Free template
Mobile grooming intake form — template & checklist
A focused intake form lets a new client give you everything you need in under three minutes. Too many fields drops submission rate; too few and you end up texting back and forth. Here's what to include, what to leave out, and how to turn the form into a policy-backed booking request.
Contact basics
- — Full name
- — Phone number (for day-of messages)
- — Email (for receipts and reminders)
- — Preferred contact method
Service address
- — Street address with unit / apt
- — Parking notes (driveway, street, gate code)
- — Power and water access (if relevant to your setup)
- — Cross streets or landmark (for hard-to-find houses)
Pet profile
- — Pet name
- — Breed (or breed mix)
- — Weight (rough estimate is fine)
- — Age
- — Spayed / neutered
- — Coat type (short, double, curly, poodle/doodle, hand-strip, etc.)
- — Last groomed (date or approximate)
- — Health conditions (skin, joints, seniors)
- — Medications / allergies
- — Vaccination status (your policy)
Temperament + handling
- — Behavior around strangers (calm, nervous, reactive)
- — Behavior around grooming tools (nail trim, dryer, clippers)
- — Has the pet ever bitten a groomer or handler?
- — Muzzle required? (yes / no / only for nails)
- — Matting or known special-handling needs
Service request
- — Requested service (full groom, bath-only, nails, specific add-ons)
- — Preferred days and time windows
- — How did you hear about us? (useful for marketing)
- — Anything else the groomer should know
Policy and consent
- — Cancellation policy displayed (see the policy template)
- — Deposit required — yes/no, amount
- — Payment method for deposit (Venmo / Zelle / PayPal / Stripe link)
- — Explicit checkbox: "I have read and agree to the cancellation and deposit policy above."
- — Service disclaimer acknowledgement (the client is paying you directly)
What to leave out
- — Too many optional fields — every extra field drops submission rate.
- — Free-text fields where a dropdown would do (coat type, service, window).
- — Making photo uploads required — allow them as optional.
- — Asking for a full medical history when a short health-note field is enough.
- — Skipping the policy checkbox — it's the single most important field on the form.
Turn the intake form into a policy-backed booking
The intake form is where most of the leverage lives. Three changes upgrade a plain form into a proper booking workflow:
- Show the cancellation policy above the submit button. Use the cancellation policy template as a starting point.
- Require an explicit checkbox agreement. The checkbox should reference the specific numbers (deposit, window, fees), not "our policy."
- Store a frozen snapshot. The version of the policy the client saw should be saved with the booking. If you change the policy next month, past bookings still show the policy that was live on the day they submitted.
Client Control does all three automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What fields should a mobile grooming intake form include?
Contact basics, service address with parking and access notes, a pet profile (breed, weight, age, coat, health), handling and temperament notes, the specific service requested, and a policy/consent section with an explicit checkbox. Keep fields tight — every extra field reduces submission rate.
Should my intake form ask for vaccination records?
Up to you. Asking for rabies and core vaccines is common and reasonable. If you require proof, include an upload field — but keep it optional at submit so you do not lose bookings from new clients who can attach it later.
What's the single most important field on a grooming intake form?
The cancellation policy checkbox. Without an explicit, timestamped agreement to your policy, it is much harder to enforce late-cancel fees and deposit forfeits.
How do I turn the intake form into a policy-backed booking?
Display your cancellation policy above the submit button, require the client to check a box confirming they agree, and store a frozen snapshot of the policy with the request. GroomerPro Client Control does this automatically.
Skip building the form yourself
GroomerPro gives you a ready-made intake form, a policy-backed agreement step, and a frozen policy snapshot on every request.