What should I look at in a pet store’s dog wash or grooming add-on station?

Walk through the station as a user would. Check the tubs, hoses, drains, tables, restraints, dryers and lighting. Look for leaks, mould, worn parts and slippery floors. Ask the age of each item and who owns it, because some may be leased.

Ask about staffing. Is there a trained groomer, and does the shop depend on one person? Ask whether that person is staying, whether they are an employee or a contractor, and whether customers follow them. A station without its groomer may sit idle.

Look at the numbers for the station by itself: bookings, no-shows, supplies, repairs, utilities and water. Ask your accountant to separate them from the retail side. Then ask whether grooming customers also buy food and supplies, since that is often the station’s main value. Check cleanliness routines, incident records and any complaints about injuries or lost pets. Ask your insurer what cover applies. Finally, consider whether the space could earn more as retail. Ask too about the surrounding rules the station must follow, such as waste water handling and animal handling standards, and who confirms them. Your municipality or the responsible authority can tell you what applies, and the seller should show how the station has met it.

Key takeaways

• Inspect plumbing, drainage and equipment, and ask who owns each item.
• Find out whether the groomer is staying and whether customers follow them.
• Judge the station by its own records and its effect on retail sales.