Woof Gang Bakery
Pet grooming, bakery, and retail franchise combining professional grooming services with a curated selection of natural pet foods, treats, toys, and accessories.
Woof Gang Bakery is a growing pet grooming and retail franchise (163 to 236 units, 2022-2024) with solid Item 19 disclosure — 161 stores averaged $640K in gross revenue, with stores open 25+ months averaging $736K. The $184K-$507K investment range and 9% fee burden (7% royalty + 2% ad fund) sit at the high end for pet retail, but the retail-plus-grooming model creates two complementary revenue streams. This is a reasonable play in the pet industry for operators who can manage both service staffing and retail inventory simultaneously.
Initial Investment Breakdown
| Category | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,900 | $49,900 |
| Start-up Media Fee | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Travel/Expenses for Training | $1,200 | $3,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements / Construction | $30,000 | $260,000 |
| Architect Review Fee | $850 | $850 |
| Architectural Drawings | $10,800 | $13,000 |
| Rent | $7,500 | $25,000 |
| Computer and Point of Sale System | $3,370 | $3,370 |
| Equipment (Freezer, Grooming Equipment, and Signage) | $30,000 | $55,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $100 | $1,000 |
| Insurance | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| Legal and Professional Fees | $1,200 | $5,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $18,000 | $27,000 |
| Working Capital (3 months) | $15,000 | $45,000 |
| Total | $184,420 | $506,620 |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Reporting period: calendar_year_2024
Unit Growth
| Year | Total Units | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 163 | — | — |
| 2023 | 197 | — | — |
| 2024 | 236 | — | — |
Other Ongoing Fees
| Fee | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Fee (non-controlling interest < 50%) | $500 | per transfer |
| Initial Training Program Fee (replacement/additional) | $2,000 | as incurred |
| Renewal Fee | — | upon renewal |
| Audit Fee | — | as incurred |
| Interest Expenses | — | as incurred |
| Store Relocation Fee | $2,500 | as incurred |
| Store Management Fee | — | as incurred |
| Approved Supplier Testing Fee | — | as incurred |
| Liquidated Damages for Early Termination | — | if applicable |
Quick Facts
FDD Analysis
What You'll Pay
Woof Gang Bakery's investment range of $184K to $507K reflects the hybrid retail-and-grooming model: you're building out a pet specialty retail space (food, treats, accessories) alongside grooming stations and equipment. The wide range captures everything from a smaller mall-adjacent footprint to a larger freestanding location with multiple grooming bays. The franchise fee is $35,000.
The royalty is 7% of monthly gross revenues, payable monthly via EFT. The National Marketing Fee is 2% of gross revenues, payable alongside the royalty. Combined fee burden: 9%. At average revenues of $640K, you pay $57,600 annually to the franchisor — a manageable figure if the retail and grooming revenue both perform. At median revenues of $578K, it's $52,000.
For comparison in the pet services category: Bark Busters charges 7%, Camp Bow Wow charges 7%, and Splash and Dash Groomerie charges a tiered structure averaging around 8%. Woof Gang's 9% is at the high end but not dramatically above market.
The retail inventory requirement is the least-visible cost: a Woof Gang store needs $30K-$60K in opening inventory (premium pet food, treats, toys, accessories) and must maintain ongoing inventory investment as stock turns. This capital is not fixed the way equipment is — it turns into revenue — but it creates an ongoing cash management requirement that pure service franchises don't have.
What You Could Earn
Woof Gang Bakery's Item 19 covers 161 stores open at least 13 months and operated by the same franchisee through December 31, 2024 (of 236 total stores as of year-end). The full group average: $640,601. Median: $577,837. Stores open 25 or more months (130 stores) average $736,479 — a meaningful 15% uplift over the full group average, suggesting the business model takes time to mature as grooming clientele builds and retail customers develop buying habits.
The excluded 75 stores (11 transferred, 3 with business interruptions, 3 winding down, 58 opened after November 30, 2023) include a significant number of new openings — 58 stores opened in the last 13 months are the most likely candidates to underperform the mature store average. The system opened 39 net units in 2024 alone, meaning many recently-opened stores are not yet reflected in the performance data.
For a maturing Woof Gang store averaging $736K with 9% in fees ($66,240), the remaining $670K must cover rent (typically $4K-$8K/month for a pet retail location), labor (grooming staff at $15-$22/hour, plus retail help), inventory replenishment, and owner compensation. In lower-rent suburban markets, this arithmetic works; in premium retail corridors, the rent burden can make the economics tight.
Growth & Stability
Woof Gang has grown steadily: 163 units in 2022, 197 in 2023, 236 in 2024 — adding 73 locations in two years, a 45% system-wide increase. The 39-unit net gain in 2024 alone represents the system's fastest single-year expansion. Growth at this pace can pressure corporate support capacity and franchisee selection standards, but Woof Gang has maintained consistent Item 19 disclosure and has no risk flags in its derived metrics.
The pet industry tailwinds are real: U.S. pet spending has grown from $90B in 2018 to over $140B in 2023, and premium pet food and grooming services have been among the most resilient categories through economic downturns. Pet owners demonstrate high price inelasticity for their animals' care.
Watch Out For
Managing a retail inventory alongside a grooming service operation is more complex than a pure service franchise. Groomers are skilled labor in short supply in many markets — turnover is high, and losing a popular groomer can immediately affect grooming revenue and client retention. The retail component adds supply chain management, spoilage risk (fresh/raw pet food), and shrinkage concerns.
Woof Gang competes in a market that includes specialty pet retailers (PetSmart, Petco) as well as independent grooming salons and emerging mobile grooming services. The premium positioning helps differentiate from big-box competitors, but mobile grooming (Scenthound, The Groomery) has been growing rapidly in suburban markets where Woof Gang's store-based model is most relevant.
Explore More
Seriously considering Woof Gang Bakery?
A franchise consultant can verify the Item 19 numbers with real franchisee contacts, flag territory conflicts, and walk you through the FDD before you sign. Their fee is paid by the franchisor — your consultation is free.
Source: FDD filed in MN, 2025. Extracted 2026-04-02.
These figures are sourced from Woof Gang Bakery's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document filed in Minnesota. They represent franchisor-reported data for 161 stores open at least 13 months through December 31, 2024. Stores opened after November 30, 2023 are excluded from the reported data. Your actual costs and revenue will vary based on location, market conditions, grooming staff quality, and retail mix. Consult with a franchise attorney and accountant before making any investment decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Woof Gang Bakery a franchise?
- Yes, Woof Gang Bakery is a franchise founded in 2007 and has been franchising since 2010 with 236 locations. Prospective owners purchase the right to operate under the Woof Gang Bakery brand and system by signing a franchise agreement and paying a franchise fee. The full terms are disclosed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- How much does it cost to open a Woof Gang Bakery franchise?
- The total initial investment for a Woof Gang Bakery franchise ranges from $184K to $507K, according to the 2025 FDD. This includes the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
- How much do Woof Gang Bakery franchise owners make?
- According to the 2025 FDD Item 19, the median annual gross revenue for a Woof Gang Bakery franchise is $578K (based on 161 units). Note that gross revenue is not profit — operating costs, royalties, rent, and labor must be subtracted. The estimated payback period is 3.6 years.
- How many Woof Gang Bakery franchise locations are there?
- As of the 2025 FDD, Woof Gang Bakery has 236 total units (+16.53% growth rate).