INDUSTRY BENCHMARK · 26 SYSTEMS · FISCAL 2023–2025
Are pet services franchises a good investment?
Across 24 pet services franchise systems, the median system's exit rate in its latest fiscal year was 4.7%, and its opening rate 21.3%. Pooled across systems, with no system counting for more than 20% of the weight, the exit rate was 5.6%. Median franchise fee: $50K; median royalty: 7.0%; median total investment: $171K–$497K.
There is no official “pet services franchise failure rate.” What franchisors must disclose, in the Item 20 outlet tables of the FDD, is how many franchised outlets were terminated, not renewed, or “ceased operations — other reasons” each year. The exit rate here is that count divided by franchised outlets open at the start of a single fiscal year. It counts exits for any reason (some are retirements, sales, relocations or non-renewals) and misses struggling units that were sold as transfers.
4.7%
24 systems · latest fiscal year each
5.6%
raw totals: 110 exits / 2,016 at start
21.3%
454 outlets opened in total
26
FDD filed within 24 months
2,330
at latest fiscal year end
$50K
FDD Item 5
7.0%
FDD Item 6
$171K–$497K
FDD Item 7
22/26
systems disclosing an FPR
SOURCE: FDD ITEM 20 OUTLET TABLES FILED WITH STATE REGULATORS (MINNESOTA CARDS) · 26 SYSTEMS · 26 FILINGS · FISCAL 2023–2025
| Signal | Brand | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| STRONGEST RECORD | Scoop Soldiers | Strong |
| STRONGEST RECORD | SCENTHOUND | Strong |
| STRONGEST RECORD | DOODYCALLS | Strong |
| WEAKEST FILED RECORD | PETLAND | Weaker |
VERDICTS FROM EACH BRAND'S OWN FDD ITEM 20 FILING · METHODOLOGY
Pet Services franchise questions, answered from the filings
How many pet services franchised outlets leave their systems each year?
There is no official failure rate. FDD Item 20 tables report how many franchised outlets were terminated, not renewed, or "ceased operations — other reasons" each year. Across 24 pet services systems, the median system's exit rate in its latest fiscal year (fiscal 2023–2025) was 4.7%; pooled across systems, with no system counting for more than 20% of the weight, it was 5.6%. Not every exit is a failure: some are retirements or sales.
How much does a pet services franchise cost?
Across the latest FDD filings of 26 pet services systems, the median initial franchise fee is $50K (Item 5) and the median total investment range is $171K–$497K (Item 7).
What royalty do pet services franchises charge?
The median ongoing royalty across 26 pet services franchise systems is 7.0% of gross sales, per Item 6 of their latest FDD filings.
Are pet services franchises growing or shrinking?
In each system's latest Item 20 fiscal year (fiscal 2023–2025), the median pet services system opened new franchised outlets at 21.3% of its starting base and lost 4.7% to exits. For the median system, openings outpaced exits.
What is the healthiest pet services franchise?
Of the pet services systems rated from their FDD Item 20 tables, Scoop Soldiers has the strongest record (verdict: Strong). A verdict describes the filed record, not a recommendation to buy.
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