Dog Grooming Appointment Books & Dog Salon Grooming Software
We’ve talked a lot about the tools you need for grooming dogs — clippers, blades, scissors, dryers, and all that.
But what we haven’t covered yet is what you need for the office side of things. And honestly, the admin side is what can make a grooming business feel calm… or completely chaotic.
Whether you run a salon or a mobile grooming van, you’ll need a way to:
- book appointments properly
- stay on time
- remember client notes
- send reminders
- take payments
- and keep simple records
Some groomers love pen-and-paper. Others prefer going full tech with salon software. Both can work — it just depends on your personality.
And yes… cute reminder cards help too. Clients love them, and they genuinely reduce “oops I forgot” no-shows:
Cute Appointment Cards (Simple but Effective)
Appointment cards are a small thing, but they do a lot:
- they remind clients when to come back
- they make your business look organised
- they help repeat bookings become a habit
If you’re building a brand (even a simple one), a cute card with your name/number and the next appointment date is a nice touch.
So, let’s see what is available on both sides of the ledger when shopping online.
Dog Grooming Appointment Books
What we need in an appointment book is a tool that will help us to stick to time, be totally organised and be able to see at a glance how busy the coming week is and in particular, what openings exist for booking return client visits.
An up-to-date appointment book allows you to send out reminders a few days beforehand. It also allows you to schedule future days off to reward yourself with a break or a holiday.
The right kind of dog grooming appointment book will usually be set out in 15 minute segments so that you can offer the dog owner some degree of flexibility. Perhaps they cannot come in at 2:00 in the afternoon but would prefer 2:15 for example.
What most groomers like in a paper appointment book:
- a full weekly view (so you can see gaps quickly)
- time slots (often 15-minute blocks) so you can book accurately
- space for notes like “nervous for nails” or “matting behind ears”
- room to block out breaks, days off, or holidays
Paper books are great if:
- you don’t want to rely on internet or apps
- you like writing things down
- you’re a one-person operation and want something simple
Pet Salon Management Software
The right kind of software can definitely make your admin tasks much more manageable. A simple spreadsheet could be what you are looking for but then you do need to have some expertise to set it up effectively with formulas etc.
Most grooming software is built to help with things like:
- online booking
- text/email reminders
- client and pet notes
- payment tracking
- reporting (even basic “how busy was I this month?”)
A few well-known grooming software options include:
DaySmart Pet
DaySmart Pet includes appointment scheduling and also automated text/email reminders to reduce no-shows.
Pawfinity
Pawfinity includes multi-groomer scheduling, online booking, automated notifications, and POS/payment features.
MoeGo
MoeGo promotes itself as an all-in-one pet business system focused on scheduling, communication and running daily bookings smoothly.
Gingr
Gingr is another option that includes online booking and customer information management (often used by pet businesses that do more than just grooming).
You don’t need to use “everything” in these platforms. Even just using them for:
- booking
- reminders
- client notes
can take a huge weight off your brain.
A Simple Spreadsheet Still Works Too
If you’re very early on, a spreadsheet can be enough — but only if you’re comfortable setting it up so it doesn’t become messy. Many groomers start with paper or spreadsheets and move to software once the bookings pick up. The following provides you with a business plan that can be used for a dog grooming business or for a kennel business.
Dog Grooming and Kennel Company Business Plan is a straightforward guide to help you plan and launch a professional grooming or kennel business.
Business Planning Tools (If You’re Taking Grooming Seriously)
Once you’re taking regular clients, it helps to have a simple plan so you don’t undercharge or overbook yourself.
A grooming business plan guide (even a basic one) can help you think through things like:
- pricing
- how many dogs you can realistically groom per day
- mobile vs salon costs
- supplies and reorder timing
- basic marketing (without feeling salesy)
Business Cards for Grooming Salons and Mobile Groomers
This part is more fun.
There are so many cute card designs online, and it’s worth having something that looks friendly and professional. Business cards help because clients can:
- rebook easily
- refer you to friends
- remember your name and contact details
Personalized cards (even simple ones) can make you look more established straight away. See what I mean by checking out this cute option:
Handy (and cute!) Personalized Dog-In-Bath Business Cards
Whether you choose paper tools or grooming software, the goal is the same: stay organised, reduce no-shows, and make your work week smoother.
If you’re a new groomer, start simple:
- appointment book or basic software
- reminder cards
- basic client notes
- a way to track payments
Then upgrade as you grow.
Also, have fun choosing your own style of cute branding for your dog grooming business. The right choice will appeal visually as well as facilitating better management practices.
