Built for pet groomers
Meet the AI hire for your grooming shop
You groom. Prentice handles the phone.
Answers clients at any hour. Keeps every regular on schedule. Handles no-shows by your policy.
Talk to Prenticestart free
Prentice
Prentice
Your AI hire
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Demo: A groom is cancelled at the last minute. See how I fill the spot without your input.
Working with Prentice is like working with a person.
Prentice can be reached by phone, text or email.
Prentice talks with everyone your business works with: customers, your team, even suppliers.
You’re Trudy, and you run Sudsy Pup Grooming.
You’re grooming dogs all afternoon.
Pam’s car won’t start, and she has to miss her dog’s groom today.
Ramon wants his dog in sooner. You told Prentice to give him any open spot.
- Pam: So sorry, my car won’t start. Can’t bring Bailey today.
- Prentice: Oh no, hope it’s an easy fix! Want to bring Bailey Wednesday at 3 PM instead?
- Pam: Yes, thank you.
- Prentice: Done. See you Wednesday.
- Prentice: Hi Ramon, a spot just opened up today at 3 PM. Want it for Rocky?
- Ramon: Yes! He really needs it.
- Prentice: Great, Rocky is booked.
- Prentice: Pam’s car broke down, so Bailey moved to Wednesday. Rocky took the spot today.
Prentice filled the cancelled groom without needing your input.
Demo: A new client texts late at night. See how I book her dog’s first groom.
You’re Trudy, and you run Sudsy Pup Grooming.
It’s late, and the shop has been closed for hours.
Kelsey finds your shop online. Her new puppy needs his first groom.
- Kelsey: Hi! Do you take puppies? He’s 5 months old and has never been groomed.
- Prentice: Hi, I’m Prentice, the AI assistant at Sudsy Pup Grooming. Yes! Puppies start with a short, gentle first groom so they learn it’s safe. Does Wednesday at 10 AM work?
- Kelsey: Perfect. His name is Moose.
- Prentice: Moose is booked for Wednesday at 10 AM. I’ll send a reminder the night before.
- Prentice: I booked Kelsey’s puppy Moose for his first groom, Wednesday at 10 AM. She’s a new client, and he’s 5 months old.
Prentice booked a new client while the shop was closed.
Demo: A groomer calls in sick at 6 AM. See how I move her dogs before you’re up.
You’re Trudy, and you run Sudsy Pup Grooming.
It’s 6:10 AM, and you’re asleep until 7:30 AM.
Bree is one of your groomers, with five dogs today.
Hal’s dog is her first, at 8 AM.
You told Prentice to move a sick groomer’s dogs to another day without asking you.
- Bree: So sorry, I’m sick and can’t come in today.
- Prentice: Feel better, Bree. I’ll take care of today’s dogs.
- Prentice: Hi Hal, Bree is out sick, so we have to move Bruno’s groom today. Can you bring him Wednesday at 9 AM instead?
- Hal: No problem.
- Prentice: You’re set for Wednesday at 9 AM.
- Prentice: Before you were up: Bree is out sick, and all five of her dogs are moved.
Prentice moved a sick groomer’s whole day before you were up.
Made for pet groomers
Prentice learns your services, your prices and your policies, then works in your words.
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Standing grooms
Every regular’s cycle kept on the calendar, with a reminder the day before.
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New clients
Answered at any hour, told what a groom usually runs, and booked.
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Pickup texts
Tell Prentice a dog is done, and the client hears it’s time for pickup.
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No-shows and cancels
Handled by your policy. Any fee is drafted for your OK.
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Vaccine records
Every new client is asked for the rabies record before the first groom.
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Holiday rush
Every “can you fit us in before Christmas?” answered and booked into your open spots.
A full book you didn’t have to chase
A regular on a standing groom, a new dog booked, a no-show fee paid. Prentice keeps your calendar full.
- PrenticenowShauna put Biscuit on a standing groom every six weeks. $95 a visit.
- Prentice1h agoMarnie booked her new doodle, Moose, for his first groom. I said it usually runs $115 with dematting.
- Prentice2h agoDale paid the no-show fee for Rocco’s missed groom. $30
- Prentice3h agoSix regulars booked their next grooms. $510 in all.
Prentice will earn your trust
My word to you
- I’ll tell every client I’m an AI.
- I’ll double-check my work.
- I’ll ask you when I’m not sure.
- I’ll work within the boundaries you set.
We know trusting an AI with your clients is a big ask.
So Prentice never works alone. Prentice asks you when unsure, and calls on us for backup.
The Prentice team
A dog’s whole year, handled
From the first text to the tenth groom, Prentice keeps working.
See how I look after a new client
- I answer a new client’s textMonday, 9:31pm
- Most help stops hereI keep going
- I book the first groomRight then
- I ask for the rabies recordBefore drop-off
- I send a reminderThe day before
- I text them when the dog is readyWhen you’re done
- I set up their regular groomAt pickup
- I handle a no-show by your policyIf a groom is missed
- I fit them in before the holidaysWhen they ask
I will draft any bill for your OK, and keep to your shop’s policies.
Prentice goes in your contacts
Just save the number, and your whole shop can start talking to Prentice.
Call Text Email
- You
- Your groomers
- Your bathers
- Your clients
Your suppliers can text or email Prentice too.
Prentice speaks
- English
- Español
- Français
- Português
Getting started
Your part is small. Prentice does the rest.
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Can you answer a few questions about your shop?
Then Prentice can learn it. Prentice writes the job description and shows you a demo for no cost.
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Can you share your calendar, your prices and your policies?
Then Prentice can run your front desk. Bookings, standing grooms and no-shows, by your rules. Bills go out only with your OK.
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When Prentice has earned your trust
Then Prentice can talk to your clients. Forward your shop line, or ask Prentice to text your clients.
Then you get your evenings back.
Get closer to your clients
With Prentice, your clients will be able to:
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Ask the small questions they’d hesitate to call you about
“Is it OK to bathe him between grooms?”
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Get an answer at any hour, by call, text or email
“Sorry it’s late, she rolled in something…”
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Talk with you in their own language
“¿Puede bañar a Lola el sábado?”
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Book a groom on the spot
“Saturday at 10 works.”
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Move a groom without phone tag
“Can Biscuit come Friday this week?”
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Hear your prices up front
“How much for a doodle?”
When you’re easy to reach, you’re easy to come back to.
Meet the people behind Prentice
We’re small business owners ourselves. We know what it’s like to lose evenings to admin work, and to wish for someone dependable to hand it to. So we built Prentice on three principles.
- Honesty.
- A straight “I’m not sure” beats a confident guess.
- Integrity.
- Treat every client the way you would.
- Reliability.
- Show up, every time. For 15 years our team has built software thousands of people count on every day.
And when Prentice needs backup, we answer.
Dan & Jonathan
Costs less than a person
Prentice runs the front desk, so compare the cost with hiring a receptionist, not with an app.
| Hiring a Person | Prentice Solo | Prentice Team | Prentice Crew | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works with | Anyone | Just you | 2-3 people | 4-6 people |
| Counts you and everyone on your team who works with Prentice. Customers never count. | ||||
| Monthly cost | $500 5 hours a week at $25 an hour | $99 | $199 | $399 |
50% off the first month while Prentice learns your business |
||||
| Messages included | As many as they can handle in 5 hours a week | 200 | 500 | 1,200 |
| A message is any text or email, sent or received. Each minute of a call counts as one. | ||||
| Communication methods | Phone, text, email, in person | Phone, text, email | ||
| Customers | As many as they can keep up with | No limit | ||
| Availability | 5 hours a week | Any hour, every day | ||
| Overtime | $25 an hour | $25 for every extra 50 messages | ||
| Offseason | You negotiate fewer hours with them | $39 a month when in Standby modePrentice stays active and will respond to customers. Max 50 messages per month. | ||
| Payroll and taxes | Your responsibility | None | ||
| Commitment | You hire them, and give notice to let them go | NoneCancel anytime. | ||
|
Talk to Prenticestart free
More than 6 people? Register, and Prentice will help you set up a plan. |
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Works with
Anyone
SoloJust you
Team2-3 people
Crew4-6 people
Counts you and everyone on your team who works with Prentice. Customers never count.
Monthly cost
$500 5 hours a week at $25 an hour
Solo$99
Team$199
Crew$399
50% off the first month while Prentice learns your business
Messages included
As many as they can handle in 5 hours a week
Solo200
Team500
Crew1,200
A message is any text or email, sent or received. Each minute of a call counts as one.
Communication methods
Phone, text, email, in person
Phone, text, email
Customers
As many as they can keep up with
No limit
Availability
5 hours a week
Any hour, every day
Overtime
$25 an hour
$25 for every extra 50 messages
Offseason
You negotiate fewer hours with them
$39 a month when in Standby modePrentice stays active and will respond to customers. Max 50 messages per month.
Payroll and taxes
Your responsibility
None
Commitment
You hire them, and give notice to let them go
NoneCancel anytime.
More than 6 people? Register, and Prentice will help you set up a plan.
Questions groomers ask
Will clients know they’re texting an AI?
Yes. On the first text or call, every client hears that Prentice is your AI assistant. Prentice never pretends to be you.
Can Prentice keep my regulars on their cycle?
Yes. A client can have a standing groom every four, six or eight weeks. Prentice keeps it on your calendar and texts a reminder the day before. Moving one groom doesn’t change the rest.
How does Prentice handle a no-show?
By your policy. Tell Prentice once what a no-show or a late cancel costs. Prentice tells the client, offers a new time, and drafts the fee for your OK before it goes out.
Will Prentice quote a price for a matted dog?
Prentice tells clients what a groom usually runs from your prices, like $95 for a doodle and about $20 more for dematting. You check the coat at drop-off.
Do I need a new phone number?
No. Your shop gets a Prentice number of its own. Give that number to clients, or forward your shop line to Prentice while you’re grooming.
Can my groomers and bathers use Prentice?
Yes. Add your team, and Prentice texts with them the same way as with you. When they text that a dog is done, Prentice lets the client know.
More answers on the FAQ.
Let Prentice show you
Chat or call. Prentice will ask about your services, your prices and your policies.
Talk to Prenticestart free