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When it comes to finding website inspiration for your consulting business, the options can seem overwhelming. To make things easier, we’ve put together a shortlist of our favorite consulting websites and how they use design to deliver their message.
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If you’re a dog lover with the right combination of experience and business savvy, there are many pet business ideas. And this includes successfully running a pet grooming business.
In fact, starting a pet grooming business is a good choice for new business owners. You can start small with your new grooming business, gaining experience before expanding.
It’s no secret that during the pandemic, lots of people became pet parents by purchasing or adopting dogs. As a result, businesses related to pets and pet care – including pet grooming – are booming with more robust growth than is being experienced by other business owners.
It’s okay to have financial goals. Pet owners don’t have the time, ability or facility to do this task themselves – so your pet grooming service is filling a need. Overhead for pet grooming businesses is generally low, with the potential for a good percentage of profit. You can also look into pet franchises so you can get a proven business model.
But if you’re going to make a living in your own business as a dog groomer, you should fit these main categories: you are an animal lover and you are a people person.
The dog grooming business market is estimated at about $8 billion in the US. Across the country, there are about 130,000 grooming businesses with 230,000 employees.
High pet ownership is fueling great growth of about 8% annually. The 8% annual growth is projected to continue through 2026.
Pet services such as grooming aren’t once and done. Grooming animals is a repeat business, with monthly needs for bathing, nail care, ear cleaning, and more.
Most dog groomers start small, with similar costs for equipment such as shavers and shears, dryers, crates, tubs, cleaning supplies and grooming tables. Estimates for that equipment range from $10,000 to $18,000. There are recurring overhead costs for shampoos, conditioners, utilities and insurances.
You’ll need to complete an apprenticeship or training program. A training program cost can range from $500 to $3,000.
From there, it depends on how and where you deliver your dog grooming business.
Starting your own dog grooming business has operating options:
As a business owner, can you run the grooming business in your own home? That’s the least expensive way to get grooming space. Before you decide on that business structure, you’ll have to check into local zoning laws. As a home based business, you may have 3-5 customers driving in (drop off) and out (pick up) two times – which may not be a fit for your neighborhood.
The brick and mortar route is the most expensive choice. You can expect to pay from $10 to $25 per square foot and you’ll need a minimum of 500 square feet. If your rent alone is $2,500 a month, you’ll have to groom a lot of dogs before you start earning profit. If you rent a large space, you could pay as much as $10,000 a month.
You can opt to take your dog grooming business on the road. It’s a great choice for growing the business, as you use a mobile business to bring the grooming services to pet owners.
Choosing this route gives you the ability to affiliate your mobile dog grooming service with another business, such as a pet store, boarding facility or pet-friending hotel.
Mobile groomers as constantly promoting their business, with their name and contact information emblazoned on the vehicle.
| Operating Concept | Description | Cost | Space Required | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Dog Grooming | Run the grooming business from your own home. Check local zoning laws before deciding on this option. Typically requires 3-5 customers driving in and out for drop-off and pick-up, which may not be suitable for all neighborhoods. | Least expensive | Space in your home | Lower overhead costs, convenience of working from home |
| Physical Dog Grooming Store | Establish a brick-and-mortar store. Expensive option, with rent costing from $10 to $25 per square foot, requiring a minimum of 500 square feet. Significant grooming volume needed before achieving profitability. | Most expensive | Minimum 500 sq ft | Professional storefront presence, potential for higher foot traffic and visibility |
| Mobile Dog Grooming | Take your grooming services on the road. Affiliate with other businesses like pet stores or boarding facilities. Constant promotion with vehicle branding. | Moderate cost | Mobile setup | Flexibility to serve various locations, potential partnership opportunities with other pet-related businesses, branding through vehicle advertising |
Before you become part of the thriving pet industry and offer grooming services, go through this checklist of what you need to do before starting a pet grooming business.
As any business owner knows, you need to know your job. You’ll be competing with other groomers to get a piece of the target market.
Here’s how to get started:
You can earn while you learn to be a dog groomer by apprenticing at a major chain such as Petco or PetSmart. To apprentice with those companies, you’ll sign a non-compete agreement and must stay with the company for two years. You’ll undergo a 20-week training program of 800 hours, focusing on various grooming techniques and animal care basics.
There are also online schools with costs ranging from $400 to several thousand dollars. You could choose that option and practice on pets owned by family members. There are also in-person schools with similar costs. However, you may have to consider accommodation if relocating for studies.
The National Dog Groomers Association of America offers in-person workshops and testing. Again, you may have to travel to complete the workshops and testing.
Getting professional training is the best choice for pet groomers. Potential customers are going to seek proof that you have the necessary skills before they drop off their dogs with you. Accreditation from a school is a way to attract customers and very important in business considerations.
Choosing in-home, mobile grooming or physical storefront is one step of choosing your business niche.
Another is deciding what type of grooming is your focus. Are you going to do bathing and cleaning, nails? Are you going to specialize in dog show quality presentations? Are you going to specialize in breed specific haircuts? Or a certain size of dog, such as toys and terriers?
Consider offering unique services like fur dyeing or creative styling to stand out. Stay informed about the latest trends in pet grooming to keep your services current and appealing.
Cleaning services for pets can include teeth and ears, are you going to include those services with you business? What about nail clipping?
The pet industry is not unique in the business world – you’ll need a business plan with the typical components:
Make plans for exactly what steps you’ll take to grow the business and increase your client base. Include a marketing strategy that utilizes social media and local community engagement. Plan for periodic assessments of your business performance to adapt and improve.
Make honest projections of costs and expected profit. You may spend up to 2 hours to properly groom one dog. Given your hours of operation – and travel time if you’re doing mobile grooming – how many dogs can you expect to groom each day?
Brainstorm with friends and family. You’ll want a name that is catchy and easy to remember, such as these actual dog grooming business names: Scalawags and Fur-pection.
Also, think about incorporating words that reflect your specialty or the nature of your services. Ensure the name resonates well with your target clientele and stands out in the market. It’s also important to check for trademark availability to avoid legal issues.
Nearly all pets groomers that start a business choose the LLC – limited liability company. When you’re operating a sole proprietorship, your personal assets will be protected by formation of the LLC.
What if you bring another person into the sole proprietorship, changing it to a partnership? That’s not a good choice, since each of you can be liable for the actions of the other.
Taking steps to form and register as an LLC is an important step in your business plan. According to statistics from the National Dog Groomers Association of America, the LLC is the top business entity choice for businesses grooming dogs.
Your existing zoning regulations may dictate your choice of location. If you’re not permitted, or don’t have the space to do a home based business, your choices for a dog grooming business are mobile or storefront.
A mobile grooming truck is going to be large. Make sure you’ll be comfortable driving a large vehicle. Depending on the size of the vehicle, you may need to upgrade your driving license. You’ll need commercial insurance for the vehicle.
If you’re shopping for a storefront, seek a location that will allow for safe delivery and pickup of dogs. For example, although a busy strip mall may give you greater visibility, customers may not enjoy walking or carrying their pets a significant distance to and from their vehicles.
In general, businesses groomer pets are not subject to special licensing. That said, it’s crucial to obtain a general business license to operate legally. Proof of professional training and certification can help you establish and grow your business.
Check state and local laws for business permits that are needed. Your local Chamber of Commerce will be a good source for that information.
Additionally, inquire about any health and safety regulations specific to pet care businesses. Ensure compliance with zoning laws if you’re operating from a residential area.
Keep a separate business credit card that is connected to the account. This separation aids in efficiently tracking expenses and managing your business’s finances. A dedicated business account also bolsters your enterprise’s professionalism.
Opt for a bank that provides services and benefits suited to small businesses, including low fees and online banking options.
Reviewing your account statements periodically is essential for monitoring your business’s cash flow and maintaining its financial health.
In addition to a website, FB page and business cards, you can take other opportunities to reach new customers with special marketing efforts.
One of the best ways to market your business is to volunteer services with a local animal shelter or rescue. You’ll be promoting yourself to prospective customers as a dog lover, and also have impressive “before” and “after” pictures of makeovers.
Basics you’ll need:
Start-up costs include basic equipment essentials such as:
As needed, and remember you’ll need Workers Compensation insurance if you do. Many groomers, once established, begin to specialize in specific types of cuts and services.
They employ a trained person who can handle the customer prep work, such as the shampooing. That way the specializing groomer can have more time to provide those services, as someone else handles the prep work.
As part of your marketing plan, launch the business with grand openings. Offer special promotions or discounts to attract initial customers. Collaborate with local pet businesses and shelters for cross-promotion during the opening event.
Leverage social media and community events to generate excitement about your opening.
Invite local media for coverage to gain broader attention and establish a strong market presence right from the start.
Build your customer base by providing a skilled service while keeping on a schedule. Respond rapidly to any complaints.
Happy customers are the key to your long-term success. You’ll be the talk of the dog park.
Absolutely. Average annual earnings for business owners are typically from 5 to 7 percent.
Dog groomers can expect their annual earnings to grow by 20 percent.
If you’ve chosen the “earn while you learn” apprenticeship path, you’ll earn wages of about $24,000 to $28,000 a year.
A pet groomer running his or her own successful business can expect to make $60,000 a year and more.
The average wash and dry, simple trim service on average costs from $60 to $90. Remember you’ll need one to two hours for each dog.
How much you earn depends on the types of services you specifically offer.
How much you earn also depends on your overhead costs. Obviously, these costs are lowest with a home-based business. Mobile groomers have the costs of the vehicle and vehicle maintenance. Storefront businesses have rent, insurance and utilities.
A dog grooming business may not be permitted in a residential zoning district. If your town or city has a planning and/or zoning board, contact that board to find out what the local regulations are.
Even if a business is not “permitted by right” you may be able to get a variance or special exception. That would require a favorable vote by the governing entity, such as planning and/or zoning board. Such boards are required to notify the owners of neighboring properties of your intentions, and invite them to attend the meeting on the matter.
Image: Depositphotos
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Did you know that if you don’t make an effort to protect your brand name (which may or may not be your business name) and embark on a domain name strategy, you could lose your rights to trademark it or to enforce it once it’s been trademarked?
Many businesses often overlook this crucial aspect, focusing solely on building their brand’s reputation.
That means you might not be able to prevent others in the future from profiting from your brand or confusing consumers about your brand. This can lead to diluted brand value and potential revenue losses.
The first step to protect your brand is to federally trademark it, so you can legally enforce your rights to it. This process involves more than just registration; it requires ongoing vigilance to detect and address any potential infringement.
Trademarking serves as a legal barrier, granting you exclusive rights to operate, promote, and distribute products or services under your brand name.
Another critical step is developing and implementing a domain name strategy. This extends beyond merely owning a website. It’s about securing relevant domain names and variations to prevent misuse and confusion.
Proactively managing your online identity helps in preserving your brand’s integrity and reputation in the digital space.
Additionally, consider acquiring common misspellings of your brand name to redirect traffic to your legitimate site, further protecting against potential cybersquatting.
When conducting online business, it’s imperative to have a domain name strategy to safeguard your brand’s virtual footprint effectively.
What is a Domain Name Strategy?
The purpose of a domain name strategy is to proactively protect your brand online by reducing the chance for others to use your brand name in their online activities, specifically in their website URLs. This strategy encompasses not only ‘.com’ domains but also other extensions.
The Importance of Broad Domain Coverage
For example, Nike owns Nike.com. Imagine if another company began selling sportswear at Nikes.com or Nike.biz. The similarities could mislead consumers, leading them to believe they’re engaging with the original brand.
In an era where online scams and counterfeit products are rampant, maintaining brand authenticity is paramount. Only diligent consumers who research thoroughly would discern the difference.
Brands must, therefore, be vigilant in preventing misrepresentation or imitation online.
Enforcing Trademark Rights
Of course, Nike would want those confusing sites taken down, and since Nike is a trademarked name, the Nike Company can enforce its trademark rights and require that the confusing sites be removed from the Web.
This approach is not just about preventing lost sales but also about preserving the trust and authenticity of the brand in the eyes of consumers.
Domain Strategy for Small Businesses
Small businesses should follow a similar path. First, trademark your brand name. Second, implement your domain name strategy. Third, monitor your brand online (and offline), and fourth, enforce your rights to it under U.S. trademark laws.
Simplifying Strategy for Smaller Brands
A domain name strategy can be very complex. While large companies like Nike might own hundreds of domain names, small businesses, which often have limited budgets, should focus on securing key domain variations.
It’s crucial to take at least the basic steps to protect your brand’s online identity and presence. This proactive approach is essential in building and maintaining the integrity and recognition of your brand in the digital marketplace.
Following are five essential first steps you should take to protect your brand with a small business domain name strategy:
If you do nothing else, be sure to register domains that include your brand name with the most common extensions, including .com, .net, .org, .us., .info, and .biz.
Register domain names that include your brand name with obvious mistakes or variations using the most common extensions referenced in no. 1 above.
For example, if your jewelry brand is Snowcone, register snowcone.com and snocone.com as well as snocone.net, snocone.biz, and so on.
It’s also important to register domain names that are phonetically equivalent to your brand name.
For example, a company with the brand name WearsLikeNew would register WearsLikeNew.com and WaresLikeNew.com using the common extensions.
This is particularly important for brands that include numbers. A brand like 4TheWin.com should also be registered as ForTheWin.com and FourTheWin.com using the common extensions.
If your brand name is singular, register the plural version as a domain name, too. If your brand name is plural, secure the singular domain name as well.
For example, InnovationToProfits.com is also registered as InnovationsToProfit.com. These variations should be secured for each common extension.
The final step in the most basic domain name strategy is registering hyphenated versions of your brand name.
For example, CircleLegal.com should also be registered as Circle-Legal.com. As with the four steps above, do this for each common extension.
Below is a handy comparison table illustrating various domain name variation types and their corresponding examples for clearer understanding:
| Variation Type | Example Brand Name | Domain Variation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Misspellings | Snowcone | Snocone.com |
| Phonetic Equivalents | WearsLikeNew | WaresLikeNew.com |
| Numbers in Brand Name | 4TheWin | ForTheWin.com, FourTheWin.com |
| Plural and Singular Variations | InnovationToProfits | InnovationsToProfit.com |
| Hyphenated Variations | CircleLegal | Circle-Legal.com |
With the introduction of hundreds of new top-level domain extensions this year, including the controversial .sucks domain, and anticipating the introduction of hundreds more in the near future, it’s critical that you develop and implement a domain name strategy to protect your brand and business.
The notion that a similar domain won’t emerge or impact your business is risky. You might not think anyone will ever launch a website using a domain name that is similar to your brand name. Similarly, the assumption that such a site won’t sell products or services similar to yours and that consumers won’t be confused about the authentic site is a gamble.
However, this kind of situation occurs in businesses like yours every day, and I have the client list to prove it.
Don’t put your business and brand at risk. Instead, take the necessary steps to protect your brand today proactively. Trust me, acting now to safeguard your brand is far more cost-effective and efficient than rectifying issues later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76clhaNAf6U
Domain Image via Shutterstock
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