Every day, veterinary professionals see firsthand how diet affects everything from obesity and allergies to digestive health and longevity. While treating illness is an essential part of the profession, many veterinarians wish they had more opportunities to help pet owners prevent health issues before they start.
That desire to focus on proactive wellness is exactly what drew Nate Wichmann, owner of Pet Wants Lexington in Kentucky, to the Pet Wants franchise opportunity.
A practicing small animal and exotic veterinarian, Wichmann saw Pet Wants as a natural extension of the work he already loved doing.
"When I thought about Pet Wants, I realized this would give me an opportunity to address animal health not just from a reactive approach, but also proactively by educating clients on how they can best support their pets," Wichmann said. "There are a lot of things you can do to help pets, but beyond medicine, being able to provide nutrition was the biggest impact I felt I could have outside of the clinic. That is really what spoke to me about this opportunity."
Long before becoming both a veterinarian and a business owner, Wichmann knew he wanted a career centered around animals.
"I was the kid who went to zoo camp every summer," he said. “I thought I'd become a marine biologist, but I didn't want to spend my life in a laboratory. I wanted to work directly with animals, and veterinary medicine led me right there.”
While attending veterinary school, Wichmann also developed an interest in business, serving in the Veterinary Business Management Association at both the local and regional levels. That curiosity about entrepreneurship stayed with him throughout his career.
Ironically, the opportunity arrived while he was on his honeymoon. "Pet Wants came across my Instagram feed while we were on the beach in Mexico," Wichmann said. "A previous owner had posted that they were looking to sell their business. I reached out right away and started learning more about the brand."
As a practicing veterinarian, Wichmann says nutrition remains one of the most overlooked components of animal health. "Nutrition might be the most underappreciated aspect of animal health," he said. "The two things I see most often in my veterinary practice that are directly nutrition-related are obesity and food allergies or sensitivities. We have that conversation with probably 70% to 80% of pet owners.”
Rather than simply recommending a different food at an annual veterinary appointment, Pet Wants lets Wichmann spend more time educating families about fresh, high-quality nutrition and helping them develop long-term feeding plans.
That mission aligns closely with Pet Wants' philosophy of manufacturing proprietary pet food formulas in small batches every six to eight weeks using premium ingredients and slow-cooking methods designed to preserve nutritional value. In addition, the company ships food quickly to franchise owners, ensuring customers receive fresher products than traditional mass-produced pet food.
As a pet nutrition boutique, Pet Wants also gives franchise owners a way to work directly with customers on their pets’ dietary needs, from personalized nutrition guidance to supplements and specialty products.
For Wichmann, it represents another way to practice preventive medicine. "I really view this opportunity as an extension of my veterinary practice and an opportunity to address bigger questions about nutrition."
Although Wichmann continues practicing veterinary medicine full-time, Pet Wants has allowed him to engage with pet parents in an entirely different setting.
"One full-time job wasn't enough, so now I have two," he said. “The rest of my time is going to farmers' markets, dog sports and community events. I get to connect with people who are already really passionate about their pets and still call it work. As a veterinarian, I usually meet pets when they're sick, or if they're healthy, maybe only a few times a year. Pet Wants gives me an opportunity to meet more pet parents and build another level of trust. It supports both my practice and my business.”
Just six months after joining the Pet Wants system, Wichmann says the relationships have become his favorite part of ownership. "The most rewarding part is getting to know pet parents and their pets," he said. "This gives me an opportunity to really get to know the pet community with less pressure for everyone involved. I can meet pets where they're happiest."
Despite his medical expertise, Wichmann had never worked in retail before becoming a franchise owner. Like many first-time entrepreneurs, that uncertainty created some hesitation.
"There is always going to be some fear unless you're already a seasoned business owner," he said. "But the excitement outweighed that. Knowing Pet Wants had that whole support team there made it much easier. You are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. I learned a lot during the weeklong training program, not just about how to approach certain parts of the business, but also about the parts of the business you didn't even know existed. That support really helped propel me through those early stages."
Wichmann believes veterinary professionals bring a unique perspective to the Pet Wants franchise model because they already understand the role nutrition plays in lifelong animal wellness.
Wichmann is not the only veterinary professional who has found a fit with Pet Wants. Veterinary technicians have also become franchisees, using the business to support pets' health and well-being outside the clinic.
"You hear a lot in veterinary medicine about the desire to own your own practice," he said. “But that's becoming a much bigger ask as the cost of entry continues to skyrocket. I really view Pet Wants as another way to make a meaningful impact while building something of my own.”
Ready to build a business rooted in purpose, passion and pet health and wellness? Visit https://1851franchise.com/petwants to learn more about franchising with Pet Wants.
