Jim's Mobile Dog Wash

[HugUrPup]

I'm thinking of getting a franchise and wanted to get opinions on how people found the service as customers etc and hear from other franchise owners

[WreckitWhippet]

They are known by the rest of the industry as the untrained shonky's of the dog washing world. Not a franchise I'd be buying in a hurry.

ETA: although you get the calls directed to you from your own area. For the 20 plus grand you pay, you would be better off buying your own trailer and setting up your own business. They are then your own clients and should you build up a successfull business and decide to sell later, you can reap the benefits of having done that.

You will also need to find someone to train you to wash and groom.

If you want to simply wash, then look at an Aussie Pooch. There's a lot more to grooming and mobile grooming has it's added challenges, really for someone starting out, you could easily end up in over your head and not providing a quality grooming service to your clients.

Edited September 29, 2010 by ReadySetGo

[HugUrPup]

I've looked into getting my own trailer etc, but I have to do a course as you say, in grooming plus get the bath and table etc etc etc and it will end up costing me a lot more than a Jim's franchise.

I don't want to be shonky :cool: and I will be getting training and hopefully specialise down the track.

I just need to find the most cost effective way to go about setting up my business.

I'll look at Aussie Pooch too

[HugUrPup]

What about Hydrodog? Any thoughts and opinions?

ETA- Aussie pooch only had area's available which are too far for me.

Edited September 29, 2010 by puggerup

[MTD]

If you do look into franchises ask about wether you can do your own thing. Are you only allowed to use "their " products or can you use what you want also if you want to say sell collars and leads can you do that or can you only sell what they allow you too ie buy through them and on sell

When I looked into franchises , some 10 years ago they were very strict with these things so I went out and did it myself

Although you say to set up yourself with all the equip it will be more than the franchise don't forget that the franchise will take a percentage of your takings

[WreckitWhippet]

Although you say to set up yourself with all the equip it will be more than the franchise don't forget that the franchise will take a percentage of your takings

Yep and that $1000 they promise you, will look nothing like that by the time you pay them their cut and your running costs.

Second hand trailers come up for sale on a regular basis

[raz]

I've looked into getting my own trailer etc, but I have to do a course as you say, in grooming plus get the bath and table etc etc etc and it will end up costing me a lot more than a Jim's franchise.

No it wouldnt. Franchises are a rort and plenty of people go broke very quickly with them. Someone from here set up her own mobile business from scratch and start up costs were a hell of a lot less, plus she wasnt obligated to pay monthly fees or astronomical grooming products

[poodle3081]

I've looked into getting my own trailer etc, but I have to do a course as you say, in grooming plus get the bath and table etc etc etc and it will end up costing me a lot more than a Jim's franchise.

No it wouldnt. Franchises are a rort and plenty of people go broke very quickly with them. Someone from here set up her own mobile business from scratch and start up costs were a hell of a lot less, plus she wasnt obligated to pay monthly fees or astronomical grooming products

A number of frachises I know are successful and doing well and the people running them are happy with their business. I know Jim's have lifted their game and now use the Australian Dog Centre to do their training. As in any sector of an industry, there will always be the bad operators that give the whole industry a bad name.

[Christina]

I can't figure out how you can make the amount of money they say you can.

Work out how many dogs a day you would have to do, the time to do them then add on travelling time.

It doesn't add up unless all your jobs were within 10 minutes of each other.

I know someone who had a franchise with some company ? They said all jobs they sent had to be taken & sometimes there was an hours travel in between them. They were trying to get rid of it.

Training was fast, shonky & inadequate too. A beginner can't groom out, wash, bath, dry, clip, do nails & pluck ears on a small poodle for example in an hour or so like someone experienced. Big & difficult dog handling can be daunting at first too, alone.

Think carefully & do the sums.

[Nekhbet]

another option is to start small, deck out your garage like a salon if your council allows business from your home

[tianakaesha]

There are mobile dog grooming businesses being sold on ebay all the time..

Go do the course, while you search and look out for your own trailer and do it that way. Much better!

[Kia]

I had a Jim's dog wash franchise years ago when they first started up in SA.

I can't say I was overly impressed with it as I ended up training the trainer to start with. Quotes for doing dogs were done over the phone and had nothing to do with the time required to do each dog eg. Matted Old English sheep Dog bath and groom out $20. Contracts were changed as issues cropped up not to the benefit of the franchisee. also had us travelling for miles. Things may have changed now but I wouldn't go there again.

I would recommend a very good read of the fine print in the contract.

Really think you would be better off setting up for yourself.

[Clyde]

If I were to do mobile again there is no way I would offer clipping. The ones who just wash and dry have the right idea. I set my own up for a fraction of the cost of a franchise (I looked in to Pet Mobile about 10yrs ago when I was setting my own business up). Just find a good trailer place and go from there. I know Silverwood trailers in Sydney do a lot of custom dog wash trailers so they had really good ideas. Call around locally and see if there's trailer places which have done this and have photos of their work. Then all you need is a bath, dryer, nail clippers, brush and product - too easy. I find even the second hand ones which go for sale are dearer than it would cost me to set up a new one.

If you were local I'd be happy to give you some training. Do you know anyone near you in the industry who would help you out?

There is no way I would ever go for a franchise.

[JulesP]

Yeah I didn't want to do clipping but that is all I ended up doing. Clipping off matted, filthy, little white fluffies, shaving a lot of the time. I did it for a year, was ready to kill clients, so sold it. I started mine from scratch.

[WreckitWhippet]

Things to consider when out on the road, apart from the shocking weather, access to homes, power, water etc are the difficult dogs or those that book and tell you one thing and when you get there you find the "Spoodle" to be the size of a Standard etc.

In a salon situation you can rest and elderly dog, pop away one that needs a break and to a certain degree you can rearrange your schedule around what comes in. Out on the road, you are stuck and you have to press on regardless of what the dog really needs, time wise. One difficult or elderly dog and you can quickly find yourself running behind.

[HugUrPup]

Lots of things to consider. I appreciate everyone's help

[megan_]

Thre was a big hoo-ha recently about Jim's franchises in general and how they put up their fees etc and many franchisees are left with businesses that they can't sell.

And while I don't want to sound judgemental, you have to think about your clientele. Not one person I know would ever use Jim's. I think you'll be more than likely stuck with dogs that haven't seen a groomer in ages and the owner is too embarrassed to take them to the salon (no offence to those who use Jim's!).

[HugUrPup]

I have decided to go independent :D

I just have to sell my car