The Dog Stop franchise unit economics
The Dog Stop franchisees run indoor and outdoor dog care facilities offering daycare, boarding, grooming, training and retail from a retail, warehouse or light industrial building.
The Dog Stop in the news
- The Dog Stop Announces First Kansas City Location · Franchising.com ·
The headline above on The Dog Stop is the publisher's own and links to the publisher. Averan Advisors checked this Dog Stop link on 11 October 2026. Franchise news lists news on 88 brands, including The Dog Stop. The Dog Stop is in the Dog Daycare and Boarding franchise guide.
The Dog Stop franchise at a glance
The 2026 FDD from The Dog Stop Franchising, LLC reports 2025 revenue, rent, square footage and kennel counts for each of the 35 locations open all year, plus revenue by age group and appointment counts by service.
The Dog Stop’s 35 locations open all of 2025, 29 franchised and 6 affiliate-owned, averaged $833,084 of total revenue, according to Item 19 of The Dog Stop’s 2026 FDD, issued 30 April 2026. Fees paid to The Dog Stop come to about 8.84%* of sales. The Dog Stop franchise costs $493,850 to $1,373,500 to open.
- A Dog Stop franchise costs $493,850 to $1,373,500 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 FDD.
- The Dog Stop charges a 6% royalty and a 2% Brand Development Fund contribution, requires local advertising of 5% of sales in the first year and 3% after, and charges a technology fee of $500 a month once a location is near opening.
- The Dog Stop’s 11 locations open 12 to 23 months averaged $583,583 in 2025, and its 16 locations open 48 months or more averaged $971,943.
- The Dog Stop’s 35 reporting locations paid rent of 1.51%* to 63.03%* of their 2025 revenue, and 18.40%* in aggregate.
- The Dog Stop’s boarding appointments were 16.7%* of 2025 appointments and 44.3%* of revenue.
- The Dog Stop had 40 franchised and 6 affiliate-owned locations at the end of 2025, up from 31 and 6 a year earlier.
- The Dog Stop facilities run from buildings of 3,000 to 10,000 square feet.
These figures come from The Dog Stop's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, as the brand reported them, and were read by Averan Advisors. The rent shares (1.51%, 63.03% and 18.40% in aggregate) and the boarding shares of appointments and revenue (16.7% and 44.3%).
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Talk to Averan → Averan The Dog Stop Conversion Package →- Rent ran from 1.51%* to 63.03%* of 2025 revenue across the 35 locations. Together they billed $29,157,960* and paid $5,366,035* of base rent and common area charges, which is 18.40%*. Eight locations paid more than 30%* of revenue in rent, and six of those eight opened in 2024.
- The 11 locations that opened in 2024 averaged $583,583 of revenue and paid 27.69%* of it in rent. The 12 locations that opened in 2019 or earlier averaged $942,849* and paid 12.83%*. Rent a square foot was $17.14* for the 2024 group and $15.07* for the older group; revenue a square foot was $61.93* and $113.51*.
- Revenue rises with age in Item 19’s three age groups. Locations open 12 to 23 months averaged $583,583, those open 24 to 48 months $833,530 and those open 48 months or more $971,943, which is 1.67 times* the youngest group.
- Boarding was 16.7%* of appointments and 44.3%* of revenue in 2025. The 35 locations logged 81,490 boarding appointments at an average of $158.50, 281,189 daycare appointments at $24.32 and 125,620 grooming appointments at $51.45.
- A membership daycare visit brought in 25.0%* less than a drop-in visit, and members made 2.03 times* as many visits. Membership visits averaged $21.91 and drop-in visits $29.22. Membership daycare produced $4,128,704 of revenue and drop-in daycare $2,710,469, a difference of 52.3%*.
Revenue, 2025
How much does a Dog Stop franchise make?
| Group | Locations | Average | Median | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All reporting locations | 35 | $833,084 | $822,081* | $2,550,968 | $311,450 |
| Franchised | 29 | $828,545* | $754,117* | $2,550,968 | $311,450 |
| Affiliate-owned | 6 | $855,027* | $872,746* | $920,710 | $717,590 |
The $833,084 average for all 35 is printed in Item 19. Item 19 shades the six affiliate-owned locations in its location table; the franchised and affiliate figures and all medians are Averan calculations from that table. Total revenue is on an accrual basis, from franchisee reports and affiliate profit and loss statements, unaudited.
The 35 locations open all of 2025 averaged $833,084 of total revenue. The group is 29 franchised locations that submitted data and 6 locations owned by affiliates of the franchisor. One franchised location in Huntsville, Alabama was open all year and submitted no data, and the 10 franchised locations that opened in 2025 are excluded.
16 of the 35 locations billed at or above the $833,084 average. That is 45.7%*. The highest location billed $2,550,968 from 14,009 square feet and 162 kennels; the lowest billed $311,450 from 8,000 square feet and 73 kennels.
Affiliate-owned locations pay a lower royalty and Brand Development Fund contribution and no technology fee. Item 19 says its figures are not adjusted for that difference. The difference affects costs below revenue, which Item 19 does not report.
Item 19 reports revenue and rent, not profit. It lists cost of goods, payroll, utilities, supplies, insurance, marketing, royalties and other costs as items that must be deducted to reach net income, and gives no figures for them.
Appointments by service
Appointments and revenue by service, 2025
| Service | Appointments | Revenue | Average a visit | Share of appointments | Share of total revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boarding | 81,490 | $12,916,359 | $158.50 | 16.7%* | 44.3%* |
| Daycare, membership | 188,436 | $4,128,704 | $21.91 | 38.6%* | 14.2%* |
| Daycare, drop-in | 92,753 | $2,710,469 | $29.22 | 19.0%* | 9.3%* |
| Grooming | 125,620 | $6,463,034 | $51.45 | 25.7%* | 22.2%* |
| All three services | 488,299* | $26,218,566* | 100%* | 89.9%* |
Appointments, revenue and averages as printed. Shares are Averan calculations against 488,299* appointments and $29,157,960* of total revenue for the 35 locations. Item 19 also prints a median for each service; for boarding and both daycare lines the printed medians sit above the averages while the printed counts of appointments at or above the average are below half, so Averan has not used the medians.
Boarding produced 44.3%* of revenue from 16.7%* of appointments. Daycare was 57.6%* of appointments and 23.5%* of revenue, and grooming 25.7%* and 22.2%*.
Members paid less a visit and visited more often. A membership daycare visit averaged $21.91 against $29.22 for a drop-in, 25.0%* less. Members made 188,436 visits against 92,753, or 2.03 times* as many.
Membership’s share of revenue varied from 0.0% at one location to 28.1% at another. Item 19’s revenue mix table puts the average split at 45.7% boarding, 21.7% grooming, 14.5% membership, 9.6% drop-in daycare, 4.8% other and 3.6% retail.
The 35 locations added 20,189 new customers in 2025. That is 577* a location, alongside 13,951* appointments a location.
Revenue bands and rent
Revenue bands and rent, 2025
| Band | Locations | Average revenue | Range | Average rent | Rent, share of revenue | Opened in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 9 | $1,339,783* | $963,312–$2,550,968 | $200,403* | 14.96%* | 2 |
| Second | 9 | $867,591* | $822,081–$920,710 | $149,882* | 17.28%* | 1 |
| Third | 9 | $671,921* | $537,806–$767,975 | $117,815* | 17.53%* | 1 |
| Lowest | 8 | $405,538* | $311,450–$483,216 | $144,141* | 35.54%* | 7 |
| All 35 | 35 | $833,084 | $311,450–$2,550,968 | $153,315 | 18.40%* | 11 |
Item 19 does not group locations into bands; Averan sorted its location table by revenue. Rent is base rent and common area charges; it excludes utilities, insurance and property taxes. The $153,315 average rent is printed in Item 19.
The eight lowest-revenue locations paid 35.54%* of revenue in rent, and seven of them opened in 2024. Their average rent of $144,141* was higher than that of the second and third bands, on average revenue of $405,538*.
Item 19’s own age groups show the same pattern. Locations open 12 to 23 months averaged $583,583 (range $311,450 to $1,132,985, median $455,464). Those open 24 to 48 months averaged $833,530 (median $826,983) and those open 48 months or more $971,943 (range $390,641 to $2,550,968, median $872,955).
Rent a square foot was close between the oldest and newest locations; revenue a square foot was not. The 11 locations opened in 2019 or earlier with a single reported size paid $15.07* a square foot and billed $113.51*. The 11 opened in 2024 paid $17.14* and billed $61.93*.
The printed age groups and the location table do not fully match. The three groups add to 36 locations against 35 in the table, and the 24 to 48 month group’s lowest figure of $314,308 does not appear in the location table.
Brand charges
Brand charges
| Charge | Rate | A year at $833,084 |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid weekly | $49,985* |
| Brand Development Fund | 2% of gross sales | $16,662* |
| Local advertising | 5% of gross sales in the first year, 3% after; any quarterly shortfall is paid to the franchisor | $24,993* |
| Technology fee | $100 a month from signing, $250 from lease signing, $500 from three months before opening | $6,000* |
| Convention attendance | $1,000 a person; one fee is due each year whether or not anyone attends | $1,000 |
| Paid to the brand | 8% of gross sales plus $7,000* | $73,647*, or 8.84%* |
Local advertising, 5% of gross sales in the first year and 3% after, is spent by the owner and is not in the total paid to the brand. Item 19 says affiliate-owned locations pay a lower royalty and fund contribution and no technology fee.
The initial franchise fee is $60,000, reduced by $5,000 for qualified U.S. veterans. An area development agreement for two or more locations replaces it with a development fee of $55,000 a location for two, $45,000 for three to five, $40,000 for six to nine and $35,000 for ten or more, paid in full at signing.
Local advertising is money the owner spends in the market, not a payment to the franchisor. If spending falls below the required percentage in a calendar quarter, the owner pays the difference to the franchisor and it goes into the Brand Development Fund.
At the lowest-revenue location, $311,450, the charges paid to the brand come to 10.25%* of revenue. At the highest, $2,550,968, they come to 8.27%*. The fixed $7,000* a year is the part that changes the share.
Other fees apply when triggered. Renewal and transfer are $10,000 each, non-compliance fees run $100, $250 and $500 an instance, a late payment costs $100 plus interest at up to 1.5% a month, and franchisor management costs $250 a day plus expenses.
Cost to open
Cost to open
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $55,000 | $60,000 |
| Lease payments | $9,000 | $34,500 |
| Leasehold improvements | $275,000 | $675,000 |
| Blueprints and design | $5,000 | $30,000 |
| Furnishings, fixtures and equipment | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Signage | $2,500 | $25,000 |
| Initial inventory | $3,500 | $17,500 |
| Utility and security deposits | $3,500 | $17,500 |
| Insurance, annual premium | $1,500 | $7,500 |
| Grand opening advertising | $20,000 | $45,000 |
| Travel and living while training | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Point of sale and computer system | $750 | $2,500 |
| Technology fees before opening | $500 | $3,000 |
| Permits and licenses | $100 | $1,000 |
| Professional fees | $0 | $5,000 |
| Financing fees | $0 | $25,000 |
| Construction management | $0 | $25,000 |
| Additional funds, 3 months | $20,000 | $110,000 |
| Total | $493,850 | $1,373,500 |
As printed in Item 7. The estimate assumes a leased space of 4,000 to 10,000 square feet; it excludes buying or building a property. Ground-up builds are open to existing owners who have operated a location for at least one year.
Leasehold improvements are the largest line, at $275,000 to $675,000. Item 7 says 2025 build-outs cost $49.03 to $74.54 a square foot after landlord allowances, an average of $61.79.
Grand opening advertising has a $20,000 minimum. It runs from 75 days before to 30 days after opening and includes a franchisor-approved vendor.
Construction management is 3% of construction cost or $20,000, whichever is greater. Item 7 says it averages about $25,000, and shows $0 at the low end because not every owner uses it.
Item 5 estimates about nine months from signing to opening. Technology fees paid before opening typically total $500 to $3,000.
Locations
Locations, 2023 to 2025
| Year | Franchised at start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased other | Franchised at end | Affiliate-owned at end | Total at end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 25 |
| 2024 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | 37 |
| 2025 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 6 | 46 |
As printed in Item 20 Tables 1, 3 and 4. The franchisor has never operated a location itself; affiliates own six locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Dog Stop had 46 locations at the end of 2025: 40 franchised and 6 affiliate-owned. Franchised locations rose from 18 at the start of 2023.
Three franchised locations were terminated over the three years. Two were in 2023, in Pennsylvania and Texas, and one in 2025, in Georgia. Item 20 reports no non-renewals, reacquisitions or other closures.
23 franchise agreements were signed but not yet open at the end of 2025. Item 20 projects 22 franchised openings in 2026 and no new affiliate-owned locations.
One franchised location changed owners in 2024 and one in 2025. The 2024 transfer was in Alabama and the 2025 transfer in Florida.
Questions we get asked
Questions owners ask
How much does a Dog Stop franchise cost to open?
Item 7 of the 2026 FDD puts one location at $493,850 to $1,373,500. Leasehold improvements are $275,000 to $675,000 and furnishings, fixtures and equipment $95,000 to $285,000. The initial franchise fee is $60,000, or $55,000 for qualified veterans.
What fees does a Dog Stop franchisee pay?
A 6% royalty paid weekly, a 2% Brand Development Fund contribution, local advertising of 5% of sales in the first year and 3% after, a technology fee of $500 a month once near opening, and at least one $1,000 convention fee a year. At the $833,084 average, Averan puts the charges paid to the brand, without local advertising, at $73,647* a year, or 8.84%* of revenue.
How much revenue does a Dog Stop location make?
The 35 locations open all of 2025 averaged $833,084, from $311,450 to $2,550,968. Locations open 12 to 23 months averaged $583,583 and those open 48 months or more averaged $971,943. The group includes 6 affiliate-owned locations.
Does The Dog Stop FDD show profit?
No. Item 19 reports revenue, rent, square footage, kennels, revenue mix and appointments. It lists the costs that must be deducted to reach profit but gives no figures for them.
How much rent do The Dog Stop locations pay?
Item 19 prints rent for each location. In 2025 it averaged $153,315 and ran from 1.51%* to 63.03%* of revenue, or 18.40%* in aggregate. The rent figure covers base rent and common area charges.
How many Dog Stop locations are there?
Item 20 reports 46 at the end of 2025: 40 franchised and 6 owned by affiliates. Another 23 franchise agreements were signed but not yet open.
Questions worth putting to The Dog Stop
These are questions the filing leaves open. An owner or a buyer can put them to the franchisor directly.
- Is the revenue in Item 19 gross sales or collected revenue, and how many locations sit below the average?
- Which factors does The Dog Stop see in its highest-selling locations, such as territory, years open and staffing?
- How long does a new location take to reach the average you publish, and what does the build-up look like month by month?
- At what level of sales do the minimum charges stop applying and the percentage take over?
- How many Dog Stop locations closed, were sold, or changed hands last year, and why?
Run your own numbers.
The Franchise Numbers Check runs the same checks on your own numbers. It scores where you stand and compares you with Item 19 of your brand’s FDD. It works out what one location earns and spends, and builds a 13-week cash forecast. It also checks whether you are ready to open another one. It is free and it runs in your browser.
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Other brands in the Dog Daycare And Boarding guide: Camp Bow Wow · Central Bark · Dogtopia · Hounds Town USA.
Questions owners ask next
The figures above raise these, and each one is answered on its own page.
- At what level of sales does a minimum fee stop costing me more than the percentage?It works out the sales level where a minimum fee stops applying.
- How much cash do I fund before a new location covers its own costs?It builds a 13-week forecast for the months before break-even.
- What does this location earn on the money I put into it?It works out the payback period and cash-on-cash return for one unit.
- How much of Item 19 can I rely on?It explains what an Item 19 financial performance representation tells you and what it leaves out.
Where these figures come from
Every figure here comes from The Dog Stop Franchising, LLC’s 2026 FDD and is unaudited by us. We are unaffiliated with the brand. Calculations of our own are labeled where they appear. The figures describe past performance at other businesses and are not a projection of yours. This page is an educational summary. It is not an offer to sell a franchise, and it is not financial, legal or tax advice. The Dog Stop is a trademark of its owner. How Averan reads a Franchise Disclosure Document.
These figures come from the brand's disclosure. They are not a forecast, an offer to sell a franchise or advice. Source: The Dog Stop Franchising, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, issued 30 April 2026.