Business Hours Question

[toomuchfunbnme]

Hello Everyone! I have a question about grooming business hours. In my last business I allowed myself to be crazy over worked and I am determined not to let that happen once I start grooming! I used to start at 5am so that I could get the before work clients, didn't want to miss the non workers so I continued through to lunch, of course I had to get the professional crowd on their lunch break and worked right through lunch, then the moms in the afternoon on the way to pick up the kids, and as long as I was already there I figured whats a few more hours? Might as well take those after work people on the way home from work! I usually left around 8 or 9pm after cleaning up. often 16 hour days. Yikes!!
So I'm going to take control and set limits, but what hours do you guys think work the best? I want to limit to 40 hours per week. I can obviously handle long hours, so I could even do four ten hour days to get more time openings. Do many of you have a standard morning drop off time-or appts through out the day? Would starting earlier be best or starting later? This is how I ended up working too much last time! Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

[RevWind]

It depends on whether you go shop or mobile. I'm at a shop and we have drop-off from 8-9 usually, but I don't get there till 9 and I work till I'm done. It could be 1:00 or it could be 9 or 10 pm. I also don't have much control over how many dogs come in because I also have to do any boarding dogs going home. I'm pushing for an early day Tuesday cuz I've got surprise b.day plans lurking in the corner that I'm not allowed to know about. (I hate surprises if I've been told there is one). ack!

[diamienono]

The nice thing about being the "owner" is you get to set whatever hours you want.

[Butterfliekisses]

I start a 9 am and leave when I am done. Dont kill yourself or you will get burnt out fast.

[mskittylitter]

I open at 8:30 and drop off's are from then until 10. We are usually done by 1 or 2 sometimes 3 if we have over 15 appts.

[doggiegroomer]

This is a good topic! I usually schedule myself from 8am-4pm. But I usually work until 5 or 6. I def. feel like I over work myself. I work at a petsomething and we are supposed to be open form 7am to 9pm. But we reall dont have enough people wanting evening appointments to justify staying open that late. I decided to dedicated on day for evening appointments...I plan to work a noon to 8 shift. My other groomer will also do one noon to 8 shift. This way we have two days with evening appointments available.

[Fluffy Puppy]

I open at 9 and leave when the last dog goes home. Which is usually around 1 or 2. Sometimes it's earlier, sometimes later..just depends on how busy I am and how my day is going.

[plushpuppy]

Iopen at 8:00 an I am done when the last dog leaves. Because I am at home and my kids are grown and gone I have a tendency to take the Oh please can you fit Fluffy in TODAY.. But as I've said before when you are fairly ne you don't say no

[dogma]

We are open early ONE day a week, the rest of the week we are open 9 to 5. We work Monday through Friday...no more weekend work for this girl!

I have found that there are clients for each time slot. Those that need Saturdays will find a groomer that works Saturdays. Those that need to come in at 6 p.m. will find a groomer that does that too.
I can't groom them all, so I don't even try. I just do the best job possible on the ones I can groom....and I'm happy with that.
It must be working...I'm booked for the year! and have a waiting list to boot!

namaste...dogma

[misscatahoula]

I work Mon-Sat, but keep it(except Xmas) to an 8hr day. I offer evening appointments later in the week, but start my workday later on those days.

[lbboop99]

I have drop offs between 9-10 am. We usually finish around 1-2 and do about 5-8 dogs. I do it part time in my home so I like to finish before school gets out because then I can bring my daughter to her after school functions. I sometimes make an exception for people and do their dog in the afternoon, but it has to be when I'm available.

[TAILSRWAGON]

When I was going to grooming school they had the receptionist there at 7 am for drop offs but the groomers did not get there until 8:30 - 9:00. The bather usually got there at 7:30 - 8:00 to prep dogs for the groomers.
They closed when the last dog left, usually around 4 - 5 pm.
If you are all alone set your hours to what you want to handle. I am not a morning person so I like my first appointment at 9 am, I also like to eat dinner with the family around 6 pm. I work everything else in between.

[K9Klips]

I have drop offs from 8 -10. I am usually done by 3 - 4 but I groom from my house so if me or the kids have nothing going on in the evening I dont mind doing some evenings if people need it, but only if it is convenient from me. I try to be as flexible as possible but my family comes first and that's just the way it is.

[4 paws]

my shop is open tues-fri 7:30-5:00. every 3rd sat by appt. only
on days my dogs are gone early I leave early. But I stay no later than 6pm.
I take no dogs after 3pm. I have 2 small child and husband that need me also.
I have my best friend come in and help me on saturdays.
I do between 8-12 dogs a day by myself.
I have my hours posted so all clients can see.

[Helly]

I start at 7:30 and go home when I'm finished. We have a receptionist who works until 5:30 to release dogs that haven't left when I go home.

I like to do the intake myself, and talk to the owner about what type of groom they want. This leads to less confusion.

I do feel I need to warn you that grooming can be very physically demanding work, and it'll wear your body out if you don't take breaks. Your body needs time to recover, and it needs fuel. Skipping lunch should never be an option. You can eat a sandwich or some yogurt and fruit in 15 minutes. And if you can't find 15 minutes to eat, something is seriously wrong with your schedule.