Buying a pet grooming or boarding business in Florida

Pet service businesses groom, board, train and provide daycare for dogs and cats, and some offer pet sitting, dog walking or mobile grooming vans. Grooming salons charge per groom, with regulars returning every month or two. Boarding and daycare charge per night or per day, with packages and memberships for dogs that come often. Trainers sell group classes and private sessions. Many businesses combine services under one roof, so a daycare customer becomes a grooming and boarding customer too.

Most revenue repeats: pet owners who trust a groomer or kennel rarely switch without a reason. Boarding follows holidays and travel seasons, and in Florida, seasonal residents can add demand in the winter months. The main costs are labor (groomers are often paid a commission), rent, utilities and cleaning. A typical business has groomers and bathers, kennel attendants, front desk staff, a manager, and an owner who may also groom.

• A large base of repeat clients, with booking records, vaccination records and pet notes in the business's own software.
• Groomers who have stayed for years, and more than one person who knows each client's pets. Pet owners stay loyal to the groomer their dog tolerates.
• A facility built for animals: drainage, ventilation, separate play areas, secure fencing and surfaces that clean easily.
• Zoning and permits that clearly allow boarding and daycare at the location.
• Several services that keep clients coming back, such as daycare dogs who are also groomed and boarded.
• A safety record without serious incidents, and clear vaccination and temperament policies.
• Enough trained staff for the number of dogs in play groups, so supervision doesn't slip on busy days.
• Strong, recent online reviews, which is how most pet owners choose.

Florida has no statewide license for pet grooming, boarding, daycare or training, and no state credential for groomers or trainers. The rules are local, and they vary a lot. Some counties and cities require kennel, boarding or pet-care permits, some include grooming in them, and zoning often limits where boarding and daycare can operate. Check with the county's animal services and zoning offices for each location, and ask whether any permit is issued to the owner personally and would need a new application after a sale. Expect a county or city business tax receipt.

A business that also sells dogs or cats may fall under Florida's pet dealer law (section 828.29). It requires veterinary inspection certificates and vaccinations before a sale, and it gives buyers refund and exchange rights. The law was amended in 2026, so check the current version. Florida requires workers' compensation for non-construction businesses with four or more employees.

• How many clients there are, how often they come, and revenue by service.
• Each groomer's regular clients and pay arrangement, and what happens if they leave.
• Permits, zoning approvals and any complaints from neighbors about noise or odor.
• Incident history: bites, injuries, illness outbreaks, escaped pets, and any claims or lawsuits.
• Insurance, including coverage for animals in the business's care.
• Facility condition: air conditioning, drainage, kennels, fencing and grooming equipment.
• The lease, especially clauses that allow animals and overnight boarding.
• Prepaid packages and daycare memberships you'd have to honor.
• Online reviews over time, especially any mentioning injuries or illness, and how the business responded.
• Hurricane plans: generators, evacuation arrangements for boarded animals, and how the business handled past storms.

• How many active clients do you have, and how often do they come in?
• Which services bring in the most revenue and profit?
• How long have your groomers been with you, and how are they paid?
• What permits does the business hold, and has the county or a neighbor ever raised concerns?
• Have you had any serious incidents with pets, and how did you handle them?
• How busy is boarding in your slowest and busiest months?
• What does the lease say about animals, noise and overnight stays?