Hiring Mobile Groomers.

[Groomservice]

So we are new to this forum and I hope we are not breaking any TOS. We did post a help wanted in the help wanted section of this site. We are having a super difficult time finding qualified groomers who can do it all. Drive to the appointment, bathe, groom, handle the transaction, clean and make it to the next appointment without drama.

We posted ad's here, Indeed, Grooming Schools ( Not that many left ) Craigslist, and a few other places as well as word of mouth. We have had two sub par interview's and ride alongs. We are looking for a 2-3 day a week Mobile groomer. We are also in the process of expanding so we will have another mobile unit and would require even more staff.

My question is HOW DO YOU FIND QUALIFIED GROOMERS ? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Joe & Renee

[GroomerTALK Coordinator]

This is not uncommon. Most business owners have made the same complaint in the 20 years I have been grooming. Some places resort to some on the job training in shops when they have enough staff to make that possible.

[Groomservice]

This is not uncommon. Most business owners have made the same complaint in the 20 years I have been grooming. Some places resort to some on the job training in shops when they have enough staff to make that possible.

I figured as much but seriously we are currently just looking for ONE qualified groomer !!!

[cockerlvr]

I figured as much but seriously we are currently just looking for ONE qualified groomer !!!

So is everyone else!

I could easily have three vans out on the road right now, but no way am I going to be left holding the ball when a groomer decides her hang nail requires a week off to heal. So I remain, and will always remain, a one woman show. At least until my kids might want to join me and then I can threaten them with death if they want to call out lol!

[Groomservice]

So is everyone else!

I could easily have three vans out on the road right now, but no way am I going to be left holding the ball when a groomer decides her hang nail requires a week off to heal. So I remain, and will always remain, a one woman show. At least until my kids might want to join me and then I can threaten them with death if they want to call out lol!

LOL Hang Nail - So after an extensive and hopeful phone interview last weekend we scheduled an interview / ride along with someone for this past Tuesday. After I sent a confirming email on Monday morning I received a late Monday text, "I have a DOUBLE kidney infection. " When I texted her yesterday to see if she was feeling better and if she would like to interview on Friday she texts back saying she is interviewing at a vet and wants to see how that goes and she will get back to us. SERIOUSLY ???? I don't know how much a Vet Tech makes but we are offering SIGNIFICANTLY more I can assure you that. We've also encountered bathers that DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GROOM, but are more than willing to tell us how to groom, WHILE they are training.

My wife and I are partners in this business, she's the groomer and I'm the back office. I've run other successful businesses, never have I had to deal with this type of employee.

Again any help in figuring out the Groomer employee would be very helpful.

[Kurt99]

Have you thought of learning to groom?

[Emma123]

Perhaps you could hire someone for baths only. That way the skill level required will be lower. You may get more applicants. Having a bather may be better than not having anyone at all for those days.
You could learn to bathe. Handling the back office for one truck isn't a full-time job, assuming you have one truck.
Just to give the other side of the coin -- working 2-3 days isn't enough for a single adult to support themselves, so the groomers who apply would need to either have another p/t job or to be partially supported by someone else. Mature, skilled, self-sufficient groomers can start their own businesses. Vet clinics do pay less, but some offer benefits.
Good luck!

[Groomservice]

Perhaps you could hire someone for baths only. That way the skill level required will be lower. You may get more applicants. Having a bather may be better than not having anyone at all for those days.
You could learn to bathe. Handling the back office for one truck isn't a full-time job, assuming you have one truck.
Just to give the other side of the coin -- working 2-3 days isn't enough for a single adult to support themselves, so the groomers who apply would need to either have another p/t job or to be partially supported by someone else. Mature, skilled, self-sufficient groomers can start their own businesses. Vet clinics do pay less, but some offer benefits.
Good luck!

Thanks yea I've actually gone out on busy or big dog days. We don't need a bather we need someone we can throw the keys to for 2 - 3 days a week and do the Job, simple as that.

[IrishSetterTom]

I have 5 mobile groomers currently and have lost several over the past 8 years. What I can boast is I pay the highest commission and tips are very strong. I only had to let go 2 groomers and it was due to their personal issues at home.

What I can tell you is you need to find an experienced groomer who can handle any situation being by themselves and getting a groom done in a timely manner. New groomers cannot handle being alone and be fast enough I found out. Having strong groom prices allows them to make more by doing less dogs per day. Some groomers do not want the shop drama anymore and are willing to give mobile a try. Most like it after adjusting to the schedule and driving and freedom.

Also have them do a ride along and audition, run their driving record and drug test them. I put GPS trackers on my vans so I can see them in real time, if they are late, speeding or doing illegal stops meaning doing grooms off the record.

It may take awhile, but you should find someone. Advertise by bringing up groomers who want to work alone, hate shop drama and bad bosses and want a change but still want to groom. One of my 4 day a week groomer makes 65+ thousand per year on payroll, legal W-2. She loves working for me, so does my others who have all expenses paid, no out of pocket for them except their tools.

[yankeedoodlepoodle]

It's hard to find groomers here too. I do train some from bather to groomer if they seem loyal to stay for awhile.

[coldnose]

Is it hard to find mobile employees because of driving records too?

[TootsiePie]

I know some groomers that say they won't go mobile as employee because they think they can make more in a shop because of travel time. I don't know how to work those numbers. UD or Irish, what's the truth??????

[Uncle Dave]

I know some groomers that say they won't go mobile as employee because they think they can make more in a shop because of travel time. I don't know how to work those numbers. UD or Irish, what's the truth??????

Difficult to say what other peoples truth is.

What I can say is that mobile works out better for us.

DW could groom more pets in the shop, but made less per animal, and had to deal with much more pricing pressure and higher fixed costs.

In our case storefront rent and expenses all in > Mobile cost all in.

With Mobil once the rig is paid off the operating expense drops drastically - in a storefront unless you own the building outright that rent payment never goes away.
even then you have property tax.

Our truth may very well NOT be others.

UD

[IrishSetterTom]

I know some groomers that say they won't go mobile as employee because they think they can make more in a shop because of travel time. I don't know how to work those numbers. UD or Irish, what's the truth??????

It depends. There's no definitive answer and I now run mobile and shop.

What I can say is mobile groomers are attracted to mobile for a number of reasons so the pay is not their number 1 priority. They like the freedom of working alone, being out on the roads with the ability to work and groom with no drama. I can tell you the tips are much better than the shop. Mobile clients pay more so they tip more and build a relationship with the groomer at their home. They build a trust. Some clients leave keys or garage codes, credit cards if they are not home.

Mobile grooming also allows a groomer to groom less dogs per day for the same pay or slightly higher than the shop commission. So in reality, even though you are driving, you are being paid as a whole for the day's grooming. My groomers may groom 5 hours per day and travel an hour or more. But in the end, their commission is very acceptable. It's all about pricing the groom correctly and getting it done in a timely manner. Many mobile groomers work differently than shop groomers meaning doing multiple small dogs in the bathtub, roughing in the cut before the bath, Basically doing a assembly line so a 3 small dog stop is done quicker than a shop groomer would.