Everything about the groomer profession through the mouth of an expert: training, salary and possible difficulties

Wild animals usually look after themselves without assistance. But pets, whose appearance has changed over centuries of selective breeding, cannot cope with long, matted fur or overgrown nails on their own. Moreover, the conformation standards of some breeds generally require partial or complete grooming every two to three months.

The groomer deals with such problems: what kind of profession this is, today every self-respecting owner of a purebred cat or dog knows. This master performs work that seems extremely difficult for the animal owners themselves - after all, not every one of them, even with the necessary tools, is able to properly trim a poodle or pluck the undercoat of a fox terrier.

Who is a groomer?

Uninitiated people believe that a groomer is a hairdresser for cats and dogs. There is some truth in this opinion: the basis of animal care is bathing and grooming. However, the responsibilities of a groomer are not limited to working with scissors and clippers. His task is to carry out complex operations aimed at improving the appearance and well-being of pets. Among other things, this includes treatment of the ears, eyes, claws, teeth and mouth, and sometimes even therapeutic masks or SPA treatments. Groomer services for cats and dogs may be needed:

• A dirty pet who ran through puddles and burdock bushes;
• An overgrown animal, especially if its fur is tangled and tangled;
• A four-legged friend whose owners care about his health and appearance;
• A purebred dog or cat before a photo shoot or exhibition;
• A shedding pet that scatters and swallows fur.

To finally understand who a groomer is, what kind of profession it is, who to work with and how such a specialist can earn money, it is necessary to consider two options for the specialization of animal hairdressers:

• A hygienist is a master who puts a pet’s appearance in order, cuts out matted fur, and eliminates problems with claws, ears, and eyes. As a rule, he performs only health procedures, but nothing more;
• A stylist is a professional who knows the show standards of breeds, knows how to hide exterior flaws with the help of a haircut and bring the pet’s appearance to ideal. However, he does not delve into the nuances of hygienic care.

History of the profession

What is grooming? The original definition of the word means the manifestation of behavioral traits in mammals and primates, expressed in caring for the fur of one of their fellow tribesmen. Derived from the English word “groom,” literally translated as “to clean a horse.” There is no historically accurate information about when exactly the grooming profession began. Several thousand years ago there were already people whose duties included the direct care of horses. They monitored the condition of the mane and coat - they washed off the dirt, combed the mane and tail.

Over time, the list of animals in need of special care increased. The flourishing and establishment of the profession of a groomer for pets, in particular dogs, occurred in the 18th century, during the reign of the French king Louis 15. This monarch had 2 weaknesses - women and dogs. Louis's favorite pets, poodles, not only needed constant careful care, but also had to have an attractive and unusual appearance. The demand for talented groomers has increased enormously; dog salons have begun to open in Paris, providing services for caring for the pets of noble and wealthy citizens.

Groomer services

When clients bring their pets to a grooming salon, they expect a solution to all problems related to their appearance. Therefore, the master’s range of services should include certain basic operations aimed at ensuring the hygiene and health of animals. This:

1. Combing. Using various combs and brushes, the wool is tidied up, dead fibers and tangled balls are removed from it;
2. A haircut. During the hygienic process, overgrown hair that bothers the animal is removed, and during the model process, the pet is cut according to breed standards;
3. Bathing and drying. Water procedures are necessary not only to remove dirt and dead fibers, but also for the overall health of the coat;
4. Trimming claws. Pets don't move enough, so their nails don't have time to wear down. As they grow, they dig into the pads and interfere with walking;
5. Teeth cleaning. The groomer's job is to remove tartar, improve gum health, whiten teeth and prevent oral diseases;
6. Ear cleaning. During the operation, the ears are washed from wax and dirt, and villi that are bothering the animal are plucked out;
7. Eye cleaning. Pets may have deposits in the corners of their eyes that need to be removed. Some breeds require tear track bleaching.

Professional animal grooming involves many different operations that serve different purposes and are intended for different breeds of animals. For example, the following technologies are used to care for dogs and cats:

• Basic haircut. This is done with a machine or scissors. Its goal is to obtain a uniform, thick coat;
• Clipperweak. This is a short machine haircut that is almost bald. Some breeds leave untouched areas on the legs or body;
• Flatvec. Another type of machine haircut, in which short hair of the same length is left on the body;
• Blending. Smoothes the transitions between short and long hair areas. The silhouette of the animal becomes smooth and harmonious;
• Trimming. Plucking dead fibers from wool using a special knife. Suitable for wire-haired, non-shedding breeds;
• Stripping. In essence, this is an artificial molt. It differs from trimming in that during the processing process, not only the undercoat, but also the guard hair is plucked;
• Rolling. Partial trimming, in which the hair is not completely plucked. As a result, the animal does not look bald and is always ready for exhibition;
• Top notes. A technology for creating hairstyles for decorative breeds, in which the wool is collected in bunches and tied with elastic bands or bows;
• Creative. This is a haircut without any restrictions for the master's flight of fancy. The wool is cut into patterns and dyed, the claws are covered with varnish and rhinestones.

