Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is a neighborhood pet grooming and retail franchise offering luxury spa experiences, healthy treats, and pet supplies.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is a neighborhood pet grooming and retail franchise. Stores offer professional dog grooming as the core service, along with healthy food, gourmet treats and other premium pet products.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming was founded in 2007 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with its first store located at the Publix Plaza. The brand was created by pet lovers for pet lovers to provide a joyful, caring destination for grooming and retail services. Over the years, it has grown into one of the fastest-growing names in the pet franchise space, now with more than 230 locations across the United States.
Mission: To create the world’s largest network of neighborhood pet store franchises that spread love and joy to their communities — one groom and one treat at a time.
Vision: To make every Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming store a local destination where pets are pampered, revitalized, and celebrated.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is expanding across the United States, with territories available in many markets. The brand provides site selection support through a network of commercial real estate brokers.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise ranges from $184,420 to $506,620. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,900 | $49,900 |
| Startup Media Fee | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Travel/Expenses for Training | $1,200 | $3,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements/Construction | $30,000 | $260,000 |
| Architect Review Fee | $850 | $850 |
| Architectural Drawings | $10,800 | $13,000 |
| Rent | $7,500 | $25,000 |
| Computer & POS System | $3,370 | $3,370 |
| Equipment (Freezer, Grooming Equipment & Signage) | $30,000 | $55,000 |
| Licenses & Permits | $100 | $1,000 |
| Insurance | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| Legal & Professional Fees | $1,200 | $5,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $18,000 | $27,000 |
| Working Capital (3 Months) | $15,000 | $45,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $49,900, due upon signing the franchise agreement. Veterans receive a 20% discount on the franchise fee. Multi-unit investors may also qualify for reduced royalty and ad-fund fees for the first two years.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty Fee | 7% of gross revenues/month |
| National Marketing Fee | 2% of gross revenues/monthly |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 161 locations open for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross revenue for the year:
Average | Median | High | Low |
$640,601 | $577,837 | $2,027,338 | $183,639 |
Franchisees receive comprehensive training through virtual courses and on-site sessions at company headquarters. Training covers grooming operations, customer service, hiring practices, marketing, social media and store management. New owners also spend a week with the executive team (including the Chief Grooming Officer).
Support includes pre-opening business planning, lease negotiation, site selection, store design, vendor sourcing, marketing setup and grand opening planning. The corporate team provides ongoing operational coaching and access to a national franchise network.
Franchisees gain access to proprietary software, a branded app, CRM tools for personalized marketing and point-of-sale setup guidance. Ongoing support includes performance analysis reports and access to digital marketing consultants.
While no prior pet grooming experience is required, franchisees should have a passion for pets, strong customer service skills and the ability to lead small teams. Ideal candidates enjoy serving their communities and operating in a fast-paced retail environment.
Owners should expect to be involved in daily operations, especially during the early months. Semi-absentee ownership may be possible after establishing a strong management team. Each store typically employs two to three groomers at launch and may grow to 10 as business expands.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming offers financing options through third-party lenders to help cover franchise fees, startup costs, equipment and payroll.
The following video includes testimonials from franchisees Leigh Reid Hope (Pawleys Island and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina), Marcus Castro (Charleston, South Carolina), and Chris and Erin Paitrick (Summerville, South Carolina).
Visit the Woof Gang franchise website for more franchisee testimonials and success stories.
The U.S. pet grooming services market was valued at $2.06 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 6.7% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. As pets are increasingly treated as family members, owners are choosing higher-quality, comfort-focused grooming experiences rather than basic maintenance.
The broader U.S. pet store industry is valued at about $31.6 billion in 2025, with slower growth of around 0.3% expected between 2020 and 2025. While traditional brick-and-mortar stores face limited expansion, the market remains strong for brands that offer premium, personalized or service-linked retail experiences.
For a brand that combines grooming services with high-end retail products, this creates a clear advantage. The grooming segment provides steady recurring revenue, while the retail side benefits from premium product demand and brand loyalty. Together, these elements position Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming to thrive in both growing and stable areas of the pet industry.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming competes with brands like Pet Supplies Plus, PetSmart and Scenthound. However, its neighborhood boutique feel and emphasis on grooming as the majority of revenue make it stand out as North America’s leader in grooming franchising.
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