A Daily Checklist for Running a Grooming Salon

A grooming salon runs on routine. The days that go well usually start with a calm, prepared morning and end with a tidy, organised close. The days that go badly often start with a missing set of blades or a client nobody remembered was booked. A simple daily checklist makes good days the normal days.

Why use a checklist?

When you're busy, it's easy to skip steps. A checklist means nothing important is forgotten, every staff member does things the same way, and new team members learn the routine quickly. It takes a few minutes and saves far more time than it costs.

Before you open

• Review the day. Check every booking, read each dog's notes and look for anything special: a new client, a difficult dog, a big coat.
• Confirm clients. Follow up anyone who hasn't confirmed their reminder.
• Set up stations. Clean tables, check tubs and hot water, test dryers and lay out tools.
• Equipment. Charge clippers, check blades and scissors, and have spares ready.
• Supplies. Stock towels, shampoos, ear cleaner, cotton balls, bandanas and treats.
• Front desk. Make sure the card terminal is charged and connected.

During the day

Through the day, keep a few habits going. Check each dog in properly, asking about any changes in health or behaviour. Keep the owner's phone number handy in case you need to call. Clean tables and tubs between dogs. Keep the calendar up to date as dogs arrive and leave, so the front desk knows what's happening.

At checkout

Checkout is where the money and the next booking happen. Show the owner the finished groom, mention anything you noticed, take payment, suggest a product if it fits, and book the next visit. Our guide on getting clients to rebook covers what to say.

At closing

• Payments. Make sure every booking is checked out and paid. Check the day's takings.
• Notes. Add notes to every dog groomed today: style, products, anything noticed.
• Tomorrow. Check tomorrow's bookings and confirmations.
• Clean. Clean and disinfect tubs, tables and floors. Empty hair traps.
• Laundry and rubbish. Wash towels, take out rubbish and restock for the morning.
• Lock up. Turn off dryers and equipment, check water is off and lock doors.

Weekly tasks

Add a short weekly list too: deep clean, check stock levels, send blades for sharpening, review the week's takings and look at next week's bookings. Many salons pick a quieter day, such as Monday afternoon, for these jobs.

Use your software

Many checklist items are faster with the right tools. In PetConnect, the dashboard shows today's bookings, unconfirmed appointments and what still needs checking out, so the opening and closing reviews take a minute. Reminders go out automatically, and the day's takings are ready when you close.

Make it visible

Print your checklists and put them where they're used: opening by the front door, cleaning by the tubs, closing by the desk. Ticking boxes on a laminated card feels old-fashioned, but it works.

Share the load

Assign checklist tasks to specific people, or rotate them. When everyone knows who opens and who closes, nothing is left undone and nobody feels they do everything.

Review your checklist

Every few months, look at your checklists. Are there steps you always skip? Things that keep going wrong that should be added? A checklist should grow with the business and reflect what actually happens in your salon.

Safety comes first

Include safety items on every list: dogs never left alone on tables, dryers never left unattended near a dog, and exits kept clear. These are the steps that matter most, and the ones most easily forgotten on a busy day.

A checklist for new clients

New clients deserve a little extra care. Add a short list for first visits: confirm contact and emergency details, record health and behaviour information, check vaccinations if you need them, explain your policies, and take a photo of the finished groom. A smooth first visit is the best way to turn a new client into a regular.

A checklist for busy days

On your busiest days, such as the week before Christmas, add a few extra checks: allow more drying space, stock extra towels, confirm every booking the day before, and have someone focus on the front desk so groomers can keep working. Small preparations make peak days far less stressful.

Keep a notebook for problems

Keep a simple log of anything that goes wrong: a dryer tripping the power, a late delivery, a client complaint. Review it at the end of each month. Patterns show you what to fix and what to add to your checklists.

Start with these lists, adjust them over the first month, and your team will soon run the day without needing to think about it.

See how the PetConnect dashboard helps with daily routines on our business dashboard page.