You walk into the store and the groomer brings your dog up front. Your dog looks great. The receptionist hands you the bill and you reach for your wallet. But a question sticks out in your mind…
“Should I tip? How much? Do they expect one? If I leave too small of a tip will the dog groomer be insulted?“
So many questions. That’s why we have Katlin here to tell her side of the story.
Katlin has been dog grooming professionally for 8 years. Having worked in a few different facilities (big box stores, little boutiques, and mobile) she has some well rounded experience on what the tipping experience is like.
How Much Should You Tip a Groomer?
Most pet owners tip their dog groomers anything between 15 and 25% of the total bill.
The beauty of tipping is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. The same is true for the amount you tip. So, you can tip your groomers a free lunch or a thousand dollars; everything depends on you.
That said, having a fixed percentage in mind saves us from a lot of guesswork. Therefore, most people tip 15-25%. This is just a rough number so you can deviate from it quite a bit. And there are quite a few reasons why you will want to deviate from this number. First up, tipping is a form of appreciation. So, the better the job the more you should tip.
Secondly, tipping boosts the morale of the groomer. When you tip a groomer for a good job, he will ensure he does an even better job the next time around. This ultimately benefits you because the crisper your pet looks the happier you’ll be.
Lastly, while tipping should be preferred, there are situations where you may not want to tip. For instance, if the groomer does a bad job then there is no reason for you to tip. Not tipping after a bad job is preferred since it communicates your feedback to the groomer. Then if the groomer is perceptive aka smart, he will take this feedback to heart and improve. In short, tip 15-25% more often than not.
They’re Performing a Service for You
Think about it. You tip most people who perform services for you. You tip delivery drivers, taxi drivers, waiters, hairdressers…the list goes on. It’s practically ingrained in American culture at this point. So, why would you leave a dog groomer off the list?
A dog groomer is performing a service for you, and one that can be unpleasant at times. Your dog may have a nasty temper or may be old or sensitive. Your dogs are your babies to you, but to someone else, they may be a bit of handful.
As such, you should always tip a dog groomer for performing a service you couldn’t otherwise complete for yourself.
How often do groomers get tipped?
Looking at my data from the past 6 months: about 70% of my clients tip regularly.
But looking at the big picture; things like economic downturns or upswings can certainly have an overall effect. Which is completely understandable.
A tip can be an indicator that I’m on the right track. It says to me “Thanks, you’re doing a great job”. But even if you can’t contribute, some honest feedback or appreciation is still very valuable to me.
In my experience (so take this with a grain of salt) wealthy clients tip less or not at all. While your typical middle class person nearly always tip. Elderly people generally tip too, but in smaller amounts because their budget is usually tighter (which makes me even more appreciative!)
You might expect people with more wealth to tip more and those with less to tip less. But in 9 years of grooming I’ve often seen the opposite.
I don’t mind – it’s just an interesting little observation.
FAQ
Is 20% a good tip for groomer?
What is the average tip for a dog groomer?
Do you tip a mobile dog groomer who owns the business?