Dogtopia Franchise vs. Woof Gang Bakery: How they compare

The U.S. pet industry is lucrative with expenditure in the U.S. reaching over $126 billion in 2021 with projected growth to $275 billion by 2030. While the industry shows promise, some areas are more financially comfortable as a business venture than others.

For example, the vet care, medicine, and live animal segment of the industry accounted for half of those expenditures, and unless you’re a trained pet health professional, you’ll need to consider business opportunities in other segments of the industry. For instance, dog daycares and pet retail and grooming can both be great options for someone that doesn’t require a veterinarian’s degree.

Some top franchises to consider are Dogtopia, a daycare and spa service franchise, and Woof Gang Bakery, a retail store and grooming franchise. Take a quick peak at how they compare below.

Dogtopia Franchise

Doggie daycare shared a $9.5 billion segment of the pet industry in 2021 according to the American Pet Products Association. Grooming, training, pet sitting, pet walking, and insurance were also part of this “other service” area. While it’s a smaller segment of the industry, there are franchise opportunities available.

Dogtopia was founded in 2002. While doggie daycare is the primary service, they also offer overnight stays, dog spa services, and dog training or grooming (at some locations). Dogtopia has 195 operating units and 350+ sold and in development.

Running a dog daycare has two key demands: space and employees. Dogtopia has three different sizes of franchise footprints and recommends 10-15 employees to run a single-unit franchise. More than half of their franchises are owned by multi-unit operators.

Dogtopia has a 30-day training requirement that involves both classroom and in-store education. They also provide 10 days of support for each grand opening. Ongoing programs include canine coaching training weekly one-on-one coaching calls, quarterly field visits, quarterly regional workshops, monthly webinars and seminars, an annual conference, and online resources.

Dogtopia franchise costs are a bit steep. Investment costs to open one location range between $688,312 and $1,806,803, including a franchise fee of $49,500. Franchise candidates should have a net worth of $1 million and at least $300,000 in liquid capital. Dogtopia franchisees pay 7% in royalty fees and 2% in ad royalty fees. There are other costly factors to consider as well, like insurance fee’s costing upwards of $3,000 and needed licenses/permits ranging from $2,000 to $44,000.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Franchise

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is the leading specialty retailer of pet bakery, pet food, pet supplies and professional pet grooming in North America. They offer a retail store, stocked with their proprietary bakery and treat products, and a professional grooming service. Founded in 2007, the brand has 180 units open or under development. Groomers work on a commission basis reducing payroll costs for the owner. Woof Gang Bakery franchises should have 2-4 staff members to successfully run the store.

Franchisees receive extensive training and support from Woof Gang Bakery. The five-day training is immediately hands-on, working at other franchise locations before training at your specific location. There is strong marketing, advertising, and community outreach support for their neighborhood brand, and they also support local franchise marketing initiatives. They have monthly franchise accounting analysis to assist with business operations and a strong mentoring program to guide franchisees who may not all face the same challenges. Woof Gang also has a franchise resource page.

Store sales have grown 15% in the past five years, with an average of $665,000 across the franchise system. To own a Woof Gang Bakery franchise, start up costs range between $155,300-$280,400 which includes a franchise fee of $49,900. Franchise candidates should have a net worth of $250,000 and at least $75,000 in liquid assets. Woof Gang Bakery franchisees pay a royalty fee of 7% and an ad royalty fee of 2%.

Choose a Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Franchise

If you’re considering a pet business and think grooming and retail is the right segment for you, consider a Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise. With affordable start-up costs and average store sales of $665,000, you can make a positive impact in your community while building a viable business.

To learn more about our franchise opportunity, fill out this form, and one of our representatives will be in touch.