Trying to groom from home....

[sobella]

I know that there is a house call forum, but not sure if this question should just be under that. I am a single parent and daycare is very expensive, which I cannot afford. I also have to put my girls on the bus in the morning and be home by 430pm, so I have limited hours that I can work. I have come to the conclusion that I need to groom for myself to be able to support myself. My goal right now is to have at least 5 clients a week by summer, so I can be home with my girls when school is out. My problem is that I am not zoned to groom from my home, unless I apply for a variance (sp?), which will cost about $3000...which could even be denied after paying that. Until I can sell my house and move to a place that is zoned for grooming, I am trying to find a way around that for the time being. I want to create my business with a tax id, have insurance, and file taxes (so I have an income to show to obtain a mortgage). I thought about setting it up as a house call groomer. I am waiting to hear back from insurance companies to find out whether or not I will be covered if I groom from my house. Any thoughts/advice will be greatly appreciated!! I don't want to give up on this, I love what I do and I know very few people can say that about their careers.

[Emma123]

House call grooming is where you travel to people's homes to groom their pets. It seems like you think that house call grooming is having a salon in your own home. House call grooming is NOT having a salon in your own home.
You can get insurance as a house call groomer. You can run it as a business with a tax id, and certainly the government will be more than happy to accept taxes from you
What's good about house call grooming is that you set your own hours. You charge more than a salon would, since you are going to owner's homes. You do need reliable transportation. Apart from that, you just need grooming tools. You don't even need a table if you plan to groom only smaller dogs. Good luck.

[sobella]

I understand that a house call groomer goes to the clients homes. I am trying to groom from my home but I am not zoned for it in my town. So I am trying to set it up somehow where I can get insurance and file taxes. This would just be to get me going til I can move somewhere else.

[Cyn]

I understand that a house call groomer goes to the clients homes. I am trying to groom from my home but I am not zoned for it in my town. So I am trying to set it up somehow where I can get insurance and file taxes. This would just be to get me going til I can move somewhere else.

So you would be Home Based, if grooming from your home....if your not zoned for it, then it is a NO NO and no way around it. You could go House Call or rent a space that is zoned.

[HoneyandChewiespal]

^^^^^this^^^^^. As a single parent you have to pay the bills but you are also the role model for your children. They'll follow your lead in everything. Break the law - even zoning laws- and you'll set yourself up for grief down the road. Besides, the fines and penalties for running a business out if the home without permits are far worse. ( Andif you are trying for a mortgage does that mean you are currently renting? If that's the case then You are risking your current residence as well as future ones. Just not worth the risk. ).
Try housecall. You can set your hours and you need less in insurances, but you still are a legit business entity

[Emma123]

So you'd like to try to set up your business as if it were a house call business, but actually do in-home grooming?
Since you want to groom as a profession, why not set yourself up in a way that you can sustain no matter what house you live in? Renting a table is an option. That way you're independent, but have a permanent working place. House call is another. Clients don't really like having to follow a groomer around, so why not start out as you mean to continue.
Doing something sneaky like you're thinking about doing is more likely to lead to hassles than to success.
Good luck though.

[petstimes2]

I agree with above, you don't want to be sneaky and groom not being zoned correctly. You could be shutdown forcefully and face consequences. I don't see any way to groom at home for the time being for you no matter what you register or get insurance etc.

[123Linda]

Be careful. Neighbors can get nasty, they see the traffic to and from and report you.

[Brit]

It's a bummer I know but advice was good.