Dog Grooming Pricing Guide Australia

How to price a dog grooming service

Create a base grid with services down one side and dog sizes across the top. For each service-and-size combination, enter:

• the expected minutes;
• direct product cost; and
• the base price.

Build the base price from a target amount per working hour plus direct product cost:

Starting price ex GST = target hourly amount × estimated hours + product cost

Then define adjustments for coat condition, behaviour and add-ons. Use named levels with a price or percentage attached. The quote should show which level was selected instead of relying on a vague judgment at checkout.

After the groom, enter actual minutes and calculate:

Revenue after product cost per hour = (price charged − product cost) ÷ actual hours

This guide labels that result “revenue after product cost per hour” rather than profit because the formula does not deduct rent, wages or other overheads. Use it as one appointment measure and keep the remaining business expenses in your accounting records.

What to include in a grooming price

As a recommended starting point, use visible inputs that connect the dog to the work:

• Service requested and the tasks included.
• Dog size or another size definition used by the business.
• Estimated minutes for that service and size.
• Shampoo, conditioner and other direct product cost.
• Coat condition, including the defined work attached to knots, matting or a shave-down.
• Behaviour handling, where an agreed category changes the required time or process.
• Add-ons such as deshedding, nail work or another separately scoped service.
• Target revenue after product cost per hour.
• Minimum charge for short appointments.
• GST treatment and whether the displayed price is ex GST or incl GST.

This guide recommends recording the quoted price before work starts. At completion, keep the list price, amount charged and any discount as separate values so a missed adjustment is visible.

If employees will do the work, use the applicable minimum pay rates, penalties and allowances rather than treating a target hourly amount as a substitute for workplace entitlements. For a consumer-facing price, show the total price including any GST that applies and any unavoidable fees as a single prominent figure.

Worked example: medium full groom

Hypothetical example only. Every amount, time and adjustment below is invented for the calculation. All figures are ex GST unless stated.

A groomer prices a medium-dog full groom with these example inputs:

• Target amount after direct product cost: A$60 per hour
• Estimated base time: 1.5 hours
• Base product cost: A$7.00
• Starting price: A$60 × 1.5 + A$7.00 = A$97.00
• Coat-condition adjustment: 20% of the A$97.00 base = A$19.40
• Behaviour adjustment: 10% of the A$97.00 base = A$9.70
• Deshedding add-on: A$18.00, including A$3.00 extra product cost

The quoted price is:

A$97.00 + A$19.40 + A$9.70 + A$18.00 = A$144.10 ex GST

For this hypothetical arithmetic, applying Australia’s 10% GST rate gives:

A$144.10 × 1.10 = A$158.51 incl GST

The appointment takes two actual hours. Total direct product cost is A$10.00.

Revenue after product cost per hour = (A$144.10 − A$10.00) ÷ 2 = A$67.05

The quote clears the invented target on this measure. This guide recommends reviewing the 30-minute overrun by recording whether it came from coat condition, handling, the add-on or the original service estimate, then changing that input before changing the full grid.

Common dog grooming pricing mistakes

Using one full-groom price for every dog

Create service-and-size combinations with their own estimated minutes and product costs. Keep the definitions clear enough to apply during booking.

Adding coat work after the appointment without a rule

Define the coat-condition levels and adjustments in advance. Select the level during assessment and confirm the price before starting work.

Leaving difficult handling out of the time estimate

Record the handling category your business uses and attach a time or price response to it. Keep the wording factual and specific to the appointment.

Measuring revenue without measuring time

Enter actual minutes for every completed groom. Compare appointments using the same revenue-after-product-cost calculation.

Treating revenue after product cost as net profit

The appointment measure in this guide deducts direct product cost only; it does not claim to be net profit. Track rent, wages and other overheads separately.

Mixing ex-GST and incl-GST prices

Build the grid and performance measure ex GST. Apply the GST setting only when presenting an incl-GST customer price.

Use the free dog grooming price calculator

Use the dog grooming price calculator for one appointment. Select the service, dog size, coat, behaviour and add-ons, then set the target hourly amount and GST display. Review the customer price, expected time and revenue after product cost per hour.

When to use a grooming spreadsheet

Use a spreadsheet when the price needs to connect with repeat appointments. Keep:

• one editable service-by-size price grid;
• coat, behaviour and add-on rules;
• dog and owner details;
• list price beside price charged;
• estimated minutes beside actual minutes;
• revenue after product cost per hour by service and size;
• last visit, next due date and rebooking status; and
• vaccination expiry information recorded for each dog.

This guide uses appointment history to test where the grid needs work. Rebooking fields can also be used as a list of owners due for contact; they do not make the file a booking or messaging service.

FAQ

Should dog grooming prices change by size?

Give each service-and-size combination its own time, product cost and price. Use the size definitions your business can apply consistently.

How do I charge for matted coats?

Create a named coat-condition level with a defined adjustment. Assess the coat, select the level and confirm the price before the groom.

What should I track after each appointment?

Record service, size, coat and behaviour levels, add-ons, list price, price charged, product cost, actual minutes and the next due date.

How should GST be shown?

Use one basis throughout the internal calculation. For a consumer-facing price, show the total payable amount, including any GST that applies and unavoidable charges, as a single prominent figure. The worked example applies the current 10% Australian GST rate for arithmetic only; whether a sale is taxable depends on the business and transaction.