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How to Start a Pet Grooming Business in Illinois

Pet grooming has steady repeat demand — many dogs, especially long- or curly-coated breeds, are groomed every four to eight weeks. The big early decisions are where you groom (a salon, a mobile van or your home) and how you handle the animals safely, because one injury or escape can cost more than a month of revenue.

Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Sources linked inline

Illinois requirements for this business

  • The Illinois Department of Agriculture licenses pet shop operators, dog dealers, kennel operators, cat and dog breeders, animal shelters, and day care operators; grooming is not named on its list. [source]
  • If your grooming business also boards dogs or cats (more than 12 hours or overnight) or trains them for a fee, you would need an IDOA kennel operator license under the Animal Welfare Act. [source]
  • If you keep dogs (or dogs and cats) for daytime care of up to 12 hours beyond grooming appointments, you may need an IDOA day care operator license. [source]
  • If you add boarding or day care, each Animal Welfare license type carries a $350 non-refundable application fee. [source]

Statewide steps for every Illinois business — forming an LLC or registering a business name with the State of Illinois — are on our state licensing directory.

FirstBizGuide is not a government agency: any license or registration fees are paid directly to the agency named in each source. These are the Illinois facts we have verified so far, not a complete list. City and county rules vary — check with your local government before opening.

Startup costs

We haven't found a reliable published cost range for this business, so we don't show one. Costs vary widely by market, equipment and whether you buy new or used. Plug your own quotes into the worksheet:

Open a pet grooming cost worksheet →

SBA 7(a) loans in this industry

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (NAICS 812910): 1,641 loans approved in FY2024–FY2026. Median loan $238,500; middle half $55,000–$564,000.

Loan size is not startup cost — these loans also fund acquisitions, real estate and working capital. Full breakdown and caveats →

How much competition is there?

Census industry: Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (NAICS 812910)

In Illinois: 1,021 employer establishments (2023) and 6,366 businesses without employees (2024). Nationwide: 25,551 employer establishments (2023) and 162,773 businesses without employees (2024).

See counts for your county → Counts aren't a measure of saturation — see the caveats on the tool page.

Equipment and supplies

  • Hydraulic or electric grooming table with grooming arm and loops
  • Tub with non-slip surface and good drainage
  • High-velocity dryer plus a cage-free stand dryer
  • Professional clippers, spare blades, shears and nail tools
  • Crates for animals waiting or drying
  • First-aid kit for pets and a written emergency plan

Licenses and registration

  • If you form an LLC or corporation, register it with your state; if you use a business name other than your own, file a trade name (DBA) where your state requires it (in some states that's the county).
  • Some states and cities license or inspect grooming and pet-care businesses; others have no specific rules. Ask your city and county, and your state's agriculture or animal-welfare agency.
  • Home-based grooming usually depends on local zoning rules for customer visits, noise and wastewater — check before you buy equipment.
  • Mobile vans may need a vehicle or vendor permit and must follow local rules on where wastewater can be dumped.
  • Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire employees or form an LLC or corporation. Beware of sites that charge for this. [source]
  • Register an LLC or corporation with your state's business registration office (sole proprietors usually register a trade name/DBA instead). [source]

Insurance to consider

  • General liability
  • Animal bailee (care, custody and control) coverage for pets in your care
  • Commercial auto for a mobile van
  • Equipment coverage
  • Workers' compensation once you hire

Get quotes from several carriers or an independent agent; coverage needs depend on your contracts, state and staff.

Financing options

  • SBA 7(a) loans — the SBA's main guaranteed loan program, made through participating lenders. [source]
  • SBA Microloans — smaller loans delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. [source]
  • SBA Lender Match — a free tool that connects you with interested SBA lenders. [source]
  • Free counseling from your local SBDC or SCORE chapter can help you build the business plan lenders ask for. [source]

Estimate payments with the loan calculator, then check runway with the cash flow projection.

Ongoing operating expenses

  • Shampoos, blades and supplies
  • Water and electricity
  • Fuel and van maintenance (mobile)
  • Rent (salon)
  • Insurance
  • Booking software and card fees
  • Marketing

Use the break-even calculator to see how many jobs or sales cover them.

Common mistakes

  • Underpricing large or matted dogs
  • No written policy for aggressive animals, late pickups and no-shows
  • Skipping vaccination records
  • Buying a van conversion before testing demand in your area
  • Booking too many dogs per day and rushing

Finding customers

  • Google Business Profile with before-and-after photos
  • Referrals from vets, trainers and pet stores
  • Rebooking every client before they leave
  • Neighborhood and apartment-complex groups

Startup checklist

Ticks are saved on this device and appear on My plan.

Compare with other businesses

Sources