When setting prices, an at-home dog groomer usually targets middle-income citizens. In a salon equipped with modern equipment, the client is willing to pay more for the same services. Here are approximate tariffs for a big city:

Groomer services

What are the responsibilities of a groomer?

“Grooming is not only and not so much about beauty, but about health,” says Ekaterina Moskaleva. “Therefore, the master’s responsibilities are not limited to just working on the exterior of the wards. If we are talking about working in a salon, then there is a division into an assistant groomer and a master groomer.”

The assistant's responsibilities include fully preparing the animal for grooming:

• The washing up;
• Drying;
• Combing;
• Hygiene of paws and ears;
• Nail trimming;
• Cleaning the anal glands;
• Ultrasonic teeth cleaning (if such a service is available in the salon).

The work of the master consists directly in cutting (according to the breed standard, creative or at the direct request of the owner).

Private craftsmen perform the entire complex on their own, and here we are talking about a set of skills and level of professionalism.

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Advantages and disadvantages of the profession

Assessing the pros and cons of the grooming profession, beginners first of all see the opportunity to get good money for the enjoyable work with cute pets. In addition, there are other positive aspects to this work:

• To get training in animal grooming, you don’t need to spend several years at a technical school or university. To master the profession, short courses are sufficient;
• If the master loves pets, then daily communication with them will fill him with positive energy and lift his spirits;
• It is not difficult to understand whether the profession of a groomer is in demand if you look at the amounts that dog breeders are willing to pay for preparation for exhibitions;
• Working as a groomer will help a creative person find his way to self-realization and self-improvement. The profession has enormous potential for development;
• Animal grooming is a way to start a business with a small investment. To become a dog groomer at home, you just need to buy 50 thousand rubles worth of tools.

However, we must not forget that animals are very complex patients. They cannot be persuaded or convinced to be patient during an unpleasant procedure. Besides:

1. The work is quite dangerous. Even a cat can seriously injure the master, and large dogs sometimes have to be cut under anesthesia;
2. Judging by reviews of the grooming profession, many animals suffer from skin diseases and parasites. A careless master can easily become infected;
3. Training courses are not enough to achieve success. A specialist in demand must constantly monitor fashion trends and master technical innovations;
4. The master works on his feet all day, bending down and lifting patients. A person with back and leg problems has no reason to think about becoming a dog groomer;
5. Fine undercoat not only floats in the air, but also clogs clothing, skin, and respiratory organs. This can provoke allergies or bronchial diseases.

About the pros and cons of the profession

“For me personally, working as a groomer is a dream job,” our expert continues his story. “It combines freedom, creativity, communication with animals, constant new acquaintances, visiting exhibitions and festivals, there are huge prospects for growth. This industry is constantly evolving, and if you follow the news and trends (and they often come from Korea and the USA), you can become a master with a capital “M.”

However, not everything is so rosy. Of course, the profession of a groomer has its difficulties, and you need to be prepared for them so as not to be disappointed after the first three or four practical lessons.

Ekaterina Moskaleva warns that many students of grooming courses have the wrong idea about working in this field. People think that they will work with initially perfectly clean, well-groomed, calm, peacefully standing animals. And then it turns out that they can bring a neglected, dirty, old, nervous, sick dog. You need to be ready to take on any job, and this is physically difficult. Almost all groomers have back and arm pain. This is really very hard work. You must be able to overcome disgust, for example, when brushing your teeth, anal glands, etc.

“Another pitfall is the mistaken desire of those who come to grooming to “escape from people”, they say, they are tired of people, the office, I love animals, etc. We must understand that we still work with people - customers of services. And here you can’t do without stress resistance, sociability, politeness, and self-confidence,” says the expert.

What qualities does a groomer need?

Despite the apparent simplicity of the work, not every person is capable of grooming. Even the best mentors will not help a beginner turn into a sought-after master if he does not have the qualities necessary for this profession. What you need to become a groomer from scratch:

• Love to the animals. It is impossible to tinker with pets every day and endure their whims if you do not feel real sympathy for them;
• Accuracy. Groomers work with sharp tools and strong chemicals. Any carelessness can lead to injury to the animal or the master himself;
• Communication skills. Not all pet owners are friendly. The master must be able to get them to talk and establish trusting relationships;
• Equilibrium. Working confidently with pets is the essence of the groomer's profession. Feeling fear, even a small dog becomes a wild beast;
• Stress resistance. Capricious and scandalous clients are not that uncommon. The groomer must be able to resolve any dispute and calmly accept claims;
• Patience. Caring for patients involves a lot of hard work. The master sometimes has to spend hours unraveling tangles or plucking thick undercoat;
• Health. How can a person suffering from arthritis, varicose veins, allergies to wool or cosmetics become a groomer? Alas, this is impossible;
• Inspiration. It’s not easy for a sought-after hairdresser to do a neat haircut. He can create an original image and choose an image that matches the animal.

Directions, specialties and educational institutions according to the profile of training

Grooming training is not provided in technical schools and colleges in the country. However, there are areas of study, mastering which will help you enter the profession. These are “Cynology”, “Veterinary” and “Animal Science”.

Anyone can simply complete a grooming course from scratch, but their knowledge will be limited only by their immediate work responsibilities. In college, he will receive deeper and more systematic knowledge, in particular, about the structural features of animals and their diseases.

First of all, you should pay attention to the colleges where dog handlers are trained, for example:

1. Educational College of Urban Planning "Capital". Here they study to become dog handlers after the 11th grade via correspondence.
2. Shchelkovo College also teaches the specialty of cynology. You can enroll after the 9th grade of school; studies last three and a half years.
3. Moscow State College of Electromechanics and Information Technologies. Despite the name, the list of educational programs includes “Cynology” with the possibility of training based on grades 9 and 11.

You can also learn a profession through courses, which are mainly available in large cities. For example, the Boncheri Grooming Academy in Moscow teaches dog grooming in seven-day courses and has advanced training programs for already practicing specialists. The ZooProfi grooming school provides training in various regions of the country lasting 120 hours. In St. Petersburg, the Master Groom school provides knowledge in 56 academic hours (two weeks, 4 hours each). The standard graduate of such courses is a dog groomer.

What skills does a groomer need?

It is easier to become a groomer for a person who has the qualities listed above. However, suitable character traits are not all that a master needs. In addition, a specialist must master a huge amount of knowledge and acquire a number of skills:

1. You need to study the characteristic features of different types of wool and master the techniques of caring for it. Also, the master must know methods of combating parasites;
2. A person who has decided: “I want to become a groomer” must understand the exterior standards of different breeds and the rules for evaluating them at exhibitions;
3. The master must learn how to work with various tools and safety rules. Otherwise, you can easily harm yourself or your pet;
4. It is recommended to take a general course in veterinary medicine, since it is impossible to become a good groomer without knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of patients;
5. The specialist must constantly monitor fashion trends, learn new haircut techniques and master modern equipment;
6. To become a groomer from scratch, as experience shows, you need to learn to understand the psychology of animals and, to some extent, predict their behavior.

Tips for beginner groomers

1. Before the start of haircuts and procedures, the groomer must clarify the presence or absence of various diseases in the animal, check its age, in order to make it as comfortable as possible for the animal to carry out an unpleasant procedure for it.
2. Before starting work, it is important to identify external signs of skin or any other diseases - the health of the animal may not allow cosmetic procedures to be carried out - this can lead to contamination of the instrument and a number of troubles for the master. Only healthy animals are allowed to be groomed, so the groomer must take a short course in veterinary medicine.
3. This work is seasonal. There are especially many orders in spring, summer and early autumn.
4. According to statistics, cats bite more often than dogs - dogs inflict injuries mainly with their claws, under which a lot of microbes accumulate - working with protective gloves is mandatory for a beginner.

How to become a groomer?

Unfortunately, hairdressers and animal stylists are not trained at universities or technical schools. Moreover, this specialty is not included in the all-Russian classifier at all. Therefore, a beginner will have to show some ingenuity to find where to learn the profession of a groomer. There are three options:

1. You can start by mastering the specialties of a veterinarian or dog handler, which will allow the student to understand the anatomy of animals, and in the future will simplify the training of a groomer. Courses at technical schools cost from 46,000 rubles per year and take three years;
2. You can sign up for face-to-face or distance learning classes at any grooming school or academy, which are located in large salons. The price of grooming courses in Moscow from scratch starts from 35,000 rubles, and the duration is from 120 hours;
3. Finally, you can try to master the secrets of the profession on your own. There are many articles, videos and master classes on the Internet on the topic “How I became a groomer.” This is free, but very time-consuming trial and error.

Salon on wheels

First, we selected a special car - a spacious Volkswagen. Then it was necessary to place all the necessary equipment in it.

In Europe there are similar cars with the same specifics of operation, but they do not carry large amounts of water and electricity. They drive up to the house and connect to the water supply and electrical network, but in Russia, most animal owners live in multi-storey buildings, and such a scheme is impossible. Therefore, I wanted to make sure that the car does not require additional water and electricity connections.

This stage turned out to be the most difficult - the “stuffing” of the car was redone three times. The car was sent for production in February 2016. A year later they gave it to me, and for a month I tested the equipment on service dogs, but it did not pass the test. We lacked water and electricity.

In March-April 2022, the car was undergoing a second revision. After it we were not satisfied with the air conditioning, there were other minor problems. Finally, after the third revision, the car was brought to perfection. In mid-May last year, I launched it in test mode around Moscow.

The equipment that the car is equipped with was made in three countries: Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia. The main performers are Germany and the Czech Republic; the car was finalized in Russia.

I am a reserve officer and served in intelligence. The connections that remained at that time helped me make special batteries to order. One small battery weighing 3–4 kg replaces one KamAZ battery. We have about 12 such batteries. They allow us to ensure autonomous operation of the machine up to 24 hours a day. It can receive from 8 to 10 animals per day, not only in the warm season, but also in winter.

The car is equipped with a table with an electric lift, a three-level bathtub for large, medium and small breeds of dogs (cats), hot and cold water is supplied to it. The salon is equipped with an ultrasonic scaler for cleaning teeth, professional cosmetics and a mandatory element - a compressor. Drying a large breed dog with a regular hairdryer is time-consuming and expensive, but a compressor not only dries it, but also removes dead hair.

For those animals that are experiencing stress, we installed a monitor with a TV in the ceiling and uploaded music and films about dogs there. During the procedures they watch films.

The car and its equipment cost approximately 5 million rubles. The investment is decent, but today this is the only car not only in Moscow, but also in Russia that can work at exactly this pace.

There are no competing cars yet. But we decided to get ahead of the curve and patented it. Today, the “brains” of this car are so secret that some potential competitors are trying to come in the guise of customers and find out more about the internal workings of this car.

Where can I work as a groomer?

A person who decides to devote himself to caring for animals sooner or later faces the question of applying knowledge to the benefit of his wallet. You can get financial returns in different ways: one master finds it easier to find an employer, while another strives to be independent. There are several employment paths for a groomer:

1. Beauty salons for animals. This option is convenient for a beginner - there is no need to spend money on renovating the premises, purchasing equipment, or promotion. In the profession of a groomer, the salary is calculated by the piece and amounts to 30–60 thousand rubles;
2. Vet clinic. Many establishments open grooming rooms on their premises to attract clients. They mainly offer hygienic haircuts and some medical procedures;
3. Hotel or shelter. Keeping animals on vacation as a business can generate more profit if the owner of the establishment hires a groomer and offers clients an expanded range of services;
4. Private office. In a small business format, the groomer will have to bear the initial and ongoing costs. On the other hand, he does not need to give 50% of the proceeds to the employer. Therefore, even a beginner can count on 60,000 rubles per month;
5. Home office. You can complete an animal grooming course, free up a room in your apartment and set up a workspace in it. However, family members and neighbors are unlikely to be happy with fur, dust, noise and visits from toothy patients;
6. Home visit. Not every owner has the opportunity to take a pet across the city to a grooming office. Such citizens will be happy to invite the master to their place. The master will need a car, a folding table and a set of tools in a bag.

Groomer training: features and cost of grooming courses

Reading time: 5 minute(s) When most people hear about groomers, they wonder: what kind of profession is this? The fact is that many pet owners want their pets to look beautiful and unusual. There are special animal hairdressers for this. They are called groomers. This profession is quite young, so it cannot be obtained either in higher or secondary specialized educational institutions. However, there are many different courses where you can learn grooming.

Who is a groomer: what do you need to know about the profession?

A groomer is a person who cares for domestic animals. As a matter of fact, in the Russian classifier of professions he is called “specialist in comprehensive animal care.” The word groom is translated from English as “to look after.” And in England, this was the name given to grooms and other workers whose duties included caring for animals. The term “grooming” also refers to a type of social interaction between monkeys, in which they comb each other’s fur and select parasites from it.

Today, a groomer primarily deals with grooming pets. However, to think that this is where its functions end is a delusion. A representative of the profession can also brush animals' teeth, comb them, trim their claws, and polish them. This is very important when preparing an animal for an exhibition or competition, because at such events the appearance of the participants is also assessed. However, there is also a demand for grooming services among those who do not take part in exhibitions with their pets. Many owners simply want to see their dog or cat beautiful, unusual-looking, and attracting the attention of others. Others bring the animal to a specialist for hygiene procedures (for example, cleaning eyes, ears).

Tasks and Responsibilities

Here are the tasks assigned to a specialist in various animal salons:

• grooming cats, dogs, and other domestic animals, regardless of breed and phenotype;
• performing, if necessary, model and exhibition haircuts for dogs and cats;
• washing animal fur;
• animal massage;
• applying cream to animal skin;
• implementation of hygiene procedures for the eyes of animals;
• caring for and cleaning the ears of clients’ pets;
• hygienic care of paw pads (cleaning, trimming fur between the folds of the skin);
• nail trimming;
• decorative design of claws (manicure, varnish coating);
• wool dyeing;
• consulting clients within the scope of issues within the specialist’s competence.

Work and salary

Salaries for representatives of the profession vary greatly depending on the city, place of work, experience and range of services provided. So, in Moscow, its lower limit is about 30,000 rubles, and the upper limit is in the region of 100,000 - 150,000 rubles. In the regions, groomers receive significantly less: their wages range from 25,000 rubles to 35,000 rubles.

