Hourly or Per Pet

[Guest]

How do you charge? I charge per pet but based my prices on how long it takes me in mobile. I am finding that clients want a close price approximity.

[irish23]

I charge based on breed, location and coat condition.

[bow_wow_wheels]

I charge by the hour but quote per pet. I also advise clients that without seeing their pet I can only give a guestimate and that the price could go up or down depending on what I find when I get there. I have not had problems with this approach

[Kim in SD]

I have a base price, then go from there. But I do list prices per size/breed/coat.

[diamienono]

My price is based on breed, weight, and coat condition. All three factor in. You could have a 50 lb bichon or a 10 lb bichon.

[furrybestjob]

I do the same, I quote per pet but its based on how long each breed generally takes me (including cleanup).

[kari]

Hi I quote per pet,size difficulty when was the last time they where groomed and tell them this is just a estimate.The price can go up or down according to what I think is acceptable.I always tell them I don't know exactly what your pet looks like there are many different types of golden retriever for instance:thick coated ones,large,small,lazy ones etc.It's just like when we get prices on services it usaually just a quote.I don't charge hourly because some pet will take me very little time because of my exsperience and I would be cheating myself to do so.

[Gracy Rose]

Thank You

Thank You for all of the input, I want to be fair but get paid:-)

[Plexi]

Hourly or Per Pet

I charge per dog since all my dogs are under 20lbs and take an hour or less to do.

[Pawsitively Purrfect]

I charge by the hour but quote per pet. I also advise clients that without seeing their pet I can only give a guestimate and that the price could go up or down depending on what I find when I get there. I have not had problems with this approach

I don't give exact prices over the phone, but come to think of it I am not asked that often, but I DO have my prices on my website so maybe that is why. I find that it pretty much happens just as stated above. But now that I have many regulars the dogs are now well maintained and there aren't many surprises. Clients with matted pets understand why they are charged more, and I won't do pets with behavioral issues.

[louie]

I have a base price per breed and I figure in how long a particular dog will take and condition he is in etc. Cleanup is also factored in as well as client location. I have a lot of clients that come to my house because i do not travel to their town. These clients I am a little less rigid on price, but I make sure that I get what I need hourly. I LOVE parking my van in front of my own house and having a client come to ME! my neighbors laugh at my "mobile" business!

I only groom small dogs and they take an hour or less, so it is easy to figure my costs/prices.

[nuk]

i charge by the hour and give estimates as to how long it should take me on a 'normal' regularly groomed and well behaved dog of that breed. then most people understand when it takes me longer because they are bad (mannered or otherwise) and i don't find myself grumbling, "how much am i charging for this rotten mutt?" when i under anticipated the work i had cut out for me. of course i also had to raise my hourly by almost half because i was getting done so fast i was cheaper than the salons!

[bow_wow_wheels]

Don't you hate shooting yourself in the foot like that? I need to call some of the locals and do a price survey to be sure that I'm higher than the free-standing locations I always ID myself and ask if they have a moment and we share prices and get to somewhat know each other (if the person I'm speaking to is receptive.)

i charge by the hour and give estimates as to how long it should take me on a 'normal' regularly groomed and well behaved dog of that breed. then most people understand when it takes me longer because they are bad (mannered or otherwise) and i don't find myself grumbling, "how much am i charging for this rotten mutt?" when i under anticipated the work i had cut out for me. of course i also had to raise my hourly by almost half because i was getting done so fast i was cheaper than the salons!

[Gracy Rose]

price

I don't do behavioral problems in my mobile and the majority of my clients are now repeats but I hired a mobile employee to work on my days off and now we can take more clients:-) so I wanted to get a better idea from y'all...thank you!

[PAWS]

I used to charge by the hour with a one hour minimum pet per, plus a fuel surcharge. I groom a lot faster now, although being fast doesn't mean EASY. I get in a zone and get the uncomfortable parts done fast for the pet's comfort...and my sanity I now have a weight/coat type chart. I add or subtract a little on a case by case basis, and have an hourly rate for dematting. I have added fees for: clean poodle face/feet, shavedowns and "light trimming". Basic groom + "light trim" = mini groom basically. I used to charge extra for clients outside my "zone", but now simply require they round up a minimum of 4 dogs to get me there...it is starting to catch on...sorry, I just kept going after commenting on the question at hand...he he he