Dog grooming terms and conditions: a template

Updated 7 October 2026

Clear terms and conditions protect you and your clients. They set out what happens when a dog is late, matted, poorly or hard to handle, before it happens. Most disagreements in a grooming business come from something that was never written down. This guide walks through what to include, with wording you can adapt. It isn’t legal advice, so have a solicitor or your insurer look over your final version.

Why written terms matter

When a client books, you both agree to something, whether it’s written down or not. Written terms make that agreement clear. They help you apply your rules the same way to everyone, and they give you something to point to when a client is unhappy.

Keep them short and in plain English. A client who reads and understands one page is better than one who scrolls past five. Your terms must also be fair. Consumer law gives clients rights that your terms can’t take away, and unfair terms may not be enforceable. GOV.UK and Citizens Advice explain the basics of consumer rights for small businesses.

What to include

Most grooming terms cover the same ground. Pick the parts that fit how you work, salon or mobile, and leave out anything you won’t actually enforce.

Bookings: how clients book, how much notice you need, and whether new clients need to book a first groom or a consultation.
Deposits and payment: whether you take a deposit, when the rest is due, and how clients can pay.
Cancellations and no-shows: how much notice clients must give, and what happens to the deposit or any fee if they don’t.
Lateness: how late a dog can arrive before the groom is shortened or rebooked, and whether the full price still applies.
Prices: that prices are a guide, and what can change them, such as coat condition, size or extra time.
Matting: that you may need to clip short rather than demat, for the dog’s welfare, and that extra time may be charged.
Health: that owners must tell you about health problems, fleas, recent surgery or medication, and that you may refuse or stop a groom if a dog is unwell.
Vaccinations: whether you need dogs to be up to date, and what proof you ask for.
Behaviour: that owners must tell you about biting, nervousness or reactivity, and that you may stop a groom if continuing isn’t safe.
Elderly or poorly dogs: that grooming can be stressful, and that you’ll keep the session short or stop if needed.
Collection: when dogs must be collected, and whether you charge for late collection.
Photos: whether you may share photos of the dog on social media, with a clear way for owners to say no.
Emergencies: that you may take a dog to a vet if needed, and who pays.

A simple template to adapt

Here is example wording for a few common points. Change the details to match your business. Don’t copy terms you won’t stick to.

Bookings and deposits: “A deposit is needed to confirm each booking. It is taken off your final bill.”
Cancellations: “Please give at least [number] hours’ notice to cancel or move a booking. If you give less notice, or don’t arrive, you may lose your deposit.”
Lateness: “If you arrive more than [number] minutes late, we may need to shorten the groom or rebook it.”
Matting: “If your dog’s coat is matted, we may clip it short for your dog’s comfort. Removing mats takes extra time and may cost more.”
Health: “Please tell us about any health problems, medication or recent surgery before the groom. We may stop a groom if your dog becomes distressed or unwell.”
Behaviour: “Please tell us if your dog has ever bitten or is nervous of handling. We may stop a groom if it isn’t safe to continue. The full price may still apply.”
Collection: “Please collect your dog at the agreed time. Late collection may be charged.”
Photos: “We sometimes share photos of dogs we groom. Tell us if you’d rather we didn’t.”

If you use a separate consent form, keep the two in step. The consent form records facts about each dog, and the terms set out the rules for every booking.

Getting clients to agree

Terms only help if clients have seen them and agreed to them. The simplest way is to ask every new client to read and sign them before their first groom, and to keep a record with the date.

Paper forms get lost, and it’s hard to prove who signed which version. Signing online means the agreement is stored with the client’s details. When you change your terms, tell existing clients and ask them to agree to the new version.

Review them once a year

Look at your terms every year, or sooner if something keeps going wrong. If clients often arrive late, tighten the lateness rule. If you start taking deposits, add them. Check your insurer is happy with what you say about health, behaviour and emergencies, and keep your privacy notice up to date if you store client and pet details.

Questions

Do I legally need terms and conditions as a dog groomer?

There’s no specific rule that groomers must have written terms, but they make it much easier to show what a client agreed to. Consumer law still applies either way. This isn’t legal advice.

Can I charge a fee if a client doesn’t turn up?

Many groomers keep a deposit or charge a fee for no-shows and late cancellations. Make the rule clear before the client books, and keep it fair and in proportion to what you lose.

What’s the difference between terms and a consent form?

Terms set out the rules for every booking, such as cancellations and payment. A consent form records details about each dog, such as health and behaviour, and the owner’s permission for things like clipping short.