Are you ready to become a homegroomer?

Many people have a strong desire to operate a business in their home. They enjoy eliminating regular work commutes. Some groomers prefer to be closer to their family especially while raising young children, so a home based business is ideal. Operating a home business is clearly a working lifestyle choice but there MAY a few disadvantages.

First, the home based pet grooming business rarely earns the "net worth" of a commercial salon business. Commercial locations generally have a much higher market value, including the value of a long lease or equity in the real estate when you own the commercial building. Commercial locations generally build a much larger clienteles, an important factor in setting the market value of a business. Net worth is important because one day you will sell your business and the income derived can provide a more comfortable retirement, or a career change if that is your desire. However, a large valuable business is not always the goal of the home based groomer.

There is only a small percentage of buyers with an interest in buying a home-based pet grooming business including the property, but they are out there. So home groomers ask if they can keep their property but sell their clientele. The answer is "Yes" but again the demand is small, but not unheard of at all. When you consider the buyer faces the obstacle of transferring the existing clientele to a new location, and still has to pay for the build out the new location, it becomes obvious why there are few sales of home-based pet grooming businesses unless the property is a part of the sale.

There are additional obstacles. Be sure to check with your local and state regulations to ensure that you can operate a home-based pet grooming business. We know with certainty that there are areas within the U.S. that prohibit home-based pet grooming businesses. As an area becomes more populated with high density housing, the likelihood of increased restrictions on home businesses is almost certain.

Even if a home based grooming business is allowed in your area, how will your neighbors accept the business? They can be a problem and ask the local regulators to stop your operation for reasons generally derived from increased traffic and noise created by your home business.

Make sure you have at least 500 square feet for a small home business, and to keep your neighbors quiet, soundproof the work area. Keep windows closed, so you will need air conditioning. If you have a yard area for dogs, strictly limit their barking.

Consider the extra traffic you are bringing in to your area. Neighbor complaints have been a common reason for some home-based pet grooming business having to close down, or for commercial codes that prevent operating a pet grooming business in the home. Personally we have known of cases where neighbors got together and easily shutdown a home grooming business where noise and traffic problems were substantiated. Some home groomers have worked around traffic related problems by picking up and delivering the pets they groom.

If you are a renter, ensure very clearly that your landlord will cooperate with your intent to operate a home business and the required building improvements. Don't underestimate the demand for water and other utilities.

Home groomers need insurance for their business in addition to regular homeowner coverage. Ensure that you can find the necessary insurance coverage for both the household and the business.

Starting a pet grooming business in the home typically costs less, even much less, than a commercial location. For that reason alone, persons not willing to take out a loan, or seek out an investor, for a mobile van or commercial location often turn to a home business. Many home-based pet grooming business owners are excellent groomers, but they are in a professional business sense sometimes more appropriately characterized as a business hobbyist in comparison to the business owner and manager set out to develop a commercial salon with several employees. If your desire is to work in your home, you will not mind the obstacles or limitations of a home-based pet grooming business.

There is almost nothing in the way of books on managing a home grooming business, however, business management principles are business management principles. You can order some really helpful books on PetGroomer.com Pet Bookstore. Moreover you can find some more information there.

In some areas regulations for home based businesses may restrict hiring employees. Again, check with your local regulators.

Do your homework for your business! Many home groomers have invested thousands of dollars remodeling a home grooming business only to find out later they have to shutdown, and move the business to a commercial location. Don't go by what friends and family say alone, do your homework. Usually that means talking with Town or City Hall government and the County government. Never forget that the closer you live to neighbors, the more likely your business could disturb them and they have rights that may prevail over your having a home business affecting them with noise and/or traffic.

How to groom dog with scissors

There is a lot more to cutting a dog's hair with scissors, even more so than in trimming and it requires a lot of skill and practice. Don't be under the impression that you will be able to create a magnificent sculpture within the first weeks; you will need to practice. Before using scissors on your dog it's important to know that there are certain types of hair that can be cut while there are others that can't. Curly hair that can be pulled with a brushing are perfect for cutting with scissors. Whereas longer hair, whether they be straight or have a lot of volume, should not be cut with scissors because it will turn into an uneven result. It's best to just even out this type of hair or to slightly shave it.

