petbar

In franchising, there is no stronger signal of confidence than when founders continue to put their own capital back into the system they created. At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petbarinc.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-the-largest-multi-unit-owners-are-also-the-founders-of-the-petbar-franchise-2731431" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">petbar</a>, the boutique dog grooming franchise, that signal is unmistakable. Husband-and-wife founders&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-o-loughlin-b6a6b911a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-the-largest-multi-unit-owners-are-also-the-founders-of-the-petbar-franchise-2731431" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan</a> and<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-wible-o-loughlin-b889831b/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-the-largest-multi-unit-owners-are-also-the-founders-of-the-petbar-franchise-2731431" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Ashley O’Loughlin</a> are not only the visionaries behind the boutique pet grooming brand, they are also its largest multi-unit franchise owners. For prospective franchisees, that choice speaks volumes about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/info">petbar’s franchise opportunity</a>.<h2>From a Single Store to a Scalable Model</h2>petbar’s story began in Texas in 2015, long before franchising was even part of the plan. Dan came from the gym and tanning industries, while Ashley brought a corporate consulting background.“We started seeing signs that the industry was eroding,” Dan said. “We were looking for something different, something more durable.”When they signed a lease for what would become the first petbar, they were ready for a new challenge but unsure exactly where it would lead. The opportunity appeared unexpectedly when the couple’s groomer moved away. Rather than scramble for a replacement, they began researching the pet grooming space.&nbsp;“We stumbled into a dog concept because our groomer was leaving,” Dan said. “We realized this was a need not just for us but for other people too. We opened our own location in 2015 in Texas, and it just took off. Within two years, we were exploding at the seams. The second location took off like crazy. That’s really where it all started.”<h2>Passion First, Profit Second</h2>Unlike many franchise stories, petbar was not born from a spreadsheet. “We didn’t get involved because we were trying to make money per se,” Dan said. “We got involved because we had that passion.”After the second location, the O’Loughlins had a big decision to make. “We were deciding whether to open more stores ourselves or look into franchising,” Dan said. “The idea of spreading petbar faster in different markets was exciting.”They launched franchising with a business model centered around low overhead, recurring membership revenue, and simplified operations. In the first two years,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth-2730938#featured">the brand opened a whopping 25 locations</a>.“The reason petbar was able to grow so fast was because our owners love animals,” Dan said. “They want something driven by the community. Once they walked into a location and saw what was going on, it was kind of magical.”Yet even as petbar grew nationally, the founders never stepped away from store-level operations. Instead, they doubled down.“We had the two locations, and we really enjoyed the business,” Dan said. “It felt like something we wanted to keep doing. We started growing it, and before we knew it, we owned more stores.”Today, they operate six locations themselves, making them the brand’s largest multi-unit owners. “We can’t help ourselves,” Dan said. “We want to keep growing every which way we can.”<h2>A Family Business, Literally</h2>petbar’s reinvestment story is also a family story. All three of the O’Loughlins’ children are involved in the business.“My oldest daughter operates two locations in Houston,” Dan said. “My son works a lot on the franchise side and at the store level, and our youngest helps operate the front area. It really is a family business.”That hands-on involvement strengthens the brand’s culture. “We really love building teams and watching people grow,” Ashley said. “Our stores feel like a work family.”<h2>Why Founder-Owned Units Matter to Franchisees</h2>The significance of founder-owned units goes beyond optics. “We’re knee-deep in the trenches,” Dan said. “We’ve built this from the ground up. There’s nothing that surprises us because we’ve seen every angle of the business.”That firsthand experience is a key to the brand’s&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/petbar-franchise-opportunity-2729672#franchisor-stories">franchisee support</a>. “A lot of my time is fielding calls from franchisees,” Dan said. “We know what we’re talking about because we live it.”Ashley noted that their corporate stores can also serve as testing grounds for innovation. “We can pilot new marketing ideas, new services and different approaches in different markets before rolling them out systemwide,” she said. “That’s a huge advantage.”<h2>A Signal to Prospective Franchisees</h2>In franchising, alignment between the franchisees and the franchisor matters. When founders choose to remain operators, they tie their personal financial outcomes to the same unit-level performance as their franchisees.For Dan and Ashley, owning six locations is about conviction. Their continued reinvestment sends a clear message: petbar works at the unit level. It scales across markets and it is built for the long term.“We’re building something for the long haul,” Dan said. “That’s always been the goal.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit<a href="https://www.petbarinc.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp%3Butm_medium=article&amp%3Butm_campaign=petbar-franchise-opportunity-2729672&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-the-largest-multi-unit-owners-are-also-the-founders-of-the-petbar-franchise-2731431" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/">https://1851franchise.com/petbar/</a>.

petbar Franchise Founders: Largest Multi-Unit Owners | Dan & Ashley O'Loughlin

1851 Franchise

It's clear that the founders of petbar, Dan and Ashley O’Loughlin, aren't just selling a concept. They operate six locations themselves, showing franchisees they believe in the system they created.

