Happy Friday Daily Groomers!
Were you one of the hundreds who flooded our “Boost Your Grooming Sales in 2025” workshop with Joe Zuccarello, President of Paragon Grooming School?
If you couldn’t make the live session, don’t stress—we’ve gathered all the key takeaways here so you can catch up (no technical glitches this time!).
A Quick Recap: Why “Just Raise Prices or Do More Dogs” Isn’t Enough
Joe kicked off by challenging the age-old strategies:
Take on more dogs – leads to burnout if you’re not careful.
Raise base grooming prices – can scare off clients when done haphazardly.
Sure, those can sometimes work—but they’re not the only paths to more revenue. Joe introduced a smarter, more sustainable strategy: Add-ons and making each grooming minute as profitable as possible. It’s all about offering those little extras that truly benefit the pet or the pet parent (think improved coat health, stress relief, or even fresh breath treatments).
Add-Ons Done Right: The Core Principles
1. Must Benefit the Pet or Parent
No random fluff; if clients see real value, they’ll pay. Joe swears by specialized coat treatments, nail filing, and other well-defined services that improve a pup’s day (and the owner’s experience).
2. Keep It Simple & Limit Options
Three or four curated add-ons are enough. Ever try choosing from a 30-flavor snow cone menu? It’s overwhelming. Give clients fewer, high-impact choices, and watch your add-on numbers climb.
3. Name Them with the End Result
Don’t confuse your clients with insider jargon. “Healthy Skin & Coat Treatment” is instantly understandable—“Thera-Fur Ultra Spa Bath” might sound fancy, but if it makes them ask, “What does that mean?” you might lose them.
Stop Selling—Start Recommending
One major mindset shift Joe recommends: Don’t think of it as a sale. Genuinely believe in the value of each extra service. When you approach clients with confidence and enthusiasm—“Rusty’s coat is looking a bit dry. Let’s do the Healthy Skin treatment today, okay?”—they’re far more likely to say “Yes!” rather than “No thanks.”
Remove Yourself from Their Wallet: You never know a client’s budget priorities. Don’t assume they’ll say no.
Don’t Resell the Sold: If they’ve purchased an add-on before, confirm they want it again instead of asking all over.
Ask Every Time: Consistency breeds results. Even if you hear a “no,” keep planting that seed.
Why It Really Pays: A Quick Math Example
Joe’s example: if your average add-on is $10 and half your clients take it, that could mean $30,000+ in extra revenue per year—simply by spending a few additional minutes per dog. That could fund better equipment, staff training, or give you the freedom to breathe between appointments!
Q&A Gold Nuggets
During the workshop, attendees asked about everything from staff pay to bundling. Here’s a taste:
Bundled Packages vs. A La Carte: Joe says bundling can be okay if it stays simple—but often, a clear individual add-on menu converts better.
Paying Staff Well: It’s all about the average ticket price. Higher add-on adoption means higher grooming revenue overall, so you can pay groomers competitively.
Handling Pushback: If a client balks at a price or an add-on, calmly re-explain the benefits. If they still resist? It’s okay to let them go (someone else will see the value!).
Get the Workshop Recording, Slides & Guide
Did we mention Joe packed this workshop with so much strategy that we nearly blew up the Zoom room? If you’re ready for the full experience, we’ve got you covered:
Workshop Recording: Catch every tip, example, and story.
Presentation Slides: Get all the visuals and bullet points at a glance.
Detailed Guide & Q&A: A written breakdown, plus Joe’s answers to attendee questions.
Grab them now and start maximizing your “money per minute.” That means more profit in your pocket, less burnout, and happier pets all around.
📅 This workshop is now live — give it a watch! 👇👇
Final Word: Embrace the “Money per Minute” Mindset
Joe’s parting wisdom? “Each minute in your grooming day should be as profitable as it is purposeful.” Whether you’re a solo groomer or you manage a team, dial in on services that truly help the pet—owners will pay, and your team will thrive.
For the love of grooming,
Alex 🐶
🗣️ What People Are Barking About
The best of the best advice or thought provoking topics shared this week online👇
Whoa… what a tough and emotional situation. Accidents happen in grooming salons—even with the best precautions—and it’s heartbreaking to see an animal in distress. As pet lovers, our first instinct is to do whatever we can to protect and save them. No one ever wants to be in that position, but the best you can do is stay prepared and do everything possible to keep pets safe in the first place.
And for that bather……. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
✋The Groomer’s Toolkit
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📺 Watch - Check out “How To Build Your Grooming Staff” with Angie Landis (13 vans in just 8 years) on The Daily Groomer YouTube channel.
🎧 Listen - 25 vans in 24 months?! You gotta hear the story of newcomer, Lucky Dog Mobile Grooming, on this episode on The Daily Groomer Podcast.
That’s all folks! Keep calm and groom on 🐶🤘
