How do I check what a dog grooming business really earns?

The profit on a seller’s statement is a starting point, not an answer. A grooming salon often runs on one person’s hands, and the books may not show that. Your job is to rebuild the picture from records you can check independently: the appointment calendar, the deposits, the payroll and the supplier bills. Do it with your accountant, and treat anything you cannot tie back to a record as unconfirmed.

Tie appointments to deposits

Ask for an export from the booking system covering a full year, then compare a few months of it with card-processor reports and bank deposits. Every appointment that was completed should leave a trace. Look at how often clients rebook before they leave the chair, how many appointments are cancelled or missed, and whether cash sales are recorded anywhere. Gaps between the calendar and the bank are questions for the seller.

Separate the owner’s chair time

If the owner grooms most days, part of the profit is really wages. Ask how many hours the owner works on the table, and what it would cost to hire a groomer for those hours. Unpaid family help works the same way. Your accountant can test this by removing those costs and comparing the result with the records.

Look at pay structure and extras

Groomers are paid by commission, by wage or by a mix, and the structure changes what stays in the business. Ask what each groomer earns and whether they bring their own clients. Then look at retail add-ons such as shampoos and treats, and at charges for matted coats or difficult dogs. Finally, compare busy and quiet months, since holidays and shedding seasons can distort a single strong quarter.