Stop pricing off what the chain paid you. Price by time, breed, coat, skill, and your local market — and keep the full increase, because it's your book and your revenue.
The short answer: set a base price per service, then add surcharges for size, coat condition, matting, and specialty work. As a 2026 range, bath-and-brush runs ~$40–$110 and full grooms ~$75–$200+, with major-metro full grooms commonly at $85–$180. Price by chair time and your skill — not by commission-era habits.
A starting point to calibrate against your market — adjust up for premium areas, difficult coats, and specialty skill.
| Service | Typical price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Bath & brush (small/medium) | $40–$70 | Wash, dry, brush-out, nails, ears |
| Bath & brush (large/double-coat) | $70–$110 | More product, more dry time, de-shed |
| Full groom (small breed) | $75–$120 | Bath plus full haircut and styling |
| Full groom (large/doodle) | $110–$200+ | Heavy de-matting, longer chair time |
| De-shedding add-on | $15–$40 | High-volume undercoat removal |
| Specialty / hand-strip / show cut | $120–$250+ | Skilled, time-intensive breed work |
Price by how long a dog actually takes — a matted doodle can be 3× the work of a tidy terrier. Track your minutes per groom and back into an effective hourly rate you're happy with.
Double coats, curly coats, and severe matting demand more skill, product, and dry time. Build a clear matting/condition surcharge so you're never punished for taking hard cases.
Certifications, hand-stripping, breed-standard cuts, and reliable results justify premium pricing. Don't anchor your rates to what a chain paid you on commission.
Full grooms run $85–$180 in major metros and higher in premium neighborhoods. Check what quality independents near you charge — not just the chains — and price toward the top of your value, not the bottom.
Price by time, breed, coat condition, your skill, and local market. As a 2026 range, bath-and-brush runs about $40–$110 and full grooms about $75–$200+, with large or double-coated dogs and heavy de-matting at the higher end. In major metros, full grooms commonly land $85–$180. Set a base price per service and add surcharges for matting, size, and specialty work.
Most experienced groomers price by chair time and difficulty rather than a flat menu. They estimate how long each groom takes, target an effective hourly rate they want to earn, and add line-item charges for de-shedding, de-matting, nails, teeth, and specialty cuts. Tracking minutes per groom for a few weeks reveals which services are actually profitable.
Usually, yes. Chains compete on volume and convenience; independents compete on skill, consistency, and a personal relationship with the pet and owner. When you own your book and keep 100% of service revenue, raising prices toward your true market value directly increases your take-home — there's no commission split eating the increase.
Give notice, raise in modest increments (often 5–15%), and tie it to value — more time, better products, or added services. Most loyal clients accept periodic increases, especially from an independent groomer they trust. Because you keep your full revenue, even a small, well-communicated increase compounds meaningfully over a year.
In your own suite there's no commission split — when you raise your rates, the full difference is yours.