In this situation, I think you will get a higher response if you have a short questionnaire on paper at the counter (and have some pencils or pens handy) then have folks fill it in while you are ringing in the transaction and getting their pet.

Have a box for them to put it in, so their answers remain anonymous. Maybe a shoe box with a slit at the top, and duct tape to seal it -- so they know you can't just dip in and read it the moment they are out the door.

As for what to ask, think about different aspects of your business, things you can change if you want to. What I mean is, the groomer I use for clipping nails is in a building with 4 steep stairs up. There is no point in me commenting on removing the stairs as she has no control over that. Make the questions yes / no answers, so it is quick and easy for folks. Have it set up like this: ____ yes ____ no so they can quickly and easily mark things off. So things you could ask include:

- do you like scented shampoo on your pet . . . this would tell you if you have the proper product in stock. If someone marks NO SCENT then you make sure you have at least one unscented product on hand at all times, and you start asking folks either when they make the appt or when they drop the pet off, if they want scented, unscented or do not care.

- do you brush your pet between visits here . . . this will help you consider if you .offer some slicker brushes or pin brushes for sale

- do you brush your pet's teeth . . . offer an add on service (for a fee) to brush teeth

- do you walk your pet daily . . . this may suggest you should have some things on offer for walkies. Maybe small bags of treats for purchase, or perhaps a few bandannas for special occasions. If you decide to offer home made treats, be aware that some pets have food allergies and need grain free or may have other requirements. I don't know what if any regulations may apply offering home made food. You could pick up some high quality treats to make it easy for folks to get them with you, maybe Ziwi Peaks for instance.

- I'm sure you can think of a few more yes/no questions specifically directed to your business. Ask about the hours, if those are convenient (maybe you need to stay open later one night per week?).

Then have a space at the bottom for suggestions to be written. The lead in to that could read something like this: We want to ensure we offer the services our clients want. What things do you like about our grooming service? Are there things you wish we offered or did differently? Please list / explain below: