kosmik provides house call grooms for out of the world grooms! Book with me and see the difference💙
02/24/2024
Ok, sorry not sorry, but it's soapbox time. I'm not going to call anyone out by replying to any specific comment, not just to not be mean, but because I've seen the same comment again and again over the years. "Why is house call so expensive, why is it a luxury, there's little to no overhead, etc, etc"
I'll talk about some of that; I'm sure not for the last time.
It's so expensive because it IS a luxury. It's a time saver because the client doesn't have to waste time dropping off and picking up their dog. They may not even need to be home. It's a specialized service because you're more likely to find a house caller who will let you sit there and watch than any other type of groomer. The dog doesn't have to take a car trip and be around other dogs; not every dog likes or is good with those things.
It's expensive because, in a shop, I can comfortably do twice the number of dogs as I can do house calls, more if you throw in bath dogs.
It's a luxury because, unlike most (not all, calm down) shops, the groomer works one-on-one straight through with the pet.
Now let's talk overhead.
You still need a reliable vehicle and quality tools and products. Are you paying rent on a brick-and-mortar? No. Do you need to carry just as much insurance? Yes. A client could slip in slashed water or a slippery spray.
But no one talks about the actual equipment cost in house call. The equipment gets far more damaged doing house calls, no matter how careful you are, than in any other type of grooming. The equipment that, if it gets damaged enough, either ends your career completely, costs you tens to hundreds of thousands to repair (if you can even repair it), and impacts your quality of life for the rest of your life. You. Your body. I'm a little Miss Ergonomics, but when dragging my equipment up & down flights of stairs and having no control of counter heights in someone's house, even I am challenged to keep the wear & tear to a minimum.
Holly Hill once said that house calls were the most convenient for the customer and inconvenient for the groomer. That stuck with me hard. That's why it's a luxury service. That's why the pricing is what it is.
