The Great Franchisee | Retired Teachers Decide to Switch Careers By Buying a Pet Wants Franchise in Eaton, Ohio Area; Educate Local Pet Owners on How to Keep Their Animals Healthy

Greg and Paula Beherns have been educators for over 20 years, but they’ve been pet lovers for even longer. After one of their Dobermans began suffering from skin issues in the spring, the couple switched both their dogs’ food to Pet Wants, the 120-unit fresh pet food franchise. The Beherns saw results from the food change in only a couple of months and their dogs, Kit and Daisy both had more energy. The Beherns were already considering opportunities to pursue after they retire in the future and seeing the results from Pet Wants only solidified their decision to franchise with the brand. 

The Beherns recently opened their mobile Pet Wants that serves the greater Eaton, Ohio area. Their goal is to share their knowledge and the Pet Wants product with the community to help other pet owners create a healthy and happy lifestyle for their animals. The couple already has major plans for the brand, including opening a storefront by next year so they can reach as many pet lovers in the area as possible.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Beherns to learn more about their franchising journey with Pet Wants. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Greg Beherns: I taught high school math and engineering for over 20 years. Recently, I retired, and Paula is retiring soon, so we saw business ownership with Pet Wants as the perfect opportunity for us at this stage. 

Paula Beherns: I currently work at Miami University. Our experience with Pet Wants started when we switched our own dogs’ food to their products. We were very impressed with the quality of the food and saw a major improvement in Kit and Daisy’s quality of life. Before using Pet Wants, one of our dogs had skin issues, but by August, it was completely cleared up, and we saw an energy increase in both dogs. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Greg: We really didn’t know what to expect with a franchise. This process has been a learning experience and a whirlwind. But we’ve loved learning more about the brand and how we can serve our community.

1851: What made you pick this brand?

Greg: We loved that Pet Wants delivers food to their customers’ homes. Today, everyone wants their products delivered to them, and Pet Wants caters to that.

Paula: We have been impressed with Pet Wants from the beginning. Their quality of food and how it’s made is amazing. Pet Wants food is always fresh and all-natural. So when we decided to look into business ownership with them, it was an easy decision, especially after visiting the Cincinnati establishment and training with the executive team. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Greg: We’re starting with a mobile unit that will cover all of our territory. Within a year, we want to open a storefront. In the future, we would love to expand into other territories and maybe turn the keys over to our son. 

Paula: Aside from our business goals, we truly want to help our neighbors. We are pet lovers through and through, so having the opportunity to educate and help other pet owners is amazing to us. Pet Wants can help improve the lives of pets. We’ve seen it with our own dogs. In the past, we used a major brand of pet food, but it never really helped that much. Thanks to the training we’ve received, we now know why. We want to share that knowledge with our community.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Paula: I grew up with dogs. My mom was the local “Doctor Dolittle.” For any animal that was hurt or without a home, my mother would take it in and nurse it back to health before finding it the perfect home. I remember one time she rescued a pigeon. She cleaned it up, and we kept it in a cage in our backyard until it was healthy enough to be released back into the wild. So, I guess you could say that helping animals is in my blood. I’m excited to continue helping animals by owning a Pet Wants.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Paula: Be prepared to work hard, and don’t be afraid of that initial jump into business ownership. Especially with Pet Wants. They are a great brand to work with, and they truly care about the pets we are helping because, first and foremost, they are pet lovers. 

Greg: Starting a franchise with Pet Wants is an amazing experience. They will help you in any way they can, so make sure to ask all your questions and be ready to apply the answers. We’re one big family here at Pet Wants, so you’ll always feel supported. 

ABOUT PET WANTS: 

Pet Wants is a pet health and wellness company that strives to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. Founded in 2010, the brand’s specially crafted, private-label pet food formulas are made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet in every bowl, all made in the USA. Pet Wants has set a new standard in what you should expect in your pet food and has created the ultimate convenience with free, personal delivery through their 90+ locations across the United States. To learn more about Pet Wants, visit https://www.petwants.com/ or follow Pet Wants on LinkedIn, @petwantsusa on Facebook, @petwants on Twitter and Instagram.