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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Bark Busters Home Dog Training

In-home dog training

Background

Founded: 1989 Franchising since: 1994
Sylvia Wilson, a former manager of an animal shelter, and her husband, Danny, founded Bark Busters in Australia in 1989. Wilson's aim was to create a program that would help owners better deal with their dog's behavior problems.

The Wilsons began franchising their in-home obedience training service in Sydney, Australia in 1994, eventually expanding the system into New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

250 W. Lehow Ave., #B
Englewood, Colorado 80110
Phone:
(877)300-2275


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 5 employee(s); 5 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 243 33 81 4
2008 252 33 81 0
2007 228 24 77 0
2006 193 17 78 0
2005 140 14 78 1

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: About 50,000 dogs

Special Programs
Bark Busters works with guide dog associations and humane societies.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $71.1K-96.4K
Franchise fee: $37.5K
Ongoing royalty fee: 8%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $100K-150K
Cash liquidity requirement: $12.5K-39.4K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Passion for dogs

Operations
  • Franchise can be run from home
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: minimum 120 hours

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks
  • National media

Other marketing support
  • PR support

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#110 (2009); #118 (2008); #105 (2007); #115 (2006); #278 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2007;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#95 (2009); #96 (2008); #63 (2007); #46 (2006);

Low-Cost Franchises:
#73 (2005);

Top Home Based Franchises:
#27 (2009); #25 (2008); #29 (2007); #27 (2006); #75 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#87 (2009); #96 (2008); #77 (2007); #86 (2006); #137 (2005);