How to Raise Your Dog Grooming Prices Without Losing Clients

If you’ve been putting off how to raise dog grooming prices, you’re not alone. I talk to groomers every week who know they’re undercharging but can’t shake the fear of losing the clients they’ve worked so hard to build. After 16,472+ appointments and six years running WoofSpark in Cessnock, I’ve raised my prices multiple times — and I’m going to walk you through exactly how I did it without losing the clients who matter most.

In this guide, I’m sharing the exact timing, scripts, and email template I use. You’ll also get a step-by-step plan so you can raise your prices with confidence — not guilt.

Why You Need to Raise Dog Grooming Prices (And Why You’re Overdue)

Here’s the truth most groomers won’t say out loud: if you haven’t raised your prices in over a year, you’ve taken a pay cut. Rent goes up. Insurance goes up. Products, electricity, water — all up. Your skills? Those have gone up too. But your prices stayed the same.

According to Fair Work Australia, the national minimum wage rose 5.75% in July 2024 and another 3.75% in July 2025. If you employ anyone — or if you’re a solo groomer who should be earning at least what an employee earns — that’s your baseline.

So before we talk about how to raise prices without losing clients in grooming, let’s be clear: this isn’t optional. It’s survival. And the groomers who don’t raise their prices? They’re the ones who burn out, close down, or end up resenting the job they once loved.

How to Raise Dog Grooming Prices: The 7-Step System

This is the system I’ve used at WoofSpark. It works for solo groomers, mobile businesses, and full salons. Follow these steps in order.

Step 1: Work Out Your True Hourly Rate

Before you set new prices, you need to know what you’re actually earning. Not what you think you’re earning — what the numbers say.

Take last month’s total revenue. Subtract your costs: rent, products, insurance, equipment, utilities, and any staff wages. Now divide by the total hours you worked — every hour, including admin, cleaning, and driving (if you’re mobile).

That number is your true hourly rate. For many solo groomers, it’s between $18 and $28 an hour once you count everything. That’s below what most trades charge, and you’re working with living animals who bite, wiggle, and sometimes vomit. (Yes, really.)

Step 2: Research Your Local Market

Check what other groomers in your area charge. Call 3-5 salons and ask for a full groom price on a medium-sized doodle. That gives you a baseline.

But don’t set your prices by what others charge. Set them by what YOUR service is worth. If you’re offering a premium experience — quality over quantity, genuine care for each dog, no double-booking, proper professional grooming — then your prices should reflect that.

Step 3: Decide How Much to Raise

The sweet spot is 10-15% per increase. Anything under 10% barely makes a difference after costs. Anything over 20% in one hit can feel like a shock to clients, even if it’s justified.

Increase Amount	Pros	Cons	Expert Verdict
5-8%	Almost no pushback	Barely covers cost increases; you’ll need to raise again soon	Too small — skip this
10-15%	Meaningful revenue lift; most clients accept it	Some questions from price-sensitive clients	Best for most salons
15-20%	Catches you up if you’ve been undercharging for years	More conversations to handle; a few clients may leave	Good if you haven’t raised in 2+ years
20%+	Gets you to where you should be immediately	Higher client loss risk; feels aggressive to some	Only if paired with clear value adds

If you’ve been undercharging for years, it’s better to do two increases of 12-15% over 12 months than one big jump of 25%. Give clients time to adjust.

Step 4: Pick the Right Time

Timing matters. The best months for a dog grooming pricing strategy in 2026:

• January — new year, fresh start. Clients expect annual price reviews.
• July — new financial year in Australia. Aligns with tax, minimum wage changes, and new budgets.
• After a busy period — if your books are full 3-4 weeks out, demand supports higher pricing.

Avoid raising prices right before Christmas (November-December) or during school holidays when family budgets are tight. Also avoid raising prices the same week as any negative news — nobody wants to feel like they’re being squeezed.

Step 5: Give 4-6 Weeks’ Written Notice

This is where most groomers mess up. They raise prices silently and hope nobody notices. Or they mention it at the counter while the client is trying to wrangle a wet Labradoodle. Neither works.

Send a proper written notice — email, text message, or printed letter — at least 4 weeks before the new prices kick in. Six weeks is better. The message should be clear, warm, and unapologetic.