Career growth for a specialist is virtually impossible. The only higher level on the career ladder that he can occupy is that of a pet salon administrator. In this case, he will coordinate the activities of the establishment and the work of other groomers.

However, a representative of the profession has many opportunities for horizontal career growth. Such growth is understood as acquiring new knowledge, mastering new skills, thanks to which a specialist can significantly increase his income. For example, a groomer can learn how to dye their coat, which is now so fashionable among owners of dwarf dog breeds, and begin providing such a service.

In addition, there is the prospect for a groomer to open his own beauty salon for animals. Taking into account the fact that he knows all the intricacies of the work of such organizations and the specifics of providing services in them, it will be much easier for him to do this. However, for this a person needs an entrepreneurial spirit and a certain start-up capital.

However, you can work for yourself without opening a salon. Many groomers provide their services directly at home - at their own place or at the client's. In general, such work is much more profitable than working for a salon organization and brings in more money.

In Moscow, St. Petersburg and some other large Russian cities today it is not difficult to find a job as a groomer. There are many job offers on the labor market with a variety of conditions and salary levels. But in the provinces this is much more difficult: pet care services are not in great demand there.

Pros and cons of the profession

The advantages of the profession include:

• high wages;
• great demand;
• the need for a creative approach;
• ease of learning.

And these are the disadvantages of the specialty:

• constant work on your feet;
• low salary at the beginning of the career;
• limited career growth.

How to become a groomer?

What skills are needed?

These are the qualities and abilities a future groomer will need.

• Love to the animals. This is perhaps the main quality needed by a specialist. After all, if a person does not love animals, then he is unlikely to be able to care for them.
• Ability to communicate with people. Despite the fact that the groomer works with animals, he also has to communicate with their owners. It is with them that he discusses the future appearance of the pet, helps them choose a hairstyle for a cat or dog, and gives them advice on care. All this requires a specialist to have good communication skills and a certain level of empathy.
• Resistance to stress and ability to resolve conflict. As in any other work related to communicating with people, controversial and conflict situations often arise in grooming. A representative of the profession must be able to endure them steadfastly and calmly, and, if necessary, resolve them peacefully.
• Creativity. Like creating human hairstyles, cutting four-legged hair requires creativity and imagination. After all, without them you cannot create an interesting and original image.
• Basic knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine. Since the work is carried out with animals, the specialist must know the signs and symptoms of their various diseases. Often the owner is unable to independently understand whether his pet needs medical care or not. If such a need is detected, the groomer must immediately notify the animal's owner. In addition, the care of claws, eyes and ears requires certain veterinary skills.

What education is needed and where can I go?

Grooming is a young profession. Despite the fact that pet care was carried out in antiquity, only noble and rich people could afford it. Grooming in the form in which it exists now appeared only in the middle of the 20th century. At that time it was used exclusively for show animals. Gradually, the trend of creating hairstyles for pets spread not only to professional breeders, but also to ordinary owners. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, salons providing grooming services began to appear en masse.

In this regard, higher and secondary educational institutions have still not created faculties that teach this profession. However, you can learn to be a groomer through special courses, of which there are a great many today.

What do you need to submit?

Since traditional educational institutions do not teach professions, there is no need to take any subjects. It is enough to pay the cost of studying for the courses and conclude an agreement on the provision of educational services with their founder.

How long to study after grades 9 and 11?

The duration of training to become a groomer does not depend on how many school classes the future representative of the profession has completed. As a rule, in specialized courses it lasts from several weeks to several months. In some cases, the period of study may exceed a year.

Is distance learning possible?

Thanks to the development of Internet technologies, grooming training can now be completed remotely using various computer programs for video conferencing (such as Skype). Upon completion of the training, an official certificate of completion of the course is issued, which is no different from the one issued after offline study.

The advantage of distance education is that, as a rule, its price is somewhat lower. And the main disadvantage is the lack of practical training. However, many course organizers provide subsequent employment for their students and they gain practical skills while working.

Where to learn grooming?

Universities and academies

Higher educational institutions do not provide training for representatives of this profession.

Colleges and technical schools

In secondary specialized institutions of the Russian Federation there are still no faculties where you can learn grooming.

Courses and trainings

Here are five Moscow courses that you can take to become a groomer.

• Grooming center of Roman Fomin. These courses were organized by the famous Russian dog groomer Sergei Fomin. Their cost is 35,000 rubles, and they last a week and a half.
• School "Groom Pro". The cost of the courses is 24,000 rubles, and the duration is four weeks.
• Archibald Academy. Cost – 36,990 rubles, term – one month.
• Educational. Price – 65,000 rubles, duration – three weeks.
• . Cost – 25,000 rubles, duration – two months.
• Zoo school "Baluti". Cost – 7,000 rubles, duration – two days.
• Viscount School. Price – 30,000 rubles, duration – two weeks.

