💰 Billing & Payments
Invoice Automation for Pet Groomers: Get Paid Faster and Stop Chasing Payments
Most pet groomers still collect payment the slow way: tell the owner the total at pickup, wait for them to find their wallet, write a receipt by hand, and hope they remember to pay if they left in a hurry. Then the awkward text or call two days later.
There is a better way. Text-to-pay sends your client a payment link the second their pet is ready. Prepay packages collect money upfront. Automatic reminders follow up on any unpaid invoices without you having to make the call. This tutorial sets all three up in about 30 minutes.
The result: faster payment, fewer awkward conversations, and an extra 3 hours per week you can spend on actual grooming, or on yourself.
Purpose-built grooming software with breed-based pricing, text-to-pay, appointment management, and client history. The all-in-one solution for grooming shops.
From $25/mo, Try MoeGo free →Free card processing with text-to-pay invoices and basic automation. Perfect for solo groomers who want payment collection without monthly software fees.
Free (2.6% per transaction), Try Square free →Professional invoicing with automatic payment reminders, late fee automation, and recurring billing. Best for mobile groomers or shops with premium clientele.
From $17/mo, Try FreshBooks free →The DIY option. Create payment links in Stripe, trigger them via Zapier when appointments complete in your booking tool. Highly customizable.
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, Try Zapier free →| Service Type | Typical Price Range | Deposit Recommended? | Prepay Package? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath, Brush & Blowdry (small) | $40–$60 | No | 6-visit package |
| Full Groom (small breed) | $55–$75 | No | 6-visit or 12-visit |
| Full Groom (medium breed) | $65–$95 | New clients: $25 | 6-visit package |
| Full Groom (large/XL breed) | $90–$140+ | Yes, 50% deposit | 6-visit package |
| De-shedding Treatment | $50–$120 | Yes, 50% deposit | Seasonal package |
| Cat Grooming (full) | $75–$130 | Yes, 50% deposit | Quarterly package |
| Puppy First Groom | $45–$70 | No (keep friction low) | Intro 3-visit package |
In Square or MoeGo, enable "send invoice by text" as your default checkout method. When a grooming appointment ends, tap your phone, select the services completed, and hit send. The client gets a text with a payment link instantly. No card swipe, no cash handling, no waiting. They tap the link, enter their card (saved for next time), and you get paid in seconds. Square stores the card on file so repeat clients pay with one tap. Set this as the default for every single appointment.
Build a price list in your invoicing tool with every service you offer. Include breed-based pricing tiers (MoeGo does this automatically). When you create an invoice, you just select "Full Groom - Golden Retriever" and the price populates automatically. No mental math, no pricing inconsistencies, no accidentally undercharging a large breed. This also makes it easy to add add-ons: nail trim (+$12), teeth brushing (+$15), de-shed treatment (+$35). These add-ons are easy to forget when collecting cash, impossible to miss when they're clickable line items.
In your booking tool (Calendly, Acuity, or MoeGo), enable deposit collection at booking for new clients and any grooming over $80. Set the deposit at 50% of the service price. The deposit is collected when they book, before they even come in. This eliminates most no-shows and last-minute cancellations for big-ticket appointments. Your Square or Stripe account receives the deposit automatically. At pickup, send the balance invoice for the remaining 50%.
For any invoice that goes unpaid, set up automatic follow-ups. In FreshBooks, turn on automatic payment reminders: Day 1 after invoice, "Just checking in on invoice #[X] for [PET NAME]'s groom, tap here to pay." Day 3, "Your invoice is still outstanding. Reply if you have any questions." Day 7, "Final reminder for invoice #[X]." This alone eliminates the awkward "hey, you forgot to pay" conversation. Most clients who forget will pay after the first reminder.
Once a client has visited 3 or more times, offer a prepay package. Example: "Buy 6 grooms, get $30 off" or "12-visit annual plan at 10% discount." Create a package invoice in Square or FreshBooks with the discounted price. When a client pays, note their package balance in MoeGo or a simple spreadsheet. Prepay packages increase client lifetime value, reduce no-shows dramatically (they already paid!), and give you predictable cash flow. Introduce packages with a text to loyal clients: "We want to offer you a loyalty package..." (template below).
Screenshot placeholder: Square invoicing dashboard showing text-to-pay invoice sent with payment status
Hi [CLIENT NAME]! [PET NAME] looks amazing and is ready for pickup 🐶✨ Your invoice for today's [SERVICE]: $[AMOUNT] Pay securely here: [PAYMENT LINK] See you next time! [YOUR NAME] | [BUSINESS NAME]
Hi [CLIENT NAME], just a quick follow-up on [PET NAME]'s grooming invoice from [DATE]. Invoice #[X]: $[AMOUNT], still showing as unpaid. No worries if you forgot! Tap here to settle it up: [PAYMENT LINK] Questions? Just reply to this text. [YOUR NAME] | [BUSINESS NAME]
Hi [CLIENT NAME]! [PET NAME] has been coming to us for a while now and we love having you as a client. We're offering a loyalty prepay package to our regulars: 🧡 6-Groom Package: $[NORMAL PRICE x6] → $[DISCOUNTED PRICE] (save $[SAVINGS]) ❤️ 12-Groom Annual Plan: $[PRICE] (10% off all year) Pay once, use any time. No expiry. Interested? Reply "YES" and I'll send you a payment link! [YOUR NAME] | [BUSINESS NAME]
Lisa runs a 3-table grooming salon in Denver and was spending about 4 hours a week chasing payments, texting clients who forgot, dealing with bounced checks, and calling no-shows who had skipped out on paid deposits. Cash flow was unpredictable and she dreaded the end-of-week reconciliation.
Lisa switched to text-to-pay via Square, enabled 50% deposits for all new client bookings, and launched a 6-visit prepay package for her 40 most loyal clients. She set up FreshBooks auto-reminders at Day 1, 3, and 7 for unpaid invoices.
Within 60 days, 22 of her loyal clients enrolled in prepay packages (generating over $4,800 in upfront cash), same-day payment rate went from 68% to 94%, and Lisa reclaimed about 3.5 hours per week that she now uses for an extra half-day of mobile grooming visits.
Square's free plan lets you send text-to-pay invoices with zero monthly fees. Get set up in under 30 minutes and collect your first automated payment this week.
Try Square Free → Get Setup Help →Most groomers use text-to-pay: the client gets a text with a Stripe or Square payment link the moment their pet is ready. They tap, pay, and you're done, no card swipe, no receipt hassle, no chasing. MoeGo grooming software has this built in natively; Square offers it free on any device.
Yes, especially for new clients and large-breed full grooms. A 50% deposit at booking eliminates most no-shows and gives you confidence to hold the appointment slot. Loyal regulars benefit more from prepay packages (save money, guaranteed slots) than from per-appointment deposits.
MoeGo is purpose-built for groomers with breed-based pricing, appointment management, and text-to-pay built in. Square is the best free option for groomers who want simple card processing. FreshBooks works well for groomers who also need professional invoicing for high-ticket or commercial clients.