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The holidays may feel like a whirlwind, but the slower months ahead don’t have to be. What you do right now can determine whether January and February bring steady bookings—or dreaded empty tables. With a few intentional moves, you can boost rebooking rates, increase add-on revenue, and strengthen client loyalty going into the new year.

Spotlight Your Add-On Service Menu

Most pet parents come in thinking “bath and haircut,” but they often aren’t aware of the extra services that can improve their dog’s comfort and your salon’s profitability.

Create a clear, easy-to-read Add-On Menu you can hand out in person and send digitally after the appointment. A simple menu makes it easier to educate clients and encourage upgrades—especially when you highlight winter-friendly or first-quarter specials such as:

• De-shedding packages

• Skin & coat conditioning treatments

• Breath-freshening or dental care products

• Pawdicure bundles with winter paw pad protection

• Between-groom bath discounts to maintain style

These small upsells add up fast during slow-season months.

Make Rebooking a Natural Part of Checkout

The single most effective way to keep your schedule full is to ask every client to rebook before they walk out the door. Create a couple of go-to scripts for different personalities—busy families, budget-minded owners, or high-maintenance coat types.

Tips that boost rebooking success:

• Offer rebooking every time, without exception.

• For in-demand stylists, pre-schedule several visits—or even the full year.

• In price-sensitive areas, consider small incentives like a mini-discount, a complimentary tooth brushing, or even a bag of treats for the pup.

Most pet parents value convenience and consistency more than savings, so make it easy for them to say “yes.”

Launch or Refresh a Loyalty Program

The transition from holiday rush to winter slowdown is the perfect time to roll out or update a customer rewards system. A well-designed program keeps clients returning regularly and encourages word-of-mouth referrals.

Consider:

• Follow-up messages that both check on satisfaction and offer loyalty perks

• Reactivation outreach for clients who haven’t visited in 8–12 weeks

• Email and social posts promoting winter specials or “slow-day incentives”

Staying visible in early Q1 helps smooth your schedule—and protects revenue.

Build a Strong Referral Network

Community partnerships can become a powerful year-round driver of new clients. Year-end is a great moment to nurture those relationships with a thoughtful note or small thank-you.

Consider building connections with:

• Veterinarians

• Trainers

• Pet-supply retailers

• Rescues and shelters

• Pet sitters

Provide each partner with a referral-ready welcome packet and look for ways to co-host events or cross-promote. The more you support their mission, the more they’ll champion yours.

Set the Stage for a Thriving 2026

By tightening your add-on offerings, rebooking habits, loyalty incentives, and referral systems, you can enter the New Year with momentum—not a slump.

Add Groom Techs to your team through industry-leading guided groomer training at ParagonPetSchool.com. To further hone skills, visit Paragon’s Groominar™ Network at Learn2GroomDogs.com to join a community of groomers and stream more than 1,000 video Groominars™ designed for every level of groomer.

Clocking speed is an excellent exercise to help you and your team during the holiday rush – and beyond. Practice makes perfect. Check out Melissa Verplank’s advice on how to get up to speed!

How To Improve Your Speed

We once asked a salon owner about her biggest challenge. The answer was simple – speed.

Most of her staff struggled to get even the simplest trims done in under an hour. That included bath, blow dry, and haircut. Even a basic #7F all trim on a smaller drop coated breed was daunting to some of them.

We walked in and saw a well-organized salon. It was bright. It was clean. The layout allowed for efficiency. The equipment was all top-notch.  Hmmm, we wondered. Why was turning a small to mid-sized dog such a challenge for them?

Then it hit us. There were hardly any clocks around. We only spotted one clock in the main room. It was a smaller digital wall clock set on military time. The owner of the salon was a career military gal who is now retired. I understand why she opted for that style of timekeeper, I’m just not so sure that style of timekeeping is the right one for a staff of non-military groomers.  Plus, when I was across the room, I could barely read it clearly. The clock was just too small!

If you want to be a successful groomer who can pay your bills while bringing customers back again and again – you need to embrace time.

• Watch the time.
• Track the time.
• Race against the time.

Everything we do with professional pet grooming involves time. You need to be highly aware of every hour, minute, and second. Ideally, a professional groomer should be able to turn a small- to medium-sized simple trim in an hour or less. That includes the bath, the dry, and the trim.

Click on the image to Download a FREE Time Chart

The first thing we suggested to this team was: GET CLOCKS! Nothing fancy, they just needed to be large enough to be easily seen from across the room. The simpler, the better. Every room in the salon needed one hung on the wall. By having a clock in every room, it makes it easy for the groomers to track their own time with just a quick glance. But clocks aren’t enough. Every person working on the pets needs to have a watch on, too.

For those individuals that are really looking to increase their speed, having a timer at their stations can be really beneficial. Before you can start timing yourself, it’s helpful to know what your starting point is.

Break the groom down into sections:

Bathing. Drying. Clipping the body. Trimming the feet. Rounding the feet. Scissoring the legs. Styling the head. If you don’t know how long it takes you to do each one of these items, you’ll never be able to improve upon your “best time.”

And it’s far easier to break it down into segments than to look at the dog as a whole. After all, who doesn’t want the opportunity to win at even one or two smaller segments than to get frustrated when they don’t hit the time goal with the overall trim?

Click Image to Download Speed and Efficiency Guide

Set Time Goals

Once you know how long it takes you to do each segment, you can set goals and objectives to beat your “best time.” Push yourself. Make a game out of it. The clock will be your score-keeper. Each time you gain even a few seconds, you’ve won a mini victory!  But you’ll never be able to do that unless you can easily watch the clock. Even with all the clock watching, always remember, speed and efficiency can never come at the sacrifice of quality or safety.

What are your time saving tricks? Jump over to the GroominarNetwork.com Facebook page and tell us.  You can even click here for a quick lesson in how to use the site.

FREE TIME SAVING LECTURE HANDOUT
FREE SPEED & EFFICIENCY GUIDE

Happy trimming,
~Melissa

Want to delve deeper for tips on surviving the Holiday Rush? Check out this roundup of links to our archive on the topic.

Highlights:

• Equipment – consider investing in the best but must maintain all very well
• Schedules – Organize schedules NOW! Get commitments from staff now! Commit to your manager now! Ask clients to come early! Can they come in a week or two before the busy weeks? To balance the load?
• Dress rehearsal! Work with the team to iron out any kinks and ‘who is doing what’ during busy weeks.
• Manage the Flow – If you don’t stagger your grooming client arrivals, consider doing this for the Holidays for traffic flow (people and pets) in and out of your facility and to mitigate log jams and extended wait times.
• Stock up on supplies and holiday extras
• Have a contingency plan for surprises; staff outagaes, power outages, water issues, dog or people injuries, etc. Plan for the worst, hope for the best!

Resources for Preparing for the Holiday Rush

• Plan Now for a Successful Holiday Dog Grooming Season
• Melissa’s Top 4 Tips for Getting Through the Holidays
• Improve Your Speed for the Holiday Rush
• Bubble Baths and the Holiday Grooming Rush
• Why Should I Schedule Holiday Appointments in September?
• Surviving the Holiday Rush
• Tips for Booking a Smooth Holiday Season

Do you enjoy learning something new? Figuring out how to do something easier. Faster. Give you a more satisfying result? Expand your knowledge base. Build your confidence.

Sure you do. We all love learning when it’s easy right? But most of the time learning takes work. Effort. And sometimes it’s difficult and confusing.

I mean – really learn. Absorb it. Get it. Can do it and achieve results you are happy with?

So, what’s the best way to learn?

There are lots of different learning methods, but most fall into two categories. Passive or active learning.

What’s the difference?

Passive learning is when communication is mostly one-way for the sole purpose of gathering information.

Active learning includes doing anything interactive with the content to enhance your understanding of the topic and/or skill.

Passive learning examples:

• Listening to a lecture
• Reading
• Audio visual
• Watching a demonstration
• Watching a video

Active learning examples:

• Group discussions
• Practice by doing
• Hands-on workshops
• Visualization
• Activities apply the new material
• Present the freshly learned material to others

Which is best? It depends on what you are doing and how you need to apply the information.

Not everyone learns at the same pace. Nor does one technique work the best for everyone. Learning is a personal effort. Your level of involvement combined with a variety of learning techniques will greatly influence your long-term results.

Think back to a time when you learned something.

I’m talking about a time when you were curious about something. You wanted to know more. You researched it. Maybe you watched a few videos on the topic. Talked to people. If it was a skill, you tested it and practiced it, right?

You thought about the topic a lot. You wondered how it related to you or how you could apply it in your life. As you explored, you uncovered more and more on the topic. Connections were made. Dots were joined. You discussed the topic with friends and co-workers. You strengthened your understanding even further.

When it comes to learning retention, hands-down active learning is far more effective than passive learning. However, both have their place in your learning toolbox. Personally, I like to use more passive methods of learning first to familiarize myself with a topic. However, I almost always tuck a bit of active learning into it to ensure I can recall the information more readily.

Active learning promotes a deep, understanding of a topic. For most people, this is how we learn the best. In an active learning environment, you are engaged, empowered, and excited to learn.

Active learning occurs through collaboration, discussion, critical thinking, problem-solving, and connecting new knowledge with your own world.

Passive learning is all around us. But it’s not the best way to truly understand a topic or test your skills.

8 Learning Methods to Turn Passive Learning into Active Learning

1. Highlighting & Write Comments

While reading, you can highlight, tab important passages, take notes, or write your own comments. When you do this, it becomes more of a two-way conversation in your head instead of passively reading the material.

2. Take Time to Question

After learning, take some time to think about how you can apply the information. Ask yourself questions to obtain the most out of what you just learned. Here are a few thoughts to get started with to help cement the learning in your own mind.

• “How could I apply this?”
• “What benefit would it give me?”
• “Why would it help me?”
• “What would it look like if done perfectly?”

3. Tracking Your Progress

When you are working on a new skill, break down the steps. Think about how you could follow you progress. Track you progress by simply jotting it down, use an app or create a spreadsheet to monitor your progress.

This is a great way to improve your speed, track your progress when mastering a new skill or learning a new breed, or ensure the effectiveness of new sales techniques. You could even make a game out of the learning.

4. Immediately Apply What You Learned

The sooner you can apply a new skill or technique, the better. Test it out while it is still fresh in your mind.

Studies show even within 20 minutes of learning something new, you will forget about 40% of the details! After 2 days, you will forget up to 70% of what you learned.

The saying, ‘Use it or lose it’ certainly applies when learning a new skill!

• If you have just listened to a lecture – Have an immediate follow-up discussion with your friends, co-workers or colleagues.
• If you have just read a book – Highlight the pages and make detailed notes. Discuss what you have just learned with others. Imagine yourself applying the skill successfully.
• If you have just watched a video – Make notes as you watch. Stop and listen to important points again. Or following along by DOING the skill as the teacher teaches.
• If you attend a dog show or grooming contest – Sit ringside. Focus on the best in the ring. Study what it looks like when done right. Take photos. Take detailed notes. Critically analyze how YOUR work or knowledge stacks up against what you are seeing.

5. Work with a Coach or a Mentor

Coaches or mentors can help you fast track your learning.

Why?

Because they give you instant feedback helping you improve your skills immediately. A great coach will help you take years off the learning process verse trying to learn on your own.

• Attend hands-on workshops and clinics
• Study firsthand with someone more skilled than yourself
• Train with a master
• Shadow a master as they work
• Work with a virtual mentor or coach

6. Create a Vision Board, Notebook or Collection

If the learning revolves around a skill, a technique or a thing – collect images of what it looks like when done correctly. Assemble the images into a grouping you have easy access to. Actively work on building your collection. As you add images, think about HOW the results were achieved and visualize yourself achieving similar results.

7. Test Yourself by Explaining

To find out if you have really absorbed the knowledge, explain it to someone else.

