Top Reasons to Open a Dog Business (Despite a Pandemic)
COVID-19 may have caused unforeseen changes in 2020, but many entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the upheaval and decided to invest in themselves as new business owners or diversify their existing portfolio by seeking new opportunities with untapped potential for growth.
If you’ve been considering starting a business — look no further than the booming pet industry. Even during a pandemic, you can begin the journey toward business ownership.
Recession-Proof
The pet industry has been on a steady climb over the last decade. It hit $99 billion by the end of 2020 and is set to reach $281 billion by 2023. Pets are considered members of the family — with their pet parents sparing no expense to care for them. The younger demographic, millennials, in particular, are adopting pets as “fur babies” while pushing back marriage and starting a family.
People are always going to have pets — and those pets will always need care. Routine maintenance and care are vital to a dog’s well-being. While the grooming industry has been mainly focused on the 10% of dog breeds that need regular haircuts, there has been a gap in care for all breeds needing care. This hugely underserved market has remained largely untapped throughout the years the pet industry has seen consistent growth. Scenthound believes that complete pet care is essential for all dogs and should cover core areas of maintenance like skin, coat, ears, nails, teeth, and glands.
Owning a dog grooming business allows you to stay ahead of a recession by providing a service that’s always needed for a market that continues to grow.
Big Box-Proof
Sure, a lot of things can be bought online — clothes, housewares, even food. A quick search right now would show you options for dog toys, beds, treats, and food. However, with all of the things that can be bought online, the fact remains that one-on-one pet care and grooming services cannot. Customers have to come into your store to utilize your services, and they will appreciate and benefit from the in-person interaction they can’t receive from internet vendors.
Pandemic-Proof
Dog grooming is a safe and relatively contactless business. Pets are often dropped off at the groomers and then picked up once their services are complete. Some groomers are even asking pet parents to stay in their cars while they collect their pet to be groomed. Contact between the grooming staff and pet parents is limited.
According to the CDC, the risk of the coronavirus being passed between humans and animals is incredibly low. Bringing your pet to the groomer, who takes the correct precautions, is a safe activity and is extremely important to your pet’s overall health. Know that taking care of your best friend is most likely (again, using the correct precautions) not going to put them in any danger during these unprecedented times.
Scenthound is the nation’s first membership-based dog grooming franchise, so even when COVID stay-at-home orders prevented the same level of in-store activity we saw pre-pandemic, our franchisees were able to maintain recurring revenue and customer loyalty. Customers knew that our unparalleled service would be there for them — on a budget and schedule to fit their needs and the needs of their pets.
Large and Growing Market
According to APPA, 67 percent of households in the United States have a pet. The majority of households — 63.4 million — that have a pet have a dog (some have more than one), totaling 90 million dogs. This creates an amazing opportunity for any dog business out there! In 2020, pet fostering and adoption rates skyrocketed, with foster rates growing by 197 percent and adoption rates by 110 percent.
Due in large part to the effects of the coronavirus on our lives, there has been a puppy pandemonium. More people have been bringing home dogs as a way to cope with unprecedented circumstances. Playing and snuggling with a pet has been proven to lower stress and blood pressure. And caring for our pets’ health and well-being is just as important as for other members of the family.
In the United States, 85 million households have a pet. Younger generations make up 62 percent of those households with pets. Millennials and Generation Z are more likely to become pet parents than their elders were. This cultural shift has played a large role in the growth of the pet industry. People treat their pets as members of the family. Beyond simply keeping them fed and walked, folks are spending money on a range of comforts and amenities to keep their furry friends happy and healthy.
The spikes in revenue that some industries have enjoyed during 2020 (food delivery, for instance) might taper off once people can safely congregate in public venues again. Alternatively, the demand for pet care seems likely to steadily increase as more and more households add four-legged friends to their families.
Old Dog, New Tricks
If you’re considering opening a dog business — in particular, a dog grooming business —know this: Scenthound’s wellness-focused, membership-based model is the first of its kind. Pet grooming has been around for a long time, but Scenthound turns the traditional model on its head to appeal to a modern generation by using a blue ocean strategy and focusing on a more well-rounded approach to overall dog health.
Scenthound is disrupting the pet industry with a great model at a great time. What is already a profitable market is only projected to grow. At Scenthound, we value our dogs’ overall health above all else. One of our model’s most unique and important components is the “Scent Check” where we evaluate six areas of dog wellness (skin, coat, ears, nails, teeth, glands) and provide our customers with all of the information they need to keep their dogs healthy and happy.
Opening a “Scenter” with Scenthound gives you an advantage over any dog grooming competitor – you’ll have the support and expertise of an amazing team who have been fine-tuning and perfecting this model for years.
Help Dogs Feel Happy and Healthy
Opening a dog grooming business is something to feel good about. Every day, you’re helping dogs live happy and healthy lives while also giving pet parents the opportunity to show their dogs love beyond treats and toys.
Don’t forget, it’s not just for the dogs. Owning a dog grooming business allows you to educate pet parents on the importance of routine care – ensuring they’ll continue to come back. Retention is everything in a successful business.
Diversify Your Portfolio
If you’re someone who already runs a successful business — or businesses, opening a dog business is a great way to diversify your already impressive portfolio. You’ve got the business savvy, capital, and entrepreneurial spirit to take on something in an uncontested space and grow with it.
When contemplating joining the pet industry, consider joining a franchise like Scenthound. Franchises, as you may already know, give entrepreneurs the leg up most people don’t get when starting a new business. You’ll be backed by a proven system and a knowledgeable team who can help you every step of the way.
Join the Pack
Starting a new business takes drive and determination, no matter when you decide to jump in. With Scenthound offering unparalleled franchisee support and a unique take on pet care, there’s no better time than the present. Scenthound is proud to offer franchise opportunities to like-minded candidates who share our passion for customer service and entrepreneurship. Sound like you? Get started with Scenthound.