How to quote for dog grooming
Dog grooming is priced per dog, but no two dogs take the same time. A well-maintained cockapoo and a matted one are the same booking slot on paper and two completely different jobs in the tub. This guide covers how to quote by coat and condition rather than by breed alone, and how to protect a day that is already fully booked.
Send a clear grooming quote with coat, add-ons and surcharges itemised — accepted on the owner's phone.
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How to price a dog grooming appointment
Your product is a slot in the diary, so price the slot. Start from what an hour of your time must earn, then estimate the hours honestly for the coat in front of you — not the breed on the booking form.
1. Work out what an hour in your salon must earn
Add up rent or van costs, insurance, shampoo and consumables, blade sharpening, equipment replacement, heating, water and your own wage, then divide by the hours you can realistically groom — usually five to seven dogs a day, not nine. Most UK groomers need £35–£60 an hour to run a sustainable business once no-shows and cleaning time are accounted for.
2. Price by size and coat type, not breed name
Build a simple matrix: small, medium, large, giant across smooth, double, curly and hand-strip coats. A curly coat takes far longer to dry and scissor than a smooth one of the same weight. Publishing the matrix means the price is explainable on the phone and never feels arbitrary.
3. Charge a de-matting or condition surcharge
Say plainly that heavily matted coats carry an extra charge per 15 minutes, and that welfare rules mean a severely matted dog will be clipped off rather than brushed out. Put this on the quote and on your intake form so the conversation happens before the dog is on the table, not after.
4. Price behaviour and handling honestly
A dog that needs two handlers, muzzle work or a slow, broken-up groom is using twice your capacity. A handling surcharge, or a shorter 'comfort groom' at a set price, is fairer than quietly running 40 minutes late and pushing every later client back.
5. Add mobile, travel and add-on lines
Mobile grooming carries van running costs, water, generator and travel time, so it usually sits 20–40% above salon pricing with a radius limit. List add-ons — nail clipping, ear plucking, teeth brushing, de-shed treatment, flea shampoo, puppy introduction sessions — as their own lines so clients can build the groom they want.
What to put on a dog groomer quote
- Dog's breed, weight band and coat type
- Service booked: full groom, bath and tidy, or puppy intro
- Expected appointment length
- De-matting or condition surcharge and how it is calculated
- Handling or double-handler surcharge, if applicable
- Add-ons: nails, ears, teeth, de-shed, medicated shampoo
- Mobile travel charge and service radius
- Vaccination and health declaration requirements
- Late, no-show and cancellation policy
- Payment method and whether VAT applies
Realistic UK price ranges for dog groomers
Indicative UK figures for 2026. City salons and mobile units sit at the top of these ranges; rural home-based salons at the bottom.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small dog full groom (smooth coat) | £30 – £45 |
| Medium dog full groom (curly coat) | £45 – £70 |
| Large / double-coated full groom | £60 – £95 |
| Bath, dry and tidy | £25 – £45 |
| De-matting surcharge per 15 mins | £8 – £15 |
| Mobile grooming premium | +20% – 40% |
Run your own numbers in the free quote calculator or check your margin with the markup & margin calculator.
Common quoting mistakes for dog groomers
- Quoting by breed over the phone, then discovering three hours of matting on a dog booked for 90 minutes.
- Never raising prices, while shampoo, insurance and energy costs have all moved.
- Absorbing behaviour cases silently instead of pricing the extra handler or the longer slot.
- No cancellation or no-show policy, so an empty two-hour slot costs you the whole afternoon's margin.
- Bundling nails, ears and teeth into every groom for free, then having nothing left to upsell.
- Quoting mobile at salon prices and losing the van costs and travel time on every single job.
Pricing FAQs
How much should a dog groomer charge in the UK?
In 2026, a small smooth-coated dog typically costs £30–£45 for a full groom, a medium curly coat £45–£70, and a large or double-coated dog £60–£95. Work from your own hourly requirement rather than matching the salon down the road.
Should I charge extra for matted dogs?
Yes. A de-matting surcharge of roughly £8–£15 per additional 15 minutes is standard, and it should be disclosed at booking. Severe matting should be clipped off for welfare reasons, so explain that policy before the appointment rather than on the day.
How much more should mobile dog grooming cost?
Usually 20–40% above salon pricing. You are paying for the van, water, power, travel time and the fact that you can fit fewer dogs into a day, and clients are buying the convenience of not travelling at all.
How do I handle no-shows?
Put a written policy on the booking confirmation: full payment or a set fee for cancellations inside 24 hours, and a deposit for new clients. An unfilled slot cannot be resold at short notice, so the policy is protecting real lost income.
Send a clear grooming quote with coat, add-ons and surcharges itemised — accepted on the owner's phone.
Accepted in one tap, invoiced in one click. Free trial, no card needed.
More reading
Want the long-form version with a worked example? How much to charge for a dog grooming job →