Mobile Pet Grooming
Premium convenience on wheels
Bottom line
Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.
Mobile pet grooming businesses operate out of a fully-equipped van that travels to customers’ homes. Clients pay a premium for convenience and one-on-one service, and retention can be strong once pets are on a 4–8 week schedule. The business scales by adding groomers and vans (a ‘fleet’ model) or by buying existing routes.
Avg Revenue
$250K
Profit Margin
30%
Acquisition Multiple
1.9x - 2.6x
Startup Cost
$85K - $210K
How It Works
Customers book online or by phone. A groomer drives the van to the customer, completes the service in the mobile unit, and rebooks on a recurring schedule (often 4–8 weeks). Revenue is driven by daily appointment capacity and route efficiency (less drive time = more dogs/day). Operators scale by adding vans, hiring groomers, and standardizing pricing/packages.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Watch / verify
Mobile Pet Grooming has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.
Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.
Weak source data caps the final score.
Why it may work
- +Attractive 30% estimated margin profile
- +SBA dataset shows 134 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No category operating model yet
- !No category model yet
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 812910 · Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | NE | $2.5M | $3.0M |
| Mar 2026 | WI | $290K | $342K |
| Mar 2026 | NY | $3.4M | $4.0M |
| Mar 2026 | MN | $380K | $447K |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $50K | $59K |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $2.9M | $3.4M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $357K | $419K |
| Mar 2026 | MO | $175K | $206K |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $50K | $59K |
| Mar 2026 | WI | $982K | $1.2M |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Premium pricing vs. in-salon grooming (convenience sells)
- +No retail lease — overhead is mainly the van and groomer labor
- +Strong repeat business once clients get on a recurring schedule
- +Easy to expand geographically by adding vans/territories
Cons
- -Capital-intensive per unit (van + buildout) and higher insurance costs
- -If the van is down, revenue can stop immediately
- -Hiring/retaining skilled groomers is the core bottleneck
Best For
Groomers (or operators) who want a high-retention service business and are willing to build a fleet over time
Operating Costs
Major costs: van payment/lease, fuel, maintenance, commercial auto insurance, grooming supplies, and groomer wages/commission. Route density and tight scheduling are the profit levers; drive time is the silent killer.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Pet grooming businesses for sale (some mobile units included)
Pet service businesses for sale (grooming, boarding, daycare)
Large mobile grooming operator — useful for comparing unit economics, investment, and territory-based acquisitions
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Buy price
- $475K–$650K
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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