Start a Dogtopia Franchise in 2026

2026 Franchise 500 Rank: #65 Ranked #74 last year

Initial investment: $543K - $1.4M

Units as of 2026: 290 18.9% over 3 years

Owning a pet is a way of life. For most people, pet welfare is of great significance. A pet owner's love can be seen in the pet industry, with the industry's worth being over $100 billion. A Dogtopia franchise is a unique business opportunity for those looking to tap into the pet industry.

Established in 2002, Dogtopia revolutionized pet care services by focusing on quality, transparency, and safety. This model has shown growth, allowing the brand to start franchising 2005.

Dogtopia’s mission is to put an emphasis on education, exercise, and socialization for your furry friends. Its facilities are designed to reduce odors, noise level, illness, and accidents, thus keeping your pets as safe and happy as possible.

Why You May Want to Consider a Dogtopia Franchise

The dog daycare industry is estimated to be worth over $60 billion, and Dogtopia franchises help franchisees meet the market demand. With such a significant demand, Dogtopia operates franchises in over 120 locations across Canada and the U.S.

Services for pets include daycare, spa services, grooming, training, and boarding. Pet owners can check in on their beloved furry friends by using the Dogtopia web cameras. Highly trained staff are always around to ensure that pets are well taken care of and enjoy their time at Dogtopia.

Dogtopia franchises also support various causes with the Dogtopia Foundation. The Dogtopia Foundation is helping to fund programs like Service Dogs for Veterans, Youth Literacy Programs, and Employment Initiatives for Adults with Autism.

What Might Make a Dogtopia Franchise a Good Choice?

Franchisees will want to make sure they have enough capital available to cover potential franchise fees. Franchisees will need to pay a franchise fee and invest in an initial range of money to begin operations. The investment range depends on franchise location, training, equipment, staff, and payroll, among other factors. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

While you explore the Dogtopia franchise brand, it may be wise to consult a financial planner and attorney to ensure your affairs are in order.

How Do You Open a Dogtopia Franchise?

After a potential franchisee submits a franchise inquiry, a Dogtopia franchise representative may set up an introductory call. Dogtopia will determine your preferred territory and financial status while getting to know you better. They will also answer any questions you may have about the opportunity.

As you make your decision regarding whether to open a Dogtopia franchise, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

As you progress through the franchise process, you may get set to attend a discovery day to meet the Dogtopia team at company headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona and receive more insight into the brand. You may have the opportunity to tour a franchise location and talk to current Dogtopia franchises. If all parties involved agree, you may soon be on your way to hosting pets at a Dogtopia franchise.

Company Overview

About Dogtopia

Industry	Pets
Related Categories	Pet Care: Daycare/Boarding
Founded	2002
Parent Company	Dogtopia Enterprises LLC
Leadership	Neil Gill, CEO
Corporate Address	6245 N. 24th Pkwy., #210 Phoenix, AZ 85016
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2005 (21 years)
# of employees at HQ	60
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada
# of Units	290 (as of 2026)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Dogtopia franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$49,500
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$543,095 - $1,399,180
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$200,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	10% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	7%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Dogtopia has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	80 hours
Classroom Training	101 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	15-20
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes