India’s pet care industry is growing faster than ever before. With more families adopting dogs, cats, and even exotic pets, the demand for professional grooming services has surged. However, many pet owners struggle to take their pets to a salon due to busy schedules, traffic, or the stress pets feel when traveling. This is where the idea of a mobile pet grooming business comes in.
What is Mobile pet grooming?
A mobile grooming business brings services directly to the customer’s doorstep. It saves time for pet owners and creates a stress-free environment for pets. For entrepreneurs, this business requires relatively low investment compared to opening a full-fledged salon and offers excellent profit margins.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about starting a mobile pet grooming business in India—step by step.
Why Choose Mobile Pet Grooming?
Before diving into the setup, let’s understand why this business is gaining traction in India.
- Convenience for pet owners: Many people in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad work long hours. Mobile grooming saves them time by bringing services directly to their home or apartment parking space.
- Less stress for pets: Traveling in cars, waiting in queues, and interacting with unfamiliar animals often stresses pets. A mobile service provides grooming in a familiar environment.
- Lower startup investment: Opening a salon requires renting space, designing interiors, and hiring staff. A mobile unit requires a vehicle, equipment, and trained groomers, which is less expensive.
- High demand and growing market: India’s pet care industry is valued at over ₹7,000 crore (2024) and is expected to grow 15–20% annually. Grooming is one of the fastest-growing segments.
Step 1: Research the Market
Every successful business begins with research. Before investing, understand your local demand.
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- Identify your target customers: Most demand comes from urban middle-class and upper-class families who treat pets like family members and are willing to pay for premium services.
- Study competitors: Check if mobile groomers already operate in your city. See what services they provide, how they price packages, and what customers say about them in reviews.
- Understand service demand: Dog grooming (bathing, haircut, nail trimming) is the highest-demand service, followed by cat grooming. Exotic pets have niche demand but higher profits.
Step 2: Decide Your Business Model
There are two main models for mobile pet grooming in India:
- Van-based grooming unit: This involves modifying a van (like Maruti Eeco, Tata Winger, or Force Traveller) with grooming equipment, a water supply, and air-conditioning. It gives you flexibility to serve multiple neighborhoods in a day.
- Home-visit model: In this, groomers carry portable grooming kits to the customer’s home and perform services inside. It requires less investment but depends on the customer’s space.
👉 For beginners, starting with the home-visit model is cheaper. Once the business grows, you can invest in a van-based mobile salon.
Step 3: Register Your Business and Get Licenses
Operating legally helps build trust with customers and avoids future issues.
- Business registration: Register your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or private limited company depending on your scale. For most beginners, a sole proprietorship is enough.
- GST registration: If your turnover is expected to cross ₹20 lakh annually, apply for GST registration to issue proper invoices.
- Local permits: Some cities may require trade licenses from the municipal corporation if you operate a van.
- Pet care certification: While not mandatory in India yet, completing grooming training courses adds credibility to your business. Institutes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore offer short-term grooming certifications.
Step 4: Investment and Cost Breakdown
Launching a mobile pet grooming business in India requires investment in basic equipment, marketing, and training. Let’s look at the costs for both models:
Home-Visit Model
- Portable grooming kit (clippers, scissors, trimmers, nail cutters, dryers, brushes): ₹40,000 – ₹60,000
- Towels, shampoos, conditioners, and pet-safe cleaning products: ₹10,000 – ₹20,000
- Travel costs (bike/scooter/car): ₹5,000 – ₹10,000 per month
- Training and certification (optional but recommended): ₹30,000 – ₹50,000
Total investment: ₹80,000 – ₹1,50,000
Van-Based Model
- Vehicle purchase or lease (Maruti Eeco, Tata Winger, Force Traveller): ₹4,00,000 – ₹10,00,000
- Vehicle modification (plumbing, AC, grooming station, water tanks): ₹2,00,000 – ₹4,00,000
- Equipment and supplies (same as above): ₹60,000 – ₹1,00,000
- Branding and interior work: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000
Total investment: ₹7,00,000 – ₹15,00,000
Step 5: Services You Can Offer
Your services should be comprehensive and customizable to attract a wide range of pet owners.
- Basic grooming packages: Includes bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. Perfect for regular monthly grooming.
- Haircuts and styling: Many dog breeds like Shih Tzus, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers require specialized cuts. Styling services command higher fees.
- Tick and flea treatments: Offering medicated baths or tick removal adds great value, especially in India’s humid climate.
- Specialized cat grooming: Cats are harder to groom than dogs, so offering cat-friendly services sets you apart and lets you charge premium rates.
- Add-on services: Pet massages, de-shedding treatments, teeth cleaning, and paw care can boost income.
Step 6: Pricing Strategy in India
Pricing should balance affordability with profitability. Here’s a rough idea for metro cities:
- Small dog grooming package: ₹800 – ₹1,200
- Medium dog grooming package: ₹1,200 – ₹1,800
- Large dog grooming package: ₹1,800 – ₹3,000
- Cat grooming package: ₹1,500 – ₹2,500
- Add-on services: ₹300 – ₹800 each
On average, a groomer can handle 3–5 pets per day. With consistent bookings, monthly earnings can reach ₹80,000 – ₹1,50,000 in the home-visit model, and ₹2,00,000+ in the van-based model once fully established.
Step 7: Marketing Your Mobile Grooming Business
Reaching pet owners effectively is the key to success.
- Social media marketing: Create an Instagram and Facebook page showcasing before-and-after grooming photos, videos, and happy pets. Pet parents love to share their pet’s transformation stories.
- WhatsApp groups in apartments: Many housing societies have community groups. Offering discounts for first bookings works well to gain quick clients.
- Tie-ups with vets and pet shops: Partner with veterinary clinics, pet supply stores, and dog trainers who can refer your services to customers.
- Pet events and adoption drives: Set up a small grooming booth at pet fests or NGO adoption events to promote your business.
- Google My Business listing: List your business with location, phone number, and services so people searching “pet grooming near me” can find you.
Step 8: Training and Hiring
If you’re starting small, you can manage with self-training and practice. But as your business grows, consider hiring staff.
- Self-learning: YouTube tutorials and online courses help you learn basic grooming. Practice on friendly pets (with owner permission) before taking paying clients.
- Professional courses: Institutes like Fuzzy Wuzzy Pet School (Bangalore), Scooby Scrub (Mumbai), and international courses provide structured training.
- Hiring staff: Experienced groomers can charge salaries between ₹20,000–₹40,000 per month. Hiring ensures you can serve more clients daily.
Step 9: Maintaining Hygiene and Safety
Pet owners will only trust you if you follow strict hygiene practices.
- Always disinfect clippers, scissors, and combs after each pet.
- Use fresh towels and properly washed equipment.
- Handle pets gently and patiently to avoid injuries.
- Keep a small first aid kit for emergencies.
- Use only pet-safe shampoos and products—never human cosmetics.
Step 10: Scaling Your Business
Once your business is profitable, there are multiple ways to expand:
- Add more vans or groomers: Cover more areas in your city by expanding your fleet.
- Offer subscription packages: Monthly or quarterly grooming packages encourage repeat customers and steady income.
- Launch a pet care brand: Sell your own line of shampoos, conditioners, or grooming brushes.
- Franchise model: Once established, you can create a chain of mobile grooming units and franchise the brand.
Challenges You May Face
Like every business, this one comes with challenges:
- Managing aggressive or anxious pets during grooming.
- Seasonal demand fluctuations (more in summer, less in winter).
- Initial difficulty in convincing people to trust a mobile groomer.
- Vehicle maintenance and fuel costs for van-based models.
These challenges can be overcome with patience, training, and customer service.
Final Thoughts
Starting a mobile pet grooming business in India is one of the most promising opportunities for 2025 and beyond. With increasing pet ownership and rising spending on pet care, the market is expanding rapidly.
If you start small with a home-visit model, you can build experience and a customer base with an investment of just ₹1–1.5 lakh. As demand grows, scaling to a van-based grooming salon can turn your business into a high-income venture.
By focusing on convenience, hygiene, and quality service, you can build a loyal customer base and stand out in this growing industry.