--- title: "