Make sure when starting out that the dog's hair is dry and perfectly brushed out, with no knots or mats. There is another technique called scissoring which consists in sculpting depending on the imaginary lines that will need to be done in as much of a uniform way as possible, which will then be the definite lines to follow of the cut.

Scissor cutting rules to follow

• Learn how to hold the scissors the correct way with your thumb and ring finger.
• Don't be nervous or jumpy. Start out by cutting less than you actually intend to and then go back and even it all out.
• Try to cut in a consistent and uniform way following a line. Don't cut in one spot and then the next somewhere else.
• If the dog is willing try to do this job with his legs extended. It's much easier to see upfront the lines you need to follow.

First dog grooming session.

Even when we the dog owners occasionally groom our dogs, it is still necessary and indispensable to take them to the professional dog groomer or barber if we want them to look like the image of their breed. Although it is not easy to pinpoint which is the best dog groomer, you will need to find a groomer you feel comfortable and confident with.
It's usually recommended you yourself (without your dog at first) go to the barber yourself to see the people's treatment with the dogs, the cleanliness of the place and obviously if you get a good feel off of it. This is suggested because the first visit to the groomer will have a strong impact on the dog if it is not an enjoyable one and it will determine how the dog will react in his future visits to the barber and

grooming sessions. If you are not sure which place to choose, ask friends or neighbors that have dogs.

Tipping your dog groomer

You do tip your own hairdresser, don't you? This is the same kind of courtesy - a 15% tip - to let your dog groomer know you're happy with the style, care, and attention to detail she is peforming for your dog. When I groomed dogs at PetsMart, I noticed a wide range of tipping behaviours in the Grooming Salon. Some people leave nice, big tips - which are gratefully accepted. Some people leave a dollar or two, which is still a very nice token of appreciation, and never considered cheap. Yet a lot of folks don't tip at all, even when it's apparent that they are very pleased with the services rendered.

Grooming is a skilled trade that takes years of perfecting to get right. There are the five basic clips - body contour, hand scissoring (poodle, bichon), the bladed body/fuller leg (schnauzer), short-legged terrier (westie, cairn terrier, scottie), long-legged terrier (wire fox, airdale), and sporting clip (cocker, springer). And then there are the myriad variations on these themes that make up both the extreme end (show clips), to the casual end (pet and so-called "puppy" clips).

The groomer must be skilled with both shear and clipper blade, dog handling, nail trimming, dematting tools, body washing and, of course, blowdrying techniques. She must be able to quickly analyze a pet's skin and coat condition to select the proper shampoo and conditioner. There are as many kinds of treatments for dogs as their are for your own hair - from hypoallergenic oatmeal brands, to medicated dandruff shampoos, to those designed to brighten white fur or deodorize strong musky dog odors. She must be able to assess the condition of mats in the fur and recommend a proper cut to work with the owner's own daily care regime.
Groomers can help an owner with questions about proper canine nutrition (a poor diet shows up on the skin first), show how to properly brush out the coat, and even help the owner develop a proper toothbrushing routine for their favorite furry friend.
Since the groomer works intimately with each dog over a series of hours, they can alert the owners to changes in the dog's behaviours and body. Groomers might be the first to notice an oozing sore which might require a vet's attention, cut a dew claw before it can grow around and into the footpad, note changes in warts and old wounds, and pull out thorns from doggie toes that could have become staph infections in time.
A really good groomer will also try to ensure your dog has a nice day at the salon. Being away from their owners can be stressful for pooches, and not every dog enjoys a good bath and blowout. They might be foot-shy, which makes clipping nails problematic. Head-shy dogs don't like clippers or shears near their faces. It's the groomer's job to help the dog feel comfortable with the process, by using warm water, a gentle but firm hand, and soothing words through the process.
Many dogs come to enjoy being groomed. After all, they ARE being lavished with individual attention, something all canines crave. If an owner uses the same groomer each time, so much the better for the dog, who develops a bond with their own personal "hairdresser".
Dogs who are clean, dry and looking good always know it. They act happier, more light and alert, than when they arrive. When the pet parent arrives to pick up their "child", it's always very exciting and rewarding - the dog is happy to see their family, be smelled and held and fawned over. The excitement spills over to the groomer, who has worked so closely with the pet. So, while a tip is never mandatory, it is still a nice gesture