Dog grooming check-in app and waitlist
A calmer lobby for every pup, and vaccines checked before they're through the door.
Pet parents join from the car or your door code, pick a bath, a full groom or a quick nail trim, and sign your grooming release on their phone. Health Records keep each pet's vaccinations, and an expired rabies shot can stop online check-in. The TV shows Biscuit, not just "Sarah K."
No card? Start on Free: 1 location, 50 check-ins a month.
- No app for pet parents
- Vaccines on file
- Nail-trim walk-ins welcome
Happy Paws Grooming
72°H 78°L 61°3:41PM
Now Calling
Biscuit (Anna K.)
Emmais ready for youUp Next
- 1Max
- 2Luna~20 min
First nameLunaMobile (Optional)(555) 555-0123Who would you like?AnyoneEmmaJoin the line
YOU'RE IN LINE#3LunaAbout 20 min. Watch the TV for your name.
Walk to Luis
- Straight ahead16 ft
- Turn right10 ft
- Turn left4 ft
- Station 9, on the right
Not where you are?
You
YouYour routeStation 9
This page updates live. Feel free to step out.
In line as Luna Leave the lineLuna
You're up!Emma is ready for you.Head to the front now.Running late?Let Happy Paws Grooming know when you'll be there.On my way, 2 min5 min10 minSorry, I can't make it
Watch it in a minute
See NextUp Walk-in set up for pet groomers.
Read the transcript
A busy Saturday at the grooming shop, and the lobby is full of wagging tails. Every owner wants to know how long their dog will be.
Customers scan a code at the door and join your line from their own phone. No app to download, and no account to make. They can run errands, and come back when it's their turn.
The TV in your lobby shows who's up next, and an honest wait, so nobody has to ask how much longer.
Scout calls the next owner with a tap, starts the groom, and finishes up, so the lobby stays calm.
Start with a list of services made for pet groomers, and NextUp Walk-in uses their times to keep every wait honest.
Insights show your busiest days and hours, your average wait, and how many owners you served, so you know when to put another groomer on the floor.
At our demo shop, Scout's next owner is already on the way, and the lobby stays quiet. Yours can run the same way.
Try our live demo line at nextupwalkin.com/demo, and start your fourteen-day free trial.
What the front desk deals with today
Where the time goes today, before anything changes.
A barking lobby
Six dogs waiting nose to nose stresses the pets, the people and your groomers.
Paper vaccine checks
Someone has to find last year's rabies certificate before every first groom.
Nail trims vs full grooms
A 10-minute walk-in nail trim waits behind a 2-hour doodle groom.
"Which dog is this?" The schedule says the owner's name, and the groomer needs the pet's name, breed and quirks.
No-shows on long grooms block a table for half a day.
How NextUp Walk-in helps
What changes once the line lives on a phone, not on paper.
1
Wait outside
Pet parents take a walk and come back when called.
2
Vaccinations checked
Turn on the check-in gate and an expired vaccination stops online check-in.
3
Groomers on the table
Call the next pet with one tap from the Staff Screen.
Built for pet groomers
The parts of NextUp Walk-in pet groomers use most. Open one for the pictures.
- Lookbook
Every plan Put photos on the services you list. - Calendar and online booking
Pro Customers book a time from your Check-in Page. - No-show protection
Pro Ask for a card on file or a deposit when someone books. - Memberships and packages
Pro Sell memberships billed monthly or yearly, and prepaid packages redeemed one visit at a time. - Loyalty
Pro A digital stamp card in your colors, font and logo, with a reward you choose. - Reviews and feedback
Every plan After a visit, clients leave a private rating and a comment.
How NextUp Walk-in runs your salon
Every feature here is in NextUp Walk-in today. The ones marked Pro come with NextUp Walk-in Pro; the rest are on every paid plan. Compare plans.
The line
Every plan
- Wait in the car or walk the block. Pet parents join from the door code or your Google profile and see their place live, so the lobby stays quiet.
- Pet first, owner beside. The Staff Screen and TV show the pet's name with the owner next to it.
- Pick the groom at check-in from the starter menu: bath and brush, full groom or nail trim (each asks for the dog's size, with its own price and time), plus teeth brushing, de-shedding and ear cleaning add-ons. Each counts for its own time, so nail trims don't wait behind full grooms in the estimate.
- Ask what you need: up to five questions on the join form (breed, weight, matting, "nervous with dryers?").
- The groomer they trust. Owners can ask for a specific groomer and see that groomer's wait.
- Line cap and closing time so you don't take a large-dog full groom at 4:45.
Vaccines and the release, before the table
- Health Records: each client's pets (name, species, breed, birthday, notes) and their vaccinations with due dates and a photo of the paperwork, marked current, expiring soon or expired.
- The check-in gate (your choice): an expired required record stops online check-in and tells the owner which one, and anything due within 14 days shows as a heads-up.
- The grooming release, signed on their phone from the pet-grooming starter (rabies up to date, seizures or allergies, an emergency phone number, and the OK to call a vet in an emergency). Ask once, every visit or once a year. Filed on the client's profile.
Size, coat and the pet's record
Every plan
- Price and time by size and coat. A groom can have options, like Size (small, medium, large, giant) and Coat (smooth, long or double, matted), each with its own price and minutes, from a pet-grooming starter. Pet parents pick one when they join, book or use the kiosk, and the line quotes the real time.
- A pet record on every pet. Breed, weight, coat, temperament (calm, nervous, reactive, bites), a handle-with-care flag and groomer notes. Flagged pets show first on the staff screen, and a new record starts from the breed already in Health Records.
- A regular's own price. Set one client's price or time for a groom: "Sarah's bath is $40".
- A table for the groom. Tell a service it needs a grooming table, and online booking only offers a time when a table is free as well as a groomer.
- A report card for the pet parent. At checkout the groomer notes behavior, coat and when to come back (in weeks). Save it, or save and email "ready for pickup" with the card, to an address the owner gave and never to one that unsubscribed.
- Return in N weeks. Give a groom a rebook interval, and the receipt reads "Return in about 6 weeks" and the Rebook suggestion follows it.
Booked grooms
Pro
- Online booking with a groom, a groomer and a time, with confirmations and reminders 24 hours and 1 hour before (email now, text once live).
- Deposits or a card on file for long grooms, with a refund cutoff you set and no-show fees from the card.
- Standing appointments weekly, every two weeks or monthly, up to 12 at once.
- "Tell me if a time opens" on full days.
Checkout (not another POS)
- Cash, a pay link or QR, a saved card or a Stripe S700 reader. Tip buttons, tips to each groomer.
- Shampoos, bandanas and treats as products with stock.
- Packages and memberships (Pro): "5 baths prepaid" or a monthly nail-trim club.
- NextUp Walk-in's card fee is 0.5% of card payments, never on tips, at most $1 a payment, on top of Stripe's processing fee.
Your groomers and your salon
Every plan
- Several pets on one ticket: "Add someone" puts up to five on one ticket, each with its own name and groom, and the TV calls each pet by name.
- A page for each groomer with up to 12 photos of their work, the grooms they do with prices and their rating.
- Groomer licences with expiry reminders by email 30 and 7 days before, and a cleaning log from a pet-grooming starter list that prints or downloads for an inspector.
- Customer screens in seven languages, following the phone’s language.
- Visit photos and "Last time" (Pro): up to three photos and a note on each visit, taken with the owner’s OK, so the groomer sees the last cut before the next one.
Bring them back
- Rebooking reminder emails a set number of days after a groom.
- Loyalty stamp cards (Pro) and email campaigns with grooming templates (Pro).
- Ratings with your Google review link after every visit.
- Commission, tip pools, booth rent and payroll files (Pro) for your groomers.
Smarter waits
Every plan
- Best time to come today. The Check-in Page shows the lowest expected wait by quarter-hour for the rest of today, from the same weekday over the last 8 weeks and the live line, so someone with time to spare comes when it is quietest.
- Each groomer's own wait. When owners choose who serves them, the Check-in Page shows every groomer's wait next to their name, plus "First available". Once called, they see a range ("called in about 15–25 min") worked out from each person's real service times.
- "Tell me when the wait is shorter." When the wait is over 10 minutes, a customer can ask to be told when it drops, by email.
- Family tickets. An owner with two dogs checks in once. Each pet gets its own place, groom and groomer.
- Overflow between locations. If another of your locations nearby has a much shorter wait for the same services, the join page offers a move there and keeps the customer’s place fair. For businesses with more than one location, so on paid plans (Free is one location).
- Seven languages for customer screens: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Haitian Creole and Simplified Chinese. The newest six are machine-drafted, and corrections are welcome.
