Look, we get it: when starting your very own grooming business, you’re going to understandably excited. You’ll want to do everything possible to get your career off the ground, build a solid reputation, and make a profit. This is a great mindset to have! But there’s another consideration that’s just as important to factor into the overall equation: how to invest your dog groomer salary properly.
After all, earning revenue isn’t enough to sustain a business in and of itself. There are overhead costs and plenty of other expenses you’ll also need to take into consideration. For as much as you need to make money, you’ll also need to put money back into your business.
Knowing what you should be spending your salary on can be a bit overwhelming for first-time entrepreneurs. But don’t worry, we’ve got this handy list of Do’s and Don’ts to steer you towards the right path!
Tips for Investing Your Dog Groomer Salary
DO: Set Business Goals
From a business standpoint, it’s never a good idea to go into anything blindly. The more prepared you are, the better. So, determine where your business is currently at and then create goals for where you want it to be.
For instance, do you want to acquire a long list of devoted clients? Do want to operate your business out of a physical salon, out of your home, or at the client’s place of residence? What sort of marketing strategies do you want to explore in order to get your name out there?
These are all critical things to figure out! The goals you set for your business heavily impact where parts of your dog groomer salary will need to be invested.
DON’T: Neglect the Value of Proper Training
Your job quite literally revolves around having another living being in your care. It doesn’t make sense to enter this sort of profession without first ensuring that you know what you’re doing. Dog groomers who jump into their careers without a proper foundation can be known to produce poor results, mishandle their clients’ dogs, or even cause fatalities.
If you’ve already started your business and lack any sort of certification, we STRONGLY urge you to consider taking a dog grooming course.
Professional training allows you to become a true industry expert. You’ll not only learn how to groom a dog successfully; you’ll also become learned in dog behavior, afflictions, skin conditions, various different breeds and their unique grooming requirements, and First Aid training.
Not only that, but the right school will arm you with a reputable certification that you can proudly show off on your resume! By investing your dog groomer salary into a professional course, you’re investing into a better future for your business.
DO: Create an Emergency Fund
Unexpected situations happen. The last thing you want is to be unprepared for them. For instance, what if a major piece of equipment suddenly kicks the bucket? What if you or a family member have a medical emergency that requires you to take time off work?
You don’t want a time of crisis to drain you of all of your profits. This is why it’s crucial to use some of your dog groomer salary to create an emergency savings for your business. This way, you have a cushion to fall back on, in the event that you ever need it.
DON’T: Skimp on Your Equipment
In the beginning, you’re going to need to invest a decent amount of money into your grooming tools. This just comes with the territory of being a professional dog groomer. With that in mind, it’s never a good idea to cut corners when it comes to your equipment.
Because the thing is, you’ll get exactly what you pay for. While you don’t need to go broke in order to stock your dog grooming kit, you also should research into each product and ensure you only buy reliable equipment. Otherwise, sure, you’ll spend less money initially – but when that tool breaks on you (and trust me, it will), you’ll be back to square one and needing to shell out more money in order to replace it.
By investing in sturdy, high-quality tools, you’re investing your dog groomer salary the right way. They’ll be with you for the long haul and keep their value for quite a long time. Not to mention, they’ll allow YOU to do your job to the best of your ability – which should be one of your top priorities.
DO: Hire Employees When the Time is Right
If your business is booming, this is obviously great! But if you’re booking more clients than one person can handle on their own, the overall quality of your work might start to suffer. Once you hit the point where you feel you could benefit from a little help, it might be time to consider expanding your team and hiring some staff!
Yes, you will need to invest some of your dog groomer salary into this venture. After all, anyone you hire will need to be paid for their work. Other factors you’ll have to take into consideration and add to your business’s budget will include:
- Payroll taxes;
- The cost of training;
- Increased utility fees in your place of business;
- Adding more equipment to your business;
- The cost of benefits (if you choose to offer them);
- Insurance;
- And more!
That being said, it’s still a worthwhile investment. In the long run, more employees mean more clients your business is able to service. With time, you’ll wind up making all that money back in the form of profits.
DON’T: Rely Solely on Word-of-Mouth Marketing
No, we’re not saying that word-of-mouth has been rendered an obsolete marketing strategy. It still brings value to the table. But these days, the optimal way to advertise your business is by doing is online.
If your business is just starting out, or your salon isn’t located in a highly visible space, then online advertising can quickly become your best friend! By investing some of your dog groomer salary into your digital marketing strategies, you can drastically increase your chances of clients finding you and seeking out your services.
So, create a business page on Facebook and spend a little money boosting certain posts, ads, or promotional offers. Another smart idea would be to invest in Google AdWords. That way, your name pops up when dog owners perform a Google Search for grooming businesses in their area.
So long as your endeavors results in newly acquired clients and/or leads, consider it money well spent!
Note: Just make sure to keep an eye on your SEO analytics so you can adjust your spending accordingly. This data is key to knowing whether the amount of money you’re putting into advertising is too much, not enough, or just right. That way, you won’t risk over or underspending.
Can you think of other ways you should (or shouldn’t) invest your dog groomer salary? Let us know in the comments below!
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