A grooming diary goes wrong in its own way. A matted doodle turns a 90-minute slot into two and a half hours and everyone after it runs late. A regular forgets her six-weekly appointment and you only find out when the slot sits empty. A new client books a full groom for a dog you've never met and doesn't turn up. Booking software can't fix the doodle, but it can deal with most of the rest.
This guide covers what to look for in dog grooming booking software, how to test it, and when you probably don't need it yet.
Do you need booking software at all?
If you groom on your own, see a handful of dogs a day and your clients are happy texting you, a paper diary or a shared calendar can work for a while. The signs that it's stopped working are fairly clear:
- You spend evenings answering booking messages and sending reminder texts by hand.
- No-shows cost you more than a software subscription would.
- You can't quickly tell what you did on a dog last time, or what the owner asked for.
- You've taken on a second groomer and the diary has become a negotiation.
If two or more of those sound familiar, it's time.
What good grooming booking software does
Online booking that respects your diary
Clients should be able to book from your website or Facebook page at any hour, but only into slots you've decided to offer. The usual way to do this is with booking slots for each groomer. Some salons prefer to keep full control and set times by hand, so check that the system lets you switch off online booking for some services, such as first grooms for dogs you haven't assessed.
A schedule for each groomer
Once there are two or more of you, every groomer needs their own column, and clients may want to book with a particular person. If you pay commission, the software should work it out from the bookings rather than leaving you with a spreadsheet at the end of the month.
Recurring appointments
Your best clients come back every four, six or eight weeks. Booking the whole series in one go keeps them in the diary and stops the "I meant to ring you" gap that loses regulars. In KennelBooker you choose the frequency (every so many days, weeks or months) and the series is booked in one step with one confirmation email.
Reminders and "ready for collection" texts
Automatic email and SMS reminders before each appointment are the single biggest fix for no-shows. A text when the dog is ready also cuts down on owners turning up an hour early and waiting in your reception. Ask whether SMS costs extra, because with some systems it does.
Deposits and card on file
A reminder helps people who forget. A deposit deals with people who don't care. Taking a deposit at booking, or holding a card on file, makes a no-show cost the client something instead of costing you a slot. Our guide to reducing no-shows goes into the wording.
Waivers signed before the dog arrives
Grooming has real risks: matted coats, nicks, old dogs, nervous dogs. A signed waiver collected online at booking is better than a clipboard at the door, because it's done before the client is standing there with the dog. More on that in why paper waivers cost you.
History you can see before you start
Notes from previous grooms, behaviour flags, medical conditions and what the owner liked or didn't. All of it should be on the dog's record and visible to whoever is grooming that day, not only the person who took the booking.
Payments and retail
Taking payment at the end should be quick. If you sell shampoos, treats or accessories, a point of sale with stock control in the same system saves another app. If you already use a particular card reader or payment provider, Square for example, check the software works with it before you switch. KennelBooker takes online payments through Stripe and can send the balance to a Stripe card terminal at the counter, marking the booking as paid when the card goes through.
Mobile groomers
If you groom from a van, you're booking, confirming and taking payment from a phone between dogs. Make sure the whole system works properly on a phone, not just a cut-down app. Your daily route also matters: some groomers block days by area so they aren't driving across the county between appointments.
Kennels and daycares that groom
Many grooming businesses sit inside a boarding kennel or daycare. In that case the most useful feature is having grooming on the same calendar as everything else, so a dog going home after a week's boarding can have a bath and tidy-up booked against the same stay, and staff can see it on the day's overview.
Questions to ask on a free trial
- Can a client book online with a specific groomer, and can I hide services I don't want booked online?
- How do I book a six-weekly regular for the next year?
- Are SMS reminders included or charged per message?
- Can I take a deposit at booking and keep a card on file?
- Where do I see notes from this dog's last groom?
- How is commission calculated, and can I export it?
- Does it work properly on my phone?
Where KennelBooker fits
KennelBooker covers the list above: online booking slots per groomer, manual scheduling if you prefer, recurring appointments, email and SMS reminders, "your pet is ready" texts, waivers signed at booking, deposits, grooming history, commission for multiple groomers and POS. It's a particularly good fit if you also board, run a daycare or offer training, because everything shares one calendar and one set of customer records. Every plan includes all services, starting at $49.99 a month with a 14-day free trial. See the grooming software page for screenshots, or read our piece on scheduling a salon for maximum chair time.
Frequently asked questions
What software do dog groomers use?
It ranges from a paper diary and a phone, through shared calendars, to dedicated grooming apps and multi-service systems that also handle boarding and daycare. Solo groomers often start with a calendar and move to proper booking software once no-shows and reminder texts start eating their time.
What is the best dog grooming booking software?
The best fit depends on your setup. A solo mobile groomer needs fast phone booking and reminders. A salon with several groomers also needs a schedule per groomer and commission. A kennel that grooms needs grooming on the same calendar as boarding. Shortlist two or three systems and test them with a week of your real appointments.
Is there free dog grooming booking software?
Some booking tools have free tiers, and a shared calendar costs nothing, but free options usually leave out the parts that save money: deposits, SMS reminders and pet records. Our guide to free booking software covers what you give up.
Can customers book grooming appointments online?
With most grooming software, yes. In KennelBooker you create booking slots for each groomer and customers book them from your website, or you can keep control and set appointment times yourself.