Professional groomers, this guide is for you! If you’ve decided to diversify your business or start your own, perhaps you’re considering owning a grooming truck? This mobile solution enables you to expand your business area and offer a personalized service to meet the needs of pet lovers!
We share with you all you need to know about choosing your future vehicle, the appropriate equipment and the regulations for a safe and functional layout. Many dog grooming enthusiasts, seduced by the user-friendliness and practicality of the mobile salon, have already embarked on this adventure, so why not you?
How do you choose the mechanical base and fit out your grooming truck?
Before looking at the vehicle layout, it’s important to choose a truck that’s perfectly suited to an itinerant business like dog grooming.
Important points for choosing the right vehicle
Two things are crucial when looking for the ideal vehicle: the choice of chassis and cell. The chassis must obviously match the size of the cell and be in perfect condition, especially if the vehicle is second-hand, in order to support the weight of the cell. Fiat Ducato and Renault Master chassis, for example, could be just what you need to create this living room on wheels.
When it comes to the dimensions of the rear cell that will house your future workspace, it’s best to choose a cell that measures between 4.20 m and 4.50 m in length and around 2.20 m in width. This size is perfect for driving your truck everywhere, while still providing a comfortable space to perform your services.
For height, a cell of around 2.10 m is recommended. At Ecomag, we’ll help you choose the vehicle that’s right for you, so we can offer you a truck that’s tailored to your needs.
Of course, you’ll need a suitable door on the cell to welcome your customers and their dogs into your vehicle. This door can be on the rear of the cell or on the side, as you wish. You’ll also need a technical box on the outside to store a few accessories, such as cables, without cluttering up the interior.
Which vehicle model should I choose?
There are several options when it comes to choosing a truck. You can choose a truck on which you can fit a cell. This solution guarantees more possibilities in terms of layout, and is certainly more suitable for a mobile business. But you can also choose an integral truck without a cell, as is often the case:
- Renault Master ;
- Peugeot Boxer ;
- Fiat Ducato Van.
These vehicles often weigh less than 3.5 tonnes, making them easy to drive on any type of road.
Interior fittings and fixtures: meeting all your needs
Have you found your ideal vehicle? You need to ask yourself the right questions about the interior layout of your truck to create a real grooming salon.
What equipment do you need to offer a real grooming salon?
In this grooming truck, we will find all the essential equipment:
- The bathtub;
- The adjustable grooming table ;
- Dryer/pulper ;
- The water heater ;
- A suitable cupboard.
This equipment is indispensable for pampering your hairy customers and giving them a makeover! According to feedback from mobile groomers, it’s crucial to use this equipment as the basis for vehicle layout.
For the bathtub, a large-diameter drain will be key to easily evacuating the large quantity of hair, and thus avoiding blockages.
Another piece of equipment that shouldn’t be underestimated is lighting. Provide windows and, in particular, a skylight above your workstation to maximize natural light. These windows will also be needed to effectively ventilate your future mobile dog grooming salon.
Separate grooming steps for a layout as functional as a conventional salon
Optimizing this space is key if you’re planning to work in a small space like the cell of a truck. Here are our top layout tips, if you’re thinking of outfitting a mobile grooming truck.
You need to make sure that you’re free to move around easily throughout the space. This will enable you to work efficiently and stress-free. The order of your work process should be taken into account to organize small work areas, and thus facilitate your grooming mission.
Think of the layout in three zones: the reception area, the washing and drying area, and the finishing area. The reception area will be very limited in your truck. For example, you won’t be able to install a counter like in a conventional salon. Nevertheless, you’ll need to set aside a small area if you need to welcome your customers in the truck, especially if you need to keep a dog waiting.
In one corner, you’ll find a washing and drying area for proper grooming. Finally, you can place them on the table, often installed in the center of the truck, so that you can turn around the dog easily during grooming. Itinerant entrepreneurs appreciate having a functional space that guarantees good space management.
Would you like to offer a personal service with your grooming truck? At Ecomag, we offer top-of-the-range finishes worthy of a real salon, with the guarantee of impeccable quality down to the smallest detail, to project a professional image to your customers. These details will positively surprise your customers. According to some groomers, surprising your customers with your furnishings will score points and increase your chances of repeat business!
No frills on a grooming truck
We are specialists in the creation of grooming trucks, and for us, there should be no superfluous items in this space to maximize the available space and also to facilitate maintenance.
Easy maintenance in the grooming truck must be a priority to meet health standards. To achieve this, think about the smallest details when designing the project. A plaster finish that’s easy to clean on a daily basis, or tiling adapted to the vehicle’s layout, will be the solution. Whether on the floor or on the worktop, this is an element to consider for easy disinfection and water rinsing without durability problems.
Inaccessible nooks and crannies should also be avoided in the design phase, for greater practicality. This way, no hair will get stuck in a corner during daily cleaning, for a clean and professional space.
Compliance with standards and regulations for safe mobile grooming
To realize this original entrepreneurial initiative and meet the needs of customers who are unable to travel to a grooming salon, it is necessary to comply with a number of regulations.
Safety measures in a grooming salon
Obviously, as in any work space, there are a few safety regulations to consider, but what are the safety measures to be observed in a grooming salon?
Around the dog bath, the floor must be designed to avoid the risk of slipping , for your safety and that of your dog. Be careful not to make the floor too rough, so that hair can be easily removed.
To secure your mobile living room, avoid hard and dangerous materials. Glass and metal, for example, should be avoided in certain areas.
The space must not be cluttered with heavy objects that could fall on the dogs. In this way, all equipment hung on wall brackets must be safe to avoid accidents.
Since you don’t have an airlock or gate in your truck, you should certainly install a small, comfortable waiting crate to ensure the dog’s safety before and after the grooming session.
When it comes to grooming and cleaning equipment, you’re bound to have a few products to store. These should be locked away in a cupboard to which the animal has no access. In the same vein, you’ll need to make electrical cables inaccessible to pets, so they can’t eat them. In this case, you and your pets are in serious danger if a fire breaks out in your vehicle.
Standards to be met in a converted vehicle
Do you know aboutVASP approval? It’s a mandatory standard for driving your mobile grooming salon legally . But what exactly is it? VASP homologation consists in passing checks with several organizations to make sure that your vehicle complies with the safety standards laid down by AFNOR.
The organizations concerned include Véritas and Qualigaz for gas installations. In your truck, for example, you may have installed a water heater or heating system to keep the dogs warm. If this equipment is gas-powered, you’ll need to present your truck to one of these organizations.
DREAL, DRIRE, MINES, the name of this organization depends on the region where you live. Emergency exits and other criteria are checked during this inspection.
For VASP regulations to be validated, safety standards must be fully complied with. These include the solidity of closet locking systems and the accessibility of emergency exits. Obviously, the installation and operation of your various appliances (dryer, water heater, etc.) must comply with current regulations. The installation of water-related equipment must also be perfectly safe.
VASP certification is recommended for two main reasons. Without it, you run the risk of your vehicle failing the mandatory roadworthiness test . Then, as a professional groomer, you expose yourself to another problem: having to deal with insurance issues if you have an accident, especially with equipment such as the water heater.
To make sure you don’t make any mistakes when setting up your mobile dog grooming salon, call on our services. Our company, Ecomag, can manufacture and deliver your all-in-one truck. What’s more, we’re committed to advising you on the choice of exterior and interior customization for a 100% personalized project that sets you apart from the competition.
Start mobile grooming with peace of mind
Fitting out a grooming truck is much more than just a logistics project: it’s a real opportunity to develop your business, gain in flexibility and offer a unique service to pet owners, even in the most isolated areas. By following the right steps – from choosing the right vehicle to fitting it out and complying with the relevant standards – you put all the chances of success on your side. At Ecomag, we’ll work with you from A to Z to turn your idea into a secure, tailor-made project.
So, are you ready to embark on the adventure of mobile grooming?
