America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
Pet Supplies Plus occupies the gap between big-box chains and independent shops: stores are small enough for neighborly service but carry the buying power of a 730-plus-store system. That scale, paired with proprietary house brands, produces margin and pricing advantages an independent simply cannot match. For ABF, the defining signal is owner behavior — more than two-thirds run multiple locations, which is the clearest market vote that the unit economics actually work.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $300,000 (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: $600,000
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator or semi-absentee
- Location Type: 3,500–8,500 sq ft retail (2nd or 3rd generation space preferred)
- Time Commitment: Full-time
- Experience Required: None
About Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus was founded in 1988 as a neighborhood pet store designed to feel like home while offering the selection of a national retailer. Franchising since 1991, the brand has grown to 730+ locations across 43 states, positioning itself as the largest pet retail franchise in North America. Stores are located in busy neighborhood centers, typically near food anchors.
Stores sit in busy neighborhood centers, typically near grocery anchors, and run on an omni-channel model spanning in-store shopping, grooming, self-serve dog wash, online ordering, same-day delivery, and curbside pickup. The brand continues to expand aggressively, opening new stores and signing agreements throughout the year.
Why Own a Pet Supplies Plus Franchise?
- National buying power across 730-plus stores delivers everyday pricing that independent pet retailers simply cannot match.
- Proprietary house brands like Redford Naturals deliver higher margins than the third-party products competitors mostly sell.
- Seven omni-channel revenue streams spread income across in-store, delivery, grooming, and wash rather than one channel.
- A semi-absentee option lets you own and scale without personally working the floor every single day.
- Strong unit economics make multi-unit growth realistic — most owners expand beyond a single store over time.
Why This Opportunity, Why Now
ABF Market Analysis —
The U.S. pet industry reached roughly $151 billion in consumer spending in 2024, with about 70% of households owning at least one pet. This is structural demand, not a trend: owners consistently prioritize their animals through economic downturns, which makes pet spending unusually recession-resilient. Within that market, dollars keep migrating toward premium natural foods and health-focused products — exactly the higher-margin categories where Pet Supplies Plus, with its proprietary brands, is positioned to capture more of each customer’s basket.
ABF Timing Insight —
The timing case is in the brand’s own momentum. Pet Supplies Plus has posted roughly 23.5% growth over three years — more than triple the industry average — and continues opening stores and signing agreements aggressively. More telling, over two-thirds of existing owners have added locations, the clearest possible signal of franchisee confidence. For a buyer with the required capital, brand dominance, multi-unit upside, and strong financing access rarely line up this cleanly at once.
Training and Support
- A two-week hands-on training program at certified corporate stores covers every operational aspect of running a location, from floor management to inventory and customer service.
- A dedicated real estate and site selection team evaluates locations to secure optimal trade-area positioning near grocery anchors and high-traffic neighborhood centers.
- Customized store design and layout is provided for each location, including specialized equipment purchasing assistance so owners open with a proven, professional build-out.
- A marketing team builds strategies tailored to your specific trade area, reinforced by national brand campaigns that drive awareness and traffic beyond local efforts.
- A specialized point-of-sale system handles retail pricing, shelf signage, price verification, scanned inventory, and product-movement tracking to keep store operations tight.
Is Pet Supplies Plus the Right Fit for You?
- Pet lovers who want a business built around animals and community.
- Multi-unit investors seeking scalable retail with proven economics.
- Operators comfortable managing retail teams and inventory.
- Community-focused owners who build neighborhood relationships.
- Those wanting semi-absentee or hands-on ownership flexibility.
Who Is NOT A Good Fit for This Franchise
- Anyone who cannot meet the liquid capital requirement from available cash rather than borrowed funds.
- Those expecting fully passive ownership — even semi-absentee owners must build and manage a capable store team.
- People seeking a low-cost startup; this is a retail concept with substantial build-out and inventory investment.
- Anyone uncomfortable running a physical storefront, managing staff, and overseeing inventory day to day.
- Owners unwilling to follow the brand’s retail systems, pricing, and merchandising standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need pet industry experience to own a Pet Supplies Plus?
A: No. Owners come from many backgrounds, including former executives, professionals, and first-time business owners. Two-week hands-on training at certified stores covers all operations.
Q: Can I own multiple locations?
A: Yes. More than two-thirds of current owners operate multiple stores, and the brand actively seeks both single-unit and multi-unit investors.
Q: Is semi-absentee ownership available?
A: Yes. The model supports both hands-on owner-operators and semi-absentee owners who build a management team to run daily operations.
Q: What does a Pet Supplies Plus store offer customers?
A: A broad selection of natural foods and hard goods, plus grooming, self-serve dog wash, online ordering, same-day delivery, and curbside pickup.
Q: What kind of space does a store need?
A: A 3,500–8,500 sq ft retail space, ideally second- or third-generation, positioned in a busy neighborhood center near grocery anchors.
Next Steps
If you are drawn to the leading brand in a recession-resilient pet industry — with national buying power, proprietary high-margin products, real multi-unit upside, and the option of semi-absentee ownership — Pet Supplies Plus is worth a direct conversation. Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for Pet Supplies Plus.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
Pet Supplies Plus Franchising Model
“The Pet Supplies Plus franchise for us is a great opportunity to become my own boss in a dynamic expanding market into neighborhoods. We found Pet Supplies Plus is run by people very passionate about pets and the industry. Their dedication to the industry has made our adventure with Pet Supplies Plus a successful one. Being competitive is always a major concern; Pet Supplies Plus has been instrumental with ensuring we stay competitive in this dynamic industry. Not only in pricing, but also with new products! For us, Pet Supplies Plus is driving success to us franchisees; so we can deliver it to our neighbors.”
“The pet industry is an exciting and growing category of retail. Pet Supplies Plus provides the opportunity to enter the pet specialty niche with a proven and powerful business model that affords the entrepreneur an opportunity to build a business in a durable market niche. I’ve been a Pet Supplies Plus franchisee for 17 years and I continue to reinvest in the brand and plan to do so into the future.”