Florida minimum wage jump in 2026, set pay and pricing now

What is changing and who it hits

The News-Press reports that Florida’s minimum wage will increase in 2026. If you employ bathers, reception, or support staff, your hourly payroll will step up on a fixed date. Plan as if the statewide minimum will be 15 dollars per hour on September 30, 2026, unless laws change. Florida currently permits a 3.02 dollar tip credit, which would put the tipped cash wage at 11.98 when the minimum hits 15, if you meet the requirements. Verify your situation with counsel or your payroll provider.

Rethink pay scales before the deadline

Set pay bands now so you are not compressing wages in one week. A simple structure that works in small salons:

• Bathers and trainees: 15 to 18 dollars per hour with a 90 day review. Add 0.50 to 1.00 for consistent on time grooms and rebooking rates above 60 percent.
• Reception and support: 15 to 17 dollars per hour. Cross train on bathing so slow periods are productive.
• Commission groomers: 40 to 55 percent commission, with a guaranteed floor that equals at least 15 dollars per hour for all hours worked in each workweek. Top up if their commission falls short.

Piece rate for bathers can work if you guarantee at least 15 dollars per hour for all hours on the clock and track it weekly. Audit times weekly so no one falls below the floor.

Price adjustments that actually cover the new payroll

Do the per dog math so the increase sticks:

• Estimate non owner labor minutes per dog. Example: 45 minutes bather time, 10 minutes admin, 10 minutes cleanup. That is about 65 minutes, or 1.1 hours.
• At 15 dollars per hour, that labor is 16.50 per dog. If you were paying 12, it was 13.20. Payroll cost rises by 3.30. Add 10 percent for taxes and insurance, roughly 3.63 per dog in added cost.
• Cover slippage and supplies, round up. That points to a 4 to 6 dollar increase per short coat small dog, more for heavier coats.

Practical targets:

• Small breeds, short to medium coat: plus 6 to 10 dollars per groom.
• Doodles and double coats: plus 10 to 18 dollars per groom.
• Or increase 8 to 12 percent across the board and round to clean price points.

Roll the change at least two weeks before the effective date so you are not eating higher wages on pre booked work. If you pre book quarterly, start the new prices at the start of that cycle.

Scheduling and throughput to hold margin

Your other lever is time on task. Standardize your day so you earn the higher wage back in throughput, not burnout.

• Set default times: 60 minutes bath and tidy small, 75 to 90 minutes bath and de shed medium, 120 to 150 minutes full groom large or doodle. Adjust by coat condition and behavior, not just weight.
• Prework at check in: brush out 5 minutes, nails, ear check, and a photo. It saves back and forth later.
• Use a bather to groomer handoff checklist, for example nails, sanitary, paw pads, coat blown to fluff dry. Aim to shave 5 to 10 minutes per dog.
• Cap daily intake per table. Six to eight dogs per experienced groomer, four to six for newer staff, so quality holds while you push consistency.

Protect slots with deposits and fees. New clients, 25 to 50 percent deposit at booking. Same day or high demand slots, 50 to 100 percent. No shows or late cancels inside 24 hours, 50 percent fee. Collect on card on file. Many scheduling tools, including GroomBoard with Stripe deposits, can automate this.

Tip credit in Florida, proceed carefully

If you plan to use the 3.02 dollar tip credit, get these pieces in place:

• Written notice before the first credited shift that states the cash wage, the tip credit taken, and that tips make up the rest. Keep signed acknowledgments.
• Valid tip pool, if used, that includes only eligible tipped staff. No owners or managers who set pay may share in tips.
• Track tips by employee each day, and confirm each workweek that cash wage plus tips meets or exceeds the full minimum wage for all hours worked. Make up any shortfall in the same pay period.
• Pay all non tipped time at the full minimum. Training, cleaning, laundry, front desk, and kennel time cannot be paid using a tip credit.

When in doubt, pay the full 15 dollars per hour and treat tips as a supplement. The admin burden and risk of noncompliance can outweigh the savings in small teams.

Compliance checklist and client messaging

• 60 to 90 days out: finalize new price list and pay bands. Update your payroll system with new floors and commission guarantees.
• 30 days out: announce pricing to clients. Sample copy you can use: Starting October 1, grooming rates will increase by 8 to 12 dollars per appointment. This reflects higher wages and operating costs, and keeps service quality high. Thank you for supporting a living wage for our team.
• Two weeks out: print and post the new Florida minimum wage poster, and update any break room notices. Train front desk on the new script and deposits. Reconfirm policies by text with upcoming appointments.
• Go live: audit the first two payrolls and three weeks of tickets. Check that average revenue per dog rose as planned and that every employee cleared the hourly floor each workweek.

Quick back of the envelope: a single full time bather moving from 12 to 15 dollars per hour adds about 105 dollars a week before taxes. If your salon does 40 dogs a week, you need about 3 dollars more per dog to hold margin, plus a buffer. Set the numbers now so the change is boring when it hits.