Go step-by-step. Describe the details of the lesson. Keep it streamlined and simple so whomever you are talking with can absorb correct information.

If you struggle anywhere, go back and review where there are gaps in your own understanding. Continue to share with others your new knowledge until you can explain the topic confidently and the listener understands clearly.

8. Validation

To verify you have positively progressed in your learning or mastered a skill, go for validation. How? There are many ways.

• Graduate from an established training program
• Earn promotions at work
• Aim for certification testing via recognized national organizations
• Enter grooming contests
• Exhibit at canine or feline conformation events

You need discipline and nerve to admit what you don’t understand. What you find hard to do.

Ignoring those things is the worst mistakes a learner can make. You’ll need a strong foundation before you move on to a more advanced level.

When you’re self-learning, you’ve got to go the extra step to gauge yourself. It’s the only way you can learn improve and develop faster. Validation is how you’ll find your strong and weak points, so you know what to focus on.

Learning a subject or skill takes time and effort. You will never thoroughly understand something if you only use passive learning.

By utilizing a few of the active learning method outlined above, you will create shortcuts to your own growth. Mix and match these methods based on the skill or subject you want to learn – or come up with other ways to retain new information.

By Team Paragon

If you’re ready for a fresh start in a career that offers flexibility, creativity, and real job satisfaction, professional dog grooming could be your perfect second act. Many people are discovering that grooming provides the freedom and fulfillment they’ve been seeking — without years of retraining or costly education.

1. Fast Training, Faster Transition

Unlike careers that require years of schooling, professional grooming skills can be learned in a matter of months through reputable training programs such as Paragon Pet School. Many second-career students start earning an income while still completing their coursework, making it a practical and efficient pivot.

2. Flexible Work That Fits Your Life

Groomers can work in salons, mobile vans, pet spas, or even from home-based studios. Whether you want part-time hours to balance with other commitments or the excitement of running your own business, grooming lets you tailor your schedule to your lifestyle.

3. Creative, Hands-On Work

Grooming is a beautiful blend of art and science. From sculpting a perfect poodle trim to safely de-shedding a husky, every day offers a chance to create transformations you can see and feel. For those leaving desk jobs, the hands-on, active nature of grooming is a refreshing change.

4. High Demand and Job Security

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 16% growth in the animal care and service industry between 2022 and 2032 — much faster than average. The surge in “designer” breeds like doodles, which require regular grooming, means a steady stream of repeat clients. In short: pets keep growing hair, and they’ll keep needing skilled groomers.

5. Recession-Proof Industry

The pet industry is unique in its resilience to economic recessions and downturns. In comparison to other consumer goods and services, the pet industry has held up remarkably well during recent market declines. Despite the financial crisis of 2008, the pet industry experienced a 5.1% growth in sales. During the more recent 2020 COVID-19 recession, sales of pet products and services continued to grow at a faster rate than the overall U.S. economy, with a 16.2% growth compared to 4.3%.

6. Emotional Rewards

Few careers allow you to directly improve a living being’s comfort and happiness. Groomers form long-term bonds with their furry clients and their owners. Many say that seeing a wagging tail or a happy pet parent is the best part of the job.

7. Scalable Earnings Potential

Entry-level groomers can expect to earn $30,000–$35,000 annually, with experienced groomers and salon owners earning $60,000+ depending on clientele and specialization. Adding skills like cat grooming, hand-stripping, or creative grooming can increase your rates and income.

8. A Career You Can Grow With

Whether you’re looking for a fulfilling part-time role or dreaming of owning your own grooming business, the skills you gain will serve you for years. Dog grooming isn’t just a job — it’s a lifelong trade.

Ready to explore a career that’s as rewarding as it is sustainable?
Our professional training programs are designed for beginners and career changers alike. In just months, you could be building a flexible, creative, and profitable second career you’ll love. Start here!

 
“If you don’t know what to measure in your business, it’s sort of like driving down a freeway without your headlights on at night, right? There’s a good chance you’re eventually going to run in either off the road or hit something really hard that’s going to cause you a lot of pain.”

This is how important tracking pet grooming business KPIs is to Joe Zuccarello, President of Paragon School of Pet Grooming, who’s been working in the pet industry for over 40 years. Yet, shockingly, most pet grooming businesses operate this way, and they are missing out on thousands in hidden revenue and burning out teams with guesswork.

In our recent joint MoeGo x Paragon webinar, we cracked open the key performance indicators (KPIs) that separate thriving salons from those stuck in the “hamster wheel” cycle. Below, we break down the exact metrics to track, how to calculate them, and why one tweak could double your profit margins.

KPIs 101: Why “What Gets Measured Gets Done”

At its core, KPIs are your business’s vital signs. They reveal:

• Whether you’re profitable (or just busy).
• Which groomers are overachievers (and who needs support).
• If clients secretly love you (or are about to ghost).

5 Grooming KPIs that Expose Hidden Profit (and Danger Zones)

Joe highlighted several key benchmarks that healthy grooming businesses typically achieve:

1. Revenue Per Station: The $150k Benchmark
   Target: 125k–150k/year per station.
   Why It Matters: A 3-station salon hitting this range = 375k–450k/year.
   Fix Low Numbers: Optimize pricing, reduce no-shows, or add mobile services.
2. Gross Profit: Gross Profit Margin: The 60% Rule
   Formula: (Revenue – Operational Costs) ÷ Revenue x 100.
   Goal: Strive to keep 60% of the money that comes in as gross profit.
3. Add-Ons: Your Secret Money Machine
   Target: 75%+ clients buy extras (nail filing, teeth brushing, etc.).
   Tip: Use tools to streamline the upselling opportunities during online booking, and train staff to recommend add-ons during check-in.
4. Staffing Efficiency: The 80% Sweet Spot
   Goal: Groomers at stations 80% of open hours.
   Tip: Stations sitting empty? Adjust schedules or offer walk-in promotions.
5. Average Ticket Price: Know Your Average Ticket Price
   How: It’s calculated by dividing the total grooming revenue from full-service appointments by the number of those appointments, or check report & insights for real-time visibility.

How to Track Grooming Business Metrics for Success

While the above are key end-result KPIs, Joe also discussed the crucial data points you need to track to ensure you’re on the right path:

• Staff Efficiency: 1.25 hours on average per full-service groom = industry avg. Slower? Invest in training.
• Client Retention: Track cancellations/no-shows. A spike = service issues.
• Cost Per New Client: Divide marketing spend by new clients acquired. Understand how much you’re spending to attract new customers.

How to Set Goals that Actually Work

When setting goals, avoid simply “plucking a number from the air” based on historical data. Instead, consider a capacity-based approach. Factor in:

• Your staffing levels (80% target utilization).
• The number of grooming stations.
• The average number of appointments per station per day (based on groomer efficiency).
• Your average ticket price.

For example, based on the capacity-based formula, you can:

• Calculate Max Capacity: Stations x Workdays/Month x Avg. Appointments/Day (e.g., 3 stations x 22 days x 6 dogs = 396 appointments).
• Apply 80% Utilization: 396 x 0.8 = 317 realistic appointments.
• Multiply by Avg. Ticket Price: 317 x $75 (e.g., $75 as average ticket price) = $23,775 monthly revenue goal.

Turn Your Team Into Profit Rockets (Without Micromanaging)

To measure your team’s productivity, you need four key pieces of data:

• Appointments completed
• Revenue generated
• Hours worked
• Wages paid

You can then calculate their efficiency, or simply check the KPI dashboard for real-time metrics with ticket-level details.

Joe also recommended brief, monthly one-on-one meetings (around 10 minutes) with each team member to discuss these metrics. Focus on identifying areas for improvement and collaboratively addressing any obstacles.

In addition, while commission-based pay naturally rewards productivity, you can also create incentives for employees across team.

• Hourly staff: Bonus for hitting add-on targets.
• Receptionists: Reward for rebooking rate.
• Team: Group bonus if the business hits the gross profit goal.

Want more information? Connect with MoeGo today!