Hounds Town USA Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Hounds Town USA is a dog day care, boarding and pet spa franchise built around a proprietary, instinct-based dog management system.

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $667,610 - $1,122,153

REPORTED ROI (Item 19): See below

Franchise overview

Hounds Town USA is a premier interactive dog day care and boarding franchise offering dog day care, overnight boarding, pet spa services and cat boarding. Hounds Town USA takes a straightforward approach to dog day care, grounded in how dogs naturally behave. The focus is on running safe, well-managed facilities that are built to serve their communities and operate reliably for the long term.

Hounds Town USA was founded by Mike Gould, a former NYPD K-9 unit commander, who identified a gap in the dog day care industry for facilities that truly understood canine pack behavior. Drawing on decades of real-world experience working with working dogs, Gould developed a proprietary system that became the foundation of the brand. Hounds Town USA was built to give dogs a place where they can safely “be dogs,” while giving owners a purpose-driven business rooted in transparency, discipline and community engagement.

Mission: To create safe, engaging places where dogs can be dogs, while giving franchise owners the opportunity to build businesses they’re proud of.

Vision: To grow into a trusted national dog day care and boarding brand by doing right by dogs, supporting local communities and helping owners build businesses that last.

• Proprietary Houndology™ dog management system based on instinctual pack behavior.

• Structured playgroups organized by size, temperament, energy level and play style.

• Multiple dedicated playrooms that allow safer, lower-stress interaction than typical open-floor models.

• Focus on proactive dog management that reduces behavioral issues and incidents.

• Community-integrated locations that partner with rescues, shelters and foster programs.

• Proven dog day care and boarding model with strong unit-level economics.

• Lower overhead and labor requirements compared to many competitors.

• Cost-effective buildout using durable, dog-friendly materials.

• Hands-on guidance from a leadership team with real operational experience.

• Transparent culture with open sharing of performance insights and best practices.

Hounds Town USA continues to expand across the United States, with opportunities available in both suburban and urban markets. Territory availability varies by region.

For more information on available territories, visit the Hounds Town USA franchise website.

Initial costs and fees

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Hounds Town USA franchise ranges from $667,610 to $1,122,153. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:

Initial Franchise Fee: Hounds Town USA offers single- and multi-unit franchise packages, with initial franchise fees of $49,000 for one location, $88,000 for two locations and $125,000 for three locations. Multi-unit franchise owners have a development schedule and do not pay additional initial franchise fees for future units.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Hounds Town USA franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 73 franchises and one affiliate location open for the entirety of 2025 reported the following net revenue:

*1 affiliate and 1 franchise

Before opening, franchisees receive assistance with site selection, lease review guidance, facility design and pre-opening planning. The corporate team works closely with owners to ensure each location is properly positioned for launch.

Hounds Town USA provides comprehensive training focused on dog management, operations, customer experience and leadership. Training emphasizes proper implementation of the Houndology™ system and consistent standards of care across all locations.

Ongoing support includes operational coaching, marketing guidance and access to proven systems and playbooks. Franchisees benefit from shared insights across the system and ongoing refinement of best practices.

The brand supplies franchisees with operational systems designed to streamline scheduling, customer communication and day-to-day management, supporting efficiency without overcomplicating operations.

• Liquid Assets: $250,000

• Net Worth: $500,000

Ideal candidate profile

Ideal candidates are entrepreneurially minded individuals with strong people skills, an interest in sales or management and a passion for pets and community involvement. Prior pet industry experience is not required.

Hounds Town offers flexible ownership models that allow franchise owners to be as hands-on or hands-off as they choose. Owners can operate day to day or transition to a semi-active role, focusing on growth while a hired general manager oversees daily operations. Many semi-active owners continue working full-time elsewhere, typically spending just two to three hours per day remotely after the first six to 12 months, once management is fully in place.

Hounds Town USA has partnered with Benetrends, which allows qualifying franchisees to choose the small business financing option that best fits their needs.

“Hounds Town was a perfect medium. They guide you, and they give you tools to grow, but they also give you enough leeway to let you create and do things on your own.”

• Lauren Duffy, Franchisee — Island Park, New York

“The fact that Hounds Town really takes the time to look at the behavior of the dog and group the dog in the correct pack [means] they’re really maximizing their time, and they’re safe and well cared for.”

• Steven Garibell, Franchisee — Bergen County, New Jersey

“The business model really stood out to me because of the way they do it differently. It’s all based on dog behavior and everything is based on the dog’s point of view.”

• Anthony Mitchell, Franchisee — Bergen County, New Jersey

Market and competition

The U.S. pet care industry exceeded $120 billion in 2024, with dog day care representing one of the fastest-growing segments. Rising rates of pet ownership, urban living and humanization of pets are fueling demand for high-quality, convenient day care solutions.

Hounds Town USA stands out in the dog day care and boarding space by using its proprietary Houndology™ system to create structured, instinct-based playgroups that prioritize safety, lower stress for dogs and operational efficiency, rather than relying on traditional open-play models. This approach supports consistent care, reduced labor needs and a more predictable business model while reinforcing the brand’s mission-driven, community-first positioning. Primary competitors include Camp Bow Wow, Dogtopia, Central Bark, PetSmart PetsHotel and independent local dog day care and boarding operators.

1. Franchise Quiz: The prospective franchisee completes a one-minute quiz to share background information, after which a discovery call is scheduled with the growth director.

2. Discovery Call: The candidate and the Hounds Town team get acquainted, discussing goals, background and what the candidate is seeking in a dog day care and pet boarding franchise, while learning more about the brand, system and pet industry.

3. Unit Economics: The candidate reviews the financials in detail to understand the total investment required and the potential revenue opportunity.

4. FDD Review: The candidate receives and reviews the Franchise Disclosure Document, outlining franchise rules, investment levels and financial performance details from existing locations.

5. Visionary Call: The candidate participates in a scheduled call with CEO Rob Flanagan to share their story, discuss qualifications and ask deeper questions about the business model.

6. Validation: The candidate speaks directly with current Hounds Town franchise owners to learn about real ownership experiences, while franchisees provide feedback on the candidate’s fit with the system.

7. Confirmation Day: After executive review, the candidate is invited to Denver to meet the support and leadership team, tour locations and see the business model in action.

8. Dog Day Care Franchise Awarded: Following agreement signing, the candidate officially becomes a Hounds Town USA dog day care franchise owner.

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