Mobile grooming has a scheduling problem salons don't: the next appointment is across town. Book a large doodle at 10 and a nail trim at 11:30 twenty minutes away, and your whole afternoon slides. Add owners who book the wrong size, forget to mention matting, or aren't home when the van arrives, and the calendar becomes the hardest part of the job.
The point is to spend the day grooming, not driving to empty driveways or texting about times.
Here's a booking setup built around how mobile groomers actually work.
Price by size with separate session types
A 15 lb terrier and a 90 lb doodle are different jobs. Instead of one 'Full groom' with a price range, create a session type for each size, each with its own length and price:
| Session type | Length | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small dog full groom | 60 min | Up to 25 lb |
| Medium dog full groom | 90 min | 25 to 60 lb |
| Large dog full groom | 120 min | Over 60 lb, doodles welcome |
| Nail trim and paw tidy | 20 min | Any size |
Owners pick the one that matches their dog, so a large dog never lands in a 60 minute slot. Put the weight range in the title or description so it's impossible to miss. Our pet groomer demo page shows this setup live.
Collect the address and the dog details with the booking
Set each session type's location to in person with a name like 'At your home (the van parks outside)', then use intake questions for the rest:
- •Your address (long answer, required).
- •Pet's name and breed (short answer, required).
- •How do they handle grooming? (dropdown: Total angel, A little nervous, Hates nail trims, Needs a muzzle).
- •Anything else? Matting, allergies, parking (long answer, optional).
The temperament question is the one groomers thank us for. You know before you knock whether to bring the muzzle and plan extra time.
Build drive time into every appointment
Add a buffer after each session type for driving and van cleanup. If your stops are usually 15 to 25 minutes apart, a 30 minute buffer after each groom keeps the day realistic. Buffers block time on your calendar without making the appointment longer for the owner.
A buffer can't know whether the next address is around the corner or across town. If your area is large, group your week by neighborhood (north side on Tuesdays, coast on Thursdays) and set your weekly availability to match.
Cap the day before your back does
Large dogs are physical work. A daily limit on the large-dog session type, say two a day, stops a run of doodles from wrecking your week, while small dogs and nail trims keep filling the gaps.
Open Saturdays
Owners need to be home, which makes Saturday your busiest day. Add Saturday hours to your weekly availability, and use vacation mode for the weekends you're off instead of editing your hours each time.
Reminders that get owners home on time
Every booking gets an email reminder the day before. Owners who add their phone number when they book also get a text about an hour before you arrive, which is when a reminder actually helps. Mention it in your session descriptions: 'Add your phone number for a text when I'm on the way.' Our post on SMS reminders explains why texts work better than email for this.
Getting regulars to rebook
Most dogs need grooming every four to eight weeks. Recurring bookings in Schedulera repeat weekly, which doesn't fit that rhythm, so the simplest habit is to have the owner book the next visit before you leave. Keep a QR code for your booking page on the van door or a card you hand over with the treat.
Create your free booking page, add your size-based session types, and put the link on your van.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge different prices for different dog sizes?
Yes. Create a session type per size, each with its own length and price, so owners pick the right slot when they book.
How do I get the client's address?
Add a required long-answer intake question asking for their address. It comes in with the booking.
Can Schedulera plan my route between appointments?
No. Use a buffer after each appointment for drive time, and group your weekly hours by area if you cover a large region.
Can clients book a groom every six weeks automatically?
Recurring bookings repeat weekly, so they don't fit a six-week cycle. Ask clients to book their next visit before you leave instead.