For husband-and-wife team Kariann Harker and Jerrod Bohannon, owners of Pet Wants Colorado Springs, the dream of entrepreneurship became a reality through a shared love of animals and a desire to make a difference in their community.
“We’ve had steady growth every month since we opened,” Bohannon said. “Right now, we’re in the process of finding a physical location, which is exciting. We started mobile and have been able to grow organically through markets and community events.”
Their journey shows why Pet Wants is an ideal family business opportunity — combining a flexible business model, purpose, and partnership in a way that helps families thrive personally and professionally.
Harker and Bohannon launched their business in June 2025 after years of struggling to find healthy food for their pit bull, Ruby. That challenge inspired them to help other pet parents who faced the same frustration.
“Dogs have always been a huge passion of mine — they bring life to me,” Harker said. “With Ruby, we were always looking for something healthy she could eat, and when we found Pet Wants, we knew it was exactly what we’d been searching for.”
What began as a way to help their own dog evolved into a community mission. “With the pet industry, pets are part of the family too,” Bohannon said. “Being able to have that experience to lean on brings a lot of value.”
Pet Wants’ mobile-first model allowed the couple to begin serving customers quickly without the financial strain and operational complexities of starting with a storefront right away. Bohannon continued working in his corporate job while Harker ran the business full-time — a setup that allowed them to balance risk and reward as a team.
“Having that as the family dynamic has been hugely helpful,” Bohannon said. “If either one of us were to do this on our own, we’d have to put all our eggs into that basket. Working together makes it achievable.”
One of the biggest advantages of running a family business is the ability to leverage each other’s strengths.
“We both have very different strengths that we bring to the business,” Harker said. “It’s daunting enough starting a business, so doing it with your spouse is great — you always have someone to lean on.”
Bohannon brings years of marketing experience from his corporate career, while Harker’s background in health care gives her a people-first approach to customer service. Together, they balance strategy with empathy, creating a business that connects deeply with local pet parents.
“Having your spouse as a partner also leads to some fun banter when you’re out and about at events,” Bohannon said. “It is a relatable point with a lot of the families we interact with.”
That connection — with each other and their customers — is what sets Pet Wants franchisees apart. The brand’s community-driven model thrives on authentic interactions at markets, pop-up events, and local partnerships.
For Harker and Bohannon, Pet Wants is a family affair that benefits everyone, including their four dogs.
“I love this business and I love that we’re benefiting not only our family but helping other families live a better life,” Harker said.
That sentiment echoes throughout the Pet Wants network, where many franchisees operate alongside spouses, children or siblings. The company’s national support system and training programs help new owners launch and grow. And with the ability to start mobile and scale to a storefront at their own pace, families can align their business goals with their lifestyle needs.
Every bag of Pet Wants food is a reflection of the brand’s larger mission: improving pet health and well-being through education, trust and community.
For Bohannon and Harker, that mission continues to guide their growth. “We’ve had steady growth every month since we opened,” Bohannon said. “The community has really welcomed us, and we’re looking forward to what’s next.”
Learn more about launching your own Pet Wants business: https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info.
Pet Wants
SPONSORED
The brand offers a way for families to leverage complementary skills and a shared passion for pet wellness to build a community-focused small business with a flexible business model.
For husband-and-wife team Kariann Harker and Jerrod Bohannon, owners of Pet Wants Colorado Springs, the dream of entrepreneurship became a reality through a shared love of animals and a desire to make a difference in their community.
“We’ve had steady growth every month since we opened,” Bohannon said. “Right now, we’re in the process of finding a physical location, which is exciting. We started mobile and have been able to grow organically through markets and community events.”
Their journey shows why Pet Wants is an ideal family business opportunity — combining a flexible business model, purpose, and partnership in a way that helps families thrive personally and professionally.
Harker and Bohannon launched their business in June 2025 after years of struggling to find healthy food for their pit bull, Ruby. That challenge inspired them to help other pet parents who faced the same frustration.
“Dogs have always been a huge passion of mine — they bring life to me,” Harker said. “With Ruby, we were always looking for something healthy she could eat, and when we found Pet Wants, we knew it was exactly what we’d been searching for.”
What began as a way to help their own dog evolved into a community mission. “With the pet industry, pets are part of the family too,” Bohannon said. “Being able to have that experience to lean on brings a lot of value.”
Pet Wants’ mobile-first model allowed the couple to begin serving customers quickly without the financial strain and operational complexities of starting with a storefront right away. Bohannon continued working in his corporate job while Harker ran the business full-time — a setup that allowed them to balance risk and reward as a team.
“Having that as the family dynamic has been hugely helpful,” Bohannon said. “If either one of us were to do this on our own, we’d have to put all our eggs into that basket. Working together makes it achievable.”
One of the biggest advantages of running a family business is the ability to leverage each other’s strengths.
“We both have very different strengths that we bring to the business,” Harker said. “It’s daunting enough starting a business, so doing it with your spouse is great — you always have someone to lean on.”
Bohannon brings years of marketing experience from his corporate career, while Harker’s background in health care gives her a people-first approach to customer service. Together, they balance strategy with empathy, creating a business that connects deeply with local pet parents.
“Having your spouse as a partner also leads to some fun banter when you’re out and about at events,” Bohannon said. “It is a relatable point with a lot of the families we interact with.”
That connection — with each other and their customers — is what sets Pet Wants franchisees apart. The brand’s community-driven model thrives on authentic interactions at markets, pop-up events, and local partnerships.
For Harker and Bohannon, Pet Wants is a family affair that benefits everyone, including their four dogs.
“I love this business and I love that we’re benefiting not only our family but helping other families live a better life,” Harker said.
That sentiment echoes throughout the Pet Wants network, where many franchisees operate alongside spouses, children or siblings. The company’s national support system and training programs help new owners launch and grow. And with the ability to start mobile and scale to a storefront at their own pace, families can align their business goals with their lifestyle needs.
Every bag of Pet Wants food is a reflection of the brand’s larger mission: improving pet health and well-being through education, trust and community.
For Bohannon and Harker, that mission continues to guide their growth. “We’ve had steady growth every month since we opened,” Bohannon said. “The community has really welcomed us, and we’re looking forward to what’s next.”
Learn more about launching your own Pet Wants business: https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info.
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