What is the best grooming software for solo groomers?
Updated
For solo groomers, the best grooming software is the one that covers booking, SMS reminders, pet profiles, and payments without enterprise bloat or per seat pricing. GroomBoard is built for exactly this at $19/month flat (Solo plan), with automated SMS included, a public booking page, and a 7 day free trial, no onboarding call and nothing to pay per groomer.
A solo groomer has different needs from a multi location salon. You do not need payroll, multi staff scheduling, or facility management. You need a calendar clients can book, automatic reminders so they show up, a place to keep coat notes and history, and a fast way to get paid. Software priced and designed for salons makes you pay for capacity you will never use.
GroomBoard's Solo plan is scoped to a single chair operation: $19/month flat, SMS reminders included, a custom booking page that doubles as your website, and Stripe pay links so clients can pay from their phone. Setup is self serve in about 15 minutes, with no onboarding call and no credit card for the trial.
If you later add a second groomer, you can upgrade to Salon ($39/month, up to five groomers) in one click with your data intact. Until then, paying solo prices for a solo business is the point. See the solo groomer breakdown below.
| Tool | Entry plan for one groomer | Monthly price | Texts included | Pet records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GroomBoard Solo | Solo | $19 | 250 a month | Yes, with grooming history and vaccinations |
| GroomBoard Starter | Starter, digital appointment book | $9 | 100 a month | Yes |
| Goldie Pro | Pro | $19.99 | 500 credits | Basic family and pet profiles, no grooming records |
| DaySmart Pet Basic | Basic, single user | $29 | 500 a month | Yes |
| Groomsoft Shops | Grooming Shops | $29.95 | 100, then prepaid packs | Yes |
| MoeGo Basic | Basic, mobile | $49 per van | 200 a month | Yes |
| Square Appointments Free | Free | $0 plus processing | Reminders included | No |
Entry plan prices as published by each vendor, read on their own pricing pages on 16 October 2026.
What does a solo groomer actually need from software?
Four things, and the rest is weight. A booking page clients can use at 11pm, an automated confirmation and day before reminder from a registered business number, a pet file that remembers the coat, the blade, and the vaccination date, and a way to take a deposit from a new client. Payroll, inventory, multi location reporting, and a kennel calendar are features a solo groomer pays for and never opens.
Try GroomBoard free for 7 days
Online booking page, SMS reminders, client and pet profiles, and Stripe payments, all in one place. No credit card required to start.
Related
Related questions
Is $19/month really all in for a solo groomer?
Do I need salon software if I work alone?
What happens when I hire my first groomer?
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.