It is relatively cheaper to start a pet grooming shop in
Singapore as compared to a veterinary clinic. Still the
following factors contribute to success or failure based
on my observations of many groomers opening and closing
shop in Singapore every year, for the past 30 years:
1. Location - convenient, easy to park.
2. Capital - need a few thousand dollars to last one
year to pay the high rentals.
Landlords have no mercy on tenants and will want more
and more rentals esp. if the business is good. Assuming
a small shop in a poor location rents around
$3,000/month, the rental per year is already $36,000.
3. Clientele - new grooming graduate. No clientele of
significant numbers to sustain the operations.
4. Marketing - not guaranteed but must be done. Cost
money and time.
5. Pricing - cheap, will get many cases but can't make
much. Market rates can be as low as $40 with transport
and grooming/dog. Therefore, estimate maximum of 30
dogs, the maximum gross income per day is $1,200.
For new groomers without solid clientele, average 3 dogs
per day, no dog transport provided, the income of
$120/day x 25days worked = $3,000. This amount can't
even pay the rent and utilities. Sales of dog food and
puppies may attract walk-in but there is the additional
cost and the need to go for a course and be certified by
the AVA to sell puppies.
6. Skills - unproven for a new graduate. Therefore, no
referrals of significance. Pet owners may have to try
their luck. But if the groomer is cheap, why not?
7. Free Transport - Some groomers need to transport dog
home as they can't afford drivers. Many competitors
provide transport-grooming package.
8. Wrist pain. Limited number of pets to be
groomed. I estimate that 20-30 dogs groomed will be the
limit for each groomer. Hand sprain, tendinitis, back
ache unless the groomer gets a proper table.
9. Administration. Make appointments, get payments, send
dogs home etc. That means hiring one assistant whose pay
is around S$1,500/month.
10. Intense competition. Many groomers have set up shop
as Singapore develops. How many of those who opened 10
years ago are still around?
11. Work-life balance. Is the young groomer prepared to
work the long hours and weekends?
Relationships, motherhood, financial strength, high
energy levels and hard work and long hours. How many
of the google generation Singaporeans can sustain
through the years and be focused to build up a solid
reputation and be able to survive when landlords start
increasing rentals again and again? Singapore rentals
just keep increasing because commercial shop spaces are
seldom built and therefore in short supply, unlike in
countries like Australia.
Tips for Dog Owners
The best time to spay your dog is 2 months after the end
of heat
TOA
PAYOH VETS