And these are similar training programs in St. Petersburg.

• MasterGroom. Cost – 18,000 rubles, duration – one month.
• Educational. Price – 32,000 rubles, duration – one and a half months.
• MyDogStudio. Cost – 20,000 rubles, time – one month.
• Happy Pet School of Animal Care. Cost – 35,000 rubles, duration – two months.
• Fox pet salon courses. Cost – 2,500 rubles, duration – one lesson.
• Educational. Cost – 17,500 rubles, duration – three weeks.
• School-studio "Puppy". Price – 20,000 rubles, time – one and a half months.

Thus, a groomer is a creative profession that requires not only to love animals, but also to be able to communicate with their owners. You can obtain this specialty by completing specialized courses. The salaries of representatives of the profession are decent. They also have the opportunity to work for themselves. However, it should be remembered that grooming services are in demand mainly in the capital, and in the provinces almost no one uses them, so it will be difficult for a specialist to find work outside of Moscow.

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What kind of room is needed for grooming?

Grooming animals at home is extremely inconvenient: fine hair gets caught in carpets and clothes, gets into food, and bathing a pet in a cramped home bath requires serious effort. Therefore, even a novice groomer is better off setting up an office in some separate room. It should be located where customers can easily reach by car or public transport: in the city center, in a residential neighborhood, near shopping centers. When arranging your office, you need to remember that:

• The groomer should not work in cramped conditions. It is necessary to allocate 3–5 m² of space for the grooming area and shower room for animals;
• An uninterrupted hot and cold water supply should be provided in the office. Installation of a storage or flow-through boiler is allowed;
• Wastewater cannot be discharged into the sewer without first cleaning it from wool. To do this, you need to install mesh filters in the drains;
• Floors and walls in the premises should be covered with smooth, water-resistant materials that allow daily wet cleaning;
• It is necessary to install forced exhaust ventilation in the office to remove wool dust and reduce humidity after bathing patients;
• A sufficient number of lamps must be installed at the groomer's workplace. The illumination level in the table area should be at least 700 lux.

Grooming salon: choosing a work model

The very first thing you will have to decide is the scale of your future enterprise. They depend not only on the size of your ambitions and start-up capital, but also on the size of the population in the area in which you plan to work.

If you live in a village or small town, then opening a grooming salon means working at a loss. It is estimated that to achieve profitability levels, an average of 5 people need to come to you every day. Therefore, you have two options: either you open a salon in a city with a large population, or you will offer grooming services at home (with a visit to the client), which will expand the client’s habitat.

If there are no problems with potential visitors, then you should decide on the size of the enterprise. You can either work independently or hire help. You can also buy a ready-made operating business model, that is, invest in a grooming salon franchise: this approach will facilitate the first stage of opening your own business, but in the future you will have to “play by the rules” of the chosen franchise.

So, when you have decided how many people you will have under your command, you will have to resolve the legal issues related to opening a salon (if, of course, you are going to act within the legal framework and pay taxes). You will have to choose between registering an LLC and an individual entrepreneur.

IP is your option if:

1. you plan to work alone or with a minimum of employees;
2. you will independently manage the salon;
3. you are ready to bear full financial responsibility for the company’s obligations;
4. you're not going to attract investors.

An individual entrepreneur is a good choice for those who do not have a large start-up capital and who are going to delve into all the issues related to both grooming and accounting.

Advantages of IP:

• simple and fast registration procedure;
• simplified financial discipline (cash management);
• you can do without an accountant;
• lower tax burden than in an LLC;
• The company is easy to liquidate.

If you are planning to launch your own chain of animal grooming salons, then your choice is LLC.

Is it possible to work without opening an LLC or individual entrepreneur? It is possible, but it is illegal (Article 171 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and entails difficulties in finding premises for rent, and it will also be impossible to find business partners. Therefore, it is better to open an individual entrepreneur, especially since it is not as difficult as it seems.

Grooming equipment

To provide quality grooming services at home or in your own salon, you need to stock up on professional tools. The equipment specification may include dozens of items, but some of them require special attention:

• A special table with a non-slip coating and a bracket for fixing the animal. It is advisable to choose a rotary model with a hydraulic lift;
• Bathtub for bathing. There are models made of stainless steel and plastic on sale. It is useful to add a ladder to it so that you do not have to lift heavy dogs;
• Trimmers. Models for people cannot be used, as they quickly become clogged with fine wool and overheat;
• Combs. For different types of work, combs with long, short, rare and frequent teeth are used. The groomer should have a lot of them in his arsenal;
• Brushes. There are special models with natural and synthetic bristles, massage brushes and slicker brushes for removing dead undercoat;
• Scissors. You will need at least four types - regular ones of different lengths, short ones with blunt ends for paws and thinning ones. You cannot skimp on such a tool;
• Knives for trimming and stripping. They are purchased taking into account the type and density of wool. Accordingly, different animal breeds require different models;
• Muzzles. There should also be several of them - for nervous dogs and cats of different sizes. Cones for protecting the head - Elizabethan collars - are also useful.

