Pet Franchise-Related Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FETCH! Pet Care franchise opportunity?

FETCH! Pet Care provides a turnkey, professional pet care franchise system developed specifically for full-time, serious business operators in the fun and rewarding world of pet care. Our program gives our franchisees the professional edge to outpace the competition in any territory. Training and materials cover virtually all aspects of operation, including operations, sales, marketing, accounting, legal and human resources. Our proven franchise business opportunity can be operated from your home, requires little capital investment, and can provide you with a sound income, fun and healthy lifestyle, with repeat business year after year.

What are the pet care services that you currently offer?

FETCH! Pet Care provides a comprehensive variety of pet care services to meet pet owner's varied needs, including private and group dog walks, daily pet visits, in-home overnight sitting, private boarding, day care, Go Fetch! four-legged fitness service, home care, yard pet waste cleanup, and pet taxi services. Some of our franchisees offer additional services, such as pet grooming, pet photography, dog waste cleanup, and obedience training. We also have an online store that sells a variety of Fetch! gear.

What are the necessary qualities that FETCH! Pet Care looks for to help a franchise owner succeed?

Ideal FETCH! Pet Care franchisees are enthusiastic, energetic, organized, proactive planners who love and own pets, and have the desire to provide a friendly, professional pet care service that is superior to all others. Ideally, you will have business ownership, operations or management experience. You should have a willingness, patience and financial wherewithal to devote full-time efforts to build a sustainable business, although it is possible to work part-time or even maintain another full-time job provided you hire staff. You should possess a working knowledge of sales, customer service, marketing and accounting basics. You should also have the desire to embrace our system of high operating standards.

How much is the initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee is $16,000 for a protected territory of 50,000 households.

What are the minimum financial requirements for a potential franchisee?

FETCH! Pet Care requires that you have a strong credit history and a minimum liquid financial net worth of $25,000.

What investment will typically be required in the first year to establish a single area operation (50,000 population post code region)?

Required investment in your business will vary based on what assets you already own and how aggressive your business and operations strategy is. However, following are some anticipated ranges:

What methods of payment do you accept for the initial franchise fee?

FETCH! Pet Care accepts check, money order, virtual checking or, if you prefer, you can pay by credit card and use the added mileage points to help cover your airfare if you choose to fly to our headquarters in Berkeley, California for a complimentary initial training.

Are there any ongoing payments to FETCH! Pet Care?

Yes, we require a 5% ongoing royalty on your gross sales, or a very small minimum monthly payment until you generate sales, to help cover the cost of our ongoing support in helping you grow your business. We also require a 1.5% payment of your gross sales toward our cooperative advertising fund to help us to continuously promote your business.

Does FETCH! Pet Care offer financing?

The company does not currently offer financing, but can suggest financial institutions you can approach who might approve you for a loan.

Can anyone become a FETCH! Pet Care franchise owner?

No. FETCH! Pet Care utilizes a very thorough selection process to ensure that both FETCH! Pet Care and the prospective franchisee are right for each other and can enjoy a mutually rewarding, fun, and harmonious long-term relationship.

What qualities must I possess to be considered for a franchise?

As a potential FETCH! Pet Care franchisee, first and foremost you must genuinely love and care about pets! Next, you must have a minimum financial net worth of $25,000 to comfortably support your franchise's initial and ongoing investment. Lastly, you must have a strong desire to succeed in your own business.

What type of training and support does FETCH! Pet Care offer to franchisees?

The company offers hands-on training at our corporate headquarters in Berkeley, California. During the training process Franchisees receive easy-to-follow operations manuals, training DVDs and CD-ROMs that contain everything you need to start and operate your business. Some of the topics include Basic and Advanced Pet Care Techniques, Marketing, Customer Service, Operations, Human Resources and Financial Management. You'll also join us in the field, literally, with our expert pet sitters and dog walkers! In addition, you'll have ongoing access and support from us through our toll-free support line, our private intranet and our online discussion group, knowledge base, regular roundtable sessions and quarterly regional franchise strategy sessions. Your initial training and ongoing support will be tailored to suit your individual needs in setting up, maintaining and expanding your business.

Why shouldn't I independently open my own pet care business?

Franchising helps you avoid many of the pitfalls involved in starting up and running a business on your own. You will be part of a nationally recognized franchise brand with a proven successful business strategy. You will receive an initial education and ongoing training from skilled professionals with years of business and pet care experience. You will gain access to systems, programs and materials that will accelerate your time to market, help you provide a higher level of service than competing pet care businesses in your territory, and increase your potential profit margins. You'll enjoy the benefits of a growing nationwide network of franchisees who share best practice ideas and experiences.

Is pet care a seasonal business?

Pet care can be a seasonal business to smaller, independent operations. However, the fact remains that almost every street in America now has pets in the home, resulting in thousands of pet owners in your area needing pet care on a daily basis. Using the FETCH! Pet Care system, you will have a greater potential to gain the lion's share of new business to be had and build a client base that consistently uses you on a daily basis, thus generating steady and regular income.

What is the overall demand for pet care services?

The demand for specialized pet care services is far greater than the supply of professionally trained and qualified operators, and this gap widens every year as the country's kennels struggle to keep up with the number of new pets. Also, there is a fast-moving trend of pet lovers moving away from kennels and looking for a service that combines at-home pet care with the added advantage of additional home security. Lastly, pet lovers in general are spending more on the positive welfare of their pets while they are away at work or on vacation.