> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bizbuildermagazine.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Which Pet-Related Business Should I Open? - URL: https://www.bizbuildermagazine.com/which-pet-related-business-should-i-open/ - Published: 2026-08-24T17:19:56.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-27T17:48:40.000Z - Description: More than half of U.S. households own at least one dog, and approximately 80% of Millennials are living the dog life. The U.S. pet industry has also grown into an approximately $158 billion market. - Author: Joanna Murray - Tags: Business Ideas Each week, I spotlight a franchise brand that has caught my attention and share what I find interesting about the business model, industry and opportunity. **This week’s Spotlight: Scenthound.** I met the Scenthound team at the FBA regional events in Charlotte and Seattle, toured operating locations in both markets, spent time with the franchise development team and got to know one of their newest franchisees. What I saw intrigued me. ### This Isn't Just Traditional Dog Grooming At first glance, you might put Scenthound in the dog grooming category. But that doesn't quite capture the model. Scenthound is built around **routine dog hygiene and wellness**, focusing on five essential areas: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails and Teeth. Rather than waiting until a dog needs a haircut or occasional grooming appointment, Scenthound encourages pet parents to make basic hygiene part of their dog's regular wellness routine. Basic hygiene visits are designed to take approximately 30 minutes, making the service relatively easy to incorporate into a customer's routine. More importantly from a business perspective, Scenthound has built the concept around **monthly memberships and recurring revenue**. ### A Big Market With Recurring Demand The underlying demographics are difficult to ignore. More than half of U.S. households own at least one dog, and approximately 80% of Millennials are living the dog life. The U.S. pet industry has also grown into an approximately **$158 billion market**. But perhaps more important than the size of the industry is the way Americans now think about their pets. For many of us, they're family. Pet parents increasingly spend on services that help their animals stay healthier, cleaner and more comfortable. And unlike discretionary purchases that happen once or twice, the services Scenthound provides are inherently recurring. Dogs' nails keep growing. Their ears need cleaning. Their teeth need attention. Their skin and coats need care. Those needs don't disappear after the first visit. Scenthound combines those recurring needs with a membership model designed to create predictable customer traffic and revenue. The company also uses a proprietary app with wellness tracking and virtual veterinary access. It's also the kind of service business I think deserves attention in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy. Technology can make this business more efficient. **It can't bathe a Labrador or trim its nails!** ### Small Footprint, Growing System Scenthound was established in 2005 and began franchising in 2019. As of Q2 2026, the system reported 462 licenses, with 169 franchised locations and one corporate location operating. A typical Scenter requires approximately **1,100 to 1,300 square feet**, a relatively small retail footprint compared with many franchise concepts. Both single and multi-unit opportunities are available, with many great markets still wide open. ### What Does Franchise Ownership Look Like? One of the most important questions I encourage prospective franchise owners to ask is simple: **What will I actually be doing every day?** Scenthound can be operated as either an owner-operated business or a semi-absentee franchise with a strong manager in place. An owner-operator may be more involved in hiring, scheduling, managing employees, customer experience, local marketing and day-to-day operations. A semi-absentee owner focuses more on managing the manager, reviewing financial and operating performance, monitoring membership and marketing initiatives and building the business. Scenthound estimates that semi-absentee owners should expect to spend **20+ hours per week** in the business after the initial opening period. That's worth emphasizing. **Semi-absentee does not mean passive.** This is a people business. Owners still need to lead, understand their numbers, build a strong team and create accountability. ### No Pet Experience Required You don't need to come from the pet industry to own a Scenthound. In fact, the ideal owner profile looks much more like an experienced business leader than a professional groomer. The brand seeks business-savvy owners with leadership and team-building experience, who are comfortable following established systems and processes. That's one reason I find this model interesting for corporate professionals exploring business ownership. You don't have to know how to groom a dog. What you do need is the ability to lead a team and engage in business development. And yes, it probably helps if you like dogs. ### Why Scenthound Made My Radar There are thousands of franchise opportunities available, and no franchise is right for everyone. What caught my attention about Scenthound is this combination: a huge existing customer base, recurring need, membership revenue, relatively small footprint, multiple ownership models and a service that can't simply be outsourced to technology. But I also put considerable weight on the people behind a franchise. That's why getting to visit Scenthound locations on opposite sides of the country, meet the team and talk with an actual franchise owner mattered to me. I don't start a franchise search by asking, **"Which franchise should you buy?"** I start with the person. What are your goals? What skills do you bring? What role do you want to play? How much do you want to invest? And what kind of business and life are you trying to build? Then we look for opportunities that align with those answers. **For the right candidate, Scenthound is one I think deserves a closer look.** [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/72/3172ca89-bf47-4395-b064-ca6061e22d65/content/images/2026/08/Joanna-1.png)](https://meetings.hubspot.com/joanna-murray?uuid=94c3d928-32f0-4356-bbf6-21a00ec8ced0&ref=bizbuildermagazine.com) If this franchise resonates with you, I'd welcome an opportunity to meet with you via Zoom to walk you through the business model, investment requirements, potential ROI, and funding options. [Schedule an Opportunity Overview ](https://meetings.hubspot.com/joanna-murray?uuid=94c3d928-32f0-4356-bbf6-21a00ec8ced0&ref=bizbuildermagazine.com) --- --- ## Sign up for Business Builder Magazine A magazine, published by Quantum Franchise Group, for new and aspiring business owners in the United States. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.