Step 6: Communicate the “Why”

You don’t need to justify every dollar. But people appreciate honesty. The reasons that work best:

• Rising costs of products, rent, and insurance
• Investment in better equipment or training
• Commitment to quality — fewer dogs per day means more time per dog
• Minimum wage and Fair Work changes

What NOT to say: “I deserve more money.” That might be true, but clients don’t respond to it. Focus on the value they get, not what you need.

Step 7: Hold the Line

Once you’ve raised your prices, don’t back down for the first client who pushes back. If you start offering discounts or “old prices” to certain people, word gets around. Then you’ve got a two-tier system that breeds resentment.

The only exception? Loyal long-term clients who are genuinely struggling. In those rare cases, I might offer a slightly shorter groom option at a lower price point — a “mini groom” — rather than discounting the full service.

How to Raise Dog Grooming Prices: The Email Template

Here’s the exact email template you can copy, personalise, and send to your clients. I’ve used versions of this at WoofSpark and the response has always been overwhelmingly positive.

A few notes on this template. First, the subject line is calm and straightforward — no clickbait, no drama. Second, it opens with the relationship, not the price. Third, it lists exactly what’s included so the client sees the value. And the “lock in your appointment” line creates urgency without being pushy.

Raise Dog Grooming Prices: Handling Pushback

Most clients will accept the increase without a word. In our experience at WoofSpark, around 95% of clients don’t even mention it. But you will get a few questions. Here’s how to handle them.

What They Say	What It Means	How to Respond
“That’s a big jump.”	They noticed but aren’t necessarily leaving	“I understand. It’s been [X months] since our last change, and our costs have gone up across the board. We’ve kept our standard exactly where it is — your [dog’s name] still gets the same care.”
“The other groomer is cheaper.”	They’re testing you — they already know the other groomer exists	“Every salon is different. What I can tell you is what’s included in our groom and why our regulars keep coming back.”
“Can I get a discount?”	They want to feel like they’ve negotiated	“Our prices are the same for everyone — that’s how we keep things fair. But if budget is a concern, we can look at a shorter groom option.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”	They’re processing. Most will come back.	“Of course! Take your time. We’re here when you’re ready.” (Then follow up in 2 weeks.)
“We’ll go somewhere else.”	They’re price shoppers — not your ideal client	“I’m sorry to hear that. We’d love to keep grooming [dog’s name], but I understand. The door is always open.”

That last one stings. I won’t pretend it doesn’t. But here’s what I’ve learned after six years: the clients who leave over a $10-15 increase were never going to be your best clients. The ones who stay? They value what you do. Those are the people you build a business around.

How to Raise Dog Grooming Prices: The Maths That Proves It Works

Let’s run the numbers. Say you groom 8 dogs a day, 5 days a week. That’s 40 dogs per week, roughly 2,080 per year.

Scenario	Average Groom Price	Annual Revenue	Difference
Current prices	$85	$176,800	—
10% increase	$93.50	$194,480	+$17,680
10% increase + lose 5% of clients	$93.50	$184,756	+$7,956
15% increase	$97.75	$203,320	+$26,520
15% increase + lose 5% of clients	$97.75	$193,154	+$16,354

Read that again. Even if you lose 5% of your clients after a 15% price increase, you still earn $16,354 more per year. And you’re grooming fewer dogs — which means less wear on your body, less burnout, and more time per dog.

This is the part that changes everything for groomers. Fewer dogs at higher prices is a better business and a better life. If you want a deeper look at how grooming frequency affects your bottom line, we’ve covered that too.

Dog Grooming Pricing Strategy 2026: What Smart Salons Are Doing

The best-run salons in Australia aren’t just raising prices once and hoping for the best. They’re building a pricing strategy that grows with their business. Here’s what’s working right now.

1. Annual Price Reviews (Non-Negotiable)

Set a date every year — January 1 or July 1 — and review your prices. Every year. Not when you “feel like” it’s time. The ATO’s financial year calendar makes July a natural review point for Australian businesses.

2. Tiered Pricing by Breed Size and Coat Condition

Stop charging the same for a Chihuahua and a Golden Retriever. Set clear tiers based on size, coat type, and condition. A matted Cavoodle takes three times longer than a well-maintained one — your pricing should reflect that.

