Dog groomer invoice template for per-dog pricing, add-ons and no-shows
Invoice checklist
What a dog groomer invoice should show
Every dog by name, with size and groom type
"Full groom – medium" is no use to an owner with two dogs. Start each line with the dog's name, then the size band and what was done, so they can tell which line is which and why the spaniel cost more than the terrier.
The date of the groom
A regular on a four- to six-week cycle comes in eight to thirteen times a year, and the issue date won't tell either of you which visit an invoice covers once one is paid late. Put the appointment date beside the dog's name.
Add-ons under the dog they were for
Nail clipping, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, a flea bath: anything priced separately on your list gets its own line under the right dog. Owners use those lines to decide what to keep or drop next time, and a dated flea bath tells them what the dog has already had before they reach for a flea product at home.
A reference that ties the transfer to the dog
You probably know clients by their dogs, but the money arrives under whatever name is on the owner's bank account, which may be a partner's or a surname you've never used. Print your sort code and account number (or IBAN outside the UK) on every invoice and ask for the dog's name and the invoice number as the reference.
Your cancellation, late-arrival and no-show terms
The notice you need, what happens when a salon client turns up late or nobody is home when the van arrives, and what a missed slot costs. The owner should have agreed these when booking; a sentence or two at the foot of each invoice keeps them in view before a fee is ever charged. Invooza prints terms you add to an invoice as bullet points under the totals.
The next appointment, if one's booked
Many regulars rebook before they leave. With the date on the invoice, the owner sees it again when they pay, instead of on an appointment card that ends up in a coat pocket.
Getting paid
How to bill as a dog groomer
Pricing by breed, size and coat
Some groomers price by breed, others in size bands (small, medium, large, giant), usually with a supplement for heavy or double coats. Name the band or breed rate beside the price, so when a puppy moves off its introductory rate or a coat has been left too long between visits, the owner can see what changed.
De-matting and other calls made on the table
You only see how matted a coat is once the dog is in front of you. Agree a de-matting rate in advance (many groomers charge per 15 minutes) and ring the owner before starting. If the coat is too tight to brush out without hurting the dog, clipping short is usually the kinder choice, and that needs the owner's agreement too. Bill the time on its own line with a note: "matted behind ears, 30 min, agreed by phone".
Several dogs from one household
One invoice, a line per dog, with each dog's add-ons beneath it. Show any multi-dog discount as its own line, so if one dog stops coming the owner can see why the other now costs what it does.
Deposits and missed appointments
Take a new client's deposit off their first groom, showing the full price, the deposit with the date you received it, and the balance. If a new client doesn't turn up, your booking terms decide whether you keep the deposit, so write that down before you take one. For regulars, bill a no-show fee on its own invoice naming the missed date, or as a labelled line on the next one if your policy allows.
Templates
Best Invooza invoice templates for dog groomers
Every template renders as a real PDF with your own logo, tagline and brand colours. These three suit this kind of work best, but all fourteen are available on every account.
Wave
A flowing header carries your brand colours across the top of the page. It looks like a friendly local business, which suits a service booked for the family pet.
Modern
Big type and generous spacing, so an invoice listing two dogs and their add-ons still reads comfortably on the phone, which is where many owners will open it.
Column
A sidebar in your colours, with the details and total stacked in one column beside it. A regular who has paid you every five weeks for years opens the invoice for one figure, and here it is easy to find.
Avoid these
Dog groomers invoice mistakes that delay payment
Line labels that read as a verdict on the dog
"Difficult dog surcharge" or "neglected coat" on an invoice reads as criticism of the owner and their pet, and an owner who feels judged is more likely to take the dog elsewhere next time. Describe the extra work instead: "second handler for nails, 10 min" or "pelted coat clipped short, 25 min".
Losing track of which grooms are paid
An owner pays cash in May, says they'll transfer for June, and by the July appointment neither of you is sure whether June arrived. Mark each invoice paid on the day the money comes in, whichever way it was paid, and check what's outstanding before a regular's next visit. Invooza keeps every invoice in one list with paid and unpaid totals at the top.
Adding a missed-appointment fee without a word
If the owner first hears about it at collection, when the total is £25 higher than usual, the explanation happens at the counter with other clients waiting. Message them beforehand with the missed date and the amount.
Invoicing whoever dropped the dog off
Dog walkers, partners and neighbours all do drop-offs. The invoice goes to the person who booked and agreed your prices, even if you've only ever spoken to them by text.
