Pets are more than just animals. They’re cherished family members and owners are invested in the health and wellness of their furry friends. The pet food industry generated approximately $151 billion in 2024 and experts predict demand to approach $200 billion over the next five years. Advancements in pet healthcare are increasing the lifespan of pets, boosting the U.S. pet population by 13%, according to Bloomberg.
Pet owners are opening their wallets for everything from gourmet treats to high-end grooming. Whether it’s doggy daycares, pet-sitting services, or mobile grooming, there are plenty of ways to turn your passion for animals into a profitable venture. Check out four of the leading pet business ideas.
Best Pet Business Ideas
With demand for pet services going strong, it has never been a better time to launch a pet franchise. Opening a franchise ensures you have a recognized brand, training, and ongoing support to achieve your business goals. Here are some of our top pet business opportunities:
- Pet supply store: Tap into the growing pet care market with a pet supply store. Pet owners regularly purchase pet food, toys, treats, and other supplies, enabling you to build a loyal customer base. One pet supply store franchise has an average unit volume of $2.6 million.
A pet supply store can be lucrative, but you’ll be tasked with managing a large team of employees, and your store needs to be open regular retail hours to cater to customer schedules. It also requires a large footprint location and extensive inventory. The initial investment for one pet supply store franchise can be as high as $1.9 million. To facilitate growth, you may be able to add an e-commerce component, but ultimately scaling requires adding costly brick-and-mortar locations. - Doggie daycare and boarding: Dual-income households and the return of leisure travel are helping fuel demand for doggie daycare and boarding franchises. One such brand, Dogtopia, plans to have 400 locations open by 2027.
This type of business has several drawbacks, though. In addition to investing in a large facility, zoning laws, health codes, and licensing requirements can be complex to navigate. Seasonal fluctuations in demand can make it harder to manage your budget. Holidays will be your busiest and most stressful times, making it tough to step away to enjoy time with family. - Dog training: More than 58 million U.S. households own a dog. To safeguard their four-legged friends, many Americans hire dog trainers.
A dog training franchise is a low-investment business opportunity with strong earnings potential. One dog training franchise with at least 159 locations has an initial investment as low as $17,500. You can start as an owner-operator and grow the business on your timeline, keeping overhead costs low by operating from a home office. Getting a dog up-to-speed can be time-consuming and you may encounter difficult owners who do not practice with their pets consistently. - Mobile pet grooming: The global pet grooming market was valued at nearly $7 billion in 2024. A mobile pet grooming business has a low initial investment and high margins. Franchise owners control their calendars and take care of administrative tasks from a home office. It offers a recurring service, and many pet grooming franchises cater to both dogs and cats, opening an additional revenue stream.
Aussie Pet Mobile: A Mobile Pet Grooming Leader
Aussie Pet Mobile is the No. 1 mobile pet grooming franchise on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list. As part of our award-winning brand, owners oversee operations, marketing, and expansion and hire staff to handle grooming. We have nearly 30 years of experience in mobile pet grooming and our customized grooming vans set us apart.
There are over 70 Aussie Pet Mobile franchisees, operating over 370 mobile units across the U.S. We’re targeting expansion in hot markets, including Las Vegas, Miami, Atlanta, and South Carolina, among other areas. According to the International Franchise Association, franchise expansion in the Southwest and Southeast is set to outpace the rest of the U.S. market in 2025.
Our large, protected territories provide a wide customer base, and our three-territory package can support 9 to 12 mobile grooming units. The initial investment to debut an Aussie Pet Mobile in your community starts as low as $179,000, and in-house financing of up to $80,000 is available to qualifying candidates, bringing your starting investment down to less than $99,000.*
Inquire now to find out more about our franchise process. *See Franchise Disclosure Document for details.