Pet Franchise Industry Report
A comprehensive analysis of the $152 billion U.S. pet industry, covering 9 franchise segments, market sizing, investment benchmarks, revenue data, and growth projections through 2030.
The state of pet franchising in America
Americans spent $152 billion on their pets in 2024, with an estimated 64 million households owning pets. The pet franchise industry spans retail, veterinary care, grooming, boarding, training, and emerging niches, collectively driven by rising pet ownership, "pet parenting" trends, and the humanization of companion animals.
Key market dynamics
Services Growth: 5–10%+ CAGR through 2030
Grooming, boarding, training outpacing retail
Retail Headwinds: 0.3% CAGR to $31.6B
E-commerce competition reshaping brick-and-mortar
Vet Spending: $39.8B in 2024
Pet insurance now covering 4.85M+ pets
Premium Shift: Humanization trend
Driving organic diets, luxury boarding, wellness care
Franchise advantage
Franchise brands in pet retail and daycare achieve $1M+ annual gross for top units, while mobile and home-based concepts offer startup costs under $100K with faster breakeven. Top-quartile performers significantly outperform medians across every segment.
Market size by segment
Pet food & treats remains the largest category at $65.8B, but service-based segments are growing 5 to 10x faster than retail.
U.S. Pet Industry Market Size by Segment (2024)
9 segments, endless opportunity
From pet retail to specialty niches, here is how the franchise landscape breaks down.
Pet Retail
$31–34B
Vet & Wellness
$40B
Grooming & Spas
$5–6B
Mobile Services
$720M
Boarding & Daycare
~$10B
Walking & Sitting
$2–3B
Training & Behavior
$1–2B
Waste Removal
$270M
Specialty Niches
$575M+
Pet food & specialty retail
The $31 to $34 billion pet retail segment includes supply stores, food boutiques, and specialty outlets. Growth is modest (~1% CAGR) as e-commerce captures share, but brick-and-mortar thrives through in-store services, expert advice, and community engagement.
$2.63M
Pet Supplies Plus avg. sales
732
PSP stores systemwide
3%
PSP royalty rate (lowest)
| Brand | Units | Investment | Royalty | Avg Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet Supplies Plus | 732 | $498K–$1.98M | 3% | $2.63M |
| Petland | 91 | $313K–$1.08M | 5% | ~$3.2M |
| EarthWise Pet | 166 | $467K–$828K | 5% | $755K |
| Woof Gang Bakery | ~200 | $155K–$270K | ~6% | ~$445K |
| Wild Birds Unlimited | 362 | $224K–$379K | ~4% | ~$450K |
| Pet Wants | 100+ | $138K–$219K | 7% | $430K |
| Three Dog Bakery | 50 | $181K–$314K | 6% | $500K |
Veterinary clinics & wellness centers
The ~$40 billion veterinary market is growing 5 to 6% annually. Franchise-friendly niches such as walk-in wellness clinics, urgent care, and mobile vets are disrupting traditional vet care with accessible, affordable options.
High growth, under-saturated
~30,000 vet practices nationally, mostly not franchised
Average $700/year per dog in vet spending
Wellness clinics break even with as few as 10 clients/day
4.85M+ pets now covered by insurance, driving visits
| Brand | Investment | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| GoodVets | ~$1M+ (co-invest) | $1.5–2M |
| easyvet | $161K–$399K | ~$600K |
| PetWellClinic | $274K–$655K | ~$420K |
| VetCheck | $700K–$950K | ~$1M+ |
| MVS Pet Care | $90K–$150K | ~$300K |
Pet grooming & spas
The $5 to $6B grooming market is booming with 5 to 7% annual growth. Membership-based models, luxury spas, and self-service washes are redefining how pet owners think about grooming.
Scenthound
+684% growth (3yr)$423K
Avg annual revenue
Wag N' Wash
PSP-backed$1.39M
Avg annual revenue
PetBar
+1,550% growth (3yr)~$600K
Avg annual revenue
Mobile grooming & mobile veterinary
The mobile pet care market is projected to nearly double from $720M to ~$1.4B by 2034 (7.1% CAGR). These low-overhead models offer fast breakeven and serve under-saturated suburban markets.
| Brand | Units | Investment | Focus | Revenue/Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aussie Pet Mobile | 93 | $179K–$203K | Mobile grooming | $150–180K |
| Zoomin Groomin | 134 | $96K–$188K | Mobile grooming | ~$130K |
| Woofie's | ~10 | $122K–$173K | Grooming + sitting | ~$750K* |
| MVS Pet Care | ~20 | $90K–$150K | Mobile veterinary | ~$300K |
*Woofie's revenue includes multi-service (grooming + pet sitting/walking)
Why mobile?
20%+
Typical profit margins
$0
Storefront lease required
5–8
Appointments per day
Pet boarding, daycare & hotels
Combined boarding/daycare is ~$10B with 7 to 8% CAGR. This segment has among the highest per-unit revenues in pet franchising, driven by urban demand and working professionals who treat their dogs like family.
| Brand | Units | Investment | Avg Revenue | Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K9 Resorts | 15 (50+ sold) | $1.48M–$2.45M | $1.69M | 7% |
| Camp Bow Wow | 220 | $1.03M–$1.77M | $984K | 7% |
| Dogtopia | 276 | $608K–$1.27M | $947K | 7% |
| The Dog Stop | 26 | $543K–$1.04M | $860K | 6% |
| Hounds Town | 66 | $542K–$1.06M | ~$680K | ~6% |
| Central Bark | 38 | $522K–$1.04M | $552K | 8% |
Dog walking & pet sitting
A $2 to $3B market growing at 5% CAGR. Franchise models compete with gig platforms (Rover, Wag) by offering background-checked, insured, professionally managed care, appealing to pet owners who want reliability and trust.
Fetch! Pet Care
The dominant franchise in pet sitting
Franchise vs. gig apps
Franchise (Fetch!)
Background-checked employees, insured, local manager, medication admin, $240K avg revenue per territory.
Gig apps (Rover/Wag)
Self-serve marketplace, 20% platform fee, ~$15K avg per sitter/year, limited quality control.
Pet training & behavior services
The $1 to $2B training market has significant untapped potential with 6 to 7% CAGR. Nearly 50% of dog owners report behavior issues, yet few communities have a branded training provider.
| Brand | Units | Investment | Avg Revenue | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tip Top K9 | 24+ | $53K–$104K | $612K | Home-based + board-and-train |
| Dog Training Elite | 395 | $174K–$203K | ~$150K | In-home + service dog |
| Zoom Room | 69 | $318K–$489K | ~$403K | Indoor gym classes |
| Sit Means Sit | 125+ | $24K–$121K | N/A | E-collar obedience |
| Bark Busters | ~40 | ~$50K | N/A | In-home behavioral |
Why Tip Top K9 leads the training segment
While Dog Training Elite leads in unit count and Zoom Room excels in per-location revenue with its class model, Tip Top K9 pairs a low investment with strong average store sales and comprehensive support, a combination that stands out for first-time franchisees.
$53K
Starting investment
$612K
Avg store sales
6 wk
Intensive training
18
Person call center
Tip Top K9 figures reflect the 2026 FDD: $612,190 network-average gross for locations open the full year of 2025 (Item 19) and the $53,175–$104,735 initial investment range (Item 7). Illustrative of the network, not a projection of individual results. See the FDD for the only approved financial performance representations.
Pet waste removal
A niche but growing $270M market. Low startup costs, subscription-based revenue, and virtually no competition in most territories make it an attractive entry-level franchise.
~$69K investment · 12% royalty, lawncare synergy
$40–60K investment · Authority Brands backed
<$10K investment · License model, part-time
Specialty niches
Emerging segments with low competition and passionate customer bases, from pet cremation (10 to 12% CAGR, projected to double by 2030) to aquarium maintenance and pet transport.
Pet Passages (cremation)
Leading franchise in pet memorial services
~25
Units
$71K–$449K
Investment
30%+
Margins
Other emerging niches include aquarium maintenance, pet photography, dog hydrotherapy, and pet relocation. Most remain un-franchised, presenting first-mover opportunities for innovative operators.
Investment ranges across all segments
From under $50K for waste removal to $2.4M+ for luxury pet resorts, there is a pet franchise for every budget.
