Fetch! featured on Fox Small Business Center

Fetch! Pet Care was recently featured on Fox Small Business’ website in an article titled, "How Walking the Dog became a Franchise."  The article details the inception of Fetch! Pet Care and Paul’s original idea behind the business. Cindy goes on to write about the development markets Fetch! is looking to expand into, and discusses the fees associated with starting a Fetch! franchise. Jamie and Sandy are quoted on their experience of running a Fetch! franchise, with Sandy noting the support and training Fetch! provides its franchisees. Harry Loyle, chairman of Fetch!, is also quoted about the Fetch! growth potential.  Click here to read the entire article or begin below.

How Walking the Dog became a Franchise
By: Cindy Vanegas

With approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in America, the pet care industry is flourishing with puppy-loving entrepreneurs looking to service dog owners, who now account for 39% of U.S. households, according to the American Pet Products Association 2011- 2012 National Pet Owners Survey. In this week’s American Franchise Spotlight, we find out how one business owner scaled his pet sitting and walking service into a national franchise.

According to Paul Mann, the company’s founder and CEO, Fetch! Pet Care grew out of a simple need. “I was looking for pet care and couldn’t find someone who I felt comfortable giving the keys to my house to and entrusting with my pet,” said Mann.

Mann said his background in business process re-engineering inspired him to create a highly automated business for pets everywhere. He spent two years developing the concept and launched the first service out of San Diego in 2004.

Since then Fetch! has grown to 124 franchises in markets made up of baby boomers, young working professionals and dual-income family households. The company is looking to expand in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Ohio and from Florida up to the northeast.

Fetch!’s initial franchise fee is $15,000 for a territory of 50,000 households. Franchisees pay a 5% royalty and a 1.5% brand development fund, both paid monthly.

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Franchisee Profile: Greg Alonzo of Chicago, IL

Franchisee Since: November 2007

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Q: What was your career before franchising?

A:  Before becoming involved with Fetch! Pet Care, my wife Carolyn and I were both working in corporate America doing jobs like accounting, sales and customer service. Most recently, I worked with 7-Eleven, which is how I became familiar with the franchising industry. Initially, we had decided that I was going to get the company up and running while Carolyn continued to work for the University of Illinois. However, our circumstances changed, and we decided she would stay home to start the business. I left 7-Eleven a year later to join her.  

Q: Why did you choose to enter the pet care industry?

A:  I remember the day Carolyn showed me an article on MSN.com featuring Fetch! Pet Care, which made me realize that this opportunity was just the venture we had always been looking for. We rarely traveled because we had an issue with not having anyone trustworthy with whom to leave our pets. With Fetch! Pet Care, you don’t have to disrupt your life to find someone dependable to care for your pets.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

A:  I loved the idea of having corporate support. Being able to have help or get advice whenever you need it is very important. If you start a business from scratch, you will have to rely heavily on family and friends for that support. When you’re involved with Fetch! Pet Care, there is a whole family of other business owners who are waiting to help you before you ever open your doors.

Q: With respect to your previous career experience, which skills do you think help most with your business?

A: The main source of help is our customer service background. Carolyn has dealt with many different types of personalities from her work at the University of Illinois, and I have experience providing excellent customer service from previous corporate jobs. This advantage is definitely one of our strongest when dealing with clients.

Q: What makes your business a cut above the rest?

A:  We have a variety of pet sitters who are equipped to handle all different types of animals. We never had to turn a client down because we weren’t able to meet the needs of their pet. Having strong, knowledgeable pet sitters keep our clients coming back.

ABOUT FETCH! PET CARE

Fetch! Pet Care was founded in Berkeley, Calif., in 2002 by Paul Mann, who wanted his pets to remain in his home instead of kenneling them while he traveled. Finding no professional company suitable to the task, Mann started his own firm with the goal of providing as-needed, reliable, and loving care to pets of all kinds. Today, there are more than 3,000 Fetch! professionals operating in 1,500 U.S. communities. FETCH! Pet Care is the nation's largest and most trusted provider of professional pet sitting and dog walking services, serving thousands of pets and pet parents from coast to coast. Comprised of pet lovers turned business owners, each independently and locally owned Fetch! focuses on taking the stress out of finding a sitter and adding convenience to customer’s lives by doing all of the legwork for them. Fetch! matches you and your pets with the most qualified, experienced pet professional possible. For more information, visit www.fetchpetcare.com. 

Fetch! Pet Care feature in the Oak Forest Patch

Fetch! Pet Care was recently featured in the Oak Forest Patch in an article entitled, "Local Woman's Career Goes to the Dogs." Oak Forest Patch reporter Lauren Traut compiled an article about Fetch! Pet Care business owner Linda Stevens’ career, from working in the housing industry and getting out right before the recession to owning seven Fetch! Pet Care locations. Stevens wanted to continue working, but wanted a career that she was passionate about that would allow her to spend time with her young son. As an animal lover, Stevens found the best of both worlds with Fetch! Pet Care and now owns territories all over Chicagoland. As for her choice to make the switch, Stevens says in the article, “It’s the best decision I ever made.” Click here to view the entire article.

Local Woman's Career Goes to the Dogs

By: Lauren Traut

Linda Stevens left her career in the construction business just in time—before the housing market crashed.

After 20 years in the business, the wife and mother found herself on new, shaky ground after quitting her job in 2005. Stevens was looking to live her dream of having a career, without sacrificing time with her family. She had always loved animals, and when an opportunity arose to start her own franchise of a national pet sitting and and dog walking business, she was intrigued.

"My son was younger, I wanted to spend time with my family," Stevens said. "I had to change my lifestyle."

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