<blockquote>“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like, never washed a dog.” ~ Franklin P. Jones </blockquote>
Dog wash franchises are operated in mainly two ways: the more traditional storefront, and by providing mobile services, usually by van. Storefront dog wash franchises typically also provide additional services such as a daycare, boarding or a retail store component. But there are also some less conventional options, like a pet food bakery.
Mobile dog wash franchises have become quite common in recent years – and that was before the pandemic hit. Mobile dog wash franchises allow franchisees to provide services to their customers in a more convenient manner. There are also benefits for the pets. As Furry Land Mobile Grooming says, mobile pet grooming allows for “less stress for the pet, one-on-one treatment without exposure to other animals, a clean and cage-free environment, and quicker service for a highly efficient experience.”
And for franchisees, the option to own a mobile dog wash franchise gives them the opportunity to work from home and be in more control of their working hours.
The Rise of “Pet Parents” and its Industry Impact
Dog wash franchises are a subset of the pet grooming & boarding industry. According to market research company IBISWorld, the market size of the pet grooming & boarding industry is $11 billion and expected to increase 7.5% in 2022.
What’s driving the revenue increase? A rise in anthropomorphism, for one.
Anthropomorphism is the scientific term for giving animals more human characteristics. Consider how use of the phrases “pet parents” and “fur babies” has increased over the years vs. usage of the traditional phrase of “pet owners.” The increased humanization of pets, particularly dogs, has opened the pet industry up to growth in nearly every direction, including some not previously imagined.
Going further, a large factor in the uptick in anthropomorphism is Americans are by-and-large holding off marriage until later in life. According to researchers, those who are delaying marriage and childrearing until later in life are likelier than average to own a pet in a trial run for parenting. “That’s how millennials are approaching pet ownership,” says Nathan Richter, an analyst with Wakefield Research.
This change has been centuries in the making. As columnist Helaine Olen wrote in a Slate editorial, it helps to think of our pet/child obsession as a slow, 200-year upgrade in the status of the animals of our lives. The growing urban middle class of Victorian times, separating into nuclear families as they gained distance from rural life, slowly ceased viewing dogs primarily as working animals and began to, instead, see them as companions.
In fact, pet retailer Zulily released a study that found that rather than getting married or having kids, needing more space for their pets, dogs specifically, is the main reason cited by a third of millennials when purchasing their first home.
You’ve heard of parents or parents-to-be buying the best for their baby. Now, pet parents are also increasingly making similar choices so that the animal members of their families are just as pampered as the human ones.
Dog Washes Go Beyond Just Getting Clean
Dog washing franchises aren’t just for cleanliness. Pet groomers can also help pet owners in identifying potential health conditions hiding under a pet’s fur or in their ears alongside their pet’s veterinarian. According to the ASPCA, “Dogs who are improperly or infrequently groomed can eventually experience severe health problems including skin infections, strangulating hair mats and restricted and painful movement (caused by dense hair mats and overgrown claws).”
However, dog washing is now going ever further than making sure a dog is clean and healthy. As noted above, pet parents nowadays are making sure their dogs are just as pampered as they are. As a result, dog wash franchises and pet grooming franchises can resemble dog spas, offering a range of pet pampering services. Some of these services include:
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Deep conditioning
- Facials
- Massage
- Mud baths
- Non-heat drying cabanas instead of traditional blow-drying
- Pedicures aka “pawdicures”
Initial Investment and Opening Costs for Dog Wash Franchises
The amount necessary to open a franchise varies depending on the unique business system and execution requirements for that particular franchise. The initial investment required for a dog wash franchise can range widely, mostly dependent on if a real estate purchase will be needed.
In addition, another major source of variability across the overall initial investment range is for the mobile-based opportunities in the industry. For these franchise opportunities, you will need to factor in the lease or purchase of a vehicle to your initial budget estimates, as well as what it will take to properly outfit that vehicle.
Our franchise profiles will present you with a basic range for the initial investment or minimum cash required to open a franchise. But when it comes to finding out the details of an initial investment, the FDD is the best place to look. Franchisors offer itemized estimates in their FDD based upon their experience establishing, and in some cases operating, units.
Keep in mind these estimates are just that, though—an estimate. Prospective franchisees should review the figures presented with a business advisor, taking into consideration their unique circumstances, before making the decision to enter into a franchise agreement.
Ongoing Costs for Dog Wash Franchises
Don’t forget about the additional costs required for nearly all franchise businesses. This includes expenses such as royalty fees, marketing fees, software fees, training fees, and more.
The most common is the royalty fee. Royalty fees are assessed for the continued use of the franchisor’s trademarks and patented processes, along with certain types of operational support. In addition to regularly assessed fees, other fees are charged on an “as needed” basis such as audit fees, or costs for additional, non-mandatory, training.
It’s important to note that while many initial and ongoing costs are detailed in the FDD, there are some costs inherent to business ownership, like employee wages or utility costs, that aren’t.
You can also check out many more franchises here on Franchise Direct, such as: