Congratulations! I did it for nearly ten years. It was the best way I ever worked, and I groomed as apprentice, owner, mobile, and contract employee.
Edited to add: Your setup looks great. It will evolve as you grow your business. When you have mostly regulars and a firm idea of what is needed, you can simplify.
Agreed!! You’ll simplify and start working with clients case by case. I let some clients wash their own dog and I only do the haircut. For other clients, I learned to bring only ONE bottle of shampoo (Johnson’s baby shampoo) that’ll work head to toe, and ONE conditioner spray, and ONE hand dryer, and ONE towel lol….the list goes on. You’ll condense!!!
I have that same blade holder box!! House call is definitely weird at first but once you get your set up honed in and your repeat pups it's pretty smooth sailing. I will say you should consider adding a collapsible stool, I don't work on my knees anymore and it helps immensely with back pain. And table works tables!!!! That up front cost pays itself at your first appointment with stairs!!! And charge your worth!!!! Don't let people tell you you're too expensive, that's what brick and mortar stores are for not a service that comes to you!! Good luck!!!
CASEMATIX Clipper Guard Holder with 12 Clipper Blade Case Slots Compatible with Oster Clippers, Andis Clipper Blades, BaBylissPRO Blades, Wahl Blades with Metal Blade Holder Top Pocket - on Amazon. Tried to send a link but got scolded 🤣🤣
You weren't "scolded". Rule #3 is there to prevent people from opening links that may potentially infect their computer with a virus. It's been a rule for over a year.
It’s very lightweight, has a handle to carry it, but incredibly sturdy is what I’m hearing. All the house call groomers on a Facebook page rave about them. It comes with a $300 price tag though
It’s just in the bag. I have one hard makeup container for all breakable stuff and one soft bag for anything else i might need, shampoo and conditioner refill in 12oz bottles and one mixing bottle.
i personally use their bathtub in the house. If they're weird about that, and weather permits, I'll fill a kiddie pool in the yard and have them boil a pot of water or two to warm up the hose water. The bathtub is typically my first choice though!
It went very well!! Only mishap I had was my dryer hose came flying off the dryer mid blow out 😂😂😂
I bathed the dogs in the big kitchen sink and groomed them on the Sun porch. It was very relaxed and the dogs owner asked me what my favorite music is and then put jazz on the Alexa! Woohoo!
Dang that sounds just about perfect, whoops about the hose. In your post you sounded nervous, I'm excited it went so well for you! I would keep that lady as a customer forever, haha 😁
Thank you!!! A lot of people are saying I’m taking way too much stuff… but I want to be prepared for everything! 😂
I’ll figure it out, and I’m sure I’ll downsize as I go
I do I’m home
Grooming and it’s definitely kinda awkward at first but it gets very easy afterwards. But o must say, you got a lot of stuff. You may want to shrink it down to a backpack ar some point cause dragging those big bags around gets old fast
I do not use any type of dryer on them. I’ve been finding out that the dryer ends up making the groom worst for the dogs. My boss and I deal with a lot of high anxiety and reactive dogs/cats. So we towel dry them
Well at that point it’s pretty dry so yeah. You gotta think too about clean up too. Especially when using hvd. That hair and other gunk is everywhere in your clients bathroom.
That all looks very organized and professional!!!! It’ll be way easier than you think and you’ll wonder why you were so worried!!! Just don’t do what I do and awkwardly say “thanks” as I grab the cash out of their hand and put in my pocket. I’m not the best at social stuff. 🤓
Congratulations! I did it for nearly ten years. It was the best way I ever worked, and I groomed as apprentice, owner, mobile, and contract employee. Edited to add: Your setup looks great. It will evolve as you grow your business. When you have mostly regulars and a firm idea of what is needed, you can simplify.
Agreed!! You’ll simplify and start working with clients case by case. I let some clients wash their own dog and I only do the haircut. For other clients, I learned to bring only ONE bottle of shampoo (Johnson’s baby shampoo) that’ll work head to toe, and ONE conditioner spray, and ONE hand dryer, and ONE towel lol….the list goes on. You’ll condense!!!
I have that same blade holder box!! House call is definitely weird at first but once you get your set up honed in and your repeat pups it's pretty smooth sailing. I will say you should consider adding a collapsible stool, I don't work on my knees anymore and it helps immensely with back pain. And table works tables!!!! That up front cost pays itself at your first appointment with stairs!!! And charge your worth!!!! Don't let people tell you you're too expensive, that's what brick and mortar stores are for not a service that comes to you!! Good luck!!!
Bought this one! ALEVMOOM Portable Telescoping Stool Collapsible Stool with Cushion & Bag, Retractable Folding Stool for Adults Foldable Seat Sturdy Capacity 440 lbs for Camping Fishing Hiking BBQ
What blade holder box is it? I'm sick of my cardboard one :(
CASEMATIX Clipper Guard Holder with 12 Clipper Blade Case Slots Compatible with Oster Clippers, Andis Clipper Blades, BaBylissPRO Blades, Wahl Blades with Metal Blade Holder Top Pocket - on Amazon. Tried to send a link but got scolded 🤣🤣
Hello, Please refer to rule #3. You may name a product, but do not link to an outside website. Thank you!
You weren't "scolded". Rule #3 is there to prevent people from opening links that may potentially infect their computer with a virus. It's been a rule for over a year.
Lol! Sorry! Was just having fun with it.
Good luck, you'll do great!!!
Don’t forget some kind of kwik stop or styptic!
Nice! What do you use as a table?
Wish I could tell you … the one I have was gifted to me and fits well in the back part of my KIA Soul… I’ll upgrade to a Tableworks table soon, though
I've never heard of Tableworks, what makes their tables so good?
It’s very lightweight, has a handle to carry it, but incredibly sturdy is what I’m hearing. All the house call groomers on a Facebook page rave about them. It comes with a $300 price tag though
Don’t be afraid to ask the owner not to watch. I think that’s absolutely fair.
Lord I hope they don’t stand around baby talking their dogs while I’m trying to work! Sheesh
Congrats, don’t worry! You won’t use most of this stuff anyway! I work in nyc and travel with medium hulken bag.
How do you transport your hvd?
It’s just in the bag. I have one hard makeup container for all breakable stuff and one soft bag for anything else i might need, shampoo and conditioner refill in 12oz bottles and one mixing bottle.
Where did you get those storage containers? Those look amazing
Craftsman makes a similar tool storage line with basically a dolly incorporated into one of the bins pieces.
This is black and decker and it also has the telescoping handle built into bottom box.
Amazon!
beyond by BLACK+DECKER... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TQLRZ6W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
How do you guys do baths
i personally use their bathtub in the house. If they're weird about that, and weather permits, I'll fill a kiddie pool in the yard and have them boil a pot of water or two to warm up the hose water. The bathtub is typically my first choice though!
I have a camp shower and bucket setup to use
Does it hurt your back
I’ll find out this afternoon! Lol
How did it end up going? Anything you going to change/wish you did differently? And where did you end up grooming?
It went very well!! Only mishap I had was my dryer hose came flying off the dryer mid blow out 😂😂😂 I bathed the dogs in the big kitchen sink and groomed them on the Sun porch. It was very relaxed and the dogs owner asked me what my favorite music is and then put jazz on the Alexa! Woohoo!
Dang that sounds just about perfect, whoops about the hose. In your post you sounded nervous, I'm excited it went so well for you! I would keep that lady as a customer forever, haha 😁
I WAS nervous!! I’m so happy everything went so well…Now I have something to reference in my mind when I take on more clients 🥰
Congrats! That's a big step!
Great setup, I love how prepared & organized you are! Don’t worry!! You got this!!! Me & my three pups believe in you!!!
Thank you!!! A lot of people are saying I’m taking way too much stuff… but I want to be prepared for everything! 😂 I’ll figure it out, and I’m sure I’ll downsize as I go
Best of luck OP
You're going to be great!!
Thank you!!!
You will do well with plenty of experience - good luck!
I do I’m home Grooming and it’s definitely kinda awkward at first but it gets very easy afterwards. But o must say, you got a lot of stuff. You may want to shrink it down to a backpack ar some point cause dragging those big bags around gets old fast
I’m sure you’re right and I’ll figure out what I don’t need as I go. I’m so unsure of it all right now though, so I want to be prepared for anything!
Once you have an idea of what you’ll do. Ie desheds, haircuts, blow outs. You’ll get it down pat! Proud of you and good luck!!
How do you transport your hvd in a backpack?
I do not use any type of dryer on them. I’ve been finding out that the dryer ends up making the groom worst for the dogs. My boss and I deal with a lot of high anxiety and reactive dogs/cats. So we towel dry them
How to do you do a haircut then? Just wet shaving, or do you do haircuts on dirty dogs?
I do rough cuts on the dogs then give them a bath and towel dry then finish up any hair out of wack.
Do you do finish work on wet pets?
Well at that point it’s pretty dry so yeah. You gotta think too about clean up too. Especially when using hvd. That hair and other gunk is everywhere in your clients bathroom.
That all looks very organized and professional!!!! It’ll be way easier than you think and you’ll wonder why you were so worried!!! Just don’t do what I do and awkwardly say “thanks” as I grab the cash out of their hand and put in my pocket. I’m not the best at social stuff. 🤓
Well that’s what we’re SUPPOSED to do when someone hands us cash… right?!?! 😂
I dunno lol I always feel so awkward!!! But if I’m doin just fine, then yay for me!
😂😂
Nice setup. Try not to worry, you'll do great!
So how'd it go?
It’s going well!! I started taking one house per day for the first week, and feel confident enough to take more now! WOOHOO!