Mobile Grooming: Create Your Dream Job
By: Dr. Molly Rowland, D.M.
Whether you are a mobile groomer, plan to become a mobile groomer, or are looking to expand your mobile team, there are different paths you can take and options for you. Not knowing what direction you want to go can be overwhelming. Have no fear, we will discuss some of that here!
What is a Mobile Groomer?
The grooming industry typically considers a mobile groomer to be a groomer or pet stylist that does grooming out of a moving grooming salon (typically a grooming van or trailer). We would like to expand on this ‘typical’ definition and go over some mobile options that often go overlooked. In addition to mobile salons that offer full-service grooming options, we would like to mention house call grooming (you and your equipment are mobile and work in client’s homes, no mobile salon vehicles) and grooming service menus that include narrow services such as nail-service, bath/de-shed, cat, color, or small animal only services.
Create Your Niche’
No matter whether you want to open, expand, or change your current business model, the first step is deciding what you’re passionate about and how you want to expand. Make a list of your personal talents, skills, where and in what space you want to work, and what you are passionate about. Ask yourself (1) Does your current business model reflect this? (2) Does your future business model reflect this? (3) Do your employees/future employees reflect this? If not, make a plan or get a coach to help you decide how to achieve and align these goals.
Creating or serving a specific niche’ in the industry that you are passionate about will not only help your clients but will contribute to your branding as a specialist in that area as well as increase your overall job satisfaction and fulfillment. Help yourself avoid burnout in an industry where it is at all-time high levels. Don’t get trapped in the ‘I must do it all. I must provide it all. I must service everyone.’ mentality. There are many financially and emotionally satisfied mobile groomers that only groom cats, that only do nail and a-la-carte services, only provide show and/or breed trims, only do pet trims, only work with seniors, only do house call, only work on a 1-, 2-, or 3-week rotation, and more. Your possibilities are endless!
The hardest part of your mobile journey will be deciding what your dream job, working environment and clients are (whether they have two or four legs). To do this you will have to be honest with yourself, your team, and your clients. Once you narrow down how, who, what, and when you want to work, only then can you devise a plan to achieve the desired result-Your Dream Job!
Budget Breakdown: Run Your Numbers, Don’t Let Your Numbers Run You
By: Dr. Molly Rowland, D.M.
We’ve all been at that point, where there just isn’t enough money left for the end of the month and we have no idea where it went! Whether you want to learn to control your personal finances or build a pet industry empire, you must understand your finances. Run your numbers, don’t’ let your numbers run you!
Know Your Numbers
Money problems and issues are consistently a leading cause of stress, concern, and misunderstanding for people at all levels. The first step to knowing your numbers is to create a basic budget. Budgets scare people, but they shouldn’t. Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you in a financial state of loss and chaos!
Budgets break down and list all your expenses for a specific time period. No expense is too small. There are many ways to track these specific numbers, including bookkeeping software, spreadsheets, and banking records. Start by collecting your spending records for the last three months. We recommend three months so you can track for consistency and out of the ordinary expenses. Most of us use a debit/credit card nowadays. Get a copy of your spending from your card holder and make sure to also make a list of all cash purchases. You will also need to track your income for the three months and what you plan to make each month you draw up your budget, make sure to include all sources of income, including cash payments made to you.
The easiest way to create your monthly budget is to start by categorizing all your monthly spending into categories. Personal spending category examples include, but are not limited to, groceries, entertainment, eating out, fuel, phone bill, wi-fi, clothing, care payment, insurance, IRA contribution, pet care, and me. Business spending category examples include supplies, rent, van payment, insurance, phone bill, gas bill, electric, wi-fi, software, marketing, uniforms, equipment, IRA, payroll taxes, payroll, employee benefits, equipment maintenance, education/training, and many others. No matter what you are spending your money on, make sure you are tracking it.
Write It Down
Once you know what all your expenses are, write them down (check out the link below for the top 2024 budget apps). Make sure to account for the amount you want to save and/or invest each month. You need to be sure you are saving something each month. As groomers, business owners, and just people, we never know what will come our way. Having a true emergency fund and planning for your future can keep the bills paid, doors open, and stress down when unexpected expenses come your way!
Once you know what your expenses are, put in the amount of money you bring home each month. If your income varies, use the lowest amount from the last three months, or even the last year. The goal is to get your expenses down to below the amount of money you bring home. You may have to cut back in some spending categories as you simultaneously work to reduce debt payments, cut back memberships, and increase income. Although most people are not 100% debt free, the less debt you have the better financial position you will be in to move forward with your goals. Debt payments cover the past, savings and disposable income support your future and growth.
Budgets do not have to be scary or complicated, but they do have to be completed. Learn what your numbers are and understand where your money is going. Take control of your finances and take control of your future!