Reviewed by Bill Betts | July 2026
One of the biggest mindset shifts in business is moving from thinking like an employee to thinking like a business owner. Employees often have limited control over their earning potential, while business owners have the ability to influence their income through pricing, services, systems and growth decisions. Understanding that difference can transform both your confidence and the future of your dog grooming business.
My Journey from Employee to Business Owner
Before working full time in business, I was a Police Officer. Like many people working in the public sector, my income was largely determined by decisions made elsewhere. Pay increases, budgets and financial decisions were outside my control.
At the time, I accepted that as normal. If costs increased, there was very little I could do about it. My income was my income.
It was only after becoming a business owner that I realised how different the mindset needed to be.
As a business owner, I am no longer waiting for someone else to decide my future. While there are always external challenges, I have choices. I can review pricing, improve efficiency, introduce new services, increase capacity and create opportunities that simply were not available to me as an employee.
That realisation changed everything.
What Is the Difference Between an Employed Groomer and a Business Owner?
Being an employed pet groomer and being a grooming business owner both require skill, commitment and hard work. However, the way you think about challenges can be very different.
An employed groomer is often focused on delivering excellent work during their scheduled hours. A business owner must think beyond the groom itself.
Business ownership requires consideration of pricing, profitability, customer retention, marketing, systems, growth and long term sustainability, which can make a difference being an employed groomer vs business owner.
Neither role is better than the other. They are simply different.
The challenge comes when someone owns a business but continues thinking like an employee. When that happens, they often wait for things to improve rather than actively creating change.
Taking Responsibility for Your Income
One of the most empowering aspects of running a dog grooming business is the ability to influence income through pricing, services, systems and growth decisions.
That does not mean every challenge disappears. Rising costs, economic uncertainty and changing customer habits affect all businesses. However, unlike an employee who may have limited options, a business owner can take action.
The first step is understanding your numbers.
- How much revenue is your business generating?
- How profitable are your services?
- What are your expenses?
- Where are the opportunities for improvement?
The answers to these questions often reveal opportunities that are easy to miss when you are focused solely on the day-to-day running of the business.
Where Could Additional Revenue Come From?
Many pet groomers underestimate the number of options available to them.
Sometimes growth comes from reviewing pricing and ensuring services are being charged appropriately.
Sometimes it comes from increasing rebooking rates and improving client retention.
For others, growth comes from introducing additional services, improving efficiency or creating capacity for more appointments.
Over the years, we have worked with all types of animal groomers who have increased revenue simply by improving their booking systems and raising prices with confidence. Others have expanded into complementary services or taken on team members to increase capacity.
Every pet grooming business is different, but opportunities for growth almost always exist.
The Importance of Thinking Differently
One thing I have learned through business is that growth often starts with a change in thinking. When challenges arise, employees often have limited influence over the outcome. Business owners have the opportunity to respond differently.
Instead of asking:
“Why is this happening?”
successful business owners often ask:
“What can I do about it?”
That question creates a completely different mindset.
- It shifts the focus from problems to solutions.
- From limitations to opportunities.
- From fear to action.
This is often where confidence begins to grow.
What We Learned Running A-Z Animal Care
Our own pet grooming business, A-Z Animal Care, has been through economic uncertainty, recessions, rising costs and a global pandemic.
Like every business owner, we have faced challenges and difficult decisions.
The difference is that we learned to adapt rather than stand still, we
- reviewed pricing
- invested in growth
- expanded services
- continued looking for opportunities even when circumstances were difficult.
One example was introducing additional services through the business, creating new revenue streams and helping us continue moving forward.
That approach has helped us build a stronger and more resilient business over time.
You Have More Control Than You Think
Many pet groomers feel stuck because too much attention is given to external circumstances rather than what is happening inside the business.
A more productive approach is to focus on what is happening inside the business.
- What can be improved?
- What can be simplified?
- What can be delegated?
- What can be increased?
The answers to those questions often have a much greater impact on your future than anything you hear on the news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to be an employed groomer or a business owner?
Neither is better. They simply offer different opportunities and responsibilities. Business ownership provides greater control over growth and earning potential, but it also comes with additional responsibilities.
How can a pet groomer increase their income?
Income can often be increased through better pricing, stronger client retention, improved efficiency, additional services and creating more appointment capacity.
Why do some dog grooming businesses struggle to grow?
Many businesses struggle because owners focus on daily operations without spending time on pricing, systems, marketing and long term planning.
What mindset do successful grooming business owners have?
Successful business owners focus on what can be controlled, look for opportunities, make informed decisions and continue adapting as their businesses grow.
Are You Thinking Like a Business Owner?
One of the biggest transformations we see within the Pet Passion to Profit programme is not a pricing change or a marketing strategy.
It is a mindset shift.
When groomers start seeing themselves as business owners rather than simply pet groomers, they often make better decisions, gain confidence and discover opportunities they previously overlooked. That shift can have a significant impact on both income and quality of life.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you want to build a more profitable, organised and sustainable dog grooming business, the first step is often changing the way you think about your role.
Remember, you are not just a pet groomer, you are a business owner.
If you would like support making that transition, we would love to help.
Join the Pet Groomer Programme
Or, enquire today!