FAQ
Dog groomers invoice template: frequently asked questions
Do I need to send an invoice if the owner pays when they collect?
Not always. Plenty of owners are happy with a receipt at collection. An invoice earns its place when payment comes later by bank transfer, or when the client is a rescue, boarding kennel or daycare that needs paperwork for its own accounts. Either way, keep a record of every groom and how it was paid, because your accounts and tax return are built from those records.
Should I add VAT to my grooming prices?
Not unless you're VAT-registered. In the UK you can't charge VAT without a registration, and plenty of sole-trader groomers stay below the turnover threshold. If you are registered, HMRC's guidance sets out what a VAT invoice must show, including your VAT number, and when a simplified invoice is allowed for smaller sales. Pet owners rarely need a full VAT invoice, though a registered daycare or kennel business may ask for one. Outside the UK, check with your own tax authority or an accountant.
How should I invoice a rescue that sends dogs to me?
Address the invoice to the rescue, not the foster carer who brings the dog in, and ask before the first groom whether they want one invoice per dog or a monthly one listing every dog. Put the rescue's name or reference for each dog on its line, since a dog may be renamed once it's adopted. In Invooza you can add a line-item column for that reference on the Fields page, and save your rescue rate, if you offer one, as its own item so the discounted price goes on without retyping.
What do I charge if I have to stop a groom partway through?
A dog too stressed to continue safely, or a skin problem a vet should see before you go further, can end a groom early. Whether you charge for the work done, a reduced rate or nothing, decide it in advance and put it in your terms, so you aren't working it out at the door with a worried owner. Describe it plainly on the line, such as "bath and dry only, groom stopped as dog distressed", and speak to the owner before the invoice goes.
Create your dog groomer invoice in minutes
Describe the job in chat or fill in a form. Your logo, tax and discount rules are applied for you, and the PDF is ready to send.
Explore
Invoice template guides for other kinds of work
- Invoice template for freelancersA free freelancer invoice template plus what to put on it: hourly versus fixed-fee lines, deposits, payment terms, and the details that stop a client from querying the invoice and delaying payment.
- Invoice template for consultantsA consultant invoice template with the structure that gets approved: retainer and milestone billing, recoverable expenses, purchase order numbers, and how to describe advisory work so finance can sign it off.
- Invoice template for photographersA photographer invoice template that separates the shoot fee from licensing, handles the booking deposit and balance, and states delivery and usage terms so the client knows exactly what they have paid for.
- Invoice template for contractors and tradesA contractor invoice template built for stage payments: labour and materials separated, variations recorded, advances for materials shown against the balance, and the details that keep a payment on schedule.
- Invoice template for graphic designersA graphic designer invoice template that handles revision rounds, source file handover and transfer of rights, so the project closes cleanly instead of drifting into unpaid extra work.
- Invoice template for plumbersA plumber invoice template that sets out the call-out fee, labour and parts line by line, shows out-of-hours rates and deposits clearly, and puts the job address and your guarantee where a homeowner or letting agent expects them.
- Invoice template for cleaners and cleaning businessesA cleaning invoice template for domestic and commercial cleaners: visit dates and properties listed, supplies and extras on their own lines, end-of-tenancy cleans, short-notice cancellations and purchase order numbers.
- Website guide for dog groomersWhat to put on a dog groomer's one-page site: services and prices by size and coat, the area a mobile groomer covers, how booking works, how nervous dogs are handled, and which design suits.
- AI Invoice GeneratorGenerate professional PDF invoices in seconds with Invooza's AI invoice generator. Describe the job in chat, and the AI fills the client, line items and terms, then applies tax and discount from your saved rules.
- Advance payment invoicesCreate invoices that show advance payments and the balance still owed. Record one or more advances with dates and Invooza prints each under the total, followed by the balance due.
- Send an invoice by emailEmail an invoice to your client straight from Invooza. Pick a saved client or type an address, edit the subject and message, and the branded PDF invoice is attached automatically.
- Invoice payment terms explainedWhat due on receipt, Net 14, Net 30 and EOM mean, how to set deposits, early payment discounts and late fees, and example wording for your own invoices.
- How to chase an unpaid invoiceA follow-up timeline for unpaid invoices, four overdue invoice emails you can copy, tips for the phone call, and what to do if a client still won't pay.