On the floor
- A button at each groomer's station. Every team member gets a secret link to open on a spare phone or tablet at their station. One big button finishes the current visit and calls the next owner, hands free.
- A page for each groomer. A team member with a booking handle gets a public page with their photo, services and prices, and the live wait or booking.
- Visit photos and "Last time" (Pro). Up to 3 photos and a note per visit, added after the owner says OK to a photo: a photo of the finished cut, the clipper guard and coat notes. It shows on the Staff Screen when they are called.
- On the TV (all opt-in): a full-screen "You’re up!" with the first name, the team member’s photo and a chime; spoken call-ups in English or Spanish; a large-text, high-contrast view; and rotating content between calls (the wait, flash sales (Pro), recent 4 and 5 star reviews, the best time to visit). The Apple TV and Roku apps show the spotlight, chime and rotating wait, sales and review cards; spoken call-ups, the large-text view and the best-time slide are on the web TV.
Bring regulars back
- Overdue regulars (Pro). Pets come every six to eight weeks, so a dog overdue for a groom shows up in a list with its owner. Clients past their usual gap with nothing booked, most overdue first, one tap to reach out by email (only to those who opted in).
- One-tap rebook (Pro). At checkout and on the Done banner, "Book their next visit" offers the 3 open times nearest the client’s own rhythm, with the same services and person.
- Loyalty streaks and tiers (Pro) on top of stamp cards: on-schedule streaks and tiers you name, with a perk for each.
- Client referrals (Pro, off until you switch them on). "Give a friend $5 off, get $5 store credit", paid for by you, with a yearly cap per client.
- First-visit certificate (every plan). A printable, shareable certificate for a client’s first visit.
Licences, cleaning and insight
- Licences and insurance for each team member, with expiry reminders: groomer certification, and booth renter or liability insurance.
- A cleaning log for each location, from a starter list for this trade (disinfect kennels and crates, tubs and tables, sterilize clippers and tools), ticked off per shift and printable for an inspector.
- Ask about your business (Pro). Plain-language questions about your own numbers, from Help, like "Which day was slowest last month?".
- How you compare (Pro): your median wait, no-show rate, rebook rate and average ticket against other groomers of your size, over 90 days.
- Suggested team on duty and review themes (Pro), plus a weekly "This week, try" on every plan with up to three actions from your numbers.
The report card, at checkout
The groomer notes how the visit went and when to come back, then emails "ready for pickup" with the card.
A Saturday with NextUp Walk-in
An example day, hour by hour, with the line on everyone's phone.
- 8:00
Line opens. A new client tries to join, but Max's rabies record has expired. The Check-in Page tells her which record, and the desk adds the new certificate with a photo.
- 8:30
Three dogs are waiting in their cars. The lobby has one dog in it.
- 9:10
A walk-in nail trim joins. It counts for 10 minutes in the wait, not two hours.
- 10:00
The TV shows "Biscuit · Sarah K. · on the table".
- 11:15
A family joins with two dogs on one ticket: a bath for the lab, a full groom for the poodle. The TV calls each by name.
- 12:30
A groomer adds a note and a photo to a finished visit, after the owner says yes to a photo. It shows as "Last time" at the next visit.
- 1:00
A booked doodle groom checks in with a deposit already paid.
- 2:00
A groomer running long posts a delay message, and the people waiting for her see it.
- 3:30
Checkout: a de-shedding add-on, a bottle of shampoo, a tip to the groomer. The groomer fills the report card and emails "ready for pickup".
- 4:30
The line stops taking full grooms at 4:30 so nobody gets a large-dog groom at closing.
- Monday
Insights: busiest hours, average wait and how many left the line, so you can staff the next Saturday.
- 6 weeks later
A rebooking email reminds Sarah that Biscuit is due.
See NextUp Walk-in set up for pet groomers
Six screens, one system, always in sync — styled the way your customers and team will actually see it.
Why switch to NextUp Walk-in
- From grooming software built around booked grooms: the salon plans we checked run from $25 to $109 a month, and one team plan adds $16 for each active staff member (pricing page, pricing page, checked October 26, 2026). NextUp Walk-in gives you a live walk-in line and a TV next to your bookings, from $29 a month per location with 3 team members included.
- From a paper sign-in sheet: pet parents wait in the car, the order is visible to everyone, and you see how many left.
- Vaccines enforced at the door, not just stored: an expired required record stops online check-in.
- Where we are not the fit: mobile grooming vans with routes, and boarding or daycare. Those grooming apps price per van or per facility, and NextUp Walk-in does neither.
