Q&A with Mike Gould, Founder and CEO of Hounds Town USA

1851: What about Hounds Town USA makes it unique within its industry?

Gould: Using his 40+ years of dog behavior training as the Commanding Officer of the Nassau County Police Department and the head of the Military Working Dog program, Mike Gould created Hounds Town USA to provide an alternative to standard doggie daycare. By focusing on the needs of the dogs, not on the needs of the owners, Hounds Town USA offers a natural environment that allows dogs to be dogs. Unlike other doggie daycare brands, Hounds Town doesn’t discriminate against any dog breed. Because of Gould’s experience, and the training provided to franchisees and team members, Hounds Town is able to provide a place for breeds that are rejected from other daycares to thrive.

1851: What have been some of the brand's milestones in its history?

• 2001 -- The first Hounds Town USA location opened in Port Jefferson, New York
• 2004 -- The second location opened in Ronkonkoma, New York
• 2012 -- The third location opened in Farmingdale, New York
• 2015 -- Hounds Town USA began franchising
• 2017 -- Hounds Town USA opened their first non-turn-key franchised locations in Deer Park, New York and Island Park, New York
• 2018 -- Hounds Town USA signed its first out-of-state franchisee to bring the brand to Bergen County, New Jersey
• 2018 -- Opened a second corporate location in Galloway, New Jersey, which the brand plans to sell to a qualified franchise owner when it’s up and running

1851: What plans does the brand have in the coming years?

Gould: Our goals are to close three more deals in 2018 to get us to 12 units open by the end of the year. In 2019, we would like to add five more units to the system, and over the next five years, we’d like to be at 25-30 units.

What does an ideal franchisee look like?

Gould: We’re not looking to grow quickly; we’re looking to be smart in our growth path, so we’re going to be selective with who we bring into the system. Since we take care of animals, which is an emotional business, we are obligated to find the right people to become franchise owners.

Our ideal franchisee is a pet enthusiast and a people person. We’re looking for franchisees that are active in their local community and are looking to partner with a proven concept that fills a gap in the market. Our franchisees need to have leadership skills and experience in business and in management. We’re open to semi-absentee owners or owner-operators with liquid capital of $75,000 and net worth of $200,000.

1851: Why is Hounds Town USA a good investment?

Gould: In addition to being a fun and rewarding business to run, built from the ground up by a founder with 40 years of commercial dog training and private pet care experience, Hounds Town USA offers a straightforward business model at a low investment level that beats any other competitor in the category. Plus, our average unit volumes are comparable to those competitors, and we boast a 346 percent sales to investment ratio.