1851

When Mike Gould served as the canine handler for the New York Police Department, he never would have imagined that his career path would take him to owning a doggie daycare franchise. During his time working with dogs both in the NYPD and as Commanding Officer of the Nassau County Police Department canine unit, he would often get requests from friends and family to care for their animals. In 2001, he was deployed to Naples to oversee the Military Working Dog (MWD) program after the September 11th terrorist attacks, and when he returned, he retired and opened <a href="https://www.houndstownfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hounds-town-usa-launches-strategic-growth-plan-to-grow-to-30-units-in-five-years-2707260" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hounds Town USA</a> in Port Jefferson, New York. Since then, Gould and his team have opened five more locations, with four more in development, and created a strategic plan to grow the brand&rsquo;s footprint through franchising.

&ldquo;After opening our first few locations, we realized that we had something special that sets us apart from other doggie daycare brands. The foundation of our brand is based on Mike&#39;s knowledge and experience, which we&rsquo;ve operationalized to pass on to our franchise owners and staff members,&rdquo; said Jackie Bondanza, who began working for Hounds Town USA in 2013 and became President and General Operations Manager in 2015. &ldquo;We spent more than 10 years refining our systems, doubling the size of the operations manual and developing a strategy to grow through franchising.&rdquo;

The franchisees for the first two locations were a former employee, and two former employees who partnered with a former customer, which speaks to the strength of the system and the belief in the brand of those who are close to it.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve worked with these franchisees for many years, and it means a lot to us to be able to grow the brand with people we trust implicitly and to help them achieve their dreams,&rdquo; said Gould. &ldquo;It speaks volumes about our brand -- and our growth potential -- that the first franchisees to come on board were employees and a former customer.&rdquo;

Because of Gould&rsquo;s background and experience, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/houndstownusa" target="_blank">Hounds Town USA</a> welcomes dogs of all breeds, including the &ldquo;bully breeds&rdquo; that are typically turned away from doggie daycares: pit bulls, Doberman pinschers and Rottweilers. Using knowledge about dog behavior to find a spot for every dog to play in a safe environment is a cornerstone of the Hounds Town USA brand, and a true differentiator in the category.

&ldquo;20 percent of the dog population is made up of breeds that are typically discriminated against, and we make it our mission to find a spot for them at Hounds Town. Owners of these breeds will come to Hounds Town after being rejected from other doggie daycares right at the door, and we&rsquo;ll work with the dog to find a place for them in our towns. Because our employees and franchisees have more knowledge of dog behavior, and we don&rsquo;t overpopulate our groups, we&rsquo;re able to get them into groups and they&rsquo;re completely fine,&rdquo; said Bondanza.

In addition to Gould&rsquo;s extensive experience and the brand&rsquo;s top-notch operational playbook, another differentiator in the category is the low-cost offering, both to customers and franchisees. Bondanza notes that Hounds Town USA charges one flat fee, and doesn&rsquo;t offer a la carte services, unlike other brands in the space.

&ldquo;Our customers are looking for a safe, welcoming environment for their dogs to enjoy while they are at work; they&rsquo;re not looking for individual suites with heated floors and 48-inch televisions for their pets. Many other concepts in the space are overdoing it and focusing on what humans want, not the needs of the dog,&rdquo; said Bondanza. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t take advantage of people&rsquo;s emotions -- we&rsquo;re not going to charge owners extra to give their dog a pill, and we are happy to pet the dogs for free. Upcharging is not something we get into and our customers really appreciate that. Our centers are built from the dog&rsquo;s perspective at 18 inches off the ground. Because of that, our buildout costs less and we&rsquo;re able to offer franchisees a better cost of entry.&rdquo;

The low cost of entry, straightforward business model and high average unit volume make Hounds Town USA a standout brand in the space.

&ldquo;The numbers don&rsquo;t lie. Why would you pay 75 percent more for another brand that has only a slightly higher AUV? We&rsquo;ve kept our business model simple and our operating costs low, which offers incredible value to our franchisees and our customers,&rdquo; said Gould.

Building on the solid foundation, Gould and Bondanza have created a strategic plan to continue partnering with passionate, business-savvy dog lovers to grow the brand&rsquo;s footprint in their local communities. They&rsquo;re planning to close three more deals this year to get to 12 units by the end of the year, including a franchise set to open in Bergen County, New Jersey in August and another set to open in Garden City, New York in the fall. In 2019,&nbsp;they plan to add five more units, and then grow up to 30 units over the next five years.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not looking to grow quickly; we&rsquo;re looking to grow in a smart way, so we&rsquo;re going to be selective about who we bring into the system,&rdquo; said Bondanza. &ldquo;Since we care for people&rsquo;s pets, who most consider to be an extension of their family, we operate an emotional business so we are obligated to find the right people to be franchise owners.&rdquo;

Prospective franchisees can expect startup costs to range from $175,300 and $249,000, lower than the average pet franchise investment. To learn more, please visit <a href="http://www.houndstownfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hounds-town-usa-launches-strategic-growth-plan-to-grow-to-30-units-in-five-years-2707260" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.houndstownfranchise.com</a>.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hounds Town USA Launches Strategic Growth Plan to Grow to 30 Units in Five Years

1851 Franchise

Doggy daycare franchise led by former New York Police Department canine handler boasts 32 percent year-over-year average sales increase; primes for nationwide growth

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

hounds-town-usa-launches-strategic-growth-plan-to-grow-to-30-units-in-five-years

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Wraps Up Q1 With Two New Openings and Continued Industry Recognition

childrens-lighthouse-wraps-up-q1-with-two-new-openings-and-continued-industry-recognition

Happy Joe’s Franchising

Why Texas Is the Perfect State To Open a Happy Joe’s Franchise

why-texas-is-the-perfect-state-to-open-a-happy-joes-franchise

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

FAT Brands Becomes First Restaurant Franchise To Accept Bitcoin for Royalty Payments

fat-brands-becomes-first-restaurant-franchise-to-accept-bitcoin-for-royalty-payments

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchise Deep Dive: The UPS Store Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit, and Data

franchise-deep-dive-the-ups-store-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Lindora’s New President Discusses Franchise Growth and the Future of Health and Wellness

lindoras-new-president-discusses-franchise-growth-and-the-future-of-health-and-wellness

SoBol’s President and COO Shares Growth Journey and Franchise Vision

sobols-president-and-coo-shares-growth-journey-and-franchise-vision

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

Hounds Town USA Launches Strategic Growth Plan to Grow to 30 Units in Five Years

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS