Happy Friday Daily Groomers!

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Over the past few months, our team has been working hard on developing what we believe is the most frictionless online booking experience in grooming.

And here’s the thing—when you add a feature like online booking, you’re not just building something for groomers. You’re building something for pet parents too. Every click, every interaction, every appointment booked is part of the web of “touch points” that shape your customer’s experience with your business.

But here’s what surprised me the most as I’ve talked to more and more groomers: online booking is polarizing.

I hear both sides all the time:

• “My customers don’t book online and never will.”

• “I don’t want to give anyone with a link the ability to just take over my calendar.”

• “Honestly, it creates more headaches than it solves.”

And you know what? I get it. Your calendar is your livelihood—it’s how you make a living.

On the flip side, I’ve also heard countless success stories from groomers who embraced online booking and never looked back:

• It takes your business from offline to digital.

• It gives you a web presence—SEO, a lightweight website, and streamlined operations—even if you never had one before.

• It frees you from being glued to your phone and allows you to focus on what you do best: grooming.

The truth is, it doesn’t have to be chaotic. If you dial in your settings, block off time when you’re not working, and keep your calendar hygiene clean, online booking can become a net benefit for your business.

Why it works when done right?

• Customers can book anytime—no missed calls or phone tag.

• You stay in control with buffer times, breed restrictions, and approval workflows.

• It gives you breathing room and reduces admin work.

• Your business becomes more discoverable online.

Now, imagine this futuristic flow:

1. A potential customer calls you.

2. You’re busy grooming.

3. Your AI receptionist picks up, collects all the details, and answers any questions. (Sounds crazy but we built the first AI receptionist for grooming businesses a reason!)

4. They get an automated text with your online booking link.

5. The customer books instantly.

6. You finish the dog you’re grooming, look up, and see another appointment on your calendar—without lifting a single finger.

Boom. That one extra groom could easily pay for the software itself. And everything else on top—running 24/7—is money in your pocket.

Curious how it all works? Let’s talk!

Here’s my online booking link 😉😉(See what I did there?!)

Quick Poll: I want to learn from you! 💬

We’re building The Daily Groomer (& Teddy) to help groomers like you learn best practices, save time, reduce headaches, and grow your business. To make sure we’re focusing on what really matters, I’d love your honest take:

We’ll be sharing the results in a future newsletter, so you can see how other groomers are thinking about it too. And if you’ve got a story or a tip to share, just hit reply—I’d love to hear it.

Chat soon,

Alex

P.S. Sharing my booking link in an email about booking online? That’s what we call full circle. 😂

✋The Groomer’s Toolkit

📚 Read - 3,251 members strong! We’re building the largest community in grooming at the The Daily Groomer Facebook Community ❤️

📺 Watch - Anxious, aggressive, or aging pets—Aaron Voyden reveals the art of tuning into every animal’s unique needs on The Daily Groomer YouTube channel!

🎧 Listen - 2,000 Customers at 29 Years Old - A Conversation with Rebacah Murchie, Founder of Dockside Doggies on The Daily Groomer Podcast!

🤖 Automate - Meet Teddy, built for Daily Groomers, refined alongside our community. Teddy simplifies your day from bookings and messages to payments and missed calls—all in one easy-to-use platform.

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