Do
you ever want desperately to take a vacation but can't
allow yourself the luxury because, well, "Who will
take care of Fluffy when I'm gone?" Conversely,
do you ever find yourself wanting to take Fluffy with
you to a friend's house but are unable to do so because
she simply doesn't look "presentable"?
The
fact of the matter is that these and similar dilemmas
are experienced by many pet owners around the world.
It is therefore not surprising that Franchisors have
taken the next step: diving into the Doggy Day Care
and Canine Beauty Parlor business.
Doggy
Day Care (which, to be fair, actually caters to all
of Man's furry friends) provides pet owners with the
opportunity to take a vacation while knowing that their
pets are well taken care of. Doggy Day Care facilities
are unique insofar as they make pets feel completely
at home -- more often than not, Day Care staff members
treat the dogs (in terms of food, bedding, and activities)
strictly according to their masters' wishes. If your
dog enjoys a steak every Friday at home, you bet he
will at the day care center as well!
Canine
Beauty Parlors (again, a service available for various
household pets) are run by professional pet groomers
who, in a reasonable amount of time, create powder-fresh
beauty from the mud-caked beast. Granted, pet owners
could probably groom their pets on their own, but the
outcome would be slow in coming and would of course
-- in most circumstances -- lack the professional touch.
Every
doggy day care / canine beauty parlor franchise is different,
from activity selection to cost per session. Nine recent
entrants into the industry are noted below.
DBA
Name |
UFOC
|
Aussie
Pet Mobile |
2006 |
Camp
Bow Wow |
2006 |
Central
Bark Doggy Day Care |
2005 |
Doggy
Dreams Groomobile |
2005 |
FETCH!
Friendly Neighborhood Pet Care |
2005 |
Happy
Tails Dog Spa |
2006 |
Hendonhunden |
2006 |
Pets
Are Inn |
2004 |
WagMyTail.com |
2006 |
*UFOCs
are available for purchase on UFOCs.com.
Feel free to familiarize yourself with the following
pet day care / grooming franchises featured on worldfranchising.com.
|
|
|
The Aussie Pet Mobile is an internationally
proven franchise system of mobile pet grooming
with new U.S. headquarters in Orange County,
CA. We pride ourselves on our innovative
trailer design, heated hydrobath and a 15-step
grooming maintenance process. No experience
is required. The Aussie Pet Mobile franchise
package includes a comprehensive training
course. Franchisees enjoy a protected territory
with regional and national advertising support.
Individual owner-operator and multi-unit
programs available.
|
"As
a groomer I look at each animal as my own,
and you haven’t seen a spoiled dog
until you see mine! This is not just a commodity.
We try to form a relationship with the owners
and their pets."
Beth Paradis, Aussie Pet Mobile Groomer
|
|
|
| OPERATING
UNITS |
| Franchised
Units: |
322 |
| Company-Owned
Units: |
28 |
| Total
Operating Units: |
350 |
|
| GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION |
| US: |
277 |
In
24 States |
| Canada: |
1 |
In
1 Province |
| International: |
72 |
In
69 Countries |
|
| INVESTMENT |
| Minimum
Net Worth: |
$125K-750K |
| Cash
Investment: |
$60K-200K |
| Total
Investment: |
$60K-241.5KK |
|
| FEES |
| Initial
Franchise Fee: |
$32.5-112.5K |
| On-Going
Royalty: |
5% |
| Advertising
Fee: |
3% |
|
| SPACE
NEEDS |
| Average
Number of Employees: |
Varies
FT, 0 PT |
| Space
Needs (SF): |
NA |
| Preferred
Sites: |
NA |
| Conversions? |
No |
| Earnings
Claim? |
NA |
|
| TERMS
OF CONTRACT |
| Term
of Initial Contract: |
10
yrs |
| Renewal
Period: |
10
yrs |
| Passive
Ownership OK? |
Yes |
| Area
Dev. Agreements? |
Yes |
| Sub-Franchising? |
No |
| Expand
Within Territory? |
Yes |
|
| GENERAL
SUPPORT |
| IFA: |
Yes |
| CFA:
|
Yes |
| FA/Member: |
Yes/Yes |
| Size
of Corporate Staff: |
20 |
| Site
Selection Assist.? |
NA |
| Lease
Neg. Assist.? |
NA |
| Financial
Assist.? |
Yes(D) |
|
| MARKETING
SUPPORT |
| Advertising: |
None
Specified |
| Marketing
Materials: |
None
Specified |
| Additional
Services: |
None
Specified |
|
| ON-GOING
SUPPORT |
Central
Data Processing,
Central Purchasing,
Field Operation Evaluation,
Field Training,
Initial Store Opening,
Inventory Control,
Franchisee Newsletter,
Regional or National Meetings,
800 Telephone Hotline |
|
| EXPANSION |
| Projected
Units (within 1 yr): |
NR |
| Territories
|
All
US,
All Canada, UK, Europe, Mexico
|
|
| TRAINING |
| Employees
10 Days, Franchisees 3 Days, Advanced
Employees 3 Days |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When a family goes on vacation, they prefer
to have their pet cared for in a loving
- caring - home environment. We are looking
for individuals that recognize the need
for PETS ARE INN in their area. An individual
that has a proven track record as a professional
in other areas but has made a conscious
decision to change career paths - to be
involved in business and in the community.
Our unique niche in the hospitality/travel
industry provides our customers and their
pets with worry free services.
|
"It's
great because we'll continue your pet's
routine . . . We have one lady who cooks
a half pound of bacon for her Pyrenees each
day and then they go for beef jerky a 7:30
each night. We'll find somebody who'll do
the exact same thing when she's on vacation."
Pets Are Inn Franchise
Owner Roney Roehm |
|
|
| OPERATING
UNITS |
| Franchised
Units: |
18 |
| Company-Owned
Units: |
0
|
| Total
Operating Units: |
18 |
|
| GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION |
| US: |
18 |
In
NR States |
| Canada: |
0 |
In
0 Provinces |
| International: |
0 |
In
0 Countries |
|
| INVESTMENT |
| Minimum
Net Worth: |
NR |
| Cash
Investment: |
$20K |
| Total
Investment: |
$35-65K |
|
| FEES |
| Initial
Franchise Fee: |
$15K |
| On-Going
Royalty: |
5-10% |
| Advertising
Fee: |
1% |
|
| SPACE
NEEDS |
| Average
Number of Employees: |
2
FT, 4 PT |
| Space
Needs (SF): |
|
| Preferred
Sites: |
Home-based |
| Conversions? |
N/A |
| Earnings
Claim? |
Yes |
|
| TERMS
OF CONTRACT |
| Term
of Initial Contract: |
10
yrs |
| Renewal
Period: |
10
yrs |
| Passive
Ownership OK? |
No |
| Area
Dev. Agreements? |
No |
| Sub-Franchising? |
No |
| Expand
Within Territory? |
Yes |
|
| GENERAL
SUPPORT |
| IFA: |
No |
| CFA:
|
No |
| FA/Member: |
No |
| Size
of Corporate Staff: |
5 |
| Site
Selection Assist.? |
Yes |
| Lease
Neg. Assist.? |
Yes |
| Financial
Assist.? |
No |
|
| MARKETING
SUPPORT |
| Advertising: |
None
Specified |
| Marketing
Materials: |
None
Specified |
| Additional
Services: |
None
Specified |
|
| ON-GOING
SUPPORT |
Central
Data Processing,
Central Purchasing,
Field Operation Evaluation,
Field Training,
Initial Store Opening, Franchisee Newsletter,
Regional or National Meetings,
800 Telephone Hotline |
|
| TRAINING |
| 5
Days, Minneapolis, MN |
|
| EXPANSION |
| Projected
Units (within 1 yr): |
4 |
| Territories
|
Central
Time-Zone |
|
|
|
