World Veterinary Day Special: 10-Step Process To Start A Pet Care & Grooming Business Ghar Se

Hmm, a pet grooming business? That’s a great idea if furry friends are your source of happiness. If their smiles make you go aww le le le, their eyes make you want to hug them, their cuteness compels you to tug on their cheeks, you should totally find ways to be around them all the time. There cannot be a better business idea than to convert your passion into an entrepreneurial venture. 

On World Veterinary Day (30th April), here is a 10-step guide to getting started with your passion project. 

1. Research Well

After the idea of you starting a pet grooming business at home has cropped up in your mind and before you actually start one, you need to get the answers to several questions. And that requires thorough research. Here’s a list of questions that you need to get answers to before you can get started?

• Is there enough space at home from where you can operate a pet grooming business?
• Will your family (if you stay with one) be alright with the idea of you starting a pet grooming business from home?
• Is there enough demand for it in your area? (This will be determined by the pet dog population in your area and in the vicinity)
• How much is the competition in your area?
• Will your at-home pet grooming parlour be inviting enough for your target audience?
• Will you be able to adjust to the idea of operating your business from home?

2. Join A Pet Grooming Course

Joining a pet grooming course is not exactly mandatory if you plan to start a pet grooming business. You can hire employees who can do the job for you. But it is often considered to be the smart thing to do. That way, you will not just be able to supervise whether your employees are doing it right, you can also pitch in with your work, especially when your business is new. So, do a thorough research phir se on the relevant course available. Consider whether you want to do one in your own city (if there is one), or look out for options in metro cities or even abroad, if you have the budget. You can also try to get hold of an internship at a grooming parlour in your city to pick up the skills and learn the ropes of the business. 

3. Enlist The Type Of Services

Some of the lists of services that a pet grooming parlour usually offers are:

• Bathing & cleaning
• Ear cleaning 
• Nail cutting
• Tooth brushing
• Sanitary trim
• Scissoring feet
• Pad shaving
• Light de-matting
• De-shedding shampoo, etc. 

While it is up to you to pick and choose the services that you would like to offer, including an extensive list of options will ensure that you reach out to the varied needs of pet families. You can also consider clubbing different services and planning packages out of them. For instance, the Basic Package can include a bath, blow-dry, and teeth brush, while the Standard Package can offer nail trimming and ear cleaning, apart from all the services of the Basic Package. On the other hand, you can also have a Premium Package that includes a hair trim, along with all the services of the Standard Package. 

Read 10 Benefits Of Pets For Kids, According To Mommy Blogger Roopika

4. Make A Business Plan

Contrary to what you might think about a business plan, it is not solely for investors. It is a future roadmap of everything that concerns your business growth. Right from planning out objectives, customers, competitors, business USPs, and financial decisions to timelines, milestones, and expected sales growth – you must include it all here. 

5. Get Your Certifications In Place

If you own a business in India, you have to get it registered with the concerned authorities for it to be considered a legal entity. You will require a GST number and business license, which will be granted by your local municipality. Partner with a Chartered Accountant (CA) to obtain the required documentation for GSTIN and business license. Once you have these licenses, you will have to prominently display them within your business premises. 

6. Think Over Getting Business Insurance

This is of great importance for protecting your equipment, your space and the lives of pets and employees, lest an untoward incident occurs. Having insurance means you will be able to claim a large percentage of the damages, as per the terms of your insurance. This, in turn, offers credibility to your business. 

Read Pet Exercises For Your Dog To Stay Fit & Active

7. Invest In The Right Quality Tools & Facilities

It’s time for research yet again! This time it’s for the equipment that you have to invest in to get your business running. After all, this will determine the quality of your services to a greater extent. The tools required include nail cutters and trimmers, ear cleaning products and tools, grooming table, combs and brushes, shampoos and conditioners, safety supplies, blades, bathtub, grooming hose, sanitisers, gloves, towels, scissors, pet bandanas and bows – the list is endless. 

At times, these tools are a part of the package of accredited pet grooming courses. So, if you have got yourself enrolled in one such course, you won’t have to worry about researching and getting your hands on quality items. Last but not the least, it goes without saying that your parlour needs to have an uninterrupted supply of hot and cold water during working hours. 

8. Look Into The Decor

Are you planning to occupy a room in your home for the business? Or, are you planning to set up the parlour outside the house, like in your garage? Make sure that water and electricity connections can be easily set up in the space where you are planning the pet grooming parlour. Set up the decor in a way that there is enough space for the pets to move around in the waiting area, without bumping into furniture. Also, ensure that there are no sharp edges anywhere to eliminate the scope of the furry friends from getting hurt. You may have to put up signposts at strategic spots near your home to advertise your parlour. 

9. Give Your Business An Identity

It’s finally time to give your business a name if you haven’t thought about it already. Make sure that the name is easy to pronounce and remember. Not just that, get a logo that is an apt graphical representation of the brand name. Keep it simple and clutter-free. You can either design the logo yourself on one of the free design software like Canva, collaborate with a designer friend, or hire a professional to do it for you.

10. Get Your Business Out There

Marketing is an integral part of the process of a business, especially when it’s completely new. You need to let your target audience know that you exist and grab the eyeballs. What better cost-effective way to get started with your marketing efforts than social media and word of mouth? Get your friends and family to talk about your business and request them to reshare every social media post that you put up. Be very regular and particular with your social media game as that has the potential to get your business started on a sweet note. Follow a few relevant accounts of prospective target audiences on these social platforms to spread the word about your business. 

You are finally ready to start your pet grooming business after signing up for reliable accounting software and hiring skilled pet groomers. Feeling excited? You should be! After all, you’re all set to start on a new venture and you need all your mojo to get it going. Don’t lose hope and patience, and you’ll be doing all right. Cheers to the cuddles!

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