There is no single professional background required to become a successful Pet Wants owner. Some franchisees come from corporate careers. Others have backgrounds in education, health care or technology. Some have spent years in the pet industry, while others discover the brand because they are simply looking for better options for their own animals.

What successful owners tend to share, however, is a genuine passion for pets, a willingness to work hard and the motivation to turn the tools provided by the franchise system into a business that is uniquely connected to their local community.

For Pet Wants franchisees Sharon Hodge and Mona Pradhan, those qualities have been central to their respective journeys with the brand.

“Above all else, you have to have a lot of personal motivation and drive,” Hodge said. “I don’t think any piece of this is luck. You have to care about the business and believe in the products and the brand.”

You Have to Believe in What You’re Selling

Before becoming a franchise owner, Hodge spent about six years teaching middle school special education. Her introduction to Pet Wants happened almost by accident when her former boss hosted a pop-up event at her apartment building.

Hodge’s dog tried the food, and she immediately noticed something different. “That was the first time my dog ate dry food without it sitting there for days, so I started looking into it,” she said.

Eventually, Hodge began working at Pet Wants Nashville in 2019. The transition from teaching to a small, locally focused pet business showed her how much she enjoyed the environment.

“It never felt stressful going into Pet Wants,” she said. “I loved the energy. I was connecting with customers; it just felt like a fun and inviting environment. I could be myself and talk to people. I was also good at education already, learning about a product and teaching people about it.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her teaching career, Hodge knew she could pursue another teaching position, but instead, she saw an opportunity to build something of her own.

“Within a couple of weeks, I decided I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny and own a business myself,” she said.

By December 2020, she had decided to launch a Pet Wants franchise in Colorado.

Pradhan’s route to Pet Wants was different, but her connection to the product was equally personal. Her dog had struggled with digestive issues, and after trying different foods and even cooking meals herself, Pradhan discovered Pet Wants. She says she saw significant changes in her dog’s health, coat and energy after transitioning his food.

That experience ultimately helped transform an interest in entrepreneurship into a mission. “You have to be passionate about pets, first of all,” Pradhan said. “This is a great brand. I have seen amazing changes on my own pet baby. I love reading comments about how our food has changed people’s lives.”

Successful Owners Are Educators, Not Just Retailers

A passion for pets may bring someone to Pet Wants, but Hodge and Pradhan have found that a willingness to educate customers can turn that passion into stronger relationships.

Hodge’s experience as a teacher translated naturally into her business. Rather than simply putting products on shelves, she could learn about them and help customers understand their options.

Pradhan, who previously worked as a process improvement analyst for BlueCross BlueShield and has experience in IT, health care and marketing, found herself drawn to the same educational aspect of the model.

“With Pet Wants, we’re doing something we love, and we’re not just selling products,” Pradhan said. “We’re educating people in the community.”

For Pradhan, that means approaching each interaction with a desire to help rather than simply make a sale. “So many people don’t realize how important nutrition is for pets,” she said. “Not only do I love animals, but I also want to educate the community and make people feel like I’m there for them, not just to sell something. I want them to know they aren’t just a number.”

That relationship-focused mindset is particularly important in a business where customers often return regularly and owners have opportunities to become trusted resources for local pet families.

Community Building Is Part of the Job

For Hodge, one of the most important lessons from working at Pet Wants Nashville was seeing firsthand how a local pet store could become a gathering place.

“I always knew that I wanted to open a brick-and-mortar store because I had seen the community that was built around the Nashville store,” she said. “We created an environment where people wanted to come, even without their pets. I learned a lot about community building and have taken a lot of that with me now.”

Hodge started out with Pet Wants’ mobile model, then opened her retail store in January 2023. The relationships she built along the way have become one of her favorite parts of owning the business.

“My favorite part is the community that I’ve made,” she said. “I’ve made so many friends that were customers first. It was hard moving here without knowing anyone, so making genuine connections has been amazing. I love building a community-centric place.”

That requires franchisees to proactively put themselves into the community. Hodge participates in adoption events nearly every weekend, even though maintaining that schedule can be demanding.

“It’s about being a member of the community that is doing great things,” she said. “I am passionate about [animal rescue], and both of my dogs are rescues.”

Pradhan has taken a similar approach in Tennessee. As she built her mobile business and transitioned into retail, she found that customers she originally met in the community followed her to the storefront. Her grand opening plans included multiple days of activities, vendors and pet adoptions, further positioning the business as a community destination.

“When you talk with people and they come see you, and when you have a retail store, they can come in and celebrate with you,” Pradhan said. “They aren’t just your customers now. They are part of your family, and that makes a difference.”

Patience and Personal Drive Matter

While Pet Wants gives franchisees an established support system, Hodge and Pradhan say success takes more than just relying on the blueprint.

“You have to really understand that just because you are in a franchise structure doesn’t mean you don’t have to work hard to make yourself a part of the community,” Hodge said. “Pet Wants gives us the tools and products to be successful, but you have to take the tools and run with it.”

Pradhan points to patience as another critical trait. “Growth is not going to come overnight,” she said. “You have to have patience. You also need to know who your targeted customers are. Everyone that steps in the door might not be an ideal customer. You need to train yourself to handle the work.”

With a brick-and-mortar location and grooming services, Prdhan said the business has continued to grow month after month. She and her husband have also purchased a second territory with plans for further expansion.

Making the Pet Wants Business Your Own

Perhaps the defining quality of a strong Pet Wants franchise owner is the willingness to take an established model and bring it to life locally.

Pet Wants owners have room to build relationships, develop partnerships, participate in events and establish a local identity around pet health and wellness. That means the opportunity can be especially well suited to people who want to be visible in their communities rather than operating entirely behind the scenes.

“I’ve been on the Franchise Advisory Council for a few years, and it always reinvigorates my interest and love for the brand,” Hodge said. “I think we are doing really incredible things, and we want more people to know about it.”

For Hodge, that is ultimately what separates simply owning a Pet Wants location from building a thriving local business. The franchise provides the framework, but each owner has an opportunity to decide what their business will mean to the community it serves.

“Pet Wants is what you make it, and the owners who are successful are doing something unique, not just repping the food,” Hodge said. “We have the ability as owners to make it even bigger than that.”

For entrepreneurs who are passionate about pets, willing to educate others, patient enough to build relationships and motivated to become a genuine part of their communities, Pet Wants offers a platform to turn those qualities into business ownership.

Ready to build a business rooted in purpose, passion and pet health and wellness? Visit https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info to learn more about franchising with Pet Wants.