5 Pet Franchises We Love

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) State of the Industry Report, the pet industry, which was expected to earn $99 million in sales in 2020, surpassed this prediction by a whopping $4.6 million. While the COVID-19 sales boom might be over, Morgan Stanley has predicted that the pet industry will reach a milestone sales increase to $275 million by 2030. 

More than 67% of American households own a pet, so it’s no wonder the pet franchise industry is booming. Here are 1851 Franchise’s top five pet franchises that we give two paws up.

Hounds Town USA

• Startup costs: $266,000-$493,000
• Units: 20+
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Founded in 2020 by Mike Gould, a founding member of the NYPD K-9 unit and commanding officer of the Nassau County Police Department, Hounds Town USA offers interactive doggie daycare, pet boarding, dog grooming, pet taxi and retail services for pet owners. With a focus on socializing dogs, the brand incorporated local shelter dogs into the training program at the Bergen County location with hopes to expand the program to additional locations in the future. Hounds Town USA plans to grow to 30 franchise locations by 2023. 

Dog Training Elite*

• Startup costs: $76,000-$249,000
• Units: 34

Dog Training Elite was founded by John Mestas, who has 40-plus years of experience in dog training. The brand specializes in meeting any and all training needs, including therapy dog training and advanced service dog training for PTSD support, psychiatric support, mobility support, autism support, diabetic alert training, personal protection training and an array of other services. The brand, which has a home-based business concept with multiple revenue streams, differentiates itself from others in the industry with its human-focused approach to dog training. Dog Training Elite uses this unique approach to help families effectively and consistently support their dog’s training needs. 

Pet Supplies Plus

• Startup costs: $437,000-$1,300,000
• Units: 504

Pet Supplies Plus, the supermarket-style pet retailer, was founded in the ’80s and is still going strong today. In addition to pet food and retail supplies, the brand offers grooming services and hosts adoption events. Pet Supplies Plus is the largest chain of independently owned pet stores and proved to be an industry leader when it was able to increase its average annual sales from $2.2 million to $2.4 million in 2020.

Camp Bow Wow

• Startup costs: $719,000-$1,500,000
• Units: 182

Camp Bow Wow, ranked No. 148 on Entrepreneur’s 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking, began franchising in 2003 and offers doggy daycare and overnight boarding services. The brand sees more than 4.7 million dog visits annually and prioritizes pet safety by requiring all employees to be trained in pet CPR and first aid. Camp Bow Wow’s live webcams allow pet parents to check on their furry family members throughout the day, which provides a sense of security. 

Dogtopia

• Startup costs: $668,000-$1,400,000
• Units: 158

Dogtopia, which focuses on dog education, exercise and socialization in its daycare services, was ranked No. 54 on Entrepreneur’s 2021 Franchise 500 Rankings and values the true partnership franchisees have with the corporate team. Dogtopia locations vary in size from 2,500-7,000 square feet and are designed to reduce odor and accidents. According to vice president of franchise development Alex Samios, the brand is perfect for restaurant owners who are looking to expand their portfolio. Dogtopia has seen double digit same-store-sales growth in the last five years, making it the fastest-growing pet franchise in the industry.