Start a pet grooming salon

Rent a small shop unit and run a grooming salon, with room to take on staff as you grow.

A groomer washing and drying a fluffy dog in a professional grooming salon.
Startup cost£8k to £40k
Monthly revenue£3k to £12k
Time needed30+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • £8k-40k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

What it is

A high street or local parade salon with grooming stations, baths and a reception area. You can start solo and add groomers or a bather later.

Your first three steps

  1. Work in a salon or train to build skills and a local reputation
  2. Look at available units, rents and business rates in your area and build a simple budget
  3. Plan your fit-out, equipment and opening offer, and tell local vets and pet shops about you
Who pays

Dog and cat owners in the area who want regular grooming and are happy to book in.

How it makes money

A price per groom plus extras such as nail clipping, teeth cleaning and de-shedding. Retail add-ons like shampoos can help a little.

Skills that help
  • Professional grooming skills across breeds
  • Managing bookings and staff
  • Basic business and cash management
Watch out for
  • Lease terms, business rates and fit-out costs
  • Public liability, care, custody and control and employer's liability insurance once you hire
  • Check whether your local council needs to approve your premises or use
  • Higher fixed costs, so you need steady bookings to cover rent

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: pet grooming salon

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a pet grooming salon in the UK?

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, fit-out and equipment. Check lease terms, business rates and fit-out costs before signing, as higher fixed costs mean you need steady bookings to cover rent.

How much can a pet grooming salon earn?

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how many groomers you have and how full your booking diary is. This is revenue before rent, supplies and wages, so it is not profit.

What insurance and permissions do I need to open a grooming salon?

Things to check include public liability, care, custody and control insurance, and employer's liability once you hire. Also check whether your local council needs to approve your premises or use, and the lease terms.

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Photo: alektas on Pixabay

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