Pet Wants
SPONSORED
Veterinary professionals are turning their passion for animal health into business ownership by helping pet parents take a proactive approach to nutrition through the Pet Wants franchise opportunity.
Every day, veterinary professionals see firsthand how diet affects everything from obesity and allergies to digestive health and longevity. While treating illness is an essential part of the profession, many veterinarians wish they had more opportunities to help pet owners prevent health issues before they start.
That desire to focus on proactive wellness is exactly what drew Nate Wichmann, owner of Pet Wants Lexington in Kentucky, to the Pet Wants franchise opportunity.
A practicing small animal and exotic veterinarian, Wichmann saw Pet Wants as a natural extension of the work he already loved doing.
"When I thought about Pet Wants, I realized this would give me an opportunity to address animal health not just from a reactive approach, but also proactively by educating clients on how they can best support their pets," Wichmann said. "There are a lot of things you can do to help pets, but beyond medicine, being able to provide nutrition was the biggest impact I felt I could have outside of the clinic. That is really what spoke to me about this opportunity."
Long before becoming both a veterinarian and a business owner, Wichmann knew he wanted a career centered around animals.
"I was the kid who went to zoo camp every summer," he said. “I thought I'd become a marine biologist, but I didn't want to spend my life in a laboratory. I wanted to work directly with animals, and veterinary medicine led me right there.”
While attending veterinary school, Wichmann also developed an interest in business, serving in the Veterinary Business Management Association at both the local and regional levels. That curiosity about entrepreneurship stayed with him throughout his career.
Ironically, the opportunity arrived while he was on his honeymoon. "Pet Wants came across my Instagram feed while we were on the beach in Mexico," Wichmann said. "A previous owner had posted that they were looking to sell their business. I reached out right away and started learning more about the brand."
As a practicing veterinarian, Wichmann says nutrition remains one of the most overlooked components of animal health. "Nutrition might be the most underappreciated aspect of animal health," he said. "The two things I see most often in my veterinary practice that are directly nutrition-related are obesity and food allergies or sensitivities. We have that conversation with probably 70% to 80% of pet owners.”
Rather than simply recommending a different food at an annual veterinary appointment, Pet Wants lets Wichmann spend more time educating families about fresh, high-quality nutrition and helping them develop long-term feeding plans.
That mission aligns closely with Pet Wants' philosophy of manufacturing proprietary pet food formulas in small batches every six to eight weeks using premium ingredients and slow-cooking methods designed to preserve nutritional value. In addition, the company ships food quickly to franchise owners, ensuring customers receive fresher products than traditional mass-produced pet food.
As a pet nutrition boutique, Pet Wants also gives franchise owners a way to work directly with customers on their pets’ dietary needs, from personalized nutrition guidance to supplements and specialty products.
For Wichmann, it represents another way to practice preventive medicine. "I really view this opportunity as an extension of my veterinary practice and an opportunity to address bigger questions about nutrition."
Although Wichmann continues practicing veterinary medicine full-time, Pet Wants has allowed him to engage with pet parents in an entirely different setting.
"One full-time job wasn't enough, so now I have two," he said. “The rest of my time is going to farmers' markets, dog sports and community events. I get to connect with people who are already really passionate about their pets and still call it work. As a veterinarian, I usually meet pets when they're sick, or if they're healthy, maybe only a few times a year. Pet Wants gives me an opportunity to meet more pet parents and build another level of trust. It supports both my practice and my business.”
Just six months after joining the Pet Wants system, Wichmann says the relationships have become his favorite part of ownership. "The most rewarding part is getting to know pet parents and their pets," he said. "This gives me an opportunity to really get to know the pet community with less pressure for everyone involved. I can meet pets where they're happiest."
Despite his medical expertise, Wichmann had never worked in retail before becoming a franchise owner. Like many first-time entrepreneurs, that uncertainty created some hesitation.
"There is always going to be some fear unless you're already a seasoned business owner," he said. "But the excitement outweighed that. Knowing Pet Wants had that whole support team there made it much easier. You are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. I learned a lot during the weeklong training program, not just about how to approach certain parts of the business, but also about the parts of the business you didn't even know existed. That support really helped propel me through those early stages."
Wichmann believes veterinary professionals bring a unique perspective to the Pet Wants franchise model because they already understand the role nutrition plays in lifelong animal wellness.
Wichmann is not the only veterinary professional who has found a fit with Pet Wants. Veterinary technicians have also become franchisees, using the business to support pets' health and well-being outside the clinic.
"You hear a lot in veterinary medicine about the desire to own your own practice," he said. “But that's becoming a much bigger ask as the cost of entry continues to skyrocket. I really view Pet Wants as another way to make a meaningful impact while building something of my own.”
Ready to build a business rooted in purpose, passion and pet health and wellness? Visit https://1851franchise.com/petwants to learn more about franchising with Pet Wants.
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