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How do dog groomers stop no-shows?

Take a deposit when owners book, send a reminder the day before, and rebook the next groom before the dog goes home. Show your cancellation policy at booking, so a no-show doesn’t leave you with nothing.

By Sammy Morgan, who runs M1 Studio in Chichester. Updated .

See Online Booking & Deposits, £1,800 Ask Sammy (opens WhatsApp)

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Industry
Dog groomers
Problem
No-shows
The fix
Online Booking & Deposits, £1,800
Do it yourself?
Yes, the first steps below

Why it happens to dog groomers.

Long slots are hard to fill
A full groom on a big or double-coated dog can take hours. If it doesn’t arrive, you can rarely fill the gap at short notice.
Bookings made weeks ahead
Regulars often book their next groom weeks in advance, and plans change in between. Without a reminder, it’s easy to forget.
Message bookings skip the system
Bookings taken by text or Facebook message often come with no deposit and no reminder.
Mobile rounds get thrown out
For a mobile groomer, a no-show wastes the drive as well as the slot, and upsets the rest of the day’s route.

What to do, in order.

  1. Rebook at pick-up

    Offer the next appointment while the owner is admiring the result. It keeps the diary full and gives you weeks of notice.

  2. Take deposits where it hurts most

    Start with new clients, big dogs and long grooms.

  3. Remind the day before

    Time, address, and anything the owner needs to do, such as a walk beforehand.

  4. Write a short policy

    Notice needed, what happens to the deposit, and how late arrivals are handled.

  5. Set it up online

    Online Booking & Deposits takes bookings and deposits on your website, sends reminders and shows your rules when owners book.

Where M1 can do it for you.

Fixed prices, or a fixed quote before any work starts. No VAT is charged. Any running costs are listed before you agree.

  • Online Booking & Deposits £1,800

    Owners book online and pay a deposit, reminders go out before each groom, and your cancellation rules are shown at booking.

    Bookings taken online, with a deposit paid up front.

  • Missed-Call Rescue £800

    Automatic reminders and a text back to calls you miss mid-groom, with your booking link.

    Missed calls get a text back, automatically.

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Before you decide.

Something else? Ask Sammy on WhatsApp.

How big should a grooming deposit be?

It’s your call. Many groomers set a fixed amount or part of the price, enough that owners take the booking seriously. Say what happens to it if they cancel in time. The deposits guide covers the choices.

What does online booking cost to run?

Online Booking & Deposits is a fixed £1,800 to set up, paid half to start and half at launch. The booking tool’s monthly fee and the card fees on deposits are paid directly by you, and listed before you agree. See what’s included.

How much do no-shows cost me?

Add up the price of the grooms that didn’t happen last month. The no-show cost calculator works out the yearly figure.

Keep reading.

Know what to fix. Then decide.

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