Faith and Family Drive Orlando and Luisa Solis To Open petbar Franchise in Austin

Luisa and Orlando Solis spent years looking at different franchise opportunities, but none felt right until they discovered petbar. After Orlando stopped by his favorite coffee shop next to a petbar, he asked if it was a franchise. “When he found out it was, he called me right away and said, ‘This is it,’” Luisa said. Within four days, they were meeting founders Dan and Ashley O’Loughlin in Dallas, and the decision quickly became clear. “We had been praying about this,” Luisa said, “and we believe God opened the door for us.”

For the Solises, the move into franchising is about more than business ownership — it’s about stability, legacy and family involvement. “My first goal is security for my family. If something happens to me, Luisa and the kids will still have the business,” Orlando said. “Real estate doesn’t offer that peace of mind.”

Their three children are already eager to get involved, giving the venture a multi-generational feel from the start. “They’re already asking if they can work there,” Orlando said. “With petbar, they’ll see a retail space, a team and a business they can be part of. That’s what I experienced growing up in Mexico, and it shaped me. I want them to see that and, if they choose, follow the same path.”

1851 Franchise sat down with the Solises to discuss how faith and family shaped their journey into franchising and their plans to build a lasting legacy with petbar. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Orlando Solis: We started looking at franchises when I was about 22. We checked out Menchie’s, Wingstop and others, but it was never the right time. Either we weren’t financially ready, we were too young or we didn’t like the product. Until we found petbar, nothing felt right.

We’ve always been entrepreneurs. I tried working for a company when I was 23 or 24, but I lasted six months. I couldn’t handle it. Since then, we’ve owned different businesses, and we love petbar. We think we can scale it, and that’s why we’re excited about this purchase.

Luisa Solis: My husband has always been in real estate, but we wanted more stability. We were looking for a business we could pass to our kids, who love pets.

We went to petbar as customers, just to try it out with the kids. It felt like a family outing, and we loved the environment. One day my husband was at his favorite coffee shop next to a petbar, and he asked if it was a franchise. When he found out it was, he called me right away and said, “This is it.”

Within four days we were meeting the owners in Dallas — Dan and Ashley  — and it felt right. We had been praying about this, and we believe God opened the door for us.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Orlando: I’ve always wanted to own a franchise. I even saw “The Blind Side” once where the woman owned several, and I thought, “Why not live like that?”

We’ve been in real estate since 2013. I worked as a real estate agent, then at Keller Williams and Realty Austin. In 2017, I opened my own brokerage and hired agents. But real estate isn’t doing well now, and if something happens to me, the business goes with me.

Before that, we owned a medical distribution company for Botox and surgical materials, which we sold. Those were our two main businesses.

Luisa: I stayed at home while the kids were little, but now it’s my time to step up and do something else.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Orlando: I thought buying a franchise meant you got the playbooks, the know-how and everything ready for you. That’s what appealed to me — the chance to skip the years of building from scratch.

The big difference is you have rules to follow, but that’s a good thing. Even though you’re not creating the concept, you’re creating jobs and can build as big as you want.

I had already researched about 10 franchises over the last 20 years, so I was familiar with the process. What stood out with petbar was how simple and transparent the documents were. They answered every question and didn’t hide anything. It made the decision easy.

Luisa: I’m not as entrepreneurial as him. I like instructions, and the franchise process holds my hand through each step. It makes everything less stressful and more predictable.

At first, we were skeptical. But the support, training and proven process have shown us we should have done this years ago.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Luisa: The people who love animals are different — they’re tender and kind. That’s the community petbar builds.

Orlando: I loved the layout and systems. It reminded me of McDonald’s with its stations and perfect mechanisms. The online booking system and the staff caring for the pets sealed it.

It felt simple and scalable. That’s why we bought two. Start with one, then immediately go for the second, and hopefully expand more. Compared to food or other complex businesses, this seemed easy.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Orlando: My first goal is security for my family. If something happens to me, Luisa and the kids will still have the business. Real estate doesn’t offer that peace of mind.

The second goal is to eventually focus fully on petbar. Two locations won’t be enough, so I’ll likely need at least four. We hope to expand as much as possible in Austin if Dan and Ashley give us the opportunity.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Luisa: We prayed for a business that could give us stability, and this felt right immediately.

Orlando: We have three kids and they’re super excited. They’re already asking if they can work there. It’s giving them a new vision — something beyond school — and the chance to see entrepreneurship in action.

In real estate, my kids only saw me leave for work and bring home a check. With petbar, they’ll see a retail space, a team and a business they can be part of. That’s what I experienced growing up in Mexico, and it shaped me. I want them to see that and, if they choose, follow the same path.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Orlando: Pay attention to the people you’re aligning with. Transparency and honesty are key. Meet the owners and see if you connect, and make sure they’ll support you.

Luisa: That’s why we chose petbar. Dan and Ashley were welcoming, transparent and hands-on. This is their baby, and what they promised is exactly what we’ve seen.

Orlando: For us, it felt like Texas: a handshake and a family vibe. That made all the difference.

About petbar

petbar is a boutique pet grooming and self-service dog wash franchise founded in Dallas by husband-and-wife team Dan and Ashley O’Loughlin. Designed to be transparent, joyful and dog-first, petbar offers full-service grooming, self-wash stations and membership options for convenience and value. With more than 30 locations across Texas, Florida and Arizona — and plans for responsible national growth — petbar combines a family-friendly culture with efficient operations and comprehensive franchise support. To learn more or find a location near you, visit www.petbarinc.com. For franchise opportunities, visit www.petbarinc.com/franchise.