price increase

[4 paws]

I'm thinking of raising my prices $2.00 on every dog in November.
I just opened in July. I have checked the other two shop in town and the one is $7.00 higher than me and the other is $5.00 higher. Do you think it would be to soon to raise my prices? but with having to buy material at a higher price and my electric heat I'm just bearly making it through the slow months.

[luckydog]

I would wait to do it in the spring. You don't want to lose any current clients during the slowest months. Plus, I try not to do it more than once a year. If you do want to raise a price now--only do it for a new client, wait a little yet for the current ones--just make sure to notate everything

[gitl]

Always difficult to raise prices

I find that raising prices is the hardest part of my job. But I wouldn't raise them so quickly for your current clients. I just started charging more for newer clients and the older ones would only be raised after 1 year. My hairdresser recently raised her prices since my last visit and I was miffed and I'm thinking of going elsewhere. But if my older clients left because of a price range, so be it. (BTW, my prices go up $10.)

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

$2 will continue to make you "stuck" behind the others. Maybe do a 10% price raise, only this once. You might lose a few, but it's better than losing your business. Once you do that price raise, then just raise it $1-$3 every year depending upon the size of the dog.

Good luck, this is a tough one.

Tammy in Utah

[scrubapup]

I opened my shop the last week of June. I just recently posted a price increase which will be effective July 1st, 2007. I didn't raise my prices much for the small breeds. Most will pay $1 more, and there are a few small breeds, like yorkies, that won't change at all. The higher increases were Cockers, Cockapoos and the large breeds, but even those prices only increased a few dollars. I'm still significantly lower then a lot of the groomers in the area, but I didn't want to hike my prices to much. New clients coming in are getting the new prices right now, but all my regular clients will not get the increase until the shop has been open for a year.

I figured by posting the price increase NOW, all my clients have plenty of time to compare my prices if they want. To be honest, there are a few I'm hoping will check the prices of other groomers. Maybe they will appreciate me more. (I have one person in mind... LOL)

[rapuzzled]

Well, it might be a little soon, but really you have to do what you have to do! We raise ours every two years or so.

[Gracy Rose]

Raise them- No ONE is worth you loosing money and going out of business. You have a good reason: You have been open for several months and have a more realistic idea of costs. Explain this to your clients and MOST will understand. Don't raise $2 raise atleast 5 or even 6 that way you are in the middle.

[baddog]

Raise them $5. $2 is not going to make a difference in your bottom line. This way you're covered for a year before doing it again! I have owned my shop a long time and made that "rookie" mistake once, people are going to be annoyed either way, go for the $5.

[scullysmom]

I bought an old shop. All grooms were 18-20.00 for each pet. I matched prices for the first two months then increased six dollars. I bought in October so I increased in January and did another in Sept. Most of my clients were very understanding. It is better to warn the customers in person though. The September price increase we mailed and it was far less personable. Some of the customers objected to this approach.

[JJk]

I raised mine about 10% in early January, not too many people asked why the price is higher so I guess they didn't mind. All fees are getting higher and higher, I need to pay my bill and save for furture too. My price was in the middle, and I think I am still in the middle range.