Add-On Services That Increase Grooming Revenue

Add-on services are one of the easiest ways to increase the value of each visit without adding more dogs to your day. A teeth clean here, a de-shedding treatment there: small extras that clients appreciate and that add up over a year. The key is offering them in a helpful way, not a pushy one.

Why add-ons work

The dog is already in your salon, on your table, being groomed. Adding a few minutes for teeth or nails costs you little extra time and products, and gives the client real value. For many salons, add-ons make a noticeable difference to the average spend per visit.

Popular add-ons

• Nail grinding. Smoother nails than clipping alone, popular with owners who have wooden floors.
• Teeth cleaning. A brush with dog-safe toothpaste, often paired with breath spray.
• De-shedding treatments. Especially popular in spring and autumn for double-coated breeds.
• Medicated or soothing shampoos. For itchy or sensitive skin.
• Paw care. Paw pad trims and balm for dry or cracked pads.
• Finishing touches. Bandanas, bows, cologne and photos for social media.

Choose add-ons that fit your clients

Look at the breeds and coats you see most. A salon full of Huskies and Golden Retrievers will sell de-shedding treatments; one full of small fluffy dogs might sell more teeth cleaning and bows. Start with three or four add-ons that suit your clients, rather than a long list.

Price them simply

Add-ons should be easy to understand and easy to say yes to. A clear price for each, shown on your price list and booking page, works best. Some salons also offer bundles, such as a "spa package" of teeth, nails and paw balm at a small saving.

Make them easy to book

Let clients choose add-ons when they book online, and make it easy for staff to add them at check-in. In PetConnect, add-ons can be added to the booking and appear clearly at checkout, so nothing is missed and the client sees exactly what they're paying for.

Recommend based on the dog

The most natural way to offer add-ons is to base them on what you see. "His nails are getting long and they're clicking on the floor. Would you like us to grind them today?" or "Her skin looks a bit dry. Our oatmeal shampoo would help, and it's an extra few dollars." Honest, specific recommendations rarely feel like selling.

Train the team

Make sure everyone who checks dogs in knows the add-ons, the prices and when to suggest them. Practise the wording together. Groomers can also note recommendations for next time on the pet's profile.

Don't push

Clients can tell when they're being upsold. Offer add-ons that genuinely help the dog, accept "no" gracefully, and never make clients feel the basic groom is somehow lacking. Trust is worth far more than one extra sale.

Use seasons

Promote de-shedding in spring, paw balm in winter, and flea treatments in warmer months. Seasonal reminders in your messages or on social media keep add-ons relevant and timely.

Track what sells

Look at your reports each month to see which add-ons are popular and which aren't. Drop the ones nobody chooses and try something new. Reports by groomer also show who's recommending add-ons well, so they can share their approach.

Add-ons for mobile groomers

For mobile groomers, add-ons are especially valuable, because they increase the value of each stop without adding travel. Even one add-on per dog makes a meaningful difference over a week of driving.

Bundles and packages

Bundles make choosing easier and often increase the value of each visit. A "pamper package" with teeth cleaning, nail grinding and paw balm, or a "spring refresh" with a de-shedding treatment and coat conditioner, gives clients one simple decision instead of several. Price bundles so they offer a small saving compared with buying each extra separately.

Time each add-on

Add-ons should be profitable for your time. Time each one over a few weeks: how long does teeth cleaning or a de-shedding treatment really take? If an add-on takes fifteen minutes but is priced like a five-minute job, either adjust the price or the way it's done. Build the extra time into the booking, so add-ons don't make the rest of the day run late.

Show the results

When an add-on makes a visible difference, show the owner. A brush full of loose undercoat after a de-shedding treatment or smooth, rounded nails after grinding speaks for itself. Clients who see the difference tend to choose the same add-on next time.

Start with one

If you don't offer add-ons yet, start with just one that suits most of your clients, such as nail grinding. Offer it to every suitable dog for a month and see how many clients say yes. Once the team is comfortable recommending it, add a second.

Read our guide to pricing grooming services, or see how services are set up on our grooming management page.