Mobile pet grooming van
Drive a fitted grooming van to owners' driveways and groom dogs and cats on the spot.
- A$20k-90k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A van or trailer fitted with a bath, table, dryer and water supply so you can wash, clip and tidy pets' coats and nails at the customer's home.
Your first three steps
- Do a certificate-level pet grooming course or get work experience in a salon
- Price a second-hand fitted van or trailer and plan your service suburbs
- Set up an ABN, get insurance and promote to local owners through community groups and a Google Business listing
Who pays
Busy owners, older people, owners of anxious or large dogs, and people without a car.
How it makes money
A set price per appointment based on breed, size and coat, with extras for de-shedding, teeth cleaning or flea baths. Many clients rebook every 4 to 8 weeks.
Skills that help
- Calm, confident animal handling
- Clipping and coat care for different breeds
- Driving and route planning
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, ideally with care, custody and control cover for pets in your care
- Check your local council for rules on mobile businesses and parking while working
- Water, power and wastewater setup: check council and state rules on disposal
- Risk of bites, scratches and back strain, plan breaks and handling techniques
- Van costs such as fuel, registration and servicing eat into earnings
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: mobile pet grooming van
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mobile pet grooming business in Australia?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on the van or trailer and the grooming fit-out, such as bath, table, dryer and water supply. Ongoing van costs like fuel, registration and servicing also matter.
How much can a mobile pet groomer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many pets you groom and your area. Van costs such as fuel, registration and servicing eat into what you keep. Treat these as estimates.
What rules should I check before starting a mobile grooming van?
Check public liability insurance, ideally with care, custody and control cover, and your council's rules for mobile businesses and parking while working. Also check council and state rules on water, power and wastewater disposal for your setup.
Other ways to run this business
Home pet grooming studio
Groom dogs in a converted garage or laundry at home, one appointment at a time.
- A$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Pet grooming salon
Open a small shopfront salon with regular bookings and room to add a second groomer.
- A$30k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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