Woofie's

Woofie's began in 2004 in Ashburn, Virginia, founded by Amy Addington, also identified as Amy Reed in some accounts, and Leslie Barron. The first location opened in September 2004 after the founders left corporate careers to address demand for reliable pet care. Woofie's LLC was formed in 2018, when franchising began. As of October 2025 and January 2026, the brand had 82 locations across the United States, all franchised, representing 811% growth in franchised units from prior periods. Its headquarters are in GRAPEVINE, TX. Authority Brands, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, acquired Woofie's in January 2022. The pet services market was valued at USD 89 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 179.8 billion by 2034 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%. Woofie's offers mobile pet grooming, pet sitting, dog walking, overnight care, pet taxi, and dog training. This overview is intended as independent research rather than promotional material.

The U.S. pet industry generated more than $123.6 billion in 2021, while the global pet market was valued at $261 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $350 billion by 2027. The Pet Care Market was valued at USD 226.92 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 340.71 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 7.01%. The pet sitting market was valued at $1.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at an 11.5% CAGR from 2022 to 2030. The pet grooming product industry is estimated to reach $14.5 billion by 2025, with overall annual growth of about 8% through 2030. More than 66% of U.S. households, or 86.9 million homes, owned a pet, while ownership reached 94 million households in 2024 from 82 million in 2023, partly due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Demand for convenience, flexible scheduling, personalized care, and mobile services supports Woofie's in a fragmented industry that is also consolidating.

The initial franchise fee is $57,500. Honorably discharged veterans of the American and Canadian armed forces receive a 30% reduction, bringing the fee to $40,250. Minority owned, women owned, and LGBTQ+ owned franchises receive a $5,000 reduction in the total franchise fee and any additional household fees. Reported initial investment estimates range from $33,000 to $283,200, $129,132 to $246,360 excluding real estate costs, $180,000 to $295,000, $180,423 to $294,651, and $160,123 to $274,351. Costs can include a mobile pet spa unit, equipment, initial supplies, marketing, and initial operating expenses, without traditional real estate costs. Typical liquid capital requirements range from $70,000 to $80,000, although some sources cite $40,000 in minimum cash or $50,000 in liquid capital for franchise inquiries. Recommended net worth ranges from $350,000 to $400,000. Some sources cite an advertising or national brand fund fee of $28,000 per year plus 2%. Franchisees are also expected to spend $24,000 each year on local marketing. Authority Brands acquired Woofie's in January 2022.

Woofie's owners review schedules, respond to client messages, prepare groomers and dog walking teams, manage people, coordinate logistics, and monitor service quality. Scheduling and client visits are handled through proprietary scheduling technology and custom franchise management software. Owners also follow up with pet owners, schedule additional services, and check in with staff. Amy Addington and Leslie Barron originally recruited trusted pet care professionals, including stay at home mothers and school teacher friends. The mobile model includes a turnkey grooming system and vehicle outfitting guidance, helping reduce costs compared with brick and mortar salons. Initial training totals 104 hours, including 10 hours of classroom instruction and 94 hours of practical on the job training. Woofie's Academy provides business tools and expertise, while its training center offers pet CPR and first aid instruction to pet owners and pet care professionals. Support includes corporate guidance, marketing assistance, and back office IT, HR, and marketing services managed by professionals after the January 2022 Authority Brands acquisition. Franchisees receive exclusive territories, with open territories nationwide, especially in underserved suburban and residential areas. Woofie's assists with demographic analysis and territory selection, focusing on high population density, substantial pet ownership, limited competition, median household income above $75,000, working professionals, and strong residential growth. Multi unit opportunities are available, alongside an owner operator model.

These figures come from historical or public sources rather than the current FDD. Woofie's grew from 9 total units in 2023 to 39 in 2024 and was projected to reach 82 all franchised units by October 2025 and January 2026. Its service mix includes pet sitting, dog walking, mobile pet grooming, overnight care, pet taxi, and dog training, creating several revenue sources and reducing reliance on one service category.

Woofie's first three franchise locations opened in 2019 in South Riding Aldie, Leesburg, and Reston Herndon, VA. The system grew from 9 total units in 2023 to 39 in 2024 and 82 franchised locations in the United States by October 2025 and January 2026, an 811% increase in franchised units. In 2023, Woofie's signed 25 franchise agreements covering 44 new territories. Authority Brands acquired the brand in January 2022 and added corporate IT, HR, and marketing support. Recent deals added territories in California, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Boulder, Colorado, with an emphasis on underserved suburban markets and multi unit ownership. Woofie's competes through pet sitting, dog walking, mobile grooming, and spa services, while its mobile structure offers customer convenience and lower overhead than traditional brick and mortar locations. The brand was named one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in the U.S. by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and appeared on CNBC's The Job Interview. Franchise Business Review named Woofie's a 2026 Top Franchise. In August 2025, its Franchise Satisfaction Index score was 76, which was 12% above the industry benchmark of 68. During March 2020, a decline in pet sitting led to contactless curbside services, Adventure Walks, and a grooming school as salons closed and demand for mobile grooming increased.

A suitable Woofie's owner needs an interest in animals, organization, and the ability to manage people, customer relationships, and logistics. Previous pet care experience is not specifically required, though management or customer focused experience may help with daily operations. Multi unit ownership is available, and territories are offered throughout the United States, with emphasis on suburban and residential areas. Woofie's assists with demographic analysis and territory selection. Preferred markets have median household incomes above $75,000, many working professionals, strong residential growth, high population density, substantial pet ownership, and limited competition. No specific period from franchise agreement signing to opening is provided. The franchise agreement term length is also not disclosed, while renewal, transfer, and resale provisions are typically addressed in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

The Pet Care Market is projected to reach USD 340.71 billion by 2029 at a 7.01% CAGR, while Woofie's reached 82 franchised locations by 2025 and 2026 after 811% growth. The brand's Loan Activity Score is 70, and its FSI score was 76 in 2025, 12% above the industry benchmark. Its services include pet sitting, dog walking, and mobile grooming, supported by a lower overhead mobile structure. Authority Brands acquired Woofie's in January 2022 and provides operational and marketing support. PeerSense is a commercial capital advisory firm, not a lender, and offers independent franchise research including SBA lending history, Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and side by side comparison tools. Buyers can review the complete Woofies franchise profile on PeerSense as part of their due diligence.