Raising prices is one lever. Raising spend per visit is another, and often an easier one. It isn't about charging more for the same thing — it's about properly offering what the dog already needs: nails, ears, deshedding, hydration, teeth.
The trouble with classic upselling is the timing. Offering an add-on while you're working, with the client waiting, is awkward for both of you. Online booking solves that moment.
An add-on lands better at booking than on the table
When add-ons show up as an option at the point of booking, almost half — 46% — are chosen right there, before the client even sets foot in the salon. No pressure, no rush, no sense that you're selling something with the dog as a hostage.
The client reads the option, understands what it's for and decides at leisure. You arrive at the appointment with the service already extended and the time already set aside.
How much it lifts the ticket
This isn't a minor effect. Well-presented add-ons lift the average ticket by 20% to 40%. In salons that work them actively, the typical uplift runs from 15% to 30%, and offering the add-on at the point of paying or booking adds between 15% and 22% in revenue.
Same number of dogs, same working day, more margin. That's the economics of a well-placed add-on.
Key points
- Describe the add-on by its benefit, not its technical name: "less hair around the house", not just "deshedding".
- Put a clear price on each add-on: doubt kills the sale.
- Keep the list to three or four relevant options per type of dog.
Which add-ons work in dog grooming
Start with what the dog genuinely needs and what reads without explanation: nail trim, ear cleaning, deshedding for double coats, hydration or a coat treatment, teeth brushing, and, depending on the season, flea and tick treatment.
The win isn't having twenty add-ons. It's offering the right three for each dog, at the point of booking, with a price nobody has to ask about.
An add-on isn't selling more — it's preparing the appointment better
Done well, an add-on doesn't lean on the client: it reminds them what their dog needs and lets them decide with time to spare. The salon gains margin and the dog leaves better cared for. That's the difference between pushing and proposing.
Frequently asked questions
Won't it look like I'm just after more money?
Not if the add-on answers a real need the dog has and the client chooses it without pressure. Offering it at booking removes exactly that forced-sale feeling.
How many add-ons should I offer?
Three or four relevant ones per type of dog. A long list confuses people and reduces the choice.
Should I show a price or say "ask us"?
Always a price. An add-on without a clear price almost never gets chosen.