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Key Takeaways Pet franchises benefit from resilient demand as owners continue spending on premium care, training and pet products.
Retail-focused brands like Pet Supplies Plus, Woof Gang Bakery and Wag N’ Wash drive recurring revenue through one-stop pet care destinations.
Service-driven concepts such as Hounds Town USA and Dogtopia scale through training, daycare and community-based experiences.
Pet care is one of the hottest franchise categories of 2026, fueled by a pet industry that now tops $150 billion and growing demand for services. From daycare and boarding to grooming, training and retail, today’s pet brands are increasingly positioned as lifestyle businesses, not just service providers. Many franchise experts view pet care as a recession-resistant category driven by emotional spending, making it especially attractive to entrepreneurs seeking both purpose and profit. Here are some of the hottest pet franchises on Entrepreneur‘s 2026 Franchise 500:
Founded: 1987
1987 Franchising since: 1990
1990 Overall rank: 31
31 Number of units: 729
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