How do I switch grooming software without losing my clients?
Updated
Switching grooming software is more straightforward than most groomers expect: export your client and pet list from your current tool, import the CSV into the new one, rebuild your services and hours, then point your booking link and social profiles at the new page. Active appointments are usually easiest to recreate as they come in rather than backfilling history. With GroomBoard, the import and setup path takes most groomers well under an hour.
The fear with switching is losing data or confusing clients, but a grooming migration has only a few moving parts. The essential data is your client and pet records, which nearly every tool can export to CSV. Appointment history is nice to keep but rarely necessary to move, most groomers let history age out on the old tool and start fresh bookings on the new one.
A clean switch looks like this: export clients and pets to CSV, import them into GroomBoard, recreate your service menu and business hours, test your booking page, then update your booking link everywhere clients find it. Google Business Profile, Instagram bio, website, and a one time text or email to regulars. The old tool can stay active for a week as a safety net while bookings flow to the new page.
Because GroomBoard is self serve, there is no onboarding call gating the move, and the 7 day free trial means you can build and test the new setup in parallel before you cancel the old subscription. See the migration guide and competitor switch breakdowns below.
| Coming from | What to export | GroomBoard import |
|---|---|---|
| MoeGo | Clients and pets as CSV | Auto detected, clients and pets in one pass |
| Gingr | Owners and animals as CSV | Detected automatically |
| DaySmart Pet | Clients and pets as CSV | Detected automatically |
| Groomsoft | Client list as CSV | Detected automatically |
| PetExec | Owners and pets as CSV | Detected automatically |
| Square Appointments | Customers as CSV | Generic CSV, map the columns on screen |
| Google Calendar | Nothing to export | One way import of upcoming appointments from the Integrations page |
| A paper appointment book | A photo of each page | Read by AI into a review table, then saved |
Appointment history is rarely worth moving. Most groomers import clients and pets, then recreate upcoming appointments as they come in.
How do I switch grooming software, step by step?
Six steps, and most groomers finish in under an hour with the old tool still running as a safety net.
- Export clients and pets from your current tool as CSV. Every tool in the table above can do this from its settings or reports area.
- Start the GroomBoard trial and import the file. The importer recognises MoeGo, Gingr, DaySmart, Groomsoft, and PetExec exports and maps the columns for you.
- Check the counts. The number of clients and pets after import should match the export; duplicates are matched on phone number.
- Rebuild your service menu and hours, then test the booking page by booking yourself in.
- Point your booking link everywhere clients find it: Google Business Profile, Instagram bio, website, and one text to regulars.
- Keep the old subscription for one more week while bookings flow to the new page, then cancel it.
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Related
Related questions
Will I lose my client list when I switch?
Do I need to move my old appointment history?
How long does switching take?
More answers
How much does pet grooming software cost?
Dog grooming software costs between $9 and $239 per month in 2026. Groomer specific tools: GroomBoard $9 to $39 per month with 100 to 600 texts included, Groomsoft $29.95 to $39.90 with 100 free texts then prepaid packs, MoeGo $49 to $239 per van or location with texts capped by tier. Facility platforms such as Gingr run $109 to $179 plus setup fees. The monthly total is usually higher than the sticker price once text packs and setup fees are added.
Does dog grooming software work with Square?
Some grooming software integrates with Square and GroomBoard does not. GroomBoard has no Square connection: it does not read Square transactions, push appointments into Square, or settle payments through a Square account. Most groomers who use both keep Square at the counter for card payments and run bookings, pet records, and reminder texts in GroomBoard. Square Appointments on its own is $0, $49, or $149 per location per month and has no pet profiles.
Is there free dog grooming software?
Yes. As of October 2026, ShakeYourTail, Tuft, Doxford and Square Appointments each have a free plan that never expires, and Koalendar works as a free generic scheduler. Every one of them drops SMS reminders or caps your client list, and two tools that show up in "free grooming software" lists, GrooMore and Cuddles, only offer a trial. GroomBoard is not free: Starter is $9 a month with 100 texts included, after a 7 day trial with no card.
What software do dog groomers use?
Dog groomers use grooming specific business software to handle online booking, calendar scheduling, client and pet records, and automated SMS reminders. Common options include GroomBoard, MoeGo, Gingr, DaySmart Pet, and Groomsoft, and independent or mobile groomers often choose a lighter, flat priced tool like GroomBoard from $9/month.