OVERVIEW
These four SOPs establish a connected daily workflow for grooming salons. SOP 1.01 addresses the beginning of the business day by requiring the salon to be clean, stocked, safe, organized, and ready before the first client arrives. It covers building checks, temperature and airflow, schedule review, client and pet notes, front desk preparation, grooming stations, bathing and drying areas, kennels, supplies, safety, and staff responsibilities. SOP 1.02 provides the corresponding end-of-day process, including accounting for pets, completing client documentation, reviewing payments, preparing for the next business day, cleaning work areas, handling laundry and waste, securing equipment, and completing the final safety walkthrough.
SOP 1.03 standardizes appointment check-in so important information is reviewed before a pet enters the grooming workflow. It covers appointment details, health and vaccine or shot requirements, existing records, changes since the last visit, the seven-point handling check, grooming requests, coat condition, pricing, pickup timing, required approvals, documentation, and safe movement into the workflow. SOP 1.04 then addresses how pets move through a busy salon based on pickup times, coat type, bathing and drying needs, grooming difficulty, behavior, health concerns, service type, staffing, equipment, and available space. Together, the procedures create a consistent process for preparing the salon, receiving pets, coordinating the day's work, communicating important information, and resetting the business for the following day.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
- How to prepare and inspect a grooming salon before the first appointment.
- How to review the daily schedule, first appointments, client notes, and pet alerts.
- How to prepare grooming stations, bathing and drying areas, kennels, and client check-in areas.
- How to complete an end-of-day reset, including pet accountability, documentation, cleaning, restocking, and security.
- How to conduct a consistent appointment check-in for new and returning clients.
- How to review pet health, behavior, coat condition, handling concerns, grooming requests, pricing, and pickup expectations.
- How to identify situations requiring manager, owner, or groomer review before accepting or beginning service.
- How to organize appointment flow according to pickup time, coat type, drying needs, grooming difficulty, and pet-specific concerns.
- How to communicate information between reception, bathing, grooming, and checkout.
- How to manage busy-day rotations, walk-ins, add-ons, waiting pets, and solo-groomer workflows.
BUSINESS BENEFITS
Implementing these SOPs creates a more consistent daily operating process by establishing defined procedures for opening, client check-in, appointment flow, and closing. Staff can work from shared information about schedules, pet notes, grooming requests, pickup times, coat conditions, behavior concerns, and special requirements. The procedures also support clearer documentation, safer preparation and handling, better communication between departments, and more organized movement of pets through bathing, drying, grooming, finishing, and checkout. Opening and closing procedures help prevent unfinished work from carrying into the next day, while the check-in and appointment-flow procedures help reduce confusion around services, timing, pricing, pet concerns, and staff responsibilities.
RECOMMENDED FOR
- Salon Owners
- Salon Managers
- Groomers
- Bathers
- Front Desk Staff
- Receptionists
- Opening Employees
- Closing Employees
- Daycare or Boarding Staff Connected to Grooming
- Solo Groomers
- Mobile Grooming Operators with Adjusted Setup or End-of-Day Needs
- Veterinary Grooming Departments
- Training Staff
IMPLEMENTATION NOTES
Implement these SOPs as a connected daily workflow rather than as isolated procedures. SOP 1.01 should be completed before the first appointment, with the opening checklist used to verify readiness. SOP 1.03 should be followed whenever a pet arrives so appointment details, health and behavior information, grooming requests, pricing, timing, required approvals, and important notes are addressed before the pet enters the workflow. SOP 1.04 should guide the movement and prioritization of pets throughout busy days, with the flow system and checklist kept current. SOP 1.02 should be completed after the final pet has been picked up, checked out, documented, and safely released. The related SOPs identified within each procedure should be used together where applicable.
