When you compare mobile dog grooming prices, one question tends to get skipped: what are you actually getting for that number?
A quote means very little on its own. One groomer is quoting a bath. Another is quoting a haircut with the bath already inside it. Additional coat work is bundled in one place and charged separately in another. Until you know which, you are not comparing prices, you are comparing words.
At our North Texas Kontota location, the haircut price includes the bath, and Essentials haircuts run from $153.12 for a dog under 15 pounds to $289.08 for the largest category. Bath-only appointments are priced separately by size and coat length, and additional work such as significant dematting or extra deshedding is charged only when the coat needs it.
Those are current Kontota Essentials estimates for our North Texas location, not guaranteed quotes. Kontota is a franchise, so prices and service details vary by location. Check with your local franchise if you are outside North Texas. For a figure based on your own dog, check the Kontota price estimator.
If you book a haircut, the bath is included
This is the first thing worth establishing when comparing quotes.
An Essentials haircut is not a clipping price with a bath charge added afterwards. The haircut price covers washing, rinsing, a full dry, brushing the coat out, and then the haircut itself.
| Dog’s weight | Essentials haircut (includes bath) |
|---|---|
| 0–15 lbs | $153.12 |
| 16–25 lbs | $165.48 |
| 26–40 lbs | $177.84 |
| 41–60 lbs | $190.20 |
| 61–70 lbs | $202.56 |
| 71–80 lbs | $214.92 |
| 81–90 lbs | $227.28 |
| 91–100 lbs | $239.64 |
| 101–110 lbs | $252.00 |
That preparation is not a formality. It is what makes the haircut possible. Blades and shears do not track evenly through hair that is damp, compressed or tangled. A coat cleaned, dried to the skin and combed through is the only reliable starting point for an even finish.
So if one provider quotes a haircut and another quotes a haircut-and-bath, those two numbers are not describing the same service.
Bath-only appointments depend on the coat
Not every dog needs a haircut. Many dogs primarily need bathing and coat maintenance, which is why bath pricing separates short and long coats:
| Dog’s weight | Short-hair bath | Long-hair bath | Long-hair bath, deshed or outline trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–15 lbs | $78.97 | $91.33 | $109.85 |
| 16–25 lbs | $91.33 | $116.04 | $134.57 |
| 26–40 lbs | $103.69 | $140.76 | $177.84 |
| 41–60 lbs | $128.40 | $165.48 | $190.20 |
| 61–70 lbs | $140.76 | $177.84 | $202.56 |
“A bath” is not the same amount of work on every coat. Getting shampoo down to the skin through a dense long coat is only the start, it then has to be rinsed completely, because residue left in a long coat causes irritation, and dried all the way through rather than just on the surface.
What is not automatically included
This matters as much as knowing what is. Not every dog needs the same additional work, so it would make no sense to charge every owner for services their dog does not require.
Significant dematting is the main one:
| Dog weight | Dematting fee, when needed |
|---|---|
| 0–40 lbs | $55 |
| 41–80 lbs | $65 |
| 81–110 lbs | $75 |
That does not mean every curly, long-haired or doodle-type dog gets a dematting charge. It applies when the coat requires substantial additional work beyond normal preparation.
Additional deshedding is listed at $19.99 for 15 minutes and $39.98 for 30 minutes. A dog releasing a large volume of loose undercoat needs more coat work than one with a maintained coat, and that time is accounted for when it is genuinely necessary.
Other services and situational fees that are separate from the base groom include a Mini-Groom at $19.99, gland expression at $24.99, a Paw-dicure at $49.99 and special handling at $25. Condition-specific fees include a flea fee at $75, skunk treatment at $75 and a ringworm fee at $50.
Optional add-on packages are $19.99 each and include Comfort Oats, Aromatherapy Paradise, Stink-B-Gone, the Little Pups Collection and Blueberry Bliss Whitening. These are genuinely optional, nothing is added to your appointment unless you ask for it.
Most dogs need almost none of this. Do not read a list of available services and assume they will all appear on your bill.
The practical details owners are most often surprised by
These are the parts of a grooming bill that are easy to miss when you are comparing headline prices, so they are worth stating plainly.
There is a visit minimum of $119.99. If you have one very small dog booked for a short-hair bath, the visit minimum is the figure that applies rather than the service price on its own. This is standard for mobile grooming, the van still travels to you regardless of how small the dog is but it does mean a single small bath is not the cheapest possible appointment.
Tax is 8.25% and a fuel fee of 3% applies. Neither is included in the service figures quoted above, so budget a little over the table price.
Travel fees apply at distance. A $50 travel fee applies for appointments 40 minutes or more out, rising to $75 for 50 minutes or more. Across a metroplex the size of Dallas-Fort Worth that is a real consideration the difference between Frisco and the far side of the metro is not a rounding error, so it is worth asking where you fall when you book.
A no-show or late cancellation is $50. The van has travelled and the slot is gone, so this one is worth putting in your calendar properly.
Senior and veteran customers get $10 off. Ask when you book; it is not applied automatically if nobody knows.
None of that is hidden, but none of it appears in a headline haircut price either which is exactly why “what’s included” is a better question than “what’s the price.”
Why isn’t every service just bundled into one price?
Because owners with straightforward appointments would end up paying for work their dogs do not need.
