Pet Grooming Software Cost: 2026 Pricing Guide
Pet grooming software cost typically runs $29 to $250+ per month, depending on how many staff and locations you have, whether you need daycare or boarding calendars, and whether two-way texting and payment processing are bundled in or billed separately. A single-groomer shop on a bare-bones plan can pay as little as $29/month, while a multi-location salon with texting, online booking, memberships, and payroll can land closer to $250-$400/month once every add-on is turned on. The base subscription price is rarely the full story — SMS messaging, extra staff seats, and payment processing fees are where most owners get surprised.
What Drives Pet Grooming Software Cost?
Every platform prices around the same handful of levers. Understanding them makes it much easier to compare quotes apples-to-apples:
- Number of staff/users. Some vendors (Pawfinity) charge per user per month, so a five-groomer shop pays 5x a solo groomer's rate.
- Number of locations. Multi-location and franchise pricing is almost always a separate, higher tier.
- Two-way texting and SMS. This is the single biggest hidden cost. Several platforms gate client texting behind their top plan or charge a separate SMS add-on that can run $50-$100+/month on its own.
- Daycare and boarding modules. If you run boarding or daycare alongside grooming, expect a calendar/kennel-management add-on, typically $20-$30/month extra.
- Payment processing. Software subscription price and card processing rate are separate line items. A low monthly fee paired with a bad processing rate can cost more overall than a higher flat fee with fair rates.
- Contracts and setup fees. Some vendors require annual contracts or charge onboarding/setup fees; others are month-to-month with no setup cost.
How Much Do the Major Pet Grooming Platforms Actually Charge?
Here's how the well-known platforms compare on published 2026 pricing. Where a vendor doesn't publish pricing publicly, we say so rather than guess:
| Software | Starting Price | Texting Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franpos | $199/mo (single location, flat) | Yes, in base plan | All-in-one: POS, online booking, memberships, loyalty, marketing. Payroll is a separate add-on ($49 base + $8/employee). |
| DaySmart Pet | $29/mo (Basic) | No — gated to $149/mo Deluxe Growth tier | Three tiers ($29/$69/$149); daycare & boarding calendar is a +$25/mo add-on. |
| MoeGo | ~$39/mo (entry tier) | No — SMS is a separate add-on (~$100/mo) | Custom/tiered pricing up to ~$239/mo; typical solo-groomer total with texting lands around $139-$200/mo. |
| Gingr | $105+/mo | Add-on | Strongest fit if you run boarding/daycare alongside grooming. |
| Pawfinity | $50/user/mo | Varies by plan | Per-user pricing means cost scales directly with headcount. |
| PetExec, Time To Pet, Kennel Connection | Custom quote | Varies | These don't publish flat pricing — expect a sales call to get a number. |
The lowest advertised price is almost never the total price. Add texting, extra staff, and a boarding calendar, and a $29/month plan can quietly become a $100+/month plan.
What's Included at Each Price Point?
At the low end ($29-$50/month), you typically get core scheduling, client/pet records, and basic invoicing — but texting, marketing tools, and multi-staff support are locked behind higher tiers or paid add-ons. Mid-tier plans ($70-$150/month) usually unlock two-way texting, online booking, and reporting. Higher tiers ($150-$250+/month) add marketing automation, membership/package sales, multi-location management, and sometimes payroll.
Franpos takes a flatter approach: the $199/month single-location plan bundles cloud POS, mobile register and tap-to-pay, online booking, memberships and loyalty, and review management in one price, with eCommerce, growth marketing, and unlimited terminals available as add-ons rather than gating core features like texting behind a higher tier.
Hidden Fees to Watch For
- SMS/texting add-ons. Ask upfront whether two-way client texting is included or billed separately — this is the most common surprise line item.
- Per-user or per-seat fees. Confirm whether pricing is flat or scales per staff member before you add your third groomer.
- Payment processing rates. Get the actual interchange/processing rate in writing, not just the software subscription price.
- Setup and onboarding fees. Some platforms charge a one-time setup fee; ask if it's waivable.
- Contract length. Month-to-month plans cost more flexibility to test-drive; annual contracts often cost less per month but lock you in.
How Do You Choose the Right Plan for Your Business?
- List every feature you actually need — online booking, two-way texting, memberships, payroll, boarding/daycare — before comparing prices.
- Ask for the fully-loaded monthly total, including SMS, payment processing, and per-user fees, not just the advertised starting price.
- Match pricing structure to your team size. Per-user pricing favors solo groomers; flat pricing favors larger teams.
- Check if you need boarding/daycare now or later — it's cheaper to pick a platform that includes it than to bolt it on afterward.
- Try before you commit. A live demo will surface workflow gaps that a pricing page never will.
You can see Franpos's exact plan breakdown, including the payroll and eCommerce add-ons, on the pricing page, or explore grooming-specific tools on the grooming solutions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pet grooming software worth the monthly cost?
For most shops booking more than a handful of appointments a week, yes — the time saved on scheduling, reminders, and payment collection typically outweighs a $50-$200/month subscription within the first month or two.
What's the cheapest pet grooming software?
Entry-level plans from DaySmart Pet ($29/month) and MoeGo (~$39/month) are the lowest advertised starting prices, but both charge extra for two-way texting, which most groomers consider essential.
Does pet grooming software pricing include payment processing?
Rarely as a flat rate. Most vendors, including Franpos, charge a separate interchange-plus or flat processing rate on top of the software subscription — always ask for the exact rate before signing up.
Is there a free pet grooming software option?
Some general-purpose scheduling tools offer free tiers, but dedicated pet grooming platforms with client/pet records, online booking, and POS are paid products — free trials are common, free plans are not.
Do prices go up as my grooming business grows?
Usually yes. Per-user platforms scale with headcount, and most vendors have separate (higher) pricing for multiple locations, so it's worth confirming growth pricing before you commit.
