May 2026

Use this calculator to get a realistic build cost range for your mobile pet grooming truck or trailer. The numbers reflect what we have actually quoted on builds in 2025-2026. After you have a range, send your specs through the form at the bottom for a quote on your exact build within 24 hours. Pet

Short answer: a solo mobile pet groomer working 4-5 days a week, 5-6 dogs per day, grosses $120,000 to $185,000 per year. Net (after truck loan, insurance, fuel, supplies, marketing) lands at $45,000 to $70,000 in year 2. Two-truck operations gross $280,000 to $400,000. Revenue depends mostly on three things: average ticket size, route density,

Short answer: 6 to 8 weeks from signed contract to keys in hand for a standard mobile pet grooming truck build at our shop. Custom or oversized builds (dual-tub, 22+ ft, premium climate control) run 8 to 12 weeks. Sourcing time on rare equipment can add 1 to 3 weeks. The big specialty builders run

Short answer: in most U.S. states, no formal certification is required to operate a mobile pet grooming business. Connecticut, Maryland (some counties), New Jersey, and New York City have specific licensing rules. Everywhere else, certification is voluntary. But the right credentials (NDGAA NCMG, IPG ICMG, AKC S.A.F.E.) carry weight in marketing and let you charge

Short answer: a mobile pet groomer carries 5 overlapping policies that total $2,500 to $5,500 per year for a single-truck operation. The five policies are commercial auto, general liability, professional liability, care/custody/control (CCC), and equipment/inland marine. Workers comp adds on if you have a W-2 employee. Skipping CCC is the most common and most expensive

Short answer: a well-run mobile grooming operation generates 25-40 percent net margin compared to 15-25 percent for a salon doing the same revenue. Mobile commands $25-$50 per-service price premium and has lower fixed costs, but lower volume per day. The math favors mobile when route density is good. The math favors salon when foot traffic

Short answer: a typical mobile pet grooming truck needs 50 to 65 gallons of fresh water and 70 to 90 gallons of grey water capacity to handle a full service day of 5 to 7 dogs. High-volume operators (8+ dogs/day) or trucks running large breeds need 70+ gallons fresh and 100 gallons grey. Bath-only mobiles

Short answer: most mobile pet grooming rigs need 7 to 10 kW of generator capacity. Coffee-and-bath-only operations get by on 5 kW. Trucks running a high-velocity dryer plus dual A/C plus tankless water heater need 10 kW. The dryer is the biggest single load. Sizing wrong here means tripping breakers mid-service, which kills your day.

Short answer: a new fully-equipped mobile pet grooming truck or van runs $75,000 to $130,000 in 2026. Trailers run $55,000 to $95,000. Used market is $35,000 to $90,000 depending on age and condition. The big-name specialty builders (Wag’n Tails, Hanvey, Gryphon) sit at the top of the new range. Smaller custom builders deliver comparable specs