New Jersey Pet Grooming License Requirements (2026)

Pet Grooming License & Business Requirements in New Jersey (2026): The Complete Guide

Important: Fees, tax rates, and regulations change frequently. This guide reflects requirements as of October 2026. Always verify current requirements with the specific agencies listed before making business decisions. Direct links to official sources are provided throughout.

Starting a pet grooming business in New Jersey looks simple at first glance.

You’ll often hear:

“New Jersey doesn’t license pet groomers.”

As of October 2026, that statement is true. But it leaves out two things that catch new groomers off guard:

1. New Jersey charges sales tax on pet grooming. Unlike many states, grooming is a taxable service here, so you must register, collect 6.625% on your grooming charges, and file returns.
2. A groomer licensing bill is pending again. Bills to license groomers have been introduced in Trenton in several sessions, and a new one was filed in January 2026.

The rest of the compliance work lives in state business registration, municipal licensing, zoning, workers’ compensation, and (if you board or run daycare) municipal kennel licensing.

This guide covers storefront salons, home-based groomers, and mobile grooming operations, with specific notes for Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson.

Quick Reference: What You Must Do

Required for ALL Grooming Businesses (Regardless of Model)

• Business formation filing with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (LLCs and corporations), or a trade name filing with your county clerk (sole proprietors using a business name)
• Tax registration (Form NJ-REG) at least 15 business days before you open
• Sales tax collection on grooming services and product sales
• Federal EIN (IRS) if you have employees or form an entity
• Workers’ compensation insurance as soon as you have an employee
• Business insurance (general liability plus care, custody, and control coverage)

Model-Specific Requirements

Bottom line: There is no groomer license to get, but there is a sales tax account to open. Everything else depends on your municipality.

If you also work across the river, see our New York grooming requirements guide or our Pennsylvania guide.

Part 1: Do You Need a Pet Groomer License in New Jersey?

The short answer

No, not as of October 2026. New Jersey does not issue a professional license for pet groomers. There is:

• no state grooming board
• no state exam
• no mandatory professional certification
• no continuing education requirement

You can legally groom pets in New Jersey without a professional grooming license.

The pending bill: S387 (2026–2027 session)

New Jersey lawmakers have tried to license groomers for more than a decade. The bills are often called “Bijou’s Law” in news coverage, after a dog that died at a groomer.

The current version is Senate Bill S387, captioned “Requires licensing of pet groomers and registration of certain other businesses, and establishes related licensing and operating requirements.” According to the bill record, it was:

• introduced on January 13, 2026
• referred to the Senate Economic Growth Committee
• a carry-over of S264 and A1456 from the 2024–2025 session, which died when that session ended in January 2026

The predecessor bills’ text would have:

• required anyone who bathes, brushes, clips, or styles a pet for compensation to be licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
• set eligibility rules: at least 18 years old, good moral character, and passing a competency exam approved by the Board
• required grooming businesses to register with the Board and carry general liability insurance (or a letter of credit)
• set facility standards, including continuous drinking water, a ban on drying cages, and surveillance cameras
• required a pet incident file covering injuries, illnesses, deaths, and escapes

What this means for you: S387 is a bill, not a law. We found no record of a committee vote or of a 2026 Assembly companion bill as of October 2026. Versions of this bill have been introduced in several earlier sessions, and none has become law. Check the New Jersey Legislature’s bill search for S387 before you rely on this, and watch for an Assembly version.

If S387 or a successor passes, expect a phase-in period, an exam, and business registration. Groomers who already keep incident records and written handling policies will have the easiest transition.

”No license required” does not mean “unregulated”

Instead, New Jersey regulates grooming businesses through:

• state business registration and tax registration
• sales tax on grooming services
• municipal business (mercantile) licenses in many cities
• zoning and certificates of occupancy
• municipal kennel licensing if you board or run daycare
• the state animal cruelty law
• mandatory workers’ compensation for employers

Voluntary certifications

While not legally required, certifications strengthen credibility and may help with insurance:

• National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA) certification
• International Professional Groomers (IPG) certification
• International Society of Canine Cosmetologists (ISCC) certification

If a licensing law passes, a documented training history is also likely to help.

Part 2: Choose Your Business Model First (Everything Depends on This)

Before you register anything, decide how you will operate. Zoning, municipal licensing, and wastewater rules all follow from it. Our guide to grooming business models walks through the tradeoffs in more depth.

1. Storefront grooming salon

• Commercial lease or owned retail space
• Clients drop off and pick up pets
• Highest startup cost, clearest regulatory path
• Needs a certificate of occupancy for the use in most cities

2. Home-based grooming

• Operates from a residence (garage, basement, converted room)
• Lower overhead
• Controlled entirely by your municipality’s home occupation rules, which vary widely from town to town
• Client visits are often the sticking point

3. Mobile grooming

• Van or trailer-based grooming unit
• Travels to client locations
• Fewest zoning issues at the point of service
• Wastewater capture and disposal is your responsibility
• May need a license in more than one town

Part 3: New Jersey Business Registration

New Jersey separates formation (creating an LLC or corporation) from tax registration (Form NJ-REG). Most groomers need both.

Official resource: Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES): Getting Registered

LLCs and corporations

According to DORES, the steps are:

1. Check that your name is available with the online business name search
2. Get an EIN from the IRS
3. File a Certificate of Formation (LLC) or Certificate of Incorporation (corporation)
4. File the tax and employer registration form, Form NJ-REG

Sole proprietors and general partnerships

• No formation filing with the state
• File Form NJ-REG for tax registration
• If you use a business name other than your own legal name, register the trade name with the county clerk in each county where you do business. Trade names for sole proprietorships are filed at the county level, not with the state (NJ Business Action Center). Fees vary by county.

Register before you open

The Division of Taxation says every business must file Form NJ-REG at least 15 business days before starting business (Sales Tax Guide S&U-4). Because grooming is taxable, this is not optional for groomers.

After filing, you can obtain a Business Registration Certificate (BRC), which you’ll need for public contracts and some local license applications.

Registration fees (verify current fees)

From the DORES Registry Fee Schedules as of October 2026:

• LLC Certificate of Formation: $100
• LLC Annual Report: $75
• LLC alternate name registration: $50
• LLC name reservation: $50
• For-profit Certificate of Incorporation: $100
• Corporate Annual Report: $75
• Corporate alternate name registration: $50

Note: Fees are set by statute and can change. Confirm the amount at checkout.

Part 4: Taxes Groomers Must Pay in New Jersey

Official resource: New Jersey Division of Taxation | Customer Service Center: (609) 292-6400 (telephone assistance page)

1. Sales tax on grooming services (yes, it applies)

This is the most important tax fact in this guide. New Jersey taxes pet grooming.

The Division of Taxation’s New Jersey Sales Tax Guide (S&U-4) lists:

• Animal Grooming: Taxable
• Animal Boarding at Seller’s Facility: Taxable

The Division’s bulletin for veterinarians, ANJ-12 (Rev. 5/25), says separately stated charges for boarding, washing and shampooing, grooming, clipping and styling fur, and trimming nails or claws are taxable unless provided because of the animal’s disease, injury, or other medical need.

Current rate: 6.625%, the statewide Sales and Use Tax rate (S&U-4).

What this means for groomers:

1. Register with Form NJ-REG before you open
2. Charge 6.625% on your grooming services
3. Charge 6.625% on retail products (shampoos, collars, treats, accessories)
4. File and pay on the schedule the Division assigns you
5. Keep records that support any non-taxable charges (for example, a vet-directed medicated bath)

Urban Enterprise Zones: Parts of Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson are in Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs). Certified UEZ sellers can charge a reduced rate of 3.3125%, but the Division describes that reduced rate as applying to taxable sales of tangible personal property (Division of Taxation: Urban Enterprise Zone). Don’t assume it covers your grooming services. If you’re in a zone, ask the Division how it applies to your mix of services and retail before you charge the lower rate.

2. Use tax

If you buy equipment or supplies from an out-of-state seller that doesn’t collect New Jersey tax, you owe Use Tax at 6.625% (S&U-4).

3. Income tax

New Jersey has a graduated Gross Income Tax, with rates rising as income rises (Division of Taxation: Gross Income Tax overview). The top rate is 10.75%.

• Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs: business income flows to your personal return
• Partnerships and multi-member LLCs: income passes through to the owners
• Corporations: subject to the Corporation Business Tax (overview)

Plan for quarterly estimated payments to both New Jersey and the IRS.

4. Employer payroll taxes (if you hire)

New Jersey payroll taxes include unemployment (UI), temporary disability (TDI), family leave insurance (FLI), and workforce development contributions.

From the NJ Department of Labor’s 2026 rate announcement and its employer rate page:

• UI taxable wage base for 2026: $44,800 per employee
• TDI and FLI taxable wage base for 2026: $171,100 per employee
• Employer TDI rate: 0.10% to 0.75%
• FLI: funded by employee contributions, no employer contribution
• New employer rates for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027: UI 2.6825%, DI 0.50%, workforce funds 0.1175%

You also withhold New Jersey income tax and employee UI, TDI, and FLI contributions from wages.

Part 5: Municipal Business Licensing (Varies by Town)

New Jersey has no statewide general business license. Many municipalities require a mercantile license or similar local license before you open, often tied to a certificate of occupancy and zoning sign-off.

Who needs a municipal license

• storefront salons in towns that license businesses
• home-based groomers where the town licenses home businesses
• mobile groomers, depending on each town’s rules

Newark

Official resource: City of Newark: How do I open a business?

Newark requires a city business license. The city’s guidance lists these prerequisites:

• a federal EIN (unless you’re a sole proprietor with no employees)
• New Jersey business registration for corporations and LLCs
• a Certificate of Occupancy for the space (the building owner can usually provide a copy, or request one through an OPRA request at the City Clerk’s office)
• zoning approval
• a valid driver’s license or state ID

The application package comes from the Office of Central Licenses and Permits, City Hall, 920 Broad Street. The package lists any other permits your business type needs. The city lists the office at Room B-17 and (973) 733-6390; confirm before you visit.

Action step: Ask Central Licenses and Permits which license category covers pet grooming and whether the Department of Health and Community Wellness must sign off.

Jersey City

Official resource: Jersey City: New Businesses

Jersey City’s guidance for new businesses says:

• Check zoning before you sign a lease. Use the Interactive Zoning Map, or apply for a Zoning Determination Letter through the city’s permitting portal if you’re unsure.
• Check for open violations on the property. A certificate of occupancy can’t be issued until they’re resolved.
• Get a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). City code requires a CO for new construction, major renovations, or a change in building use, and it’s required to legally operate a business. Apply through the Jersey City Permit Portal.
• Check historic district status before planning any exterior changes.

Licenses are submitted online, and each department uses a different portal. The Health Department ((201) 547-6800) handles licenses listed as Animal Care, Kennel, and Pet Shop, among others.

Action step: Call the Health Department and ask whether a grooming-only shop needs the Animal Care license. If you add boarding or daycare, you’ll need the kennel license (see Part 6). For general questions, the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce support line is (201) 547-5070.

Paterson

Official resource: City of Paterson: Mercantile Licensing

Paterson’s city ordinance requires businesses to register and obtain a Mercantile License. The Mercantile Licensing office is at 125 Ellison Street, (973) 321-1242, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Action step: Ask Mercantile Licensing for the current fee, the renewal date, and whether City Council approval is part of the process for your business type. Confirm zoning and your certificate of occupancy before you apply.

General pattern for New Jersey municipalities

Outside these three cities, expect some combination of:

1. a mercantile or business license (not every town has one)
2. a zoning permit or zoning sign-off
3. a certificate of occupancy or continued certificate of occupancy for a new tenant
4. a fire inspection for commercial space
5. local health department involvement if you board or run daycare

Action step: Call your municipal clerk and zoning officer before you commit to a location.

Part 6: Kennel and Pet Shop Licensing (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.8): Does It Apply to Groomers?

This is where New Jersey differs from many states. Kennels and pet shops are licensed by the municipality, under a state statute, with inspections by the local health department.

Official resource: NJ Department of Health: Guidelines for Municipal Licensure of Animal Facilities

What the law covers

According to the Department of Health’s guidelines:

• Under N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.8(a), operators of kennels, pet shops, shelters, and pounds must apply annually to the municipality for a license
• Each license expires on June 30 of each year
• Before a license is issued, local health department staff inspect the facility for compliance with all laws, rules, and ordinances, including building code and zoning
• Facilities are evaluated against the state rules for sanitary operation of animal facilities, N.J.A.C. 8:23A-1.1 through 1.13
• Blueprint plans must go to the local health department for review before new construction or renovation
• Licenses are not transferable on sale of the business

Key finding: grooming alone is not a “kennel”

The guidelines quote the regulatory definition: a kennel is “any establishment wherein or whereupon the business of boarding or selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except for a pet shop.”

Grooming appears nowhere in that definition, and a pet shop is defined around keeping animals for sale. A grooming-only business, where the dog leaves when the appointment ends, does not fit either category.

