A Day in the Life: What It Takes to Run a Dog Grooming Franchise
Elliott Fudge, writer
Published at 12/12/2021, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
When it comes to franchising, no two days are ever the same. You can expect to be busy, challenged and pushed at every stage, but when you start your own dog and pet grooming franchise, you know that you’re tapping into an exciting sector. For all the challenges you meet, know that there are plenty of profits to be had along the way.
Where once the idea of getting a pet professionally groomed might have been scoffed at, today dog grooming is a multi-million pound industry. There are lots of ambitious and fast-growing grooming franchises out there looking for franchisees to take their business forward. If that’s piqued your interest, you might just be a great fit.
But what does a dog grooming franchise actually do? What kinds of tasks will you find yourself doing on a daily basis and what kinds of responsibilities will you be expected to take on?
A day in the life of a dog grooming franchise
The advantages of running a dog grooming franchise don’t come for free. You can expect to be challenged professionally as part of your daily working routine, but in return, you’ll be able to reap all the benefits of working in this highly satisfying sector. Before making a career change with a dog grooming franchise, you’ll need to consider whether you have what it takes to become a dog groomer.
You will need to:
- Have a friendly customer-facing manner
- Be comfortable and skilled when working with pets
- Have confidence when it comes to working to specifics
- Have good business sense
- Have a good idea of how to lead a team
- Have a commitment to continuous career development
Even if you don’t immediately have all these skills, as a franchisee, you’ll have many opportunities to continuously scale up your expertise.
>> Read more:
- A Day in the Life: What It Takes to Run a Dog Sitting Business
- Dog School Franchises in the UK
- Attention Animal Lovers: Here Are 4 Dog Care Franchises You'll Love
Advantages of running a dog grooming franchise
As a dog grooming franchisee, you’ll be able to make the most of all the advantages that franchising opens up to you. These advantage include:
- Having access to some very competitive financial start-up options
- Dedicated training and support from expert and experienced tutors
- Industry-leading job satisfaction
- Access to an established franchising brand identity
- A pre-existing customer base
- Lots of repeat customers
- The chance to be a loved and trusted member of the community
And on top of all of this, you’ll be working up close and personal with some furry friends. Assuming you’re a dog person, you’ll be earning a living running your own business and meeting new and lovable dogs every single day. Running your own business doesn’t come more glamorous than this.
Challenges of running a dog grooming franchise
But no business ever comes without some difficult moments. While once your grooming business is up and running, you’ll eventually be able to work to whatever schedule suits you best, in the early days you’ll probably need to be working a little more than that. While having a constructive and two-way relationship with your franchisor is a great way to minimise some of this, you’ll need to be ready to put the hard miles in.
And, as with any other customer-facing business, you’ll need to be ready and willing to deal with your customers personally. The overwhelming majority of your customers will be lovely and kind, but there is always the occasional customer who may test you a little more. Always remember though, the rewards for pushing through these challenges are well worth it.
Franchising opportunities in the dog grooming sector
1. Dial a Dog Wash
Dial a Dog Wash is one of the UK’s most beloved and popular dog grooming franchises. Specialising in everything from dog wash services, which include full clips or trims, to intensive shampoo and coat conditioning, you’ll be travelling around your exclusive area of operations to meet and care for some very important canines.
You’ll also be meeting and making customers for life. A large part of your role as a franchisee will be carrying out the vitally important customer relations work that this franchise specialises in. You’ll be offering optimal convenience, ensuring less pet stress and giving one to one attention.
- Becoming a Dial a Dog Wash franchisee: As long as you have the passion, determination and commitment for building a long-term dog grooming business, you’re already well on the way to becoming a franchisee.
- How much you need to invest: To get started with this franchise, you’ll need to make an investment of around £14,999, although the final amount will vary depending on the location and size of your business.
- How much training and support is on offer: All franchisees are certified and given a comprehensive training package before starting their own business. You’ll receive education on intensive grooming and marketing strategies, while also being given marketing materials such as leaflets and business cards.
>> Read more:
- 5 Tips for Developing Your Employees into Future Franchisees
- Being a Successful Franchisee Means Adopting an Entrepreneur Mindset
- 7 Common Habits of Successful Franchisees
- Mythbusters: Common Misconceptions About What Makes a Successful Franchisee
- Five Tips for Boosting Your Self-Confidence as a Business Owner
- Traits of an entrepreneur
2. OSCAR
OSCAR franchise is all about convenience. Excelling in going out of the way for customers, this franchise thrives in creating a supportive, interactive and communicative environment for pets and owners alike. Offering expert advice and operating on a door-to-door basis, this franchise comes with plenty of operational flexibility.
- Becoming an OSCAR franchisee: As long as you have the essential business management qualities, the right personality and a good eye for an opportunity, you could be a great option for running a franchise business.
- How much you need to invest: You will need to make a minimum investment of around £8,995.
- How much training and support is on offer: On top of an exclusive operational territory, you can look forward to some extensive training and support to help you on your franchising way.
It’s time to run your very own dog grooming business
Running your own business always brings some challenges, but how bad can it all be when you’re working with dogs every day? If you think you’re the right option for a dog grooming franchisee, it’s time to start taking steps towards being your own boss and enjoying a lifetime of job satisfaction.
If you want to have another look at some other opportunities though, try the UK franchise directory to have a look at other sectors and franchises.
Elliott Fudge, writer