Choose around a complete grooming appointment, then check the setup, costs and records behind it. Use the same sample scenario with each supplier.
Start with the salon you actually run
Write down who books appointments, how many groomers need access, which services vary by duration and where you keep pet history today. An independent groomer may prioritise a readable calendar and fast rebooking; a team may need separate accounts, service eligibility and reliable handoffs.
Pet software is a broad category. Boarding, veterinary and retail tools can solve different problems. If you are searching for “groom software”, focus the comparison on grooming appointments, clients, pets and the daily salon workflow.
Ask every supplier to follow one appointment
Use fictional records for the demonstration. Ask to see the exact account and feature configuration you would receive, including what requires an extra service or setup.
| Test | What to check |
|---|---|
| Book a visit | Choose a pet, service, duration and available groomer. Try a conflicting time. |
| Prepare the groom | Find previous visits and distinguish customer-visible information from internal handling notes. |
| Change the appointment | Review a new service or start time and the resulting availability. |
| Complete the visit | Record the work and a pay-at-salon receipt. Identify whether a payment is recorded or actually charged. |
| Arrange the next visit | Show a recurring schedule and what happens if the next slot is unavailable. |
Check your Canadian setup
Confirm the currency used for the software quote and for salon transactions. Set the salon’s own timezone and test a booking near a clock change if that affects your location. Agree how closures and staff time off appear in availability.
Ask about the application language and support language separately. GroomAI has French information pages; this alone does not mean every application screen or support interaction is available in French. Review your own tax and receipt configuration with the team.
Compare the full cost and commitment
Request a written breakdown of the subscription, implementation, website work, message usage and payment processing. Check the billing currency, renewal interval, staff allowance, cancellation terms and the point at which a trial becomes paid.
Ask which features are available today. A roadmap item, a configured integration and an included feature are three different things. Compare the offer you can actually use.
Review migration and staff access before switching
Obtain a sample export, map the important fields and run a preview before a live import. Check duplicate behaviour and the scope of appointment history, payment history, photos and attachments. Keep an untouched source export and agree how the team will verify the result.
Give each staff member their own appropriate account. In a demonstration, check what the owner, manager and groomer can see. Also verify the sender, permission records and delivery setup for customer communication.
Make a short acceptance checklist
Record what worked, what needs configuration and what is unavailable. Ask the people who will use the calendar to complete the same fictional visit themselves. Choose the system that meets those requirements at a cost and commitment you understand.
For GroomAI, request a walkthrough with your team size, province or territory, current system and the workflow you want to improve. Keep customer records out of the public enquiry form.
Published by Flor Technologies to help you evaluate the software. Confirm your salon’s feature configuration during a walkthrough.