How do I find out if a grooming shop depends on one groomer’s skills?

Start with the schedule. For a sample of weeks, see which groomer handled each dog and how many were requests for a particular person. Notice who takes the difficult coats, the nervous dogs and the show clients, because those are the visits clients will not give to a stranger.

Ask the seller how the shop would run if that groomer were away for a week. If the answer is that the owner covers, ask whether the owner is the skilled one. A seller who is the star groomer is a different case from a shop with a trained team.

Speak to the groomers, with the seller’s agreement, about their plans, pay and what keeps them. Ask whether anyone has a non-compete or a clear employment agreement, and have your lawyer look at it. Consider building in a handover period and a plan for training others. Ask what the existing team would need to feel secure. Look at the shop’s online booking page, where groomers’ names often show, and see whether new clients choose the same person. Also ask how staff learned their skills, because a shop that trains its own people is easier to carry on. Ask clients, gently, whether they would try another groomer in the shop.

Key takeaways

• Check which groomer handles the hardest and most loyal clients.
• Ask how many clients request a particular person by name.
• Talk to the staff early about whether they plan to stay.