Many groomers set their prices by looking at other salons. That helps place you in the market, but it does not tell you whether your prices cover your costs. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) suggests seven steps: calculate direct costs, the cost of sales, the break-even point, set the markup, learn about the market, watch the competition and review prices regularly. Here is how to apply it to grooming.
1. Work out what a groom costs you
The cost of a groom is what it costs you before any profit. It has two parts.
- Direct costs – the working time spent on the pet and the products used (shampoo, conditioner, blades that wear out).
- Indirect costs, or fixed costs – rent, electricity, insurance, software, phone, equipment upkeep, which you pay even without clients.
For working time, Job Bank shows a median hourly wage of $18.57 for groomers in Québec (NOC 65220, data from November 19, 2025). A two-hour full groom therefore represents about $37 of wages at the median rate, before payroll costs, products and fixed costs. If you work for yourself, count your own time the same way.
2. Spread your fixed costs and find your break-even point
BDC defines the break-even point as the sales you need to cover all your expenses. Add up your monthly fixed costs, then divide them by the number of grooming hours you can actually bill in the month. You get the share of fixed costs to add to each hour of work.
A simple example, to adapt with your own figures: $1,600 of fixed costs a month and 120 billable hours give about $13.33 of fixed costs per hour. A two-hour groom must then cover about $27 of fixed costs, on top of wages and products.
3. Add your margin, then compare with the market
BDC describes several strategies. Cost-plus pricing means calculating your costs and adding a profit margin. Value-based pricing sets the price according to the service’s value in the client’s eyes. In grooming, the two work together: the markup gives you a floor price, and the market tells you how far you can go.
We found no official source on average grooming prices in Québec. Price lists from salons in your area remain the best benchmark, as long as you compare equivalent services.
4. Adjust the price to breed, size and coat condition
A standard poodle and a German shepherd take neither the same time nor the same products. Two common ways to reflect the difference:
- Services by size – “Small dog bath”, “Medium dog full groom”, “Large dog full groom”, each with its own length and price.
- Surcharges – an amount added when the pet’s condition takes more work: matting, a thick undercoat, a dog that is hard to handle.
Applying your prices day to day with Groomi
In Groomi, each service has a base price and an estimated length. The final price is set appointment by appointment, and each pet’s file keeps the last price charged for each service, along with the price history. Groomi has no price grid by breed: create one service per size instead.
Surcharges are created in the settings, with their name and price. Added to the appointment, they become invoice lines, and the price applied stays the one of the day even if you change the rate later.
Software is part of your fixed costs too. Groomi is one plan, monthly or yearly, whatever the number of groomers: the details are on the pricing page. If you work as a team, see also Groomi for grooming salons.
Review your prices regularly
The market changes, and so do your costs: rent, products, wages. BDC recommends reviewing prices regularly. Once a year, redo the cost calculation with your real figures, and tell clients about new rates in advance.
Sources
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