How to Start a Dog Grooming Business in 2026: Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about starting a dog grooming business from scratch, licensing, equipment, pricing, marketing, and the software that keeps it all running.
Pet Profiles & Grooming History
Pet Profiles & Grooming History
Detailed profiles for every pet you groom
Breed, coat, temperament, allergies, medications and vet contact on every pet, with a grooming history that builds itself.
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Sarah Mitchell
(555) 234-5678 · sarah@email.com
🐕
Due for groomBella
Golden Retriever · 3 yrs
12
Visits
$780
Total
6 wk
Cycle
Grooming Notes
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Sensitive around paws, go slow
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Prefers puppy cut, 1-inch all over
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Owner requests blueberry facial
Recent Appointments
Mar 15Full Groom
$65Feb 1Full Groom
$65Dec 20Bath & Brush
$40Every dog that walks through your door has a story: breed quirks, skin sensitivities, anxiety triggers, favorite treats, the cut their owner loves. GroomBoard's pet profiles let you capture all of this so you're prepared for every groom. Record breed, weight, coat type, temperament, allergies, and health conditions. Add free-form notes after each appointment. Over time, you build a complete grooming history that makes every visit smoother.
Notes from last time, before this time.
Open the pet and you get the last visit, what was done, and whatever you wrote down afterwards. The dog who cannot stand the dryer, the owner who wants the face left longer, the leg that got tender. It is the part of the job you used to keep in your head.
Search finds the dog, not just the owner.
Clients arrive in your memory as their dog. Type Bella and you get Bella, without first remembering which of your clients she belongs to.
Step by step
How It Works
1
Create a pet profile
When you add a new client, create a profile for each pet with breed, weight, coat type, and any known health conditions or behavior notes.
2
Add notes after each groom
After an appointment, jot down what was done, any issues encountered, and preferences for next time. This builds your grooming history.
3
Be prepared for every visit
Before the next groom, pull up the pet profile to review their history, temperament, and any special handling instructions.
Everything included
Detailed pet profiles: breed, weight, coat type, color, age
Temperament and behavior notes (anxious, aggressive, good with handling)
Health and allergy tracking (skin conditions, sensitivities, medications)
Free-form grooming notes after each appointment
Complete grooming history builds automatically over time
Search by pet name to pull up any profile instantly
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track health conditions and allergies?
Yes. Each pet profile has dedicated fields for health conditions, allergies, and medications. You can also add any health-related notes to the free-form notes field.
Is grooming history saved automatically?
Yes. Every completed appointment is logged to the pet's profile with the date, service, and groomer. You can add additional notes after each appointment.
Can I search for a pet by name?
Yes. The client search works by client name or pet name, so you can find any profile quickly.
From the blog
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