This brand page has been paid for by PETBAR. 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

Why the Largest Multi-Unit Owners Are Also the Founders of the petbar Franchise

why-the-largest-multi-unit-owners-are-also-the-founders-of-the-petbar-franchise

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

About petbar

petbar Franchisees Win

Executive Q&A

Franchise Opportunity

petbar Brand Deep Dive

Learn

Download Brochure

Visit Website

PETBAR

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

SOCIAL MEDIA

From Corporate to Canines: How Trent and Charley Rowan Built Their Dream With petbar

petbar Franchise Brings Trust & Canine Bliss to San Antonio

Why petbar Is the Best Franchise Opportunity in the Pet Space

PETBAR MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT PETBAR

CONTACT PETBAR

facebook

instagram

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City

State / Province

Net Worth

Liquid Assets Available

Location of Interest

Contact Us

When husband-and-wife team&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-o-loughlin-b6a6b911a/">Dan</a> and<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-wible-o-loughlin-b889831b/"> Ashley O’Loughlin</a> opened the first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petbarinc.com/franchise/">petbar</a> in Highland Park, Texas, in 2015, they had no idea they were building the foundation for one of the most exciting boutique pet grooming franchises in the country. What began as a passion project has become a thriving national brand — one that continues to grow, evolve, and bring joy to pets and their owners a decade later.“The 10 years really flew by — it’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” Ashley said. “We are very excited to celebrate it, and we are hosting a storefront reveal of our lobby refresh at our original location. We’ve done it in a few other stores, but this felt like the perfect time to showcase the new look and feel. It’s bright, joyful, and fun — just like our customers and their pets.”The refresh is more than cosmetic; it reflects&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/info">petbar’s</a> brand evolution. Over the past decade, the company has grown from a single neighborhood boutique to a 32-unit system with locations open or in development across Texas, Florida, Arizona and Georgia.But for the O’Loughlins, that growth didn’t come overnight. “We actually didn’t start franchising until about four years ago,” Dan said. “For the first six years, we were focused on developing the brand and getting the systems and operations in place. The self-wash concept, the grooming services, and the membership program — we spent years piecing it all together. We didn’t even know at the start that we’d eventually franchise.”<h2>An Idea That Clicked</h2>Before launching petbar, Dan and Ashley had run a successful tanning business. When they signed a lease for what would become the first petbar, they were ready for a new challenge but unsure exactly where it would lead.“We were moving over from tanning into this space, and the store just took off,” Dan said. “The community loved it. Within the first six months, we even had an equity group looking at us — that’s when we realized there was something really special here.”From the start, petbar was designed to be different. Its open, boutique-style layout, cheerful décor and transparent grooming areas created an experience that both pets and owners loved. The O’Loughlins soon added&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/why-petbar-is-the-best-franchise-opportunity-in-the-pet-space-2730196#featured">self-wash stations, professional grooming, and a membership program</a> to keep customers coming back month after month.“People loved having options,” Ashley said. “They could wash their own dog or leave it to a professional. And because people are busier than ever, our membership model made it convenient and affordable. It just fit the way people live now.”<h2>The Rise of a Resilient Brand</h2>When the O’Loughlins decided to franchise in 2019, their goal was simple: share their model with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/petbar-franchise-arcadia-arizona-brant-michaels-dustin-carlson-why-i-bought-2729878">like-minded entrepreneurs</a> who loved dogs and community as much as they did.“The franchise side of it came about because we were trying to determine if we would grow corporate or move into the market more swiftly with more development,” Dan said. “We love helping other entrepreneurs pursue their own business.”Today, petbar’s franchise model stands out in the fast-growing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-pet-grooming-services-market-report">$2 billion U.S. pet grooming industry</a>. With low overhead, recurring membership revenue, and simplified operations, the brand has become an ideal opportunity for franchisees looking for a lifestyle business that’s both emotionally rewarding and financially strong.“The pet care space is an exciting space to be in right now as a franchisor and franchisee,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-koffler-a55b5833">Gregg Koffler</a>, Chief Development Officer. “Our differentiation — the ability to wash your own pet, our subscription model, and our focus on strictly bathing and grooming — really sets us apart. We’re not retail heavy, which keeps operations simple. The potential for growth is tremendous.”<h2>Community at the Core</h2>Even as it scales nationally, petbar has stayed grounded in its community-first culture. In 2025, the brand partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://salvagedsoulspetrescue.org/">Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue</a> to raise more than $8,000 for animal welfare — one of many local partnerships that reinforce petbar’s “for the love of dogs” mission.“One of our big initiatives is to partner with our local communities,” Ashley said. “As we’ve grown the franchise, we’ve really focused on giving back to local shelters and rescue organizations that share our same kind of culture and values.”That commitment to connection extends to franchisees as well. “We’re looking for people with great energy,” Dan said. “They don’t have to have experience with dogs — we can teach them that. What matters most is that they love the community and want to build something meaningful. The profitability comes when you love what you’re doing and people can feel that.”<h2>A Vision for the Next 10 Years</h2>As petbar looks to the future, the brand plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar/petbar-franchise-opportunity-2729672">continue expanding responsibly</a> — both through new territories and smaller footprint models designed for urban markets.“We’d like to get into a lot of communities and a lot of different areas,” said Dan. “We’re looking for the right franchisees who want to grow with us. Right now, we have 32 locations, but we hope to reach 200. We’re going to keep marching to our own drum.”For the O’Loughlins, that drumbeat is powered by the same passion that started it all: a love of entrepreneurship, community, and, of course, dogs.“A lot of our customers have stayed with us for years, which is really special,” Ashley said. “We still have people who remember walking into that first Highland Park location. To see how much it’s grown — and how many other people are now part of the petbar family — it’s incredible. We’re proud and just getting started.”For more information on franchising with petbar, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petbar">https://1851franchise.com/petbar</a>.

petbar franchise logo tenth 10th anniversary

10 Years Strong: How petbar Turned One Dallas Boutique Into a Fast-Growing National Franchise

petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth

petbar Franchise - Q3 2025 - Press Release - 1851 Franchise

petbar Celebrates 10 Years of Growth With Record Q3 Performance and New Franchise Signings

petbar-10-year-anniversary-q3-growth-franchise

How Petbar Creates a Happy Environment for Pets & Owners

pet-grooming-franchise-opportunity

Why the Largest Multi-Unit Owners Are Also the Founders of the petbar Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS