From an idea to his own grooming salon: how a veteran from Kharkiv started his own business thanks to a grant
Kharkiv resident Tymur Esvandzhia, a combat veteran, started his own business from a simple life situation. He needed to groom his four-legged pet Mars, but due to long queues in local establishments, it was not possible to do it quickly. That’s when the idea appeared: why not create his own grooming salon, where pets would be cared for with quality, attention, and without unnecessary waiting?
The name for the future establishment was chosen immediately – Mars Groom, in honor of the very dog that became the inspiration for the new project.
An important stage on this path was July 2025. That was when Tymur learned online about the opportunity to receive a veteran grant to start his own business. After completing all the application stages, already in October he received state support in the amount of 500,000 hryvnias. The renovation of the premises for the future salon was carried out by their own efforts, gradually arranging the space for work and customer comfort. One of the challenges at the start was building a team: finding a good groomer turned out to be not easy. However, persistence paid off – in December last year the first specialist joined the team, and in February – the second.
The grant funds helped to purchase everything necessary for the launch: professional grooming tools, scissors, specialized animal care cosmetics – shampoos, masks, and conditioners. For the convenience of visitors and staff, a TV, air conditioner, and a laptop were also installed in the premises.
Today, the “Mars” grooming salon is gradually developing, gaining the trust of clients and expanding its audience. Recently, the team confirmed its professional level at the national level: one of the мастers took part in the Ukrainian thematic grooming competition (all professional categories) and won an honorable second place.
Looking back at his own experience, Tymur shares advice for those who are just planning to start their own business: “It is important to thoroughly understand the field you choose. You need to study the market, understand how everything works, and at least generally plan the steps of your future project.”
Tymur’s story is another example of how state support helps veterans realize their ideas, create jobs, and develop their own businesses.
More about the grooming salon “Mars Groom” https://www.instagram.com/mars.groom/
More details about the veteran grant at https://dcz.gov.ua/people/ubd
If you have questions about obtaining a grant, contact the hotline of the Kharkiv Regional Employment Center at: 0800 219 729, available Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:00.
With support Kharkiv Regional Employment Service
