Yes. The Service menu calendar in GoHighLevel is designed for this: a client picks a service, then a staff member, then a time, and the calendar prevents the same person from being booked twice. GoHighLevel's documentation describes it as built for service based businesses, with variations, add ons, multiple services, and staff specific pricing. The bottom line: grooming lengths vary a lot by dog and by groomer, so the calendar must know both.
Why grooming needs a service menu
A Zoetis pet care article says a bath and blow dry for a Labrador Retriever takes 1 to 2 hours, a thick coated breed such as a Newfoundland may take three hours, and adding a haircut brings appointments to 1.5 to 4 hours. A care.com article quotes a groomer who says a newer groomer may take three to four hours on a groom that takes an experienced groomer one to two hours, and that a dog groomed every eight weeks takes longer than one groomed every four.
Zoetis also says many salons ask for proof of rabies vaccination, and that standing appointments for frequent grooming can be scheduled 6 to 12 months ahead. That is the second reason to use one system: the record that holds the appointment can also hold the vaccination check described in our dog boarding article.
What the service menu handles
| Client choice | How it appears in the calendar | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Service | A named service with its own length | Bath and blow dry, full groom, nail trim |
| Variation | Size or coat type that changes length or price | Small, medium, large, double coat |
| Add on | Extras added to the base service | Teeth brushing, de shedding treatment |
| Groomer | A staff member with their own availability | Choose Maya or the next available |
Build it in GoHighLevel
- Create a new calendar in Calendar Settings and choose the Service menu option.
- Add each service with a length and a price, and add variations for size and coat type.
- Add each groomer as a staff member with their own working hours.
- Add the pet's name, breed, and vaccination date to the booking form.
- Choose a payment option. GoHighLevel's Calendar Payments page says you can charge upfront or collect a card on file without charging.
- Build a workflow that fires when an appointment is booked with Send SMS and Send Email confirmations.
- Add reminders 24 hours and 2 hours before the appointment, with a reschedule link.
- Add a rebooking message after the appointment that offers the next visit.
GoHighLevel's Calendar Payments page says payments in calendars work through six gateways (Stripe, NMI, Authorize.net, Razorpay, Square, and PayPal) for all calendar types, except that Razorpay, NMI, and Square are not supported for the Classic Widget and the Service menu. Add the gateway first under Payments, then Integrations. It also says the calendar can either charge upfront during booking or collect a card on file without charging.
What the workload looks like
At 2 to 4 hours per full groom, one groomer finishes about two to four full grooms in an 8 hour day (8 divided by four, and 8 divided by two). Three groomers can book 6 to 12 full grooms a day. Double booking a groomer at 9 a.m. can push the whole day back by hours.
Mistakes to avoid
- One length for every dog. Use variations for size and coat.
- The same length for every groomer. New and experienced groomers can differ, so check your own times.
- Skipping the vaccine field. Ask for proof at booking.
- Forgetting rebooking. Send the next appointment offer after each visit.
How this was handled before
Paper appointment books and shared spreadsheets record a time and a name. They do not stop two people from writing different dogs in the same groomer's slot, and they do not know that a full groom takes longer than a bath. A service menu calendar adds the service length and the staff member to every booking, so the schedule reflects the work.
Check before you switch it on
US text messages sent from a standard 10 digit number need A2P 10DLC registration. The HighLevel support portal says registration is required for texts to US recipients from 10 digit long code numbers and that toll free numbers do not require it. HighLevel's opt in guidelines also say a person cannot be forced to agree to text messages in order to submit a form, so keep the consent box optional. One compliance guide separates informational texts, which need documented consent, from marketing texts, which need prior express written consent. Ask your attorney which category your reminders fall into. Confirm which owner should receive pickup texts, since pets often belong to a household. This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Can clients choose their groomer?
The Service menu calendar is built so a client picks a service, a staff member, and a time.
Can I charge a deposit for grooming?
GoHighLevel's Calendar Payments page says you can charge upfront or collect a card on file. The Square, NMI, and Razorpay gateways are not supported for the Service menu.
How long does a full groom take?
A Zoetis article says bath and blow dry takes 1 to 2 hours for a Labrador and a haircut brings appointments to 1.5 to 4 hours. Use your own times.
Ready to try it yourself? Start a GoHighLevel account here.
You can also see this in action in our GoHighLevel capabilities demo.