2026 Guide•45 franchises analyzed
Americans spent $152 billion on pets in 2024. Pet franchises let you tap into that, if you understand the segment economics.
Best Pet Franchises to Own in 2026
Americans spent $152 billion on pets in 2024. Pet franchises let you tap into that, if you understand the segment economics.
Pet franchises span grooming, boarding/daycare, training, retail, and mobile services. The economics differ dramatically: grooming is labor-intensive but steady; boarding requires real estate; retail competes with Chewy and Amazon. The winners focus on services that can't be delivered through a screen.
We analyzed 45 pet franchise FDDs to show: which segments have the best unit economics, what investment levels make sense, and which franchisors support growth versus just collecting fees.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 45 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
45
pet franchises analyzed
$341K - $688K
avg. investment
$53K
avg. franchise fee
$697K
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Pet franchises
This page ranks pet franchises by total locations, reported revenue from Item 19, projected growth, and minimum investment. The industry spans grooming, boarding/daycare, training, and retail. Service-based concepts (grooming, boarding) have better defensibility than retail, which competes with Chewy and Amazon.
Top Pet franchises at a Glance
Ranked by Number of Locations
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSP | $541K - $2.0M | $50K | 502 | $2.7M |
| DOG TRAINING ELITE | $174K - $203K | $110K | 395 | $294K |
| POOP 911 | $4K - $26K | N/A | 254 | - |
| WOOF GANG BAKERY | $184K - $507K | $50K | 236 | $741K |
| CAMP BOW WOW | $944K - $1.2M | $50K | 223 | $993K |
| Sit Means Sit | $67K - $164K | $60K | 163 | - |
| PET WANTS | $138K - $219K | $49K | 159 | $439K |
| BARK BUSTERS | N/A | N/A | 133 | - |
| SCENTHOUND | $328K - $550K | $50K | 117 | $453K |
| DOODYCALLS | $76K - $94K | $40K | 111 | $400K |
10 Best Pet franchises Ranked
Growing
Investment
$541K - $2.0M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
502
Avg. Revenue
$2.7M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$174K - $203K
Franchise Fee
$110K
Locations
395
Avg. Revenue
$294K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$4K - $26K
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
254
Royalty
25.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$184K - $507K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
236
Avg. Revenue
$741K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$944K - $1.2M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
223
Avg. Revenue
$993K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$67K - $164K
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
163
Royalty
6.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$138K - $219K
Franchise Fee
$49K
Locations
159
Avg. Revenue
$439K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
133
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$328K - $550K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
117
Avg. Revenue
$453K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$76K - $94K
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
111
Avg. Revenue
$400K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Profit Pet franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Growing
Investment
$541K - $2.0M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
502
Net Profit
$445K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$2.0M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$80K
Locations
0
Net Profit
$316K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$521K - $1.4M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
23
Est. Profit
$224K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$798K - $1.6M
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
10
EBITDA
$223K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$2.3M - $3.6M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
34
EBITDA
$222K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Revenue Pet franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Growing
Investment
$541K - $2.0M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
502
Avg. Revenue
$2.7M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$2.0M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$80K
Locations
0
Avg. Revenue
$1.8M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$2.3M - $3.6M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
34
Avg. Revenue
$1.6M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$798K - $1.6M
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
10
Avg. Revenue
$1.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$521K - $1.4M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
23
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Pet franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
GrowingBankruptcy
Investment
$167K - $209K
Franchise Fee
$20K
Locations
105
Avg. Revenue
$824K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$184K - $507K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
236
Avg. Revenue
$741K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$554K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
31
Avg. Revenue
$951K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$944K - $1.2M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
223
Avg. Revenue
$993K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$54K - $218K
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
5
Avg. Revenue
$484K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable Pet franchises
Ranked by minimum initial investment from Item 7 of their FDD filings.
Sorted by Minimum Investment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POOP 911 | $4K - $26K | N/A | 254 | - |
| Cooper's Scoopers (Unit) | $48K - $75K | $40K | 0 | - |
| Make Your Dog Epic Dog Training Academy | $50K - $64K | $30K | 0 | $325K |
| Tails N' Trails | $53K - $68K | $35K | 0 | - |
| GROOMBAR Mobile Grooming | $54K - $218K | $30K | 5 | $484K |
Who Should Consider Pet franchises?
Pet franchises suit buyers who genuinely like animals—customers notice. Boarding/daycare requires real estate with outdoor space. Grooming is more labor-intensive but lower investment. Both benefit from growing pet ownership and "pet parent" spending trends. Retail is tougher due to online competition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet franchises
How much does it cost to open a pet franchise?
The average initial investment for pet franchises ranges from $341K to $688K, based on our analysis of 45 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $53K. The most affordable option is POOP 911, starting at just $4K.
What is the most profitable pet franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, PSP reports the highest average unit revenue at $2.7M. Other high-performing pet franchises include GoDog ($1.8M), K-9 Resorts Boutique Pet Hotel ($1.6M), All American Pet Resorts ($1.5M). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest pet franchise by number of locations?
PSP is the largest with 502 locations nationwide. Other major pet franchises include DOG TRAINING ELITE (395 locations), POOP 911 (254 locations), WOOF GANG BAKERY (236 locations), CAMP BOW WOW (223 locations). Combined, the top 5 pet franchises operate over 1,610 locations.
What is the cheapest pet franchise to open?
The most affordable pet franchises by initial investment are: POOP 911 ($4K - $26K), Cooper's Scoopers (Unit) ($48K - $75K), Make Your Dog Epic Dog Training Academy ($50K - $64K), Tails N' Trails ($53K - $68K), GROOMBAR Mobile Grooming ($54K - $218K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a pet franchise opportunity?
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Key sections include: Item 5 (fees), Item 7 (initial investment), Item 19 (financial performance, if disclosed), and Item 20 (outlet information including terminations and closures). Our database extracts this data from official FDDs to help you compare pet franchises objectively.
Want to explore more pet franchises?
Browse all pet franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
View All Pet franchises