Florida’s $15 wage: pay, tips, pricing and posters now

Florida hits $15: what changed and who it hits first

Baller Alert reports that Florida’s minimum wage has reached 15 dollars. That applies to salons, mobile outfits, and solo owners with staff, and it affects pay structures, tips, schedules and pricing immediately. If you run payroll in Florida, move now so your next pay period is clean and compliant.

Reset pay plans and tips without blowing margins

Hourly floors: Every employee must average at least 15 dollars per hour for all hours worked in each pay period. If you pay commission or per dog, you still have to top up to 15 when their earnings do not meet the floor. Track clocked hours every day.

Tipped arrangements: Florida allows a fixed tip credit. At a 15 dollar base minimum, that sets a tipped cash wage of 11.98 dollars when a valid tip credit is taken. Only use a tip credit if you provide the required written notice, let employees keep all tips apart from a valid pool, and ensure declared tips bring them to at least 15 per hour. Verify setup with your payroll provider and your accountant.

Recommended rates by role, our guidance:

• Bathers and reception: 15 to 18 dollars hourly, plus tips if eligible. Use a skill ladder that adds 0.50 to 1.00 dollars per hour for certifications or add-on sales.
• Groomers: either 17 to 22 dollars hourly plus production bonuses, or 40 to 50 percent commission with a guaranteed 15 dollar hourly floor. If you pay commission, the salon pays card fees, supplies and redo time.
• Production bonus example: Pay a 3 to 7 dollar bonus per full groom when daily revenue exceeds a target, for example 450 to 600 dollars in services for a full day slot.

Tip pools: If you pool, limit it to customarily tipped roles, document the pool percentages, and do not include owners or managers who set pay. Audit tip declarations each payroll.

Raise prices with a simple formula

Labor is the biggest driver. Use a fast, defensible method that staff can quote consistently.

• Target labor cost at 35 to 45 percent of service price. If your average wage moved from 13 to 15 dollars, labor cost rose about 15 percent. Apply that increase to the labor share of your price.
• Quick method, our suggestion: raise 6 to 10 percent across the board, then adjust problem breeds and oversize coats another 3 to 5 dollars.
• By size tier, our suggestion: small dogs add 3 to 5 dollars, medium add 5 to 8 dollars, large and doodles add 8 to 15 dollars, hand stripping add 10 to 20 dollars.
• Add-ons that protect time: severe matting 15 to 40 dollars, special handling 10 to 25 dollars, shave downs on oversized coats priced as large plus matted fee.

Mobile van adjustments: increase your stop fee by 3 to 7 dollars. Set minimums that reflect travel and setup time, for example 120 to 140 dollars per stop for short coated smalls and 160 to 220 dollars for larger or doodles, then stack add-ons.

Weight based tiers: if you use weight brackets, shift boundaries so fewer dogs fall into underpriced tiers. Example, move 50 pounds from medium into large if that is where the groom time belongs.

Schedule, staffing and policies that keep you whole

Book to your revenue targets, not dog count. For a solo day, target 5 to 6 revenue hours, leaving 60 to 90 minutes for intake, sanitation and callbacks. In a two person shop, load bathers to 80 to 85 percent of the day and groomers to 70 to 80 percent so reworks and nail walk-ins do not wreck the schedule.

No-shows and long slots: take deposits on time hungry services. Our guidance:

• Deposit: 25 to 50 percent for doodles, hand strips, and new clients.
• Cancellation window: 48 hours for deposit return, same day cancels forfeit deposit.
• No-show fee: 50 percent of the booked service, charged to the card on file.
• Policy wording you can copy: A deposit secures your appointment. Deposits are applied to services at check out. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice or no-shows forfeit the deposit and may be charged a fee equal to 50 percent of the scheduled service.

Retail and upsells are optional, but add fast wins that do not slow the table: nail grind 10 to 15 dollars, teeth brush 10 to 15 dollars, de-shed shampoo upgrade 8 to 12 dollars, bandana or bow included only at full groom tiers.

Automate client communications. Use online booking, reminders and card on file with deposits to reduce empty slots. Tools like GroomBoard offer SMS reminders and Stripe deposits, which help enforce your policy without chasing cards.

Compliance and payroll checklist for this week

• Replace the Florida Minimum Wage poster at each location and in the van if you post there.
• Update payroll items: hourly rates to at least 15 dollars, or set the correct tipped cash wage if you use a tip credit. Confirm overtime calculations and rounding rules.
• Timekeeping: require clock in and out for all staff, including commission groomers. Keep records for at least three years.
• Written notices: if you claim a tip credit, provide the required written tip credit notice and document your tip pool.
• Service menu: publish new prices with an effective date. Train the script below so every client hears the same message.

Client script for a clean price change

Use a single paragraph and stop apologizing. Train it, print it, and put it at the desk.

Thanks for grooming with us. Our service prices changed on [date]. Florida’s new wage standards increased our labor costs, and we are adjusting to keep appointment times and quality where you expect them. Your breed now starts at [new price], and we will confirm the exact total at check in based on coat and condition. We appreciate your business and your trust.