Booked Solid and Still Broke?

Booked Solid and Still Broke? Hello, hello — and welcome to Greedy Bitch, the podcast for groomers who are done apologizing for wanting more. You’ve earned it. You’ve worked for it. And you’re not asking permission anymore. It’s November — which means most groomers are running on caffeine, sugar, and sheer determination right now. You’re booked solid — maybe even a little over-booked — and you can’t remember the last time you sat down for lunch. And if you did, there was probably a handful of fur sprinkled in that you meant to blow off… but honestly, you were too tired to care. And yet — you look at your bank account and think, “How the hell am I this tired and still this broke?” Or maybe at the start of the month that number looks satisfying… but by the end, it’s just poof. Gone. Listen — you’re not crazy, and you’re not doing anything wrong. The truth is, the system we were all taught is broken. We were raised in this industry — from baby groomer to business owner — to believe that busy means successful. But busy doesn’t always mean profitable. So today, we’re going to talk about what’s really going on when you’re booked solid and still broke— and how gratitude for your clients doesn’t mean giving away your boundaries. Alright, let’s be honest about what’s really happening here. Most groomers? We price with our hearts instead of our calculators. We want to be fair — but fair to who? Because nine times out of ten, it’s not fair to us. Sometimes we look at a yorkie and think, “Oh, that’ll take me no time,” or “They’ve been coming forever; I’ll keep her the same price.” That’s sweet… until you realize that “same price” hasn’t budged since gas was two-fifty a gallon. And the truth is that yorkie doesn’t take you much time because you’ve invested thousands on the right products, education and learned the hard way. You can’t hand a pair of shears to a person who’s never groomed and get the same result, you’ve earned and learned. We need to treat ourselves as the professionals we are. You wouldn’t expect your grocery store to “feel out” the price of milk every week. They don’t stare at you at checkout while you scan the carton and go, “Hmm, this one looks friendly — let’s knock off a dollar.” or when the price goes up they don’t say “She’s been coming forever, we won’t charge her the new price.” They don’t feel guilty or bad when prices change. But somehow, that’s exactly what we do with our grooms. If you’re booked out four weeks or more, and it’s not 100% with your soulmate clients, you’ve outgrown your prices. That’s not a compliment — that’s your business waving a red flag saying, “Hey! You’re overdue for a raise.” And then there’s this thing we all do — we over-give to show gratitude. We tell ourselves, “They’re such good clients; I’ll throw in the teeth brushing,” or “I’ll squeeze in Fluffy one more time.” But real gratitude isn’t self-sacrifice — it’s sustainability. Discounts are not thank-yous; they’re quiet resentments waiting to happen. You know that feeling when you give someone a deal and they still complain? Yeah… that’s the sound of your boundaries cracking. People pleasing isn’t good business. You can’t build a stable business by constantly bleeding value in the name of kindness. When you undercharge, you’re teaching your clients exactly what your time is worth — and they’ll believe you. And listen, your kindness is amazing, but it’s not a business strategy. The goal isn’t to squeeze in every dog or please every person. The goal is to build a business that feeds your life, not drains it. So, if you’re sitting there nodding, thinking “Yeah, that’s me,” don’t beat yourself up. You were never taught the math side — just the hustle side. But that’s what we’re here to fix. Alright — let’s zoom out for a second. We’ve spent so long measuring success by how busy we are that we forgot to ask if any of it actually makes sense. If the phone is ringing off the hook, if people are fighting to get in the door or have to wait 2, 4, 6 weeks, that’s good right? Because here’s the truth: Full doesn’t mean successful — profitable does. A packed calendar without profit is just organized burnout. You’ve just color-coded your exhaustion. And I know you love your clients. I know you’re grateful. But gratitude doesn’t mean giving until you’ve got nothing left. I know for me I have had instances that I wanted to give and give because that’s what felt good, giving of my time, my energy, my skills. I like to be liked. For better or worse, real gratitude starts with fair exchange. Everyone gets value — including you. There needs to be an equal exchange, not just being a martyr. You give your skill, your time, your care. They give payment that reflects the real cost of that. That’s how it’s supposed to work. You can’t pour from an empty bowl. You can’t groom from an empty bank account. It’s not selfish to want to breathe — it’s strategic. When you’re rested, confident, and financially stable, you do better work. Your grooms look better. You’re kinder to the nervous dogs. You’re more patient with that chatty client. You come from a place of peace, flow and confidence. That’s gratitude in action. Your business should serve your life — not the other way around. And busy? Busy is not a badge of honor. It’s a blinking warning light that says, “Hey, you’re running on fumes.” We absolutely have busy seasons but there is difference between ‘I’m busy as I’m prepping to take 2 weeks off” or “I’m squeezing in a few extra grooms before thanksgiving or christmas” If you’re constantly turning potential soulmate clients away, that’s your business whispering, “It’s time to level up.” Raise those prices. Tighten your schedule. Value your time. Because your clients — the right clients — don’t want a burned-out groomer. They want someone who loves what they do. We all know a groomer who over a decade has gone from passionate, patient and excited to burned out. They will tell you how every customer is cheap, takes advantage of them and how every dog is ‘poorly behaved’... or they’ve gone into full denial mode where they’re wearing rose colored glasses and they’re emotionally and physically numb. It’s like that meme where the dog is sitting in a chair while the whole room is on fire saying “this is fine”. The truth, for better or worse, is the only way to keep loving what you do is to make sure it also loves you back. When you shift from being thankful to being valued, everything changes — your confidence, your income, your energy. And let me tell you — that’s when the magic happens. So, let’s talk about what that shift looks like in action. Because what I don’t want you to just nod along and go, “Yeah, she’s right,” and then dive right back into 12-hour days or 7 day weeks. You don’t need another pep talk — you need a plan. Here’s the truth: you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. You just have to start closing the gap. Start small. Raise one service that you don’t want to do anyway. Add one new fee to set boundaries with a pocketbook hit. Enforce matting or late fees on one client that you don’t care if they leave anyway. (And honestly if they left, you might even be relieved). Change one thing that makes the numbers work a little more in your favor and take back some of your power. If you’re booked more than four weeks out, you’ve already earned a price raise. Period. You don’t need anyone’s permission — your schedule already gave you the green light. Then look at your client rotation. Are these clients maintaining their grooms, or are they stretching it? If half your book is eight-week doodles that come in matted, you’re not running a sustainable schedule — you’re running triage. Ask yourself this: which services are stealing your time without giving a real return? Because those “bath and tidy” appointments that take almost as long as a full groom? They’re not a deal. They’re stealing money out of your pocket.. Try this simple shift — add a small policy fee for things like late arrivals or matting. Those aren’t punishments; they’re boundaries you get paid for. It teaches clients that your time has value. And listen, I know numbers can feel intimidating. But numbers don’t care about feelings — your peace of mind does. You’ve already proven the demand. Now it’s time to make the math reflect it. If this hits home — if you’re nodding along thinking, “Yep, that’s me,” — that’s exactly what the Price Increase Masterclass walks you through step by step. How to calculate your ideal rate. How to communicate the change without guilt. And how to handle pushback like the confident professional you already are. You don’t need to work harder. You just need to start charging like someone who’s already earned it. Because you have. This isn’t about greed. It’s about gratitude — gratitude for the skill, the sweat, and the soul you’ve put into your craft. So this week, pick one small change that honors that. Just one. You know, before we wrap up, I just want to remind you of something simple. You’re already doing the hardest part — showing up. Day after day, you care for pets, deal with people’s emotions, and somehow keep your sanity through the chaos of busy season. That takes grit. That takes heart. So please — give yourself the same grace you give every nervous dog on your table. You know the one — shaking, scared, and just trying their best? You talk to them softly, you move slowly, you let them know they’re safe. Or the cocker who has crapped for the 3rd time on the table, and mom swears she took him out before she brought him? We both know she’s lying but it’s not the dog’s fault, and you’re patient, you’re kind. You deserve that same kind of care from you. Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s fine or ignoring how exhausted you are. It’s about acknowledging your effort — the hours, the skill, the love you pour into this work. Thank yourself by charging what your services are worth. Thank yourself by taking a real lunch break, and eating real food. Thank yourself by not answering texts after hours. That’s what gratitude looks like in real life. Busy season doesn’t have to mean burnout season. You don’t owe your peace to anyone — not even your best client. So before you start your next groom, take one deep breath. Let it out. And remind yourself — I am worth it. You’ve got grit. You’ve got gratitude. And, my friend… You’ve got this. If today’s episode hit home, share it with a friend who needs to hear it — because we’re all in this together. And if you’re ready to finally make your hard work pay off, check out the Price Increase Masterclass linked in the show notes. This is your season to stop just surviving — and start thriving. Until next time, Stay kind, stay confident, and as always — stay greedy, bitch. PRICE INCREASE MASTERCLASS https://www.savvygroomer.com/pimc