The Home-based Groomer

02/09/2026

New blog post drop. :)
Happy Monday!

"The Grind" can be a short phase, it is NOT a persistent side-effect of the profession

02/07/2026

It’s Okay to Hear "No"! 🐾
I used to be really scared of hearing "no" from a pet parent. Whenever it happened, I felt super sad and a little bit or a lot embarrassed. It was even harder when they gave me a long lecture about it! I really wish I had this video back then. It would have helped me understand that a "no" doesn't have to hurt my feelings.

If hearing "no" makes your heart feel heavy, you are not alone! # # # The Good News
The best part is that we can actually turn that "no" into something happy! Every "no" is just a hint. It helps us learn how to:

- Change how we talk to pet parents.
- Fix our services to match what dogs really need.
- Find the perfect clients who love exactly what we do.

Receiving a no is a shortcut "yes" to find a better match client for us. It's much better than this, no popping up after hours of grooming and a pi**ed client at pickup due to a mismatch, right?

Isn't that "no" a true gift in disguise?

Let’s Go on a "No Hunt"!
The reality is, we are always going to hear "no" sometimes—and that’s actually a good thing! It means you are finding your own special way of grooming. The more "no-s" you get, the closer you are to finding the people who think you are the best groomer ever.

So, instead of staying sad for too long, let's go on a "No Hunt" together and see what we can learn! ❤️

10/11/2025

The first stop of the Get Your Life Back! series is happening in 2 days! Join us to get your answers and for a fun way to discuss how to nail pricing! It costs $0 to attend.
Can't make it? Register to get the recording!

07/27/2025

No-Show Prevention Hack #1.
Penciled-In Appointments

Ever wonder why new and even returning pet owners flake out on appointments?

One big culprit:
They're squeezed into a slot that just doesn't work for them.

Why does this happen?
As busy groomers, we often don't have the bandwidth (or time!) to juggle sending out a bunch of availability options and tracking them all. We want to get it over with in one go.
So, we pitch one spot, nudge the client to take it, and... frustration builds on both sides.

The owner says yes to end the hassle, but without that real buy-in, poof—they often no-show. 😩

But here's the fun fix:
Cater to your clients by offering multiple availability slots right off the bat, without exploding your admin workload!

Most of the time, when I send out multiple appointments at once, I nail down a confirmed appointment in just one exchange (without tons of back-and-forth)— and since the client can pick what works great for them, they'll show up. Talk about efficient!

It saves YOU time, meets THEIR need for choices, and lets them pick a spot that truly fits their schedule—in peace and on their timeline.

Drag and drops make it easy for you to pencil your clients in, and in my software, the not-chosen penciled-in spots disappear when I or the client confirms an option.

No pressure to groomer or client, no cipher paper trail to manage, just excited and dedicated owners and reliable bookings.

Who's trying this next? Drop your thoughts below! 🐶✂️

04/13/2025

Overwhelmed by client messages at all hours? It might be time for a shift.

Here’s a simple change that can make a big difference:
🌿 Get a new phone for your personal use.
📱 Keep your current phone as your dedicated business line.

That way, your number stays the same for clients—and you get to enjoy a fresh sense of privacy and peace on your personal time without needing to explain or announce anything.

And remember: only reply during business hours. If you protect your time, you show a great example to your clients to do the same.

04/12/2025

I just saw another post from a groomer who’s thinking about leaving the industry—and my heart sank because I’ve been there, too.

The exhaustion, the unfair pay, the constant push to prove your worth to clients who don’t understand what goes into the work. The sore body, the bruised heart, and the feeling that maybe you’re the problem for wanting peace, stability, or simply enough to get by.

But here’s something I’ve learned:
Burnout doesn’t go away just because you change careers.
If the cause of the burnout—overgiving, people-pleasing, working in environments that don’t value you—isn’t resolved, it follows you into the next chapter.

Sometimes, the answer isn’t quitting grooming.
It’s quitting the system that’s breaking you.

Working from home gave me space to breathe again. It’s not only simple but also possible and prosperous. You get to reclaim your time, your health, and your boundaries. You get to build a business where your work is respected and your energy is protected.

You’re not greedy for wanting to be paid fairly.
You’re not dramatic for needing rest.
And you’re not alone in dreaming of something better, including not just the dogs you care for but yourself as well.

If you’re at a breaking point, please know:
You don’t have to leave your gift behind.
You just might need to bring it home.

03/29/2025

I'm relistening to this audiobook while catching up with the mess in the kitchen as the warmup for the weekend. :D I've been neglecting it -khm prioritizing other things that needed my attention :P - so it might take me the whole 3 hours to tidy up. :D
Hope you'll have a great weekend!

Check out this great listen on Audible.com. You don't have to be controlled by difficult people! Strange as it may seem, other people are not nearly as committed to our happiness as we are. In fact, sometimes it seems like they’re on a mission to make us miserable! There’s always that ...