Investment Range by Segment ($K)
DoodyCalls, Pet Butler
Fetch! Pet Care
Aussie Pet, Zoomin
Sit Means Sit → Zoom Room
Bubbly Paws → PetBar
easyvet → VetCheck
Pet Wants → PSP
Central Bark → K9 Resorts
Where opportunity meets growth
The sweet spot for franchisees: high growth CAGR combined with low market saturation. Yellow bars represent the best entry windows.
Growth Rate vs. Market Saturation
Higher CAGR plus lower saturation points to the best franchise opportunity.
Saturation:
Recommendations by owner profile
First-time franchisee
Dog training (Tip Top K9), pet sitting (Fetch!), or mobile grooming offer lower investment, faster breakeven, and manageable complexity. Tip Top K9's $53K starting investment with $612K average store sales makes it a standout.
Experienced operator
Dog daycare/boarding (Dogtopia, Camp Bow Wow) or pet retail (Pet Supplies Plus) offer higher revenue potential ($1M+) but require more capital and operational expertise.
Multi-unit investor
Consider complementary cross-segment territories, for example daycare plus grooming plus training in the same market. Over 50% of PSP franchisees own multiple stores.
Key takeaway
Service segments (training, grooming, vet care) offer the best combination of reasonable investment and scalable revenue. Dog training in particular remains far from saturated: every community has dogs needing training, but few have a branded provider.
Top franchise brands at a glance
The leading franchises across all pet segments, ranked by average unit volume and growth trajectory.
| Brand | Segment | Units | Investment | Avg Revenue | Margin | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pet Supplies Plus | Retail | 732 | $498K–$1.98M | $2.63M | ~15% | Steady |
K9 Resorts | Boarding | 15 (50+ sold) | $1.48M–$2.45M | $1.69M | ~15% | High |
Wag N' Wash | Grooming | 24 | $513K–$1.32M | $1.39M | ~15% | Growing |
Camp Bow Wow | Daycare | 220 | $1.03M–$1.77M | $984K | ~15% | Steady |
Dogtopia | Daycare | 276 | $608K–$1.27M | $947K | ~17% | +71% (3yr) |
Tip Top K9 | Training | 24+ | $53K–$104K | $612K | High | High |
Zoom Room | Training | 69 | $318K–$489K | $403K | High | +331% (3yr) |
Scenthound | Grooming | 102 | $319K–$500K | $423K | ~34% | +684% (3yr) |
Pet franchise FAQ
Pet wellness/veterinary clinics, mobile services (grooming & vet), and pet cremation services show the strongest projected growth rates (7-12% CAGR). Dog training and boarding/daycare also remain high-growth with 6-8% CAGR, driven by pet humanization trends and rising ownership rates.
Pet waste removal franchises like DoodyCalls ($40-60K) and POOP 911 (<$10K) have the lowest entry costs. Pet sitting/walking franchises like Fetch! Pet Care ($89-104K) and mobile grooming concepts like Zoomin Groomin ($96-188K) also offer relatively low-cost entry points. Dog training franchises like Sit Means Sit start as low as $24K.
Pet Supplies Plus leads with $2.63M average annual sales per store, followed by K9 Resorts ($1.69M) in the luxury boarding segment and Wag N' Wash ($1.39M) in grooming/retail. Petland also generates an estimated $3.2-4.3M per location but faces regulatory challenges from live pet sales.
Most pet franchises don't require prior industry experience; they provide comprehensive training. However, veterinary franchises typically require a licensed DVM partner. For training franchises like Tip Top K9, you'll receive 6 weeks of intensive hands-on training. The key success factors are business acumen, customer service skills, and passion for pets.
Pet sitting/walking (Fetch! Pet Care), pet waste removal (Pet Butler, DoodyCalls), and mobile grooming franchises often work well for semi-absentee owners since they can be managed while the owner handles admin and marketing. Dog training franchises like Dog Training Elite also support this model with hired trainers doing the fieldwork.
Tip Top K9 stands out with its low initial investment ($53K-$104K), the most comprehensive training program in the industry (6 weeks, 10 hours/day), a dedicated 18-person call center, managed marketing, and average store sales of $612,000. While Dog Training Elite has more units (395) and Zoom Room has facility-based classes, Tip Top K9's support system and unit economics make it a compelling choice for first-time franchisees.
Put the report to work.
Ready to own a pet franchise?
Tip Top K9 pairs one of the lowest investments in dog training franchising with strong average store sales and the most comprehensive support system in the segment. Start your due diligence today.