Guide · 6 min read
Mobile vans, supplies, tips, and tax — for salon and mobile pet groomers.
A built-out grooming van is a heavy commercial vehicle — meaning Section 179 can let you expense $30K+ of the purchase the first year. Add in fuel, generator, water, and maintenance, and your van alone is your biggest deduction.
Booking payouts in. Shampoo, blades, fuel, retail inventory out. Don't mix with personal.
Cash, card, Venmo — all tips are income. Log at end of shift.
If you bought a grooming van this year, talk to a CPA about expensing it under Section 179 instead of depreciating over 5 years.
Collect, file, remit on the schedule your state requires. Use a POS that tags taxable vs non-taxable at checkout.
SnapBooks tracks appointments, tips, supplies, and van expenses — and tells you what to pay in tax.
Start freeDepends on the state. Many states tax pet grooming (it's a non-essential personal service); others don't. Retail (food, toys, leashes) is almost always taxable.
Huge deduction category. Van depreciation (Section 179 up to $30K+ on heavy SUVs/vans), fuel, insurance, maintenance, generator fuel, water tank, and grooming-station fit-out are all deductible.
Two options: standard mileage rate (67¢/mi in 2025) or actual costs (gas, insurance, depreciation, repairs). Mobile groomers usually do better with actual costs because of high commercial vehicle expenses.
Generally no. The IRS sees your personal pet as personal even if you practice on them. A working facility dog with documented business use is a different story.
Yes — any unincorporated contractor you paid $600+ in a year gets a 1099-NEC by January 31.