In terms of equipment, the grooming room is almost as good as a human beauty salon. Moreover, to care for animals, the master uses a number of specific devices intended exclusively for four-legged visitors. What you need to become a groomer:

Groomer's office equipment

In addition, the groomer needs to replenish the supply of consumables and cosmetics monthly. When choosing them, you cannot save money, since cheap shampoo or dye can cause irritation and even burns in animals. What a master needs:

Groomer Supplies

What is grooming and its types

To get answers to the questions of who a groomer is, what he does and how his working day is structured, you need to understand the specialist’s specialization. It can be universal or narrow-profile. In any case, he must have basic knowledge of caring for a specific type of pet or a particular breed.

Animal grooming is represented in the following areas:

• trimming - manual or machine cutting, after which the coat becomes thick and uniform;
• clippervek - a variant of a very short machine haircut with uniform hair growth throughout the body;
• flatvec is another option for a short machine cut, but it involves processing the body taking into account the characteristics of the breed and the difference in coat length in individual areas;
• stripping – removing old fur from a pet’s body using a special knife, which allows you to preserve the natural structure of the coat;
• rolling is a variant of stripping, which involves the gradual removal of old fur - important for show animals;
• hygienic grooming – treatment of individual areas of the pet’s body in order to make his life easier and reduce the risk of developing diseases – removal of excess vegetation around the eyes, paws and ears;
• creative haircut – modern masters are able to turn a dog’s fur into a work of art, using approaches such as dyeing, weaving, and hair tattooing.

A groomer is able to turn a dog's fur into a work of art.
During the work, the masters use special grooming tools. Wool treatment is carried out using special shampoos. After a visit to such a professional, the animal owner no longer needs to perform a number of mandatory and painstaking manipulations for several months.

What documents does a groomer need?

The state controls any type of business activity, be it dog grooming or breeding Bengal cats as a business. If in some cases it is possible to do without obtaining official status, then when providing grooming services it is better not to risk it. The following work formats are available to the master:

• A self-employed citizen without the right to sell goods or hire employees. Must pay 4% of revenue to the budget, and, if desired, insurance premiums;
• Individual entrepreneur. The right to work on the simplified tax system with payment of 6% of revenue or 15% of profit. An individual entrepreneur can also become self-employed with the specified restrictions.

A business entity that plans not only to provide grooming services, but also to sell accessories must select the following OKVED codes:

OKVED grooming services

Of course, when grooming animals at clients’ homes, no one will require the groomer to agree with the inspection authorities. But if the master is going to open his own salon, he will need:

• Permits to operate from the sanitary and fire services;
• Workplace sanitary control program;
• Agreements for the disposal of wool, garbage and mercury lamps;
• Agreements for treating premises against insects and rodents;
• Contracts for cleaning ventilation and air conditioners;
• Groomers' health books;
• Documents for cash register equipment (if available).

Advice

You need to choose a groomer for your pet just as responsibly as you choose your haircut specialist. The dog’s appearance, emotional state, participation in exhibitions and your mood depend on the level of professionalism and quality of his work. And perhaps also health.

Now you know who a groomer is. Have you decided to study a new, interesting and in-demand profession? Try to learn all the intricacies of the work, constantly develop in this direction. Buy quality grooming tools and cosmetics, set up a comfortable workplace. Love your “clients” and they will love you back.

How can a groomer find clients?

If a groomer is going to work for himself, he needs to independently search for clients. A beginning entrepreneur usually doesn’t have enough money, and therefore at the start it is better to use low-budget methods of promotion. In particular:

• It is necessary to place flyers in all places where people interested in grooming animals visit. These are kennel clubs, pet stores, veterinary clinics;
• You can post notices at training grounds and in parks where citizens take their pets for a walk;
• It is useful to talk to people who do part-time work walking dogs for money. They know many owners of purebred animals;
• You can advertise in local print media, free newspapers and magazines for pet lovers;
• If there are breeders in the city who are involved in a business such as breeding dogs or cats, it is advisable to talk to them about ongoing maintenance;
• You can search for clients through Instagram and VKontakte. Here you need to run your own groups with a portfolio and publish advertisements in urban communities;
• Having your own website is also beneficial for a groomer's business. On its pages you need to place photographs of the work, a price list and a form for making an appointment online;
• Finally, you can register on various forums for dog breeders and cat lovers. Giving visitors advice makes it easier to find new clients.

First clients

The first one we put in order was Alabai. I received a call from one of the government facilities that sheltered this large dog. He served there as a service dog. The customers said that Alabai is hot and needs to be cut.

Together with the groomer, we cut this Alabai three times for about two hours. As a result, two large garbage bags were filled with his fur, and the alabai turned out to be skinny after the haircut - it turned out that the customer had to fatten up his pet in the future.

At first, clients treated us with distrust. They thought that we had an ordinary car and that we were washing animals almost out of a teapot. And those who came, seeing the salon, were surprised how we were able to equip it. We also had clients who were afraid that the car with their pet would drive away, so they kept watch around the corner. Now people are no longer so anxious; they have started making appointments with specific groomers based on recommendations from friends.

There are non-standard wishes. There were requests to tidy up the rabbits, and we took on this job. There was also a request to shear a sheep. We laughed at this together, but refused - this is a little out of our specificity.

One customer, the owner of a Chinese crested dog, constantly asks that the tips of the dog's tail and ears be painted pink. Plus, the animal must have rhinestones on its back.

How much does it cost to become a groomer?

To determine what kind of business to open in Moscow in 2022, an aspiring entrepreneur should imagine the approximate amount of capital investment. In this case, it all depends on the format in which the services will be provided. If we are talking about our own office with professional equipment, then a beginner will have to spend almost half a million rubles at the start:

Investments in a grooming office

Even an at-home cat groomer has to buy supplies and advertise every month. In your own salon, you need to add other regular costs to these cost items:

Groomer expenses

We are drawing up a business plan for a grooming salon

Let’s say right away that we are drawing up a basic business plan for a grooming salon. In other words, we will take only the essentials for grooming. The actual final amount will depend on many factors: whether the rental property needs repairs, what brands of pet cosmetics you will use, etc. Also, at first you can do without dozens of types of cosmetics, but you will have to buy a grooming table in any case.

Your costs for a grooming salon will consist of capital (for organizing a business) and permanent (staff salaries, rent, equipment repairs, taxes).

Capital expenditures:

1. Repairs in rented premises - from 10,000 rubles;
2. Signboard (or printing business cards and leaflets) – from 2500 rubles;
3. Furniture and shelving – from 40,000 rubles;
4. Computer technology (computer) – from 40,000 rubles;
5. Equipment (bathtub, hairdryer, table) – from 20,000 rubles;
6. Grooming tools – from RUB 20,000;
7. Cosmetics – from 15,000 rubles.

TOTAL: from 147,500 rub.

Of course, if you plan to do grooming at home, you will not need rented premises and some equipment, and in this case you will need about 100,000 rubles to open your own business.

Fixed costs depend on the number of salon employees and the size of their wages, on the costs of utilities and legal services, on the cost of consumable products, etc. Therefore, it is advisable to calculate them individually.

On average, a single groomer who goes to a client’s home returns the money invested in 2-3 months. Opening a salon with four specialists pays for itself in about 1.5-2 years. But keep in mind that the price of grooming in different regions of Russia differs, so the payback period may increase.

Is it profitable to work as a groomer?

Will a groomer in his own office be able to make a good profit or at least achieve self-sufficiency? Complex procedures for an ordinary pet take at least 2–3 hours, and preparation for an exhibition sometimes requires a whole day of work. By setting average prices, a dog groomer will earn more than 150 thousand rubles per month:

Groomer income

After paying taxes and paying off other operating expenses, approximately 40% of the proceeds will remain. Accordingly, you will have to wait a little more than eight months for the payback on the half a million rubles invested in the business:

Grooming profitability

Prospects for the profession

Just recently, very few people in our country knew the name of a person who brings polish to animals, but now salons are growing by leaps and bounds. Pets have become an indicator of the wealth and status of the owners. So the demand for groomer services will not decrease in the foreseeable future.

If you still have even the slightest doubt that the groomer profession is right for you, then we strongly recommend taking a career guidance test from Profgid . It costs mere pennies, and at the same time allows you to avoid mistakes that can go in the wrong direction and cripple your whole life. Find out more >>

Salary level

The amount of a groomer's salary depends on him. Most often, an employee’s salary is calculated based on the number of clients served and shifts worked. A novice professional can count on 20-40 thousand rubles with an average load. In the process of work, many groomers acquire regular clients and over time gain their own base of visitors. Such a specialist receives 60-80 thousand rubles and even more. A master who works for himself is capable of earning 100 thousand rubles - the figures depend on his professionalism and business acumen.

[salary]

Although grooming and veterinary medicine are closely related, higher education is not necessary to work with animals in this area. This allows you to spend a minimum of time on training and immediately after receiving the certificate begin professional development. Career growth in the field is not visible, but this does not detract from the opportunities of groomers.

Important qualities

Resilience and a positive attitude are highly valued among groomers. Animals are well aware of the attitude of those around them, so they are able to react negatively to gloomy or closed people. You should also prepare for the fact that not all client owners will be satisfied with the results of the work. Working with animals requires a lot of patience and accuracy. Groomers must also have a large amount of theoretical knowledge. An incorrect haircut or poorly trimmed nails can lead to illness in the animal, so you will have to constantly improve your professional level.