DaySmart Pet is the reliable sedan of grooming software. It’s not flashy. It won’t make your friends jealous. But it gets you where you need to go, every single time, with features you didn’t know you needed until you have them.
Originally launched as 123Pet (yes, that 123Pet that’s been around forever), DaySmart Pet has evolved into a full-featured business management platform. Let me give you the honest breakdown after extensive testing and conversations with salon owners who use it daily. If you’re exploring this area, our DaySmart Pet Pricing Guide (2026 — All Plans Compared) guide covers it in detail.
DaySmart Pet Overview
What it is: Cloud-based pet business management software with scheduling, client management, POS, employee management, reporting, and marketing tools.
Who makes it: DaySmart Software (also makes DaySmart Salon for hair salons). They’ve been in the salon/spa software space for over 20 years.
Pricing: $75/month (Basic) | $105/month (Pro) | $155/month (Premium)
Our rating: 4.0 / 5.0
What DaySmart Pet Does Well
1. Reporting and Analytics — Best in Class
This is DaySmart’s killer feature. No other grooming software gives you this depth of business intelligence.
Reports you can pull:
- Revenue by groomer (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
- Revenue by service type
- Average ticket price trends over time
- Client retention rates
- New client acquisition by source
- Employee utilization rates (how booked is each groomer?)
- Peak hours and days analysis
- Commission calculations per pay period
- Product sales and inventory reports
- Year-over-year comparison
Why this matters: If you’re running a multi-groomer salon, these reports tell you exactly which groomers are performing, which services are most profitable, when you need more staff, and whether your business is actually growing. Data-driven decisions beat gut feelings.
2. Employee Management — Built for Teams
DaySmart was designed for businesses with employees, and it shows:
- Individual groomer schedules with availability settings
- Commission tracking (flat rate, percentage, tiered)
- Time clock functionality
- Performance reporting per employee
- Shift scheduling
- Role-based permissions (limit what employees can see and do)
For a salon owner managing 3-5 groomers plus a bather and receptionist, these features save hours of manual tracking.
3. Marketing Automation — Built In
The Premium plan includes marketing tools that other platforms require a separate tool for:
- Automated birthday emails for pets (with coupon — drives rebookings)
- “We miss you” campaigns targeting clients who haven’t visited in X weeks
- Rebooking reminders sent automatically based on the pet’s last visit
- Email campaign builder for promotions and announcements
- Loyalty program — points-based, customizable rewards
4. Reliability and Stability
DaySmart has been doing this for 20+ years. The platform rarely goes down, data is secure, and core features work as expected. In a world of flashy startups, there’s something to be said for boring reliability.
Where DaySmart Pet Falls Short
1. The Interface Feels Dated
This is the #1 complaint from groomers who compare it to MoeGo. The interface works, but it doesn’t feel modern. Navigation requires more clicks than it should. The design language feels “2018 corporate software” rather than “2026 app.”
For daily use — where you’re interacting with the software 50+ times per day — interface quality matters more than most people think.
2. Mobile App Isn’t Great
The DaySmart mobile app exists, but it’s not in the same league as MoeGo’s mobile experience. It feels like a shrunk-down version of the desktop rather than a mobile-first experience. For salon-based groomers who primarily use a tablet or desktop at the front desk, this is less of an issue. For mobile groomers or anyone who manages their business from their phone, it’s a real limitation.
3. No Route Optimization
For mobile groomers, this is a dealbreaker. DaySmart doesn’t offer route planning or optimization. If you groom from a van, MoeGo is the better choice.
4. Starting Price is $75/month
There’s no affordable entry-level plan for solo groomers testing the waters. At $75/month minimum, you’re paying more than Pawfinity ($25), GrooMore ($39), or even Square Appointments (free) before you’ve confirmed the platform is right for you.
5. Onboarding Takes Time
DaySmart has a lot of features, which means setup takes longer. Plan 1-2 weeks to fully configure your services, import clients, set up employee schedules, and learn the system. This isn’t a “sign up and start” experience.
DaySmart Pet vs. The Competition
| DaySmart Pet | MoeGo | Pawfinity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $75/mo | $79/mo | $25/mo |
| Mobile app quality | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Reporting depth | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ |
| Employee management | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ |
| Marketing tools | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Route optimization | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| User interface | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Ease of setup | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Customer support | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
Who Should Use DaySmart Pet
Great fit:
- Established salons with 3+ groomers
- Business owners who want detailed analytics
- Salons with commission-based pay structures
- Multi-location operations (Premium plan)
- Businesses that want built-in marketing automation
Not the best fit:
- Solo groomers (too expensive and complex for the use case)
- Mobile groomers (no route optimization)
- Budget-conscious startups (cheaper options available)
- Anyone who primarily uses their phone to manage their business
The Final Verdict
DaySmart Pet is excellent software for the right business. If you’re running a multi-groomer salon and need serious reporting, employee management, and marketing automation, DaySmart delivers in ways that competitors don’t. We break this down further in Best Pet Sitting Software (2026).
But it’s not for everyone. Solo groomers should look at MoeGo or Pawfinity. Mobile groomers need MoeGo for route optimization. Budget-conscious startups should start with Square or Pawfinity and upgrade when revenue justifies it.
Rating: 4.0/5.0 — Powerful features held back by a dated interface and lack of mobile groomer support.