Loyalty Programs for Pet Groomers
By Alva Chew · Updated
In short A pet grooming loyalty program works best as points earned in proportion to spend, because a groom ranges from a small-dog bath to a full haircut with add-ons and the owner already understands spend, earn and redeem. Set the earn rate so a regular reaches a reward in two to four appointments, count add-ons and retail products, and keep checkout to one scan. Owners book every few weeks, so the reward should arrive within a few months.
What should a pet grooming loyalty program reward?
Reward spend, not visits. A groom is priced by the dog or cat. A small-breed bath is a short job, a large double-coated dog with a de-shedding treatment takes hours, and owners add nail grinding, teeth brushing or a flea shampoo. If every appointment earns the same reward, the owner of the big dog gets no more than the owner who comes in for a quick tidy. Points earned in proportion to the bill fix that without extra rules.
The behaviour you want is the next booking with you, not with the groomer down the road. A loyalty program gives a regular a running reason to rebook at your shop, and a balance that keeps growing in one place.
How big is the pet care trade?
Two sources give the scale. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) tracks what US owners spend on their pets, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks animal care jobs, including groomers.
| Measure (US) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Pet industry spending, 2025 | US$158 billion (+3.7%) |
| Projected pet industry spending, 2026 | US$165 billion |
| US households owning at least one pet, 2025 | 95 million |
| Dog-owning households, 2025 | 71 million (53%) |
| Cat-owning households, 2025 | 53 million (39%) |
| Owners who spent less on their pets, 2025 | 22% (up 10% from 2024) |
| “Other Services” spending, actual | US$14.3 billion |
| “Other Services” spending, 2026 projected | US$14.9 billion |
Source: APPA, US pet industry reaches $158 billion in 2025, March 2026, and APPA industry trends and stats, both opened 5 November 2026. APPA’s “Other Services” covers boarding, grooming, insurance, training, pet sitting and pet walking, so it is not a grooming-only figure. The stats page labels the column with both 2024 and 2025, so treat US$14.3 billion as APPA’s latest actual.
Two things follow. Pet households are numerous and growing, so there is demand for you to compete for. And more than one in five owners cut their spend in 2025, so the owner who stays with you each time is worth keeping.
Who works in grooming?
BLS groups groomers under animal care and service workers, together with kennel attendants and trainers.
| Measure (US) | Animal care and service workers |
|---|---|
| Jobs, 2025 | about 413,000 |
| Median pay, May 2025 | US$35,530 a year (US$17.08 an hour) |
| Projected job growth, 2025 to 2035 | 11%, much faster than average |
| Self-employed, animal caretakers | 25% |
| Self-employed, animal trainers | 39% |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, animal care and service workers, opened 5 November 2026. BLS wage data exclude self-employed workers. Self-employment is not given for groomers alone.
BLS says groomers work in grooming salons, kennels, veterinary clinics, pet stores and mobile services. It also lists scheduling appointments and selling products to owners among their tasks. Both feed a loyalty program: the appointment is the repeat event, and the product is extra spend that should earn points. BLS ties the projected growth to more households owning pets and being willing to spend more on their care.
How do you set points when visits are six weeks apart?
Grooming appointments are usually spaced weeks apart, which is a slower cycle than a barber and a larger ticket. The examples assume one every six weeks. A reward within two to four appointments arrives in roughly two to six months. The examples below assume an owner spending US$70 a visit. They are illustrations, not benchmarks.
| Program | Spend to earn | Reward | Back on spend | Appointments to a reward at US$70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 point per US$1, 100 points = US$5 off | US$100 | US$5 | 5% | 2 |
| 1 point per US$1, 200 points = US$15 off | US$200 | US$15 | 7.5% | 3 |
| 1 point per US$1, 200 points = US$20 off | US$200 | US$20 | 10% | 3 |
Choose the row that fits your margins and keep it fixed. Our guide to setting your points earn rate walks through the calculation from your own average bill.
A free-groom-on-the-tenth-visit card is the more complex option. A stamp card gives a puppy bath and a full haircut for a giant breed the same stamp, then needs rules for add-ons, products and gift cards. At six weeks apart, ten stamps take well over a year. The points version needs only the amount.
Should add-ons and retail products earn points?
Yes, in most grooming shops. Add-ons are where the ticket grows, and BLS lists product sales as part of the groomer’s job.
- Count the groom, add-ons and products at the same rate. One rule is easier for every groomer to remember.
- Count extras such as de-shedding or teeth brushing. They earn points like any other line on the bill.
- Decide about tips. Most shops award points on the bill before the tip. Pick one rule and tell the team.
- Handle packages clearly. If you sell a block of grooms, award points when the owner pays or when each groom is done, and state which.
What happens at checkout?
Pickup is busy. The owner is greeted by an excited dog, and the next drop-off is often at the door. Keep the step to one scan:
- The owner shows the QR code on their phone.
- Whoever takes payment scans it with the phone or tablet at the desk.
- They type the amount and the balance updates.
Ask new owners to join at drop-off, while you check in the pet, not at payment. A QR code on the front desk works. Ask once and they are in.
What if groomers rent a table or have their own clients?
Some shops employ groomers and others rent space. BLS reports 25% of animal caretakers as self-employed, though it gives no figure for groomers alone. Settle ownership of the client before launch.
- Fund the reward from the shop. If the owner pays for the reward, the shared balance is easy to run.
- Put it in writing. Say who pays for a redeemed reward when the last groom was with a different groomer.
- Keep one balance per owner. An owner who sees two groomers should not hold two balances.
If you run several locations, a single balance lets an owner earn at one and redeem at another. See loyalty programs across multiple outlets. If you already run a service business with repeat appointments, loyalty programs for barbershops and for hair salons cover the same ideas.
Pet grooming checklist
- Give points in proportion to spend, so a full groom earns more than a bath.
- Set the earn rate so a regular reaches a reward in two to four appointments.
- Count add-ons and retail at the same rate as the groom.
- Decide tips, packages and rented-table rules before launch.
- Invite owners to join once, at drop-off.
- Agree who funds a reward when the groomer differs.
Gimify is free for one grooming shop, with unlimited members and no time limit. Owners scan a QR code and enter their email, the card sits in Google Wallet, and any groomer can add or redeem points on their own phone. A second location adds a shared balance on the US$99 a month plan.
Questions owners ask
What is the best pet grooming loyalty program?
A points program in which owners earn points in proportion to what they spend on grooming, add-ons and products, then redeem points against a later bill. One rule covers a US$45 bath and a US$120 full groom, and owners need no explanation.
How many points should a groomer give per dollar?
Pick a rate that returns about 5% to 10% of spend. For example, 1 point per US$1 with 200 points for US$15 off returns 7.5%, and an owner spending US$70 a visit reaches the reward in three appointments.
Should a groomer use a stamp card or a free-groom-on-the-tenth-visit card?
No. A stamp gives a nail trim and a full haircut the same credit, then needs extra rules for large breeds, add-ons and products. Points scale with the bill, so the bigger job earns more without extra rules.
Should add-ons and retail products earn points?
Yes in most shops. Teeth brushing, de-shedding, shampoo and treats are priced separately, and counting them at the same rate as the groom keeps one rule for every groomer.
What if my groomers rent a table or have their own clients?
Decide who owns the client relationship and who pays for a redeemed reward before launch. A shared balance is easiest when the shop funds the reward.
Do pet owners need to install an app?
No. A card that opens from a QR code and sits in the phone wallet is enough, and the phone is already in hand at the front desk.
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