In this episode of the Dog Grooming Business Help & Support Podcast, Bill is joined by Alison Clark, owner of Doggy Styles, to talk about her journey from a career in IT to building a successful and growing pet grooming business.

What started as a way to find something for herself while balancing work and family life has grown into something much bigger. Alison shares how she discovered dog grooming, made the difficult decision to leave her secure IT career, and gradually built a business around the life she wanted.

When Alison joined the Pet Groomer Business Programme in November 2022, she was working from a small home-based salon, charging around £38–£40 for a Cockapoo and wondering whether she was really running a proper business.

Fast forward a few years, and things look very different. She's now charging a minimum of £70 for a Cockapoo, has moved into larger commercial premises, taken on and trained an apprentice who has become a valued member of staff, introduced cat grooming and expanded into training other groomers.

Bill and Alison discuss the challenges that have come with that growth, including overcoming pricing fears, managing the costs of a bigger salon, learning to delegate, and preparing for the possibility of VAT registration.

They also explore the mindset shifts that have helped Alison move forward, why the fear of putting prices up doesn't always disappear, and how having the right support and community can make difficult decisions feel more manageable.

With her annual turnover growing from £38,000 in 2022 to approaching £90,000, Alison's story is a reminder that you don't need to have everything figured out from the beginning. Sometimes, building the business you really want is about being brave enough to take the next step.

Whether you're just starting out, working from home, or thinking about expanding your grooming business, this episode offers an honest look at the opportunities, challenges and rewards of business growth.

A quick note: We apologise for the occasional audio issues in this episode. We hope they don't take away from what is a really useful conversation, and thank you for listening!

As always, I'd like to thank the podcast sponsor, Lopay, the low-cost payment platform that helps you keep more of the money you earn.

You can find out more and sign up for Lopay here:

https://merchant.lopay.app/ref/PETPASSION2500

Listeners of this podcast get £2500 of fee-free transactions.

And if you'd like support building a stronger, more profitable grooming business, visit:

https://petpassiontoprofit.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review and share it with someone who's considering taking the leap into self-employment. 🐾

A quick note: We apologise for the occasional audio issues in this episode. We hope they don't take away from what is a really useful conversation, and thank you for listening!

Thinking about starting your own dog grooming business, but worried it's too risky?

In this episode, Bill explores a question he recently received from a groomer who had been made redundant and was considering opening her own salon.

At 45, with grooming qualifications and a potential premises already in mind, she wanted to know whether she was mad to take the leap into self-employment.

But is having a job really as secure as we think? And is starting your own business necessarily the bigger risk?

Drawing on his own experience of leaving the police and becoming self-employed, Bill challenges the way we think about security, risk and the decisions that shape our working lives.

In this episode, Bill covers:

• Why employment isn't always as secure as it appears
• The difference between taking a calculated risk and simply gambling
• How to work out whether a grooming business could realistically replace your salary
• Why turnover and profit are two very different things
• The dangers of falling in love with the perfect premises before checking the numbers
• How starting smaller can help reduce financial risk
• The freedom and control that self-employment can offer
• Why the risk of doing nothing deserves just as much consideration

Bill also shares a simple example of how four dogs a day at £60 per groom could generate over £44,000 in annual turnover, and why that doesn't necessarily mean you're earning the equivalent of a £35,000 salary.

The message isn't to ignore the risks or rush into opening a salon. It's to understand the numbers, explore your options and make decisions based on facts rather than fear.

Because being self-employed doesn't guarantee success, but being employed doesn't guarantee security either.

If you're considering starting a grooming business, expanding into premises or making another big business decision, this episode will help you look at the risks from a different perspective.

As always, I'd like to thank the podcast sponsor, Lopay, the low-cost payment platform that helps you keep more of the money you earn.

You can find out more and sign up for Lopay here:

https://merchant.lopay.app/ref/PETPASSION2500

Listeners of this podcast get £2500 of fee-free transactions.

And if you'd like support building a stronger, more profitable grooming business, visit:

https://petpassiontoprofit.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review and share it with someone who's considering taking the leap into self-employment. 🐾

In this episode of the Dog Grooming Business Help & Support Podcast, Bill is joined by Kirsty Thorner from specialist pet business insurance brokers Brooks Braithwaite to tackle a subject that every groomer needs to understand: business insurance.

Insurance is something many of us take out and then forget about, assuming we're covered if something goes wrong. But as Bill and Kirsty discuss, the details of your policy can make all the difference when it comes to making a claim.

They explore the different types of insurance grooming businesses should consider, including public liability, employers' liability, professional indemnity, and the often-overlooked care, custody and control of animals cover.

Kirsty also explains why it's important to review your policy as your business grows, how to avoid being underinsured, what to do when a customer makes a claim, and why keeping accurate records and photographs can help protect your business.

Bill shares his own experience of claiming on business interruption insurance during COVID, highlighting just how complicated a claim can become when you don't fully understand your cover.

Kirsty also introduces a free, no-obligation insurance policy audit available to the Pet Passion To Profit community, helping groomers identify potential gaps in their existing cover.

Whether you work from home, run a salon, or operate a mobile grooming business, this episode is a reminder that having insurance isn't enough. You need to understand exactly what you're covered for.

Find out more about Brooks Braithwaite at www.brooksbraithwaite.com.

Complete your insurance audit here and quote the code PetPassionAudit

Disclaimer: This episode provides general information only and does not constitute legal, financial or individual insurance advice. Always check your own policy documents and speak to your insurer or broker about your specific circumstances.

A quick note: We apologise for the occasional audio issues in this episode. We hope they don't take away from what is a really useful conversation, and thank you for listening!