Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
| Franchise (3 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $45,000 – $97,000Pending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $75,067 – $294,936Pending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands. | $320 – $570*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Time To Pet — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 6.5% – 8% of revenuePending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $26,105 – $26,705Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — dog walker insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Surety Bonds Direct — pet sitter insurance and bonding (bond price table)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Pub. 3556, LLC filing information(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Time To Pet — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $26,105 – $26,705 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $113,028 – $354,556 | $26,425 – $27,275* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $45,000 – $97,000Pending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $75,067 – $294,936Pending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands.
- Independent
- $320 – $570*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Time To Pet — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (3 brands)
- 6.5% – 8% of revenuePending verificationSourcesFranzy — Fetch! Pet Care franchise listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Woofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Hike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $26,105 – $26,705Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — dog walker insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Surety Bonds Direct — pet sitter insurance and bonding (bond price table)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Pub. 3556, LLC filing information(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Time To Pet — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $26,105 – $26,705
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (3 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $113,028 – $354,556
- Independent
- $26,425 – $27,275*
5-year totals assume $29,640–$59,800 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
Fetch! Pet Care
We could not check Item 19: no current Fetch! Pet Care FDD is on file in Minnesota CARDS (the newest there is from 2020), so the FDD wasn't available to check.
Woofie's
Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue for the 46 franchisees (74 territories) open all of 2025, by quartile, plus each newer franchisee's first-year revenue; the figures include mobile grooming, not only pet sitting.
- Average 2025 gross revenue per franchisee (46 franchisees open all of 2025; gross sales, not profit)$396,007 a yearPending verificationSourceWoofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3. Only 10 of the 46 franchisees (22%) reached this average; some franchisees own several territories. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Woofie's revenue includes mobile grooming as well as pet sitting and walking. Excludes 22 franchisees that opened during 2025 and 3 that closed. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross revenue per franchisee (same 46 franchisees; gross sales, not profit)$258,146 a yearPending verificationSourceWoofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Woofie's revenue includes mobile grooming as well as pet sitting and walking. Excludes 22 franchisees that opened during 2025 and 3 that closed. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross revenue per territory (74 territories open all of 2025; gross sales, not profit)$155,554 a yearPending verificationSourceWoofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 2. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Woofie's revenue includes mobile grooming as well as pet sitting and walking. Excludes 22 franchisees that opened during 2025 and 3 that closed. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Average first-year gross revenue per franchisee (45 franchisees, each in its own first year; gross sales, not profit)$120,547 a yearPending verificationSourceWoofie's 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 24, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 5 (revenue ramp); 25 of 45 (56%) reached this average; covers franchisees opened before 2020 through 2024. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Woofie's revenue includes mobile grooming as well as pet sitting and walking. Excludes 22 franchisees that opened during 2025 and 3 that closed. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
Hike Doggie
Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue for only two outlets: the affiliate-owned Denver outlet (open since 2016, four buses) and one franchised outlet in Centennial, Colorado, shown by quarter.
- 2025 gross revenue, affiliate-owned Denver Metro outlet (opened 2016, 4 buses, 10 territories; gross sales, not profit)$1,012,795 a yearPending verificationSourceHike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Affiliate-owned, not a franchise: it pays no royalty and is far larger than a new franchise (87% of its revenue came from five territories with about 740,000 people; a franchisee can hold up to five territories of up to 125,000 each). FDD Item 19. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Your results may differ.
- Gross revenue in Q1 2025 (one quarter), franchised Centennial, CO outlet (1 bus, 3 territories)$16,760Pending verificationSourceHike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Quarterly, not yearly. The only franchised outlet open all of 2025; open less than 24 months at December 31, 2025. Four franchised outlets that opened in 2025 were excluded. FDD Item 19. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Your results may differ.
- Gross revenue in Q4 2025 (one quarter), same Centennial, CO franchised outlet$31,190Pending verificationSourceHike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Quarterly, not yearly. FDD Item 19. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Your results may differ.
- Gross revenue in Q1 2026 (one quarter), same Centennial, CO franchised outlet$39,225Pending verificationSourceHike Doggie 2026 Unit FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 17, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Quarterly, not yearly. FDD Item 19. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Your results may differ.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Dog walking and pet sitting are the core services, the closest match to this business
- Home-based model with no storefront
- Brand in business since 2002 with a national network of owners
- Initial training and operating systems
- Adds mobile grooming as a second service from a branded van
- Required safety training in driving, pet first aid and CPR, and animal handling
- Pre-opening and grand opening marketing run with the franchisor
- Designated software and website
- Distinct group-hike service that is harder for solo walkers to copy
- Branded bus and brand identity package
- Franchisor can handle customer service calls
- Initial training and ongoing remote support
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fetch! Pet Care | $75,067 – $140,667 | $10,374 – $20,930 | $1,482 – $2,990 | $0 | $26,105 – $26,705 | $113,028 – $191,292 | +$86,603 – $164,267 |
| Woofie's | $181,558 – $294,936 | $9,633 – $19,435 | $2,964 – $5,980 | $7,500 | $26,105 – $26,705 | $227,760 – $354,556 | +$201,335 – $327,531 |
| Hike Doggie | $83,100 – $205,400 | $11,856 – $23,920 | $2,964 – $5,980 | $15,000 | $26,105 – $26,705 | $139,025 – $277,005 | +$112,600 – $249,980 |
| Independent (lean start) | $320* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $26,105 – $26,705 | $26,425 – $27,025 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.
Back to the Dog Walking & Pet Sitting guide · Sources for these figures