Free tool for groomers
Free dog grooming cancellation policy generator.
The template plus how to actually enforce it. Set your fee and notice window, copy a clear, professional policy and a friendly confirmation message. No Etsy PDF, no lawyer.
Edit the fields and the policy updates live. Copy either block straight into your booking page or messages.
Your cancellation policy
Cancellation & No-Show Policy for our salon We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Cancellations made within 24 hours, or missed appointments (no-shows), are subject to a fee of $35. To reserve your slot, we keep a card securely on file. It is only charged if this policy applies. Never at the time of booking. Thank you for respecting our time. It helps us care for every pet on schedule.
Booking-confirmation message
Hi! 🐾 Confirming your appointment with our salon. To hold the slot we keep a card on file. You're only charged the $35 fee if you no-show or cancel within 24 hours. No charge today. Reply YES to confirm. See you soon!
A policy only works if you can enforce it. If the after-the-fact ask is the part you dread, Groomli keeps the card on file and charges the $35 fee in one tap.
See how Groomli enforces it →Send me the policy + Manu's 4-step enforcement plan
Built for solo and small-team groomers. Unsubscribe by replying 'stop'.
What makes a policy that clients actually respect
Three things: a clear notice window (24 hours' notice is standard, 48 if your book fills weeks out), a specific fee, and a calm, professional tone that frames it as protecting your time for every pet. Vague policies get ignored; a stated number that the client agreed to at booking does not. Keep it short, put it where they book, and restate it in your confirmation message.
Is it legal to charge a no-show fee?
Yes, in all 50 states, when the fee is disclosed and agreed in writing before the booking (state consumer-protection laws set limits on how it is presented). Three things make it stick: the policy is visible at booking, the amount and notice window are specific ("48 hours", not "adequate notice"), and the card was authorized at booking. That combination is also what wins card disputes, which is why the generator above bakes all three into the wording.
How much should you charge for a no-show fee?
The common range is $25 to $50 flat, or 50 to 100% of the groom. Half the service price is the easiest to defend: it reads as covering the lost slot, not as a punishment. Whatever you pick, charge per dog, per appointment, and put the exact number in the policy. A fee above the full price of the groom is the weakest position if the client disputes it.
A policy is only as good as your ability to enforce it
The hard part was never the wording. It's collecting the fee after someone no-shows. Asking for a card after the fact is awkward and usually doesn't happen. Groomli closes that gap: the card is kept on file from the moment the client books, so when your policy applies you charge the fee in one tap. The policy stops being a suggestion and becomes a deterrent.