Running a mobile dog grooming business can be an incredibly rewarding and lucrative venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges.
One of the key hurdles many business owners face is transitioning from a solo operation to managing a team of employees.
Discover the story of Matt, a Jim’s Dog Wash franchisee, and explore his journey of building a thriving mobile grooming business with multiple employees.
From Corporate Life to Canine Caretaker: Matt’s Jim’s Dog Wash Journey
Matt’s path to entrepreneurship began in 2019 when he decided to make a career change from his corporate role as an operations manager at a seafood company.
Tired of the long commute and the monotony of office life, Matt was drawn to the idea of running his own business and working with his furry four-legged friends.
After attending the Jim’s Group training program, Matt ventured on his journey as a Jim’s Dog Wash franchisee.
In the early days, it was just him in the mobile grooming trailer, servicing clients in his local area.
However, as his business began to grow, Matt recognized the need to expand his team and bring on additional employees.
Navigating the Transition to Becoming an Employer
The decision to hire employees was not an easy one for Matt.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a turning point, as Matt realized he couldn’t solely rely on himself as the sole income source for his business.
With a newfound determination, Matt took the plunge and began the process of hiring his first employees.
Building a Talented and Dedicated Team
Matt’s approach to hiring and training his employees has been a key factor in the success of his mobile grooming business.
Rather than seeking out experienced groomers, he opted to start with individuals who had no prior grooming experience and train them himself.
To find the right candidates, Matt utilized a multi-pronged approach, advertising on online job boards and sharing the openings in local community groups and dog-focused social media pages.
This strategy allowed him to connect with individuals who not only had a passion for dogs but also aligned with his business’s values and culture.
Fostering a Positive and Supportive Work Environment
Retaining talented employees is just as crucial as finding them, and Matt has implemented several strategies to ensure his team feels valued and motivated.
Beyond offering competitive wages, he provides his employees with additional benefits, such as:
- Four-day work weeks with alternating long weekends
- An extra week of paid leave over the Christmas and New Year’s period
- Birthday and Christmas bonuses and gifts
Matt’s approach to employee management extends beyond just the financial aspects.
He places a strong emphasis on fostering a positive and supportive work environment, where his team feels like they are part of a cohesive “team red” community.
Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Quality Control
Managing a team of employees in the dog grooming industry comes with its own unique set of challenges, and Matt has had to navigate a few hurdles along the way.
One of the key concerns he addresses is maintaining quality control and ensuring his clients receive the same high level of service, regardless of which employee is handling their pet.
Matt’s approach to this challenge is to thoroughly train his employees, instilling in them the same techniques and methods he uses himself.
Additionally, Matt remains actively involved in the day-to-day operations of his business, even as he transitions to a more managerial role.
He continues to work in the mobile grooming trailer for four days a week, allowing him to oversee his team’s work and provide hands-on guidance when needed.
The Benefits of a Mobile Grooming Salon
One of the key advantages of a mobile dog grooming business like Jim’s Dog Wash is the convenience and comfort it offers both pet owners and their furry companions.
Additionally, the mobile nature of the business provides a more relaxed and stress-free environment for the dogs.
The Jim’s Dog Wash trailers are also designed with cleanliness and efficiency in mind, with features like the hydro bath at the rear of the trailer and the grooming table at the front, making it easy to maintain a sanitary and organized workspace.
Advice for Aspiring Mobile Grooming Business Owners
For those interested in starting their own mobile dog grooming business, Matt offers some valuable advice based on his own experiences:
- Research your local market: “Have a look at what kind of demographic you live in. I’m lucky that I have probably one of the biggest dog ownership areas in the state around me. But also check what other groomers are in your area.“
- Leverage community connections: “When I first started, I advertised on online job agency websites, but I think the best way to do it is to share the ad to local community groups, so share it to dog lovers’ pages and dog park pages and all that kind of stuff. You’ll be finding people that do actually like dogs to get the job.“
- Prioritize employee training and development: “I’ve just started them from scratch, and I guess the benefit there is that I can train them my way. So they learn the way that I like to do things, and they’ll develop those kinds of habits as well.“
- Offer competitive benefits and incentives: “I pay my employees a higher wage than the award, and I’ll give them an extra week of annual leave as well. I also give them a birthday card with a bit of a voucher, and at Christmas time, they get a little something as well.“
Scaling Up and Transitioning to a Management Role
As Matt looks to the future, his goal is to continue growing his mobile grooming business and eventually transition to a more managerial role, overseeing a team of employees.
By leveraging the support and resources provided by the Jim’s Group, Matt is confident in his ability to achieve this goal and inspire other franchisees to follow a similar path.
To learn more about the Jim’s Dog Wash franchise and explore opportunities to start your own mobile grooming business, visit the Jim’s Group website or call 131 546 in Australia or 0800-454-654 in New Zealand.
You can also connect with the Jim’s Group on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok channels.
For more inspiring stories and business advice from the Jim’s Group, be sure to subscribe to the Jim’s Group YouTube channel and check out the Jim’s Podcast available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
You can also follow Jim Penman, the founder of the Jim’s Group, on his Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter channels.