When kennel licensing does apply

• Boarding: any overnight boarding makes you a kennel
• Daycare: the Department of Health says the definition of boarding includes kennels that house dogs during the day, but not overnight (doggie day-care centers)
• Selling animals: makes you a pet shop

Watch the gray area. If you hold dogs for most of a day before and after their groom, or advertise “drop off all day,” ask your local health department whether it treats that as daytime boarding. Get the answer in writing.

Local licensing beyond the statute

Some municipalities add their own animal business licenses on top of the state framework. Jersey City’s Health Department, for example, lists an Animal Care license alongside its Kennel and Pet Shop licenses. Always ask.

Part 7: New Jersey Animal Welfare Law

Even without a groomer license, the state’s animal cruelty law applies to everything that happens on your table.

• New Jersey’s animal cruelty statutes are in Title 4, Chapter 22 of the New Jersey Statutes
• A 2017 law moved enforcement to counties and municipalities. Since February 1, 2019, cruelty investigations are conducted by Humane Law Enforcement Officers who report to county prosecutors (NJ Department of Health: Veterinary Public Health)

For groomers, the practical risks are:

• leaving a dog unattended on a table or in a restraint
• heat stress from cage dryers or hot vans
• injuries from equipment or handling
• failing to get veterinary care for an injury

Best practice: Write down your handling procedures, never leave a restrained dog alone, and keep an incident log. Use a signed grooming consent and release form that covers matting, senior pets, and emergency veterinary care. If S387 passes, a pet incident file would likely become mandatory anyway.

Part 8: Zoning (The Requirement That Overrides Everything)

Zoning is set by each municipality under its own ordinance. It decides whether you can open at all.

Storefront zoning

Confirm with the municipal zoning officer that:

• pet grooming is a permitted or conditional use in the zone
• the space has, or can get, a certificate of occupancy for your use
• parking requirements can be met
• signage is permitted
• noise and odor won’t violate local standards

Jersey City recommends checking zoning and the existing CO before signing a lease. That advice applies everywhere.

Home-based zoning

Home occupation rules vary by municipality and commonly limit:

• the share of the home used for business
• the number of client visits
• non-resident employees
• exterior signage
• noise, odor, and traffic

Many towns restrict or bar businesses that bring animals and customers to a residence. Ask the zoning officer directly whether animal grooming is allowed as a home occupation, and get the answer in writing.

Mobile grooming zoning

• Check whether you can park a commercial van overnight at home
• Some towns restrict commercial vehicles in residential zones
• Ask each town where you regularly work whether it requires a license or permit for mobile service businesses

Part 9: Facility, Sanitation, and Wastewater Requirements

Facility standards

New Jersey has no grooming-specific facility code. If you board or run daycare, the sanitary rules in N.J.A.C. 8:23A apply (see Part 6). For grooming-only shops, expect:

• building and fire code review through the certificate of occupancy process
• plumbing permits for tubs and drains
• adequate ventilation and non-slip flooring
• ADA accessibility for customer areas

Wastewater

On municipal sewer: Use hair traps on tubs and drains. Ask your sewer authority whether it has any rules for commercial discharges.

On a septic system: Grooming wastewater adds volume, hair, and chemicals. Talk to your local health department before you start grooming at a property on septic.

Mobile groomers:

• capture all wastewater in onboard holding tanks
• dispose of it at an approved sanitary location
• never discharge into storm drains, streets, or yards

Action step: Map your approved disposal locations before you take your first appointment.

Part 10: Insurance and Workers’ Compensation

Insurance (not optional in practice)

Most New Jersey groomers need:

• General liability insurance
• Care, custody, and control (CCC) coverage, also called bailee coverage, for injury to pets in your care (standard liability policies often exclude this)
• Commercial property coverage for equipment
• Commercial auto insurance for mobile units
• Workers’ compensation if you have employees

If S387 passes in its current form, grooming businesses would need to show general liability insurance to register.

Workers’ compensation (mandatory for employers)

Official resource: NJ Division of Workers’ Compensation: Employer Requirements

New Jersey law requires all employers not covered by federal programs to have workers’ compensation coverage or be approved to self-insure. The Division’s guidance says:

• there is no minimum number of employees and no minimum payroll
• corporations are covered as long as one or more people, including corporate officers, perform services
• sole proprietors need coverage once someone other than the owner performs paid work
• employers must post a notice showing they have coverage

Failure to carry coverage is a disorderly persons offense, and a willful failure is a crime of the fourth degree, according to the Division.

Part 11: Home-Based vs Mobile vs Storefront: Key Differences

Home-based

• lowest overhead
• completely dependent on your town’s home occupation rules
• neighbor complaints are the main risk
• homeowner’s insurance will not cover business activity

Mobile

• no storefront zoning, but vehicle parking rules apply at home
• wastewater capture and disposal required
• possible licensing in more than one town
• commercial auto insurance needed

Storefront

• highest startup cost
• clearest path in commercially zoned areas
• certificate of occupancy, fire inspection, and (in many cities) a mercantile license
• kennel license if you add boarding or daycare

Whichever model you choose, sales tax applies to your grooming charges.

Part 12: Example: Opening a Storefront Salon in Jersey City

Here’s what a grooming-only storefront in Jersey City would typically work through:

1. Form an LLC with DORES ($100) and get an EIN
2. File Form NJ-REG at least 15 business days before opening
3. Check zoning on the Interactive Zoning Map or get a Zoning Determination Letter
4. Request the existing CO on file and check for open violations before signing the lease
5. Pull any construction permits and pass inspections
6. Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy through the Jersey City Permit Portal
7. Ask the Health Department whether the Animal Care license applies to your shop
8. Buy general liability, CCC, and property coverage
9. Buy workers’ compensation coverage before your first hire
10. Set up your point of sale to charge 6.625% on grooming and retail
11. File your LLC annual report ($75) each year

If you add daycare later, add the municipal kennel license, a local health department inspection, and a June 30 renewal to that list.

Part 13: Practical Compliance Checklist

Universal (all groomers)

• Choose a business structure
• File a Certificate of Formation (LLC/corporation) or a county trade name (sole proprietor with a business name)
• Get an EIN
• File Form NJ-REG at least 15 business days before opening
• Set up sales tax collection on grooming and retail
• Open a business bank account
• Buy general liability and CCC coverage
• Buy workers’ compensation before hiring anyone

Storefront

• Zoning confirmed in writing
• Existing CO reviewed and open violations checked before signing a lease
• Construction and plumbing permits (if building out)
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Municipal business or mercantile license (if your town requires one)
• Kennel license and health inspection (only if boarding or daycare)

Home-based

• Zoning officer confirms animal grooming is allowed as a home occupation
• Home occupation permit (if required)
• Septic review with the local health department (if not on sewer)
• Separate business insurance (homeowner’s policy won’t cover it)

Mobile

• Commercial vehicle registration and insurance
• Wastewater holding tank and disposal plan
• Licensing checked in each town you serve regularly
• Overnight parking allowed at your home base

Part 14: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Not charging sales tax on grooming

Many groomers assume services are tax-free because most states don’t tax them. In New Jersey, the Division of Taxation lists animal grooming as taxable.

Solution: Register before you open and charge 6.625% on grooming and retail. Don’t apply the 3.3125% UEZ rate to services without confirming with the Division. Uncollected tax becomes your debt.

Mistake 2: Adding daycare or “all-day drop-off” without a kennel license

The Department of Health treats daytime-only facilities as boarding for kennel licensing.

Solution: If you keep dogs beyond the grooming appointment, ask your local health department whether you need a kennel license.

Mistake 3: Signing a lease before checking the CO and zoning

Jersey City specifically warns that open violations on a property block a new certificate of occupancy.

Solution: Check zoning, the CO on file, and violations before you sign.

Mistake 4: Skipping workers’ comp for a part-timer

New Jersey has no minimum employee count.

Solution: Get coverage before your first employee starts, including part-time help.

Mistake 5: Treating S387 as law, or ignoring it

S387 is pending. It does not create any obligations today.

Solution: Keep the kind of records the bill describes (incident logs, insurance, training history) so you’re ready if it passes.

Part 15: Licensing Timeline (How Long Does This Take?)

Important: These are general estimates. Actual timelines vary by municipality. Ask each office for current processing times.

Storefront: 2–6 months

• Formation and NJ-REG: 1–3 weeks (NJ-REG must be in at least 15 business days before opening)
• Zoning determination: 2–6 weeks
• Build-out, permits, and inspections: 4–12 weeks
• Certificate of Occupancy and municipal license: 2–6 weeks
• Insurance: 1–2 weeks

Home-based: 1–3 months

• Formation and NJ-REG: 1–3 weeks
• Zoning or home occupation approval: 2–6 weeks
• Septic review (if applicable): 2–4 weeks
• Insurance: 1–2 weeks

Mobile: 2–5 months

• Formation and NJ-REG: 1–3 weeks
• Vehicle purchase and build-out: 4–12 weeks
• Municipal checks in the towns you serve: 1–4 weeks
• Insurance: 1–2 weeks

Critical path items: certificate of occupancy inspections, construction permits, zoning variances, and van build-outs.

For a full startup plan, see our guides on how to start a dog grooming business and writing a pet grooming business plan.

Part 16: How to Verify Your Specific Requirements

State-level verification

• Groomer licensing: Check S387’s status on the New Jersey Legislature site and search for any Assembly companion bill
• Business formation and fees: DORES Registry Fee Schedules | (609) 292-9292
• Sales tax on grooming: Division of Taxation | (609) 292-6400
• Payroll taxes: NJ Department of Labor employer rates
• Workers’ comp: Division of Workers’ Compensation

Municipal verification

• Zoning: written confirmation from the zoning officer that grooming is allowed at your location
• Certificate of Occupancy: confirm what’s on file and what’s needed for your use
• Business license: ask the clerk or licensing office whether a mercantile license applies
• Health department: ask whether any animal facility license applies to your services
• Mobile groomers: check every town you serve regularly

Part 17: Resources and Contacts

State-level

New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)

• Getting Registered
• Registry Fee Schedules
• Public records filing questions: (609) 292-9292 (per S&U-4)

New Jersey Division of Taxation

• Website: nj.gov/treasury/taxation
• Customer Service Center: (609) 292-6400
• Sales Tax Guide S&U-4
• ANJ-12: Veterinarians & New Jersey Sales Tax
• Urban Enterprise Zone information

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

• Employer rate information
• Division of Workers’ Compensation: Employer Requirements

New Jersey Department of Health

• Guidelines for Municipal Licensure of Animal Facilities
• Veterinary Public Health

New Jersey Legislature

• S387 (2026) bill text
• Bill search

New Jersey Business Action Center

• Register a Trade Name

City contacts

City of Newark

• How do I open a business?
• Office of Central Licenses and Permits, City Hall, 920 Broad Street

City of Jersey City

• New Businesses
• Health Department licensing: (201) 547-6800
• Division of Commerce: (201) 547-5578
• HEDC support: (201) 547-5070

City of Paterson

• Mercantile Licensing
• 125 Ellison Street | (973) 321-1242

Federal

IRS: Employer Identification Number

• Get an EIN (free)

Final Reality Check

New Jersey makes it easy to start grooming: there’s no license exam standing in your way.

But there are:

• sales tax on grooming services (6.625%)
• Form NJ-REG at least 15 business days before opening
• LLC formation ($100) and annual reports ($75)
• municipal mercantile licenses and certificates of occupancy in many cities
• municipal kennel licensing and health inspections if you board or run daycare
• zoning approval that you should get before signing a lease
• mandatory workers’ compensation from the first employee
• a pending groomer licensing bill (S387) worth watching

If you approach setup in order (formation → NJ-REG → zoning and CO → municipal license → insurance → open), you avoid expensive corrections later.

Take the Next Step

Once you’ve navigated New Jersey’s licensing requirements and are ready to operate, professional grooming salon software built for New Jersey groomers helps you manage the operational side—scheduling, client records, digital agreements, and compliance tracking—so you can focus on grooming instead of paperwork.

Start your free trial today and see how Packyard handles vaccination tracking, digital waivers, appointment management, and client communication in one platform.

Critical Reminder: Verify Everything Locally

This guide provides a general framework only. Requirements, fees, rates, and procedures change frequently and vary by municipality.

Before making any business decisions:

1. Check S387’s current status with the New Jersey Legislature
2. Confirm formation fees with DORES
3. Confirm sales tax treatment and your filing schedule with the Division of Taxation
4. Ask your municipality about zoning, certificates of occupancy, and business licenses
5. Ask your local health department whether any animal facility license applies, especially if you board or run daycare
6. Get workers’ compensation coverage before hiring anyone
7. Verify all information at the official sources linked in Part 17

Do not rely solely on this guide. Use it as a starting point, then verify every detail with the relevant authorities.

This article is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with your municipality, the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, and the New Jersey Division of Taxation before opening. Regulations, fees, and requirements change frequently—verify current information with official sources.

• how tos
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Himani Agarwal Founder, Packyard

Ran two pet shops with grooming salons, got fed up with software built for hair salons, and built Packyard with a team of groomers. Still on the floor most Saturdays. Writes about the parts of grooming nobody taught you.

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