The Physics of the Business
Engineered for Efficiency.
Low acquisition costs paired with premium lifetime revenue create disciplined unit economics for modern franchise operators.
Key takeaway: CAC stays small relative to lifetime revenue.
Relative scale for visual comparison.
Profitability
Item 19 Highlights
2024 FDD Item 19 (Mature Locations).
Average Net Profit
$184,482
Average Net Margin
26.5%
Financial performance representations are available in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document.
Startup Costs
Accessible Entry.
| Franchise Fee | $49,500 |
| Est. Buildout / Leasehold Improvements | $169,223 - $250,162 |
| Total Investment | $302,523 – $464,712 |
| Liquidity Required | $200,000 |
| Multi unit discounts | $120,000 (3 units) $36,000/unit for 4+ |
Pet Franchise Comparison
Service Models, Side by Side.
Initial investment ranges, fee structures, and staffing intensity across leading pet franchises.
| Brand | Init. Investment | Royalty + Ad Fund | Add'l Fees/Mo | Min. Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sit Means Sit | $31,775 – $163,750 | 11% | $15 | 1 (Owner-Op) |
| Instinct Dog Training | $89,040 – $889,280 | 10% | $300 | 6-8 |
| The Dog Wizard | $115,700 – $194,350 | 10% | $750 | N/A (Mobile) |
| Pet Wants | $137,850 – $219,000 | 11% | $50 | 1-2 |
| Aussie Pet Mobile | $167,325 – $208,650 | 9% | $1,075 | 1-2 |
| Three Dog Bakery | $181,000 – $314,000 | 8% | $200 | 2-3 |
| Woof Gang Bakery | $184,420 – $506,620 | 9% | $300 | 2-4 |
| Wild Birds Unlimited | $226,601 – $378,977 | 5% | $450 | 3-5 |
| Splash and Dash | $264,200 – $471,000 | 10% | $600 | 3 |
| Zoom Room | $302,523 – $464,712 | 9% | $600 | 2 |
| Scenthound | $328,099 – $549,869 | 7.5% | $675 | 5-7 |
| Hounds Town USA | $475,875 – $1,278,489 | 8% | $1,050 | 2-8 |
| Earthwise Pet | $486,500 – $863,000 | 6.5% | $500 | 5-10 |
| Wag N Wash | $520,520 – $1,357,600 | 7% | $1,200 | 5-8 |
| The Dog Stop | $543,000 – $1,037,300 | 8% | $500 | 8-12 |
| Pet Supplies Plus | $540,520 – $1,975,005 | 4% | $1,200 | 12-15 |
| Central Bark | $569,200 – $1,394,250 | 8% | $495 | 15-20 |
| Camp Run-a-Mutt | $589,000 – $1,140,000 | 7% | $0 | 10+ |
| Dogtopia | $668,312 – $1,806,803 | 9% | $750 | 15 |
| Camp Bow Wow | $1,216,577 – $2,037,471 | 8% | $550 | 15-20 |
Royalty + Ad Fund is the sum of the ongoing
royalty fee and the required contribution to the national advertising fund.
Add'l Fees/Mo includes technology,
software, call center, and related infrastructure fees. This column does not include
local marketing spend requirements (which all brands have) or required purchases of
products from the franchisor (which some brands have).
Key Differences
- Ask about training methodology. Some training franchises still use e-collars, prong collars, and "balanced training" — a euphemism for aversive methods most veterinarians, behaviorists, and modern dog owners avoid. Zoom Room uses 100% positive reinforcement. Ask the others what's in their toolbox.
- Ask about the total fee stack. A royalty rate is one line item. Many competitors list a modest royalty but contractually force you to spend significantly more in local marketing requirements, mandatory technology and bookkeeping fees, and other CapEx. These fixed dollar amounts hit your P&L from Day 1, draining critical cash flow during ramp-up.
- Ask about gross margin. Paying 4% royalty on a low-margin bag of dog food often nets less profit than paying a greater royalty on a high-margin service like ours. Service-first models keep more of every dollar in the business.
- Ask about staffing intensity. Facility-based daycare models require teams of 15–20 employees to operate safely. That means payroll complexity, HR liability, and management overhead.
- Ask about skilled-labor dependency. Grooming concepts depend on recruiting and retaining licensed groomers — a constrained labor pool with rising wages. When a top groomer leaves, revenue often leaves with them. Zoom Room puts expertise in the curriculum. We hire for personality and train the system.
- Ask about liability. Any drop-off model means custody responsibility without the owner present. This leads to substantial insurance, legal, and vet bill costs. At Zoom Room, owners are in the room, handling their own dogs.
- Ask about facility risk. Mobile and home-based models have lower startup costs but no destination, no asset, no community hub, and no stickiness. Boarding and daycare require large footprints, industrial zoning, and heavy staffing. Zoom Room fits in standard retail-zoned space with a simple two-person floor.
- Ask about territory. Some categories are crowded or hyper-local. Ask how many units are already operating in your market — and how many are in the pipeline. Then ask us.