3. Add-On Services That Increase Per-Dog Revenue

Instead of raising the base price alone, add premium services that clients can opt into: teeth brushing, paw balm, blueberry facials, deshedding treatments. These feel like upgrades, not increases.

4. Matting Surcharges (Clear and Upfront)

If a dog comes in matted, you’re doing three to four times the work. Charge for it. Put the surcharge on your price list, mention it when clients book, and explain it warmly: “If there’s matting, it takes extra time and care to remove it safely. There’s a surcharge of $[amount] for that, but the good news is regular grooms prevent it.”

5. Loyalty Rewards Instead of Discounts

Don’t discount your work. Instead, reward loyalty: book 5 grooms, get a free nail trim. Rebook at checkout and get a complimentary ear clean next visit. These add value without reducing your headline price.

What NOT to Do When You Raise Dog Grooming Prices

I’ve watched other salons handle this badly. Learn from their mistakes.

• Don’t apologise. You’re running a business, not asking a favour. Be confident about your value.
• Don’t raise prices silently. Clients who discover the increase at the counter feel ambushed. That’s when you get angry Google reviews.
• Don’t offer discounts to complainers. It teaches people that pushing back works. Then everyone pushes back.
• Don’t compare yourself to other groomers. Your service, your salon, your value. Full stop.
• Don’t raise prices when your service isn’t great. Fix quality first. Then raise. If your grooming service is solid, the price increase writes itself.

Beyond Raising Dog Grooming Prices: New Revenue Streams

Raising prices is step one. But smart groomers are also building new revenue streams that don’t require grooming more dogs.

Retail products, branded merchandise, puppy kits, grooming workshops — these all create income without adding dogs to your table. But the highest-margin opportunity I’ve seen? Digital pet portraits.

We’ve built a portrait system that turns a single dog photo into custom artwork in 10 different styles. Groomers are adding this as an upsell at checkout — “$29 for a custom portrait of today’s groom” — and clients love it. There’s no extra grooming work. No inventory. Just pure add-on revenue.

If you want to see how it works, take a look at our portrait styles or explore the full system.

How to Raise Dog Grooming Prices: Your Action Plan

Here’s your step-by-step plan. Print this out, stick it on your fridge, and do it.

1. This week: Calculate your true hourly rate. Be honest with yourself.
2. This week: Research 3-5 local competitors’ pricing.
3. Next week: Set your new prices (10-15% increase for most groomers).
4. Next week: Write your price increase email using the template above.
5. 4-6 weeks before the new prices: Send the email to all clients.
6. 2 weeks before: Post a reminder on social media and in your salon.
7. Launch day: New prices are live. No exceptions, no old-rate deals.
8. One month later: Review. How many clients left? (It’ll be fewer than you think.) How much more are you earning?

That’s it. Eight steps. You can do this in a weekend if you sit down and commit to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions groomers ask me most about raising prices.

How often should I raise my dog grooming prices?

At least once a year. Your costs rise every year, so your prices should too. Set an annual review date — January or July — and stick to it. If you haven’t raised prices in over two years, consider two smaller increases 6 months apart to catch up.

How much notice should I give clients before a price increase?

Give at least 4 weeks’ written notice. Six weeks is ideal. Send an email or text message — don’t just put a sign in the window. Personal communication builds trust.

What if I lose clients after raising prices?

Most salons lose fewer than 5% of clients after a 10-15% increase. The maths works in your favour: even with a small client loss, your total revenue goes up. And the clients who leave over $10? They weren’t your best clients.

Should I raise prices for existing clients and new clients at the same time?

Yes. Running two price lists creates confusion and resentment. Raise prices across the board on the same date. It’s simpler to manage and fairer for everyone.

How do I know if I’m charging enough for dog grooming in Australia?

Calculate your true hourly rate (revenue minus all costs, divided by all hours worked). If it’s below $40/hour for a solo groomer or below $50/hour for a salon owner covering overheads, you’re undercharging. Compare with local competitors, but don’t price-match — price for your value.

Can I raise prices on a matted dog mid-appointment?

It’s better to set the expectation at booking or check-in. “If there’s any matting, there’ll be a surcharge because it takes extra time and care.” Once it’s on your price list and you mention it upfront, clients expect it. Springing it on after the groom feels like a surprise — and nobody likes surprises on their bill.