Picture two dogs at the same weight. One arrives with a maintained coat ready for a routine groom. The other has substantial matting needing considerably more coat work. Charging both identically would not reflect either appointment honestly.
It is more useful to understand grooming as a base service plus additional work when necessary. Your dog’s weight and chosen service set the starting point. Your dog’s actual condition decides whether anything sits on top.
Does coat condition change what happens?
Yes, even when two owners booked the same service.
A maintained coat and a tightly matted coat are different jobs. If the normal grooming process can be worked through without substantial additional coat work, that is one appointment. If the coat needs significant dematting before the groom can be completed safely, that is another.
This matters most with curly and long coats, because tangles form underneath while the surface still looks fluffy. A dog can look immaculate from across the room and be matted against the skin.
If you are unsure about your dog’s coat, say so when you book. Knowing about potential matting in advance makes the estimate realistic for both the haircut and the price. It is far better than discovering a tight mat halfway through a routine appointment.
You are also paying for the service coming to you
This is the largest difference between mobile dog grooming and a salon, and it is worth being specific about what it buys rather than just calling it convenience.
The transport disappears. No loading the dog, no drive across town, no drop-off, no second trip for pickup. In this metroplex that round trip can cost ninety minutes on a weekday once traffic on 380 or the Dallas North Tollway is counted.
It is one dog at a time. Your dog is the only animal in the van for the appointment. No floor of unfamiliar dogs, no barking, no competing for attention.
There is no cage or kennel time. In a salon, the appointment slot and the time your dog is actually at the facility are frequently two different numbers, waiting before the groom and waiting again for pickup. A mobile appointment has no waiting period at either end. The van arrives, the groom happens, your dog walks back inside.
One groomer handles the whole job. Bathing, drying, brushing and the haircut are done by the same person from start to finish rather than passing between a bather and a stylist.
No car ride in a Texas summer. A vehicle interior reaches dangerous temperatures within minutes here. Removing two journeys in July is a safety consideration, not only a scheduling one.
How to compare one quote with another
Compare what you are getting, not just the final number. If one groomer quotes $150 and another $175, the cheaper one is not meaningfully cheaper until you know what each covers.
Ask these of everyone:
- Is the bath included with the haircut, or charged separately?
- Is a full dry included, or is the dog cage-dried?
- Which service level is this quote for?
- Are nails, ears and sanitary work included?
- What happens if my dog is matted, and how is that charged?
- Is there a visit minimum, travel fee, or anything added at checkout?
- How long will my dog be at the facility in total, not just in the appointment slot?
Then compare the service models. A mobile appointment includes the groomer travelling to you and your dog spending no time waiting. With a salon, transport and waiting are yours to absorb.
How to avoid surprises on the bill
Give accurate information up front. Know your dog’s current weight. Be clear about whether you want a bath or a haircut. If the coat is long, curly or dense, mention it. If you already know it is tangled, say so when you book rather than on the day.
Then ask about anything you do not understand. If you are quoted a service, ask what it covers. If your dog may need additional coat work, ask how that is handled and what it costs.
An estimate should tell you the likely cost of your dog’s appointment, not leave you guessing at the door.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need my water or electricity?
No. The van carries its own water and power.
Is the visit minimum charged on top of the service?
No, it is a floor, not an addition. If your service comes to less than $119.99, the minimum applies instead.
Are nails included in a groom?
Nail attention appropriate to the service is part of a standard grooming appointment. A Paw-dicure at $49.99 is a separate, more thorough paw service.
What you are actually buying
The price of a mobile grooming appointment is not a number attached to a haircut. It is four things stacked together, and it is worth seeing them separately.
There is the size of the dog, which sets the category. There is the service that fits the coat, a short-hair bath, a long-hair bath, a deshed or a full haircut are four different jobs at four different prices. There is whatever the coat’s condition adds, which is the only part you control and the part decided with a comb in the weeks beforehand. And there is the delivery, a self-contained salon parked in your driveway, one dog at a time, no transport and no waiting.
Understanding it that way is what makes a quote comparable. A $150 haircut that excludes the bath, cage-dries the dog and leaves you with two car journeys is not cheaper than a $165.48 haircut that includes all of it and comes to your door. It is a different product at a lower price.
So when you are deciding between groomers, do not ask what it costs. Ask what is included, what is extra, and what happens to your dog between arriving and going home. The provider who answers all three clearly is usually the one worth booking and when additional work genuinely is needed, being told about it separately is better than a flat fee that quietly assumed it all along. We groom across Dallas-Fort Worth, including Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Denton, Aubrey, Carrollton, Flower Mound and Lewisville.
Disclaimer: All prices listed in this article are provided for general informational purposes only and reflect pricing available at the time of publication. Pricing varies by location, as Kontota locations are independently owned and operated. All prices, services, packages, promotions, discounts, fees, and availability are subject to change at any time without prior notice and may vary based on your dog’s breed, size, weight, coat type, coat condition, temperament, grooming requirements, and service location. Additional charges, including applicable taxes, travel fees, fuel surcharges, and optional services, may apply. Published prices and online estimates are not guaranteed quotes or binding offers. Final pricing will be confirmed by your servicing Kontota location based on the services requested and your dog’s individual grooming needs. Please contact your local Kontota location or use our online pricing estimator for the most current pricing information.
