The Daily Groomer

Part II of the Start Series
Presented by The Daily Groomer and @WagnTailsMobile

Starting a mobile grooming business looks great from the outside.
Flexible schedule. Higher prices. Independence.
But what does it actually feel like once you’re in it?
In this session, we’re going beyond the highlight reel and getting into the real day-to-day experience of running a mobile grooming business — especially in the early stages.
No theory. No sugarcoating. Just an honest look at what it takes to get up and running and build something that lasts.

💬 What You’ll Learn
Tess will walk through what it’s really like to start and run a mobile grooming business — especially in the early days when you’re figuring everything out.
We’ll cover the real decisions, tradeoffs, and lessons that new mobile groomers face, including:
What the first few months actually look like after going mobile
How to think about buying your first van (new vs. used)
Different ways to finance your van — and what to watch out for
The biggest mistakes new mobile groomers make early on
How to handle your first clients, scheduling, and daily operations
What surprised her most when starting (the stuff no one tells you)
…plus YOUR questions, answered live and unfiltered
This session is designed to give you a clear, honest picture of starting mobile — so you can move forward with confidence and avoid costly missteps.

🎤 Guest Expert
Tess Oliver
Owner, Best in Show Pet Spa (Miami, FL)
Tess Oliver (IG: @best.in.show) is an award-winning dog groomer based in Miami, NDGAA certified in Non-Sporting breeds and Long-Legged Terriers. She shows and competes with Bedlington Terriers, and is an educator for Groom Haüs with several courses ranging from every day doodle trims to showing the Shetland Sheepgod. With over 15 years in the grooming industry and 10 years as a business owner, she brings a unique blend of technical grooming expertise and real-world business experience.

📍 Part of the Start Series
This workshop is Part II of the Mobile Grooming Growth Summit – Start Track, designed for groomers exploring mobile or in the early stages of building their business.
Part I – May 4
Salon & Mobile: What It Takes to Build Beyond One Model
Part II – May 18
What It’s Really Like to Run a Mobile Grooming Business
Part III – June 1
The Roadmap to Going Mobile: How to Start, Launch, and Grow Your First Van

🐾 Why Attend?
If you’re thinking about going mobile — or just getting started — this is the session that shows you what it’s actually like once you’re in it.
Get a realistic view of the early-stage experience
Learn from someone who’s built and operated multiple vans
Avoid common mistakes that slow new operators down
Understand what it takes to build a fully booked business
Bring your questions. Leave with clarity and confidence.

🔜 Coming Later This Year
The Scale Track — focused on multi-van owners and operators looking to grow — will be announced later this summer.

Stay connected with our guest speakers! Follow them on their social media @best.in.show⁠ . Curious about Teddy? You can sign up here. For more grooming tips, insights, and stories, check out our website at The Daily Groomer. Join and be part of The Daily Groomer Community!

Part I of the Start Series
​Presented by The Daily Groomer and  @WagnTailsMobile  ​

Thinking about going mobile — or already running your first van — and wondering what the bigger picture looks like?​

In this first session of the Start Track, we’re sitting down with an operator who’s built both a mobile and salon business to break down what it actually takes to grow in this industry.

​No theory. No fluff. Just a real conversation about what works, what doesn’t, and how to think about your next step.​

💬 What You’ll Learn

​Elizabeth will share what it’s really like to operate across both mobile and salon — and what that means if you're early in your journey.​

We’ll cover:​​
✅ The real differences between mobile grooming and salon ownership​​
✅ Why many groomers are choosing mobile — and when a salon still makes sense​​
✅ What to think about before you commit to your first van​​
✅ The early-stage realities of running a mobile grooming business​​
✅ How to approach growth without overcomplicating things too early​​
✅ Lessons learned from building both sides of the business
✅ ​…plus YOUR questions, answered live and unfiltered

🎤 Guest Expert​
Elizabeth Gibbs​
Owner, Barkwood Grooming (Salon & Mobile, Texas)​
Speaker • Educator • NCMG • Groom Team USA 2021/22​

Elizabeth is a nationally certified master groomer, HBO Max Haute Dog winner, and two-time Groom Team USA member. From grooming celebrities’ pets in Los Angeles to founding Barkwood Grooming back in her hometown, she brings a rare blend of high-end grooming skill and real-world business experience across both salon and mobile.​

📍 Part of the Start Series​
This workshop is Part I of the Mobile Grooming Growth Summit – Start Track, designed for groomers exploring mobile or in the early stages of building their business.​

Part I – May 4​
Salon & Mobile: What It Takes to Build Beyond One Model​

Part II – May 18
​What It’s Really Like to Run a Mobile Grooming Business​

Part III – June 1​
The Roadmap to Going Mobile: How To Start, Launch, and Grow Your First Van​

🐾 Why Attend?​
If you’re thinking about going mobile — or just getting started — this is your chance to learn from someone who’s seen both sides.​

Understand your options before making a big decision​
Learn what actually matters early on (and what doesn’t)​
Avoid common mistakes new mobile groomers make​
Get clarity on whether mobile is the right move for you​
Bring your questions. Leave with a clearer path forward.​

🔜 Coming Later This Year​
The Scale Track — focused on multi-van owners and operators looking to grow — will be announced later this summer.

Stay connected with our guest speakers! Follow them on their social media ⁠@gibbsgrooming. Curious about Teddy? You can ⁠sign up here⁠. For more grooming tips, insights, and stories, check out our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join and be part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer Community⁠⁠!

After Hours Episode #111: In this episode of After Hours, I sit down with Jayne Gallagher for a real conversation about the physical and emotional side of grooming. We talk about dealing with difficult dogs, knowing when to set boundaries with clients, burnout, injuries, and the importance of standing up for yourself. We also get into the “inform, educate, require” approach and why confidence and self-respect can make such a difference in this industry. If you’ve ever felt burned out, overlooked, or like you’re giving more than you’re getting back, this one will hit home.

After Hours Episode #110: In this episode of After Hours, I talk about why self-respect is the foundation of real confidence. I share some personal experiences, practical ways to build trust in yourself, and why keeping small promises to yourself matters more than you might think. We also get into setting boundaries, breaking the cycle of self-doubt, and what it looks like to become someone you genuinely respect. If you've ever felt stuck or want to build more confidence from the inside out, this episode is for you.

Summary
In our latest episode of The Daily Groomer, I sit down with Brandy Reese from Paragon to talk about one of the biggest challenges grooming businesses face: hiring. We get into how grooming education has changed over the years, what to look for when you're interviewing candidates, and why attitude and customer service can be just as important as grooming skills. We also talk about training new team members, how pet parent expectations continue to evolve, and some creative ways to find great employees—including looking outside the grooming industry. If you're struggling to build or grow your team, there's a lot in this conversation you'll be able to take back to your own business.

Timestamps
07:53 Evolving dog grooming education

16:01 Importance of soft skills over expertise

23:18 Changing standards for dog groomers

28:55 Upskilling staff with grooming programs

35:33 Challenges in Mobile Pet Grooming

39:14 Utilizing groom techs efficiently

Stay connected with our guest speakers! Follow them on their social media The Paragon School of Pet Grooming. Curious about Teddy? You can sign up here. For more grooming tips, insights, and stories, check out our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join and be part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer Community⁠⁠!