How do I start a Jim’s Dog Wash franchise?

We’re big animal lovers here in Australia. Animal Medicines Australia reports that around 3 out of 5 Australian households have at least one pet, with dogs being the most popular type of pet.

Our sizable pet population means that the animal grooming industry has been steadily expanding over the last few decades. So, if you love animals and are on the lookout for a promising business opportunity in 2022, a pet grooming business may be a great option to consider.

How much does it cost to start a dog washing business?

The upfront costs involved with starting a dog wash business will depend on whether you’re planning on operating your business from your home, from a storefront, or from a mobile vehicle. Out of these three options, operating a business out of a storefront is the most expensive route as it requires renting a retail space.

Regardless of where you choose to start your business, starting any business will require some kind of initial investment. The upfront costs involved with starting a dog wash business, for example, will involve purchasing grooming equipment and products, developing a website, and registering a business.

One of the benefits of starting a business under a franchise model is that it can make setting up a business much more straightforward and cost-effective. At Jim’s Dog Wash, when you purchase a franchise, you’ll also receive:

Hands-on grooming training
A uniform and promotional pack
Free business registration
A full equipment pack
A direct channel to buy or rent a purpose-built fibreglass dog grooming trailer

How do dog groomers get clients?

The goal for any business is to find a way to secure loyal and repeat clients. One of the reasons why pet grooming businesses are so profitable is because these types of businesses are highly conducive to repeat sales. Depending on the breed, it’s recommended that dogs get groomed once every 4-6 weeks. So, if you impress a client with your work, it’s very likely that they’ll book you again in a month’s time!

So, how do you secure clients in the first place? You should consider implementing some of the following strategies into your business:

Create social media profiles for your business – Social media is one of the best ways to get your business name out in your community. Make sure that you set up a profile for your business across all the popular social media platforms. You could even consider joining some community-specific or interest-specific groups on platforms such as Facebook.
Offer differentiating services – If you’re only providing basic dog grooming services, it’s very likely that there will be other competitors in your area offering the exact same services. That’s why it’s important to differentiate yourself from your competitors by either improving upon the existing services or by offering your clients something new (e.g. teeth-brushing, etc.)
Network with businesses in your area – Consider dropping off business cards at places where you may find potential clients, such as the vet, doggie daycare centres, dog training schools, etc. Developing good relationships with complementary businesses in your area means that they’re more likely to personally refer you to their own clients.
Prioritise excellent customer service – Nothing beats word of mouth when it comes to business. If you consistently focus on providing excellent customer service, you’ll naturally be able to secure new clients through word of mouth and referrals.

How many dogs can be groomed in a day?

The amount of dogs that a dog groomer can see on a daily basis varies greatly depending on the business. Obviously, a storefront grooming business with multiple staff will be able to groom more dogs than a solo mobile operator. For solo mobile operators, somewhere between 6-8 dogs per day is a good place to start. Of course, the more experienced you get, the more efficient you’ll become.

One of our Jim’s Dog Wash franchisees, Jen, takes us through a typical day in her life below.

Can you have a grooming business from home?

Some grooming businesses operate very successfully from home. However, one obvious downside of home-based dog grooming businesses is that it forces your clients to travel to your home, which can be inconvenient for customers.

Mobile dog grooming businesses are popular because they offer customers flexibility. Booking a grooming service at a home-based groomer can actually become a significant time commitment. In contrast, when you book in for a mobile grooming service, you don’t even have to leave your home!

What qualifications do you need to be a dog groomer?

In Australia, formal study isn’t required to work as a dog groomer. But completing a dog grooming course or obtaining a certificate-level qualification is certainly not a disadvantage.

Although formal qualifications aren’t essential, having a natural affinity for animals is absolutely essential. Working as a dog groomer means that you may be faced with anxious or scared dogs from time to time, so understanding animal behaviour and being able to navigate stressful conditions is a must-have quality.

How long does it take to become a dog groomer?

Since there aren’t any qualification requirements to become a dog groomer, making the switch to dog grooming may be a quicker process than you think! As long as you love dogs and are willing to learn, you can get your very own dog grooming business up and running within weeks.

At Jim’s Dog Wash, we provide hands-on dog grooming training to all of our onboarding franchisees as well as ongoing professional development throughout the year. Our commitment to the training and development of our franchisees means that our franchisees can go into their businesses with confidence from day one.

So, how do I start a dog grooming business?

The key to a successful launch is careful planning and careful preparation. Before you begin to even think about taking on clients, you’ll need to first set up your business. Some key tasks include:

Determining what services you’ll be offering
Determining a business name and a business structure
Creating a business plan
Undergoing training or getting a qualification
Sorting out your legal and tax obligations
Investing in equipment and products
Calculating pricing
Building a website

Starting any business can be daunting, but when you start a mobile dog grooming business with Jim’s Dog Wash, help is only ever a phone call away.

Is a Jim’s Dog Wash a good franchise?

At Jim’s Dog Wash, we have some of the very best groomers in the industry. As industry leaders, we continue to prioritise innovation and customer service across all our operations.

Signing up for a Jim’s Dog Wash franchise allows you to run your own business without having to do it entirely alone. You get to draw on the specialised knowledge of other franchise owners in the business, as well as the ongoing support of your mentors. The ongoing support and training provided to you means that the business risks are greatly reduced in a Jim’s franchise business.

How much does a Jim’s Dog Wash franchise make?

As the dog grooming industry continues to grow on an upward trajectory in Australia, there’s lots of money to be made in running a mobile dog wash business. It goes without saying that starting any business involves accepting some potential for risk. However, at Jim’s Dog Wash, we do our very best to minimise these risks. Our unique ‘Pay For Work Guarantee’ provides new franchisees with a financial security net that allows them to launch their new businesses with confidence. We provide all franchisees with a weekly safety net of $1,200, no matter which division they’re in.

You may be surprised to find out that the majority of our franchisees never have to claim this guarantee, as their weekly income usually exceeds $1,200 from the very start. Weekly income for a Jim’s Dog Wash franchise will vary depending on the size of your business, your location, and your working hours, but as demand continues to skyrocket, it’s safe to say that our franchisees are thriving.

If you love working with animals and are thinking of starting your own small business in 2022, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch on 131 546 or enquire online today to learn more about dog grooming franchises for sale in your area.