- Where we are catching up: price and time follow the size and coat options you set, not a breed lookup, and the report card is an email with your notes (photos stay in "Last time" on Pro).
- Switching offer: your first month free on monthly billing with the code SWITCH. Import your client list yourself in a few minutes. You see every row before it saves, and you can undo it for 7 days. Questions? Email us.
Related trades
Also built for
Comparing waitlist apps?
See comparisonSee how NextUp Walk-in compares with other booking apps: price per location, texts included, and who each app is actually built for.
How NextUp Walk-in compares
Price, the walk-in line and the grooming tools, side by side, with the gaps we have said plainly.
| Feature | NextUp Walk-in | Grooming software | General booking apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price, 1 salon | $29 Walk-in, $59 Pro | $25 to $109 on the salon plans checked (pricing page, pricing page) | $28 to $49 a month (see the comparisons) |
| Extra people | 3 team members included, then $10 each | One team plan: $40 plus $16 for each active staff member | $10 to $20 a month for each extra person |
| Live walk-in line and a TV that shows the pet’s name | ✓ | Not on the pricing pages checked | A waitlist that fills openings in the book |
| Vaccine records that stop online check-in when expired | ✓ (your choice) | Not on the pricing pages checked | Varies by app |
| Report card with notes after a groom, and price by size and coat | ✓ Report card emailed at pickup, and options by size and coat (every plan); photos in "Last time" (Pro) | ✓ on one pricing page | Varies |
| Mobile grooming vans and routes | — | ✓ (mobile plans are priced per van, from $49) | — |
| Boarding and daycare | — | ✓ (facility plans from $79) | — |
Prices from each vendor’s public pricing page, checked October 26, 2026 (grooming software) and October 2026 (general apps). Named, linked comparisons are on the compare pages.
Pet groomers: common questions
Can pet parents wait outside with their dog?
Yes. They join from their phone and see their place live, so they can wait in the car or walk the block. Their phone shows the moment a groomer is ready.
Can I check vaccination records before a pet comes in?
Yes. Health Records keeps each pet's vaccinations with a photo of the paperwork. Turn on the check-in gate, and an expired record stops online check-in and shows the owner which one.
Can owners sign a grooming release before the groom?
Yes. Start from the pet-grooming template (rabies, health, an emergency phone number and the OK to call a vet) and make it required. It's signed on their phone and filed on their profile.
How do I handle quick nail trims next to full grooms?
Turn on service selection. Each service counts for its own time, so a nail trim moves the wait by minutes and a full groom by its real length.
Can I sell prepaid baths or a nail-trim club?
Yes, with NextUp Walk-in’s Pro plan. Packages track each use, and memberships renew monthly and apply the member price at checkout.
Does NextUp Walk-in do boarding or daycare?
No. NextUp Walk-in runs your grooming line, bookings and checkout. It doesn't manage kennels, boarding stays or daycare.
Can I price a groom by size, breed or coat?
Yes, by size and coat. Give a groom options, such as Size (small to giant) and Coat (smooth, long or double, matted), each with its own price and minutes; a pet-grooming starter fills in the usual ones. The pet parent picks one when they join or book. It follows the options you set, not a breed lookup, and you can set one client's own price.
Can I add more than one pet to a visit?
Yes. "Add someone" puts up to five on one ticket, each with its own name and groom. Each shows on the TV by its name with the owner beside it.
Do you send a report card after the groom?
Yes. At checkout the groomer writes how the pet behaved, coat notes and when to come back, and can email the card with "ready for pickup" to the owner (email only, since texts are not live). With NextUp Walk-in’s Pro plan you can also keep up to three photos and a note on each visit, after the owner says yes to a photo, and the groomer sees them as "Last time" at the next visit.
How much does a pet grooming check-in app cost?
The Walk-in plan is $29 a month for your first location and $19 for each additional one, with the TV screen and the door tablet. Pro, at $59 and $39, adds appointments, deposits, memberships, commissions and payroll. Both include 3 team members per location, then $10 a month each. The 14-day free trial includes every Pro feature. A card is needed to start, but nothing is charged until the trial ends, when the plan is charged unless you cancel first. There is also a Free plan: 1 location, 1 team member and 50 check-ins a month, and no card needed.
A quiet lobby, every groom.
Set up your first location in about two minutes. Your line can be live before your next walk-in.