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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Fetch! Pet Care | Best Pet Ever Contest Winner

Kathy Schmidt is the owner of Sadie, Fetch! Pet Care Best Pet Ever Contest Winner! Sadie is a one and a half years old Brussels/Griffin mix and they live in Kirkwood, WA. Here is a little bit about our winner Sadie!

Q: How old is Sadie?

A: She is one and a half. It feels like we have had her forever and I can’t imagine not having her!

Q: What type of dog is Sadie?

A: Sadie is a Brussels/Griffin mix. She has a beard like a Brussels.

Q: How did you come to own Sadie?

A: My husband and I adopted her about 5 months ago from Ginger’s Pet Rescue in Seattle. They rescue dogs from CA and fly them to Seattle. They do this because there is a higher percentage of kills shelters in CA. She’s really smart and very sweet. She’s learning a ton of new tricks.

Q: What is your favorite past time with Sadie?

A: My favorite past time with Sadie is walking. I feel more connected to the city because of our walks. She loves to go on long walks, except when it's raining. I had to get her a little rain coat because she is terrified of walking in the rain!

Q: How did you first learn about Fetch! Pet Care?

A: One of my friends owns a Fetch! Pet Care. When my husband and I got Sadie, we had a trip that was planned a year previous, but we didn’t want to leave Sadie at the kennel or the vet.  We wanted her to be at home so I looked up pet services and a couple of coworkers told me about Fetch! We have used Georgia, one of our favorite sitters, quite a few times now.

Q: What do you do for a living?

A: I am graphic designer in Seattle. My husband works in Kirkland.