Pet boarding and daycare facilities are trusted havens for pet parents who want the best care while they’re away. But many operators overlook a powerful way to increase revenue and client satisfaction: offering professional-level “spa style” bath & brush services.Adding or elevating your bath & brush services can transform your business model. It creates new profit streams, strengthens customer loyalty, and gives your staff opportunities to grow. Here’s how to plan, staff, and promote spa services that make both pets and their owners happy.
Why Spa-Style Bath & Brush Services Belong in Your Facility
- Upsell Potential Spa Bath & brush is a natural add-on when pets are already on site. Owners love the convenience of picking up a clean, fresh-smelling dog after a stay or day of play.
- High Margins Consumables are inexpensive, and once your tubs and dryers are in place, bath & brush services yield attractive profit margins.
- Customer Loyalty When clients can get boarding, daycare, and grooming in one place, they have fewer reasons to look elsewhere.
- Differentiation Not every facility offers spa services. Promoting your integrated boarding-bath-brush services can set you apart in a competitive market.
- Staff Development Bath & brush roles create career paths for team members. Entry-level employees can grow into certified Groom Techs (professional bath and brush specialists with ears and nails capability) with the right training.
Laying the Foundation: Facility Setup
Launching bath & brush requires thoughtful planning. Key considerations include:
- Plumbing & Drainage: Ensure hot water access, proper drainage, and fur traps to keep pipes clear.
- Equipment: Hydraulic tubs, adjustable tables, and high-velocity dryers support safe, efficient handling.
- Ventilation: Adequate airflow keeps the grooming area comfortable for both staff and pets.
- Workflow Design: Arrange spaces in a logical sequence — wet zone → drying zone → finishing area — to maximize efficiency.
- Sanitation: Create routines for cleaning tubs, tools, and holding areas to maintain safety and professionalism.
Building the Team’s Skill
Your spa bath and brush services are only as strong as the people behind them. What skills do your team members need to develop in order to perform a professional spa-style bath and brush session?
- Bathing techniques and product knowledge: Handle proper washing and ensure product selection that matches coat type and skin problems.
- Drying techniques: Trained in use of high velocity drying techniques to produce healthy, fluffy finish on coat.
- Nails & Ears: Offer nail trimming, ear cleaning, and light tidying of paws to keep pets clean and healthy.
- Dematting Services: Dematting can be a lucrative add-on service performed by employees who are already trained in proper line brushing and coat management. Employees should also be trained how to avoid promoting matts through improper or incomplete drying.
- Shed Control Services: A trained, professional dog bather can perform a specialty bath-brush-dry session that reduces shedding and helps maintain both the coat and home cleanliness.
Hiring & Training
- Recruit individuals who love animals and thrive in hands-on work.
- Use Paragon’s Employer Resources to access sample job descriptions, interview questions, and recruiting tools.
- Enroll staff in Paragon’s Groom Tech program to build skills in bathing, brushing, drying, handling and customer service.
- Encourage continuing education and celebrate staff certifications to boost retention and showcase expertise to clients.
- Offer competitive pay and incentives for upselling add-on services.
- Build a positive team culture where employees want to stay.
Service Menu & Pricing
Start with a focused bath & brush menu and scale up as demand grows. Consider:
- Tiered Pricing by Size/Coat: Small, medium, large, and extra-large categories.
- Packages: Boarding + bath, daycare + brush, or “spa day” bundles.
- Add-Ons: Nail trims, ear cleaning, de-shedding treatments, premium shampoos, and dental hygiene are popular services that can build out your exit-bath profits when you staff for spa-services.
Be transparent with pricing, and don’t undervalue your services. Remember: you’re selling convenience, care, and professional expertise.
Marketing & Client Communication
Launching a new service requires a clear message and consistent promotion:
- Introduce to Current Clients: Announce grooming as a new add-on at pickup, in emails, and with in-facility signage.
- Visuals Matter: Share before-and-after photos and happy client testimonials on social media.
- Bundle Deals: Promote “pick up clean” packages around holidays or peak boarding times.
- Front Desk Training: Equip your reception staff with scripts to suggest spa services at checkout. Ask every time!
- Credentials as Proof: Highlight your staff’s spa-level certifications (such as Professional Groom Tech) in marketing materials and conversations.
Financial Benefits & ROI
Here’s how grooming can move the needle:
- Revenue Growth: Even 10 dogs per day at an average of $62.50 equals $625 daily, or ~$15,000 per month.
- Profit Margins: Consumables average $2.50–4 per pet, leaving plenty of room for labor and overhead.
- Payback Timeline: Many facilities recoup initial equipment investments in less than a year.
- Scalability: Once bath & brush succeeds, you may opt to expand into full grooming or grooming-only drop-off clients.
Tracking KPIs — throughput, average ticket, re-groom rate, customer satisfaction — ensures long-term profitability and will help you decide what level of “spa” is most profitable for you.
Overcoming Common Challenges
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Staff turnover | Invest in training, mentorship, and recognition. |
| Scheduling conflicts | Integrate grooming with your boarding/daycare software. |
| Quality inconsistency | Use a final inspection checklist and feedback system. |
| Marketing inertia | Dedicate budget and treat grooming like a new business line. |
Next Steps
Spa Bath & Brush isn’t just a service — it’s a business growth engine. With the right planning, staffing, and marketing, your boarding or daycare operation can:
- Increase revenue with high-margin add-ons
- Delight customers with convenience and quality
- Create career opportunities for staff
- Differentiate your brand in a crowded market
Ready to build a grooming program that pays dividends? Explore Paragon’s Employer Resource Center, or schedule a strategy call with our team to map out your next steps.
By Melissa Verplank, CMG