuts, styles, toenail-trimming, and a variety of other services in a specially customized van or truck.
Before you can become a mobile pet groomer, you must first be adept at the basics of animal grooming. This requires time, experience, and more than a little cash. You will need basic equipment, such as shears, brushes, combs, clippers, a tub, animal-sized dryers, and a grooming table. Attending some sort of grooming school is a great way to learn the basics, but a better approach is to work under an experienced groomer at a quality facility.
Hands-on experience is the best way to learn to groom animals, and after you’ve learned the basics, you’ll likely find that friends and relatives will let you practice on their pets. When you are ready to go out on your own, set the groundwork by making yourself known to veterinarians, boarding kennels, pet stores, and every organization you can find that deals in dogs or cats. Further, study and learn about the hairstyles and temperaments of different breeds. An English sheepdog or mastiff will require a far different approach and cut than a beagle or poodle.
With this knowledge, you are now ready to become a mobile pet groomer. The good news is that your services will be in high demand. The bad news is that the business requires a substantial investment. To become a mobile pet groomer you will need a customized vehicle – either a truck or van – that is loaded with equipment.
Included should be a tub that will handle very large breeds, equipped with a movable shelf that you can lower or raise depending on the size of the dog. Your vehicle will need both fresh and gray water tanks, a powerful vent that will not choke on hair, dirt, and dander, and some sort of climate control system to account for both hot and cold weather. The vehicle should possess a powerful generator and auxiliary batteries to power your equipment. To become a mobile pet groomer, you should have equipment that will allow the pet owner to trust your professionalism. You’ll need good lighting, as well as plenty of headroom and storage space.
The price of a new mobile grooming van prohibits many people from entering into the profession. A customized van, with the bare necessities, will run a minimum – new – of $50,000 to $80,000 US Dollars (USD). If you shop around, you might be able to find a used van in the $30,000 USD range. In other words, to become a mobile pet groomer, you must view your venture as a long-term investment. You should also plan to spend plenty of time on the road.