Camp Bow Wow is North America’s premier dog daycare and boarding franchise, established in 2000 and franchising since 2003. With 220+ locations across 41 states and Canada, the brand has earned 15 consecutive years on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and the #1 position in pet care brand awareness. The model delivers multiple revenue streams — daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and enrichment — generating income day and night.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $500,000 (Liquid Capital refers to readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets that can be accessed without borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income.)
- Net Worth Required: $1,200,000
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator or semi-absentee
- Location Type: Retail facility (typically 8,000–12,000 sq ft)
- Time Commitment: Full-time (semi-absentee available)
- Experience Required: None; passion for dogs required
Top 5 Reasons to Invest
- #1 brand awareness in pet care industry
- 96% franchise renewal rate validates satisfaction
- 50%+ owners operate multiple units
- Multiple revenue streams generate income day and night
- $154 billion pet care industry continues expanding
About Camp Bow Wow
Camp Bow Wow began in 2000 with a simple mission: Making Dogs Happy. The brand pioneered the premium dog daycare and boarding concept, creating fun, safe environments where dogs play all day under supervision with others of similar size and temperament. Services are delivered by Certified Camp Counselors® trained in pet first aid, CPR, and dog behavior.
The franchise has grown to 220+ locations with 60+ in development, serving 300,000+ campers who make nearly 5 million visits annually — totaling 50 million dog visits since launch. In 2024, Camp Bow Wow was acquired by Propelled Brands, positioning the system for accelerated growth while maintaining its dog-first philosophy.
WHY CAMP BOW WOW?
- Multiple revenue streams — daycare, boarding, grooming, training, and enrichment — generate income around the clock, not just during business hours.
- 96% franchise renewal rate and 50%+ multi-unit ownership demonstrate franchisee satisfaction and model scalability.
- Proprietary technology includes live webcams, mobile booking app, and integrated POS/CRM platform that pet parents now expect.
- National marketing power drives customers to your door through PR campaigns, social media management, and local advertising support.
- Veterans and first responders receive 50% off franchise fee — a $25,000 discount.
ABF Exclusive Insights
Market Analysis: The U.S. pet care industry reached $154 billion and continues expanding. Americans increasingly view pets as family members, driving demand for premium services over basic kennels. Supervised play, professional grooming, and training command premium pricing — services Camp Bow Wow consolidates under one roof.
Competitive Advantage: Camp Bow Wow owns #1 brand awareness in pet care franchising. Independent operators struggle with marketing, staffing, technology, and liability — exactly what Camp Bow Wow’s infrastructure solves. Live webcams and mobile booking aren’t features — they’re trust-building tools that drive loyalty.
ABF Timing Insight: The 2024 Propelled Brands acquisition signals accelerated growth investment. Current incentives include 50% royalty reduction for the first 12 months on 2025 agreements. For investors with $400,000 liquid capital seeking a scalable, semi-absentee concept, Camp Bow Wow offers institutional infrastructure with $993,149 average revenue and top performers at $1.4M.
Training & Support
- Comprehensive initial training combines classroom instruction and on-the-job learning before grand opening, covering operations, dog behavior, and business management.
- Site selection and real estate support guides franchisees through location identification, lease negotiation, and facility design.
- Construction and equipment process managed with corporate oversight to ensure camps meet brand standards and operational requirements.
- Marketing support includes grand opening campaigns, ongoing national advertising, social media management, and local marketing tools.
- Operational support continues throughout franchise agreement with field visits, performance coaching, and peer network access.
Who Are We Looking For?
- Dog lovers who want to build a business around their passion
- Business-savvy operators comfortable managing teams and customer relationships
- Multi-unit investors seeking scalable, semi-absentee opportunities
- Community-focused individuals who build local relationships
- Leaders who instill strong service culture and lead by example
Franchise Fit & Capital Readiness
Who Is NOT A Good Fit for This Franchise
- Uncomfortable with facility management — this requires overseeing staff, dogs, and physical plant operations
- Unable to commit significant capital — total investment exceeds $940,000
- Expecting immediate passive income — even semi-absentee models require engaged oversight
- Less than $500,000 in liquid capital available
Candidates who do not meet the financial criteria below are typically not approved by the franchisor.
Investment Readiness Check
- Ownership timeline: Typically 12–18 months from signing to grand opening due to real estate and construction
- Total investment: $943,606–$1,199,536 including franchise fee, build-out, and working capital
- Minimum Liquid Capital: $500,000 — required for consideration
- Territory availability confirmed before approval; multi-unit development agreements available
All financial thresholds are set by the franchisor and are non-negotiable during approval.
Franchisor Authority Disclosure
America’s Best Franchises provides guidance and introductions. Final approval criteria, financial thresholds, and territory decisions are determined exclusively by the franchisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What services does a Camp Bow Wow franchise offer?
A. Camp Bow Wow provides dog daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, training, and enrichment services.
Q. Do I need experience in pet care to own a Camp Bow Wow?
A. No. Camp Bow Wow provides comprehensive training covering operations, dog behavior, and business management.
Q. Does Camp Bow Wow offer veteran or first responder discounts?
A. Yes. Veterans and first responders receive 50% off the initial franchise fee — a $25,000 discount. Camp Bow Wow is a VetFran member committed to supporting those who serve.
Q. Can I own multiple Camp Bow Wow locations?
A. Yes. Over 50% of Camp Bow Wow franchises are owned by multi-unit operators. The model supports both hands-on owner-operators and sophisticated investors building multi-unit portfolios.
Q. What are the financial performance expectations?
A. Per the 2025 FDD, average revenue was $993,149* in 2024. Top 25% generated nearly $1.4M* with average owner discretionary income of $380,043* (27% of revenue).
Next Steps
By submitting this form, you confirm that you meet the liquid capital requirement of $400,000 established by the franchisor.
Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for Camp Bow Wow.
*This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
Greetings From Camp Bow Wow
Camp Bow Wow franchise owners talk about their experiences
Camp Bow Wow Tour Video
“We made the best choice we could have ever made in our initial decision to join the Camp Bow Wow franchise system. Our experience has been humbling and almost too good to be true.” –
Having been a CEO in corporate healthcare for many years, I needed a change. Camp Bow Wow offered me the peace of mind of owning my own destiny with very real financial opportunities. Best decision I have ever made.
I feel so good about the level of care we provide people. They aren’t having to take their dogs and lock them up all the time in a kennel or drop them at a daycare that doesn’t do staffing levels the right way or do proper protocol and procedure. I feel like we’re literally helping people. The financial conversion that comes with opening them is so good. The more Camp franchises that open, the more it becomes a known brand and the more demand there is. Before we opened, nobody even knew what doggie day care was and none of these dogs got to go enjoy themselves during the day. Now, it’s the cultural norm.
It’s a fun business, it’s all about the dogs! Obviously, there is a business component to it but it’s really marrying that strong ROI investment component with something we’re just really passionate about.