FAQ

A: No-in fact, we prefer our Dog Training Franchise Owners to have no prior experience as a dog trainer so that we can ensure they are using our proven training method exclusively in their sessions. New Franchise Owners receive extensive classroom and on-site training to perfect their understanding and execution of our method so they can use it for their clients. Dog Training Elite Franchise Owners do not even need to train the dogs if they do not wish to! They can take on a semi-absentee role and hire a Lead Trainer to handle the training sessions.

A: While Dog Training Elite has been in business since 2011, using a proven dog training method that has been perfected by Founder John Mestas and his team of experts over four decades of experience, we didn’t begin awarding franchises until 2014.

A: No! You can take on a semi-absentee ownership role where you will hire a Lead Trainer to handle all training sessions. Then, you can focus your efforts on scaling and overseeing high-level operations, only working a few hours per week!

A: Our initial investment is between $76,300 for a single territory, including the $40,000 franchise fee, upwards of $249,500 for 5 territories, including the $130,000 franchise fee

A: We are proud of our industry-leading unit economics and look forward to discussing those with you. Our existing Franchise Owners earned an average of $408,087 in sales in 2019. After completing our Questionnaire and demonstrating financial qualifications to own a franchise, we will then provide you with our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) which contains more detailed financial statements and performance of our Franchise Owners. Click here to access the Questionnaire:

A: Dog Training Elite is committed to honoring those who have served in the U.S. Military, and is proud to offer a 10% franchise fee discount through VetFran.

A: We require our franchise candidates to have at least $50,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of at least $150,000.

A: Dog Training Elite is a proud partner of Benetrends, the nation's leading small business funding organization. Find out how much you can qualify for through Benetrends here.

A: Since we are a home-based dog training business, there is no facility! Our clients love the convenient, in-home training sessions we provide, and we yield better results by demonstrating our proven training techniques in an environment that is familiar to both dog and owner. Not only that, but Franchise Owners love the low overhead investment cost that comes from not having to build or rent a dedicated training facility!

A: We offer exclusive territories that are determined prior to signing the franchise agreement. Territory size varies, but each territory generally has a population of approximately 250,000 people.

A: Our Gold training package, which is the most popular among our customers, costs $1,800. This includes five private in-home sessions and 6 months of small group classes.

A: Our Franchise Owners typically offer training services from Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 AM-8:30 PM, with evenings and Saturdays being the busiest times for appointments; however, as a Franchise Owner, you will get to set your own schedule, making appointments for times that are the most convenient for you. Since semi-absentee Owners do not conduct the training sessions themselves, they can work as little as a few hours per week!

A: Absolutely! We understand that not every Franchise Owner has the time and availability to devote each day to training sessions. We offer a semi-absentee ownership model that takes the training aspect off the Owner’s plate so they can concentrate on their career, their family, or expanding their dog training business across multiple territories.

A: With an initial franchise fee of $40,000 for a single unit, the starting initial investment cost for new Franchise Owners is just $76,300. Compare this with the average initial investment cost for opening a popular doggie daycare franchise location ($373,150) or a retail center that specializes in natural pet care products ($657,100), and you will see that the Dog Training Elite opportunity is a highly affordable entry into the thriving pet care industry!

A: Absolutely! In fact, our Trainers’ dogs act as their co-workers! All of our Franchise Owners/Trainers take their dogs with them to work (weather and safety permitting), to demonstrate training techniques for clients and their dogs during sessions. Your dog will be an integral part of your Dog Training Elite franchise, and you’ll get to work closely together every day.

A: This depends on your ownership model. If you plan to act as Trainer, all you’ll need to hire is an administrative worker to help with appointment scheduling and other clerical tasks. However, if you opt for the semi-absentee model, you will need to hire a Trainer in addition to your administrative worker. Dog Training Franchise Owners who wish to expand to multiple territories will need to make sure that there is one Trainer/administrative worker combo for each location.

A: Dog Training Elite Owners will spend about $2000 per month on marketing, including SEO, Google Ads, and social media support .

A: Our initial training bootcamp is held at our Corporate Training Center in Utah and is split between classroom training (26-29 hours) and on-the-job training (69-98 hours). The length and depth of the training depends on the services the Franchise Owner wishes to provide. Training includes Management, Dog Training Techniques, Marketing and Sales, Dog and Human Psychology, Effective Management of Owners and Dogs Response to Training, Managing Group Dog Training Class, Accounting, Customer Service, Scheduling and Reports.

A: We offer a free in-home evaluation to all of our customers. Here, one of our Trainers goes out to their home to meet with the dog and the dog owner and discuss all of their issues. We then demonstrate with one of our dogs, so the customer knows what to expect. This also allows our Trainers to understand the dog’s temperament prior to the first session.

A: If you plan on acting as Trainer, you’ll only need to hire an administrative worker to help you with scheduling appointments and bookkeeping. However, if you plan to operate on a semi-absentee basis, you’ll also need to hire a Trainer. Either way, staff requirements for a Dog Training Elite franchise are much more minimal than those of a grooming salon or a doggy daycare facility! Payroll costs will go up and down with revenues coming into the business.

A: If you are looking for a franchise that provides more personalized initial training and support, lower franchise fees, and territory protection, an emerging brand like Dog Training Elite may be the perfect fit! Not only will our franchise candidates have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor and secure prime locations, but they will also play a pivotal role in building a national brand by working closely with our CEO to fine-tune our system as we grow. Additionally, as the recession-resilient pet service industry is booming and shows no signs of slowing down, it’s an ideal time to get involved with an innovator in this sector.

A: Our business model is one that was not greatly affected by COVID-19. Because we have no training facility, we did not have to pay rent, keeping costs very low. Our training sessions were easily adapted to social distancing requirements as we were able to train outside of clients' homes. Because of the skyrocketing pet adoption rates, and people staying home with their puppies during quarantine, COVID-19 has made us busier than ever!

A: As a home-based business, Dog Training Elite is uniquely positioned to do well in just about any market, since our Franchise Owners go where dogs are! We tend to thrive in highly populated urban and suburban areas where dog owners make up a significant portion of the population. Cities with community parks in the area are ideal for Dog Training Elite.