Happy New Year Daily Groomers!

Alex here - welcoming you back to The Daily Groomer after the holiday break.

Guess what? You survived the holiday rush!! And if you’re anything like my Zulu, you’ve been taking a well deserved break…

And now that the holidays are behind us 2025, it’s time to get off to a strong start by talking about one of the most powerful levers you can pull in your grooming business: raising your prices in the new year.

Let’s dive in!

1. Why Raise Your Prices?

Raising prices is part of running a healthy, sustainable grooming business. If you don’t keep up with inflation, overhead costs, and your increasing skill set, you’ll quickly find your profit margins shrinking. Some reasons you might consider a price increase:

• Your costs have increased (supplies, rent, utilities, etc.).

• Inflation: If you haven’t adjusted in the last year or two, you’re falling behind.

• High Demand: A 6-week+ waitlist is a good sign you can raise rates.

• Labor Costs: Paying higher wages or giving raises to staff means you need to recoup.

• Professional Growth: You’ve invested in more education or better products.

• Market Rates: Competitors in your area may already be charging more.

2. How Much Should You Raise?

There’s no single formula—some folks prefer a flat fee increase ($5–$10), others do percentage-based increases (7–10% or more). Many grooming businesses price by breed size, coat type, or even weight brackets. The main point is to keep it simple and clear for both you and your clients:

• Flat Increase: Add $5–$10 across the board.

• Tiered by Size: Example: Small dogs +$15, Medium +$20, Large +$30.

• Percentage Increase: 7–11% or 10% across all services.

3. “Supply and Demand” Approach

Many uses a supply and demand model:

• If you’re fully booked for weeks and can’t fit in new clients, it’s a clear sign your services are undervalued.

• Raising your prices may cause you to lose a few customers, but that’s okay—you end up making the same or more money for fewer dogs.

• If you stay transparent and professional, most loyal clients will accept the increase.

4. Communicating the Change

No matter how you decide to raise your prices, communication is everything. Here’s what works:

1. Give Advance Notice

   • Tell clients during their appointments, via email, or in a newsletter.

   • Don’t surprise them at checkout with a sudden jump!

2. Explain the ‘Why’

   • Be transparent about rising costs, improved facilities, or additional education you’ve invested in.

   • Clients appreciate honesty and understanding what they’re paying for.

3. Creative, Friendly Formats

   • Send a well-crafted email, a text campaign, or post a playful note in your shop.

   • It may be smart to list prices on your website for full transparency and to cut down on “price shock” phone calls.

4. Offer Incentives or New Services

   • Consider premium add-ons like nail grinding, teeth cleaning, luxury shampoos, or after-groom photoshoots.

   • Bundle services into special packages to justify a higher price point and show added value.

5. Highlight Your Expertise

   • If you’ve been to seminars, done advanced certifications, or competed in grooming shows, brag a little!

   • You’ve put in the work and deserve to be compensated for your skill.

5. Handling Concerns & Complaints

Nobody loves talking about money, but being prepared helps:

• Empower Your Team: Train receptionists or front-desk staff to confidently explain your prices.

• Stay Firm but Kind: If someone balks at an increase, gently remind them of the premium, one-on-one experience their pet receives.

• Know When to Let Go: Some clients may leave over $5 or $10. That’s okay—you’ll replace them with clients who recognize your value.

6. Building a System Around Price Raises

Here’s how other business pros plan for ongoing increases:

1. Annual Adjustments

   • Review your rates each year (holidays, New Year, or your business anniversary).

   • Inflation alone can justify a small bump.

2. Grandfathering

   • For loyal, pre-booked clients, you might delay the increase for a certain number of months.

   • New clients pay the updated rate immediately. This reward structure encourages rebooking and loyalty.

3. Extras & Special Fees

   • Matting charges for severely knotted coats.

   • House-call or out-of-area fees if you travel farther than usual or work after hours.

   • Discounts for first-time clients to “wow” them and capture new regulars.

4. Stay Flexible

   • In certain cases (like a client with financial hardship), you can keep them at the old rate.

   • The point is to have a system so you’re not making up rules on the fly.

7. Remember Your Worth

Above all, believe in your value. Whether you run a salon, mobile unit, or do house calls, you’re a skilled professional providing top-tier service. I might get some negative press for this, but I truly believe that no professional service should cost under $100 if you’re devoting an hour or more of your time - no matter where you’re located. Don’t be afraid to raise prices and share exactly why you’re worth every penny.

Ready for a Prosperous 2025?

Raising your prices might feel intimidating, but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make to keep your grooming business healthy and profitable. Embrace the new year with confidence:

1. Review your current pricing.

2. Decide on a fair, strategic increase.

3. Communicate openly with clients.

4. Offer new value-adds to reinforce your worth.

5. Stand firm, knowing you provide an incredible service.

You’ve got this!

If you have more questions, need intros to others in the community doing it well, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out.

For the love of grooming,

Alex Martin

✋The Groomer’s Toolkit

📚 Read - Have you joined the The Daily Groomer Facebook Community yet? Check out the results of last week’s poll “How many large doodles can you groom in 1 day?” in our private Facebook community.❤️

📺 Watch - We discussed this exact topic led by Chris Elias in one of our most popular virtual workshops - Pricing Strategies: How to Set, Control, & Raise Your Prices on The Daily Groomer YouTube channel.

🎧 Listen - We got to know Colby’s Dog Care - the largest daycare in DC this week on this episode of The Daily Groomer Podcast.

That’s all folks! Keep calm and groom on 🐶🤘