How to Start a Pet Business
Roughly 70% of US households own a pet and treat them like family, which supports premium pricing. Mobile grooming and home-based training keep startup costs low; daycare and boarding scale higher.
Steps to start a pet services business
- 1
Decide whether to franchise or start a pet business from scratch
Independent pet services startups fail most often on demand generation and operations. A franchise supplies the brand, playbook, supplier pricing, and training — you supply capital, hiring, and local execution.
- 2
Confirm your budget and funding path
Add the franchise fee, build-out or equipment, and 6 months of working capital. Most buyers fund with 20–30% cash plus an SBA 7(a) loan, a ROBS rollover from retirement funds, or an equipment lease.
- 3
Check territory availability
Territory is the single most valuable asset you buy. Confirm population, competition, and radius protection before you fall in love with a brand.
- 4
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)
Item 7 gives the real investment range, Item 19 shows financial performance, and Item 20 shows unit turnover. Read these three before anything else.
- 5
Call existing franchisees
Ten validation calls will tell you more than any brochure: real ramp time, real margins, and how the franchisor behaves when things go wrong.
- 6
Sign, train, and open
Most pet services owners go from signing to open doors in a few months. Pre-opening marketing starts before you have keys.
Pet Services business FAQs
How much does a pet franchise cost?
Mobile grooming units often start near $80,000, while daycare and boarding facilities can reach $300,000 or more with build-out.
Do I need certifications to groom or train?
You can hire certified groomers and trainers; franchisors typically provide or arrange the training programs.
Is pet care recession resistant?
Pet spending has grown through recent downturns, though owners trade down on discretionary extras before core grooming and boarding.