Networking with other grooming business owners is heartily encouraged but it never replaces your responsibility to contact the local and state government for the area in which your business will reside. Request business startup packages from them. Ask for similar information from the local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration and their related Small Business Development Centers, SCORE (retired executives) and other local programs for business owners.
 

Local government will almost certainly require that you inform them of your new business by applying for licenses and permits. There may be some exceptions for unincorporated areas. Visit your "City Hall" and/or "County Clerk" representing the area where your business will be established. Ask for assistance in opening a new business. They will inform you of local government licensing and permit requirements. Once again, it won’t be a vocational license or permit to be a pet groomer, but one to operate a pet grooming business. Make sure you understand that difference.

When you operate a business in a name other than your legal personal name, such as the ABC Pet Salon, you will be required to file a "fictitious name statement" or DBA ”doing business as" application unless your state level company organization filing circumvents the local requirement.

Research local and state records to ensure you do not use a name reserved by someone else. You may even need to check for federal protections as well that could prevent you from using the name anywhere in the U.S.

Before you invest in your business make sure you can operate a grooming business in the desired location. There may be restrictions. In fact, restrictions on home businesses continue to grow. In California metro areas it is increasingly becoming more difficult to operate a home grooming business. Even housing associations may limit access to members with commercial vehicles (mobile grooming vans) when the vehicle is not parked inside a garage.

Few home garages can hold mobile vehicles. Mobile grooming vehicles parked on streets or in driveways may be considered a “visual nuisance” or “traffic nuisance.” The list goes on and on. Generally the more rural your area, the better your odds for home grooming business and commercial vehicle parking.
 

Mobile groomers often operate in multiple jurisdictions, such as cities and counties. They may need a separate business license for each jurisdiction. For example, Happy Mobile resides in Clark County but also grooms pets in Adam and Harris counties. Not only must the mobile groomer secure a business license in Clark County, but also Adam and Harris counties. It’s very important for mobile groomers to verify the license requirements for all areas in which they intend to groom.

What is the moral of the story? Go to your local government offices and be honest in describing the business you want to open. Ask them for a list of all legal requirements to open the stated business. Don't disobey or ignore any requirement as you don't want someone to take recourse against your business down the road.

As a new business owner you should introduce yourself to a local general or business attorney and explain your dream of opening a local business. It’s great to have professional services available on call to assist you. Don't be embarrassed! They started a new business at one time and know what it is to open a new business. In fact you should be proud. Professionals know you need working relationships with other professionals offering business services. Remember, you are no longer an employee. You are no longer “just a groomer.” You are also a business owner, and all business need occasional professional services. We recommended you read about working with professionals in our From Problems to Profits book. Keep in mind that some of these professionals may actually refer business to you. Most will help you; they want you to succeed. It’s great to have other businesspeople on your side. Enjoy walking into a new arena with new responsibilities and respect for working with professionals in your area.

State government does get involved with your business. If you plan to sell retail pet products, even one, you need a resale permit to collect state and local sales tax. It becomes your responsibility to transfer sales tax monies collected to your state and/or local government. They take your handling of their money very seriously. Based on our experience you must be accurate “to the penny” when collecting and transferring sales tax monies. Keep detailed sales records for retail items separate of sales of services like grooming. Your records may be audited. There are some areas where pet grooming services are taxable whereas only retail products are taxable in other areas. Check with your state government to ensure the correct status of sales tax collection for both services and retail goods.

You may be responsible for additional state taxes on businesses, business owners and your employees. Be sure to talk to your state level taxation agencies to understand what records, policies and procedures, and filings you must follow and complete. Every state has publications for this purpose, but once again, your CPA is certain to know the requirements too.

Some local and state governments require pet groomers to get special permit or license to operate a grooming business. These are very specific permits related to the operation of pet care or the handling of materials and supplies. It’s not uncommon for permits issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be required. Recently Homeland Security filing requirements have even appeared in some states. You may be required to have a permit when you store chemicals such as flea dips and pesticides. If you store anything flammable you may need a permit from the local Fire Department. Ask! Professionals such as your bookkeeper, Certified Public Accountant and lawyer will be invaluable in determining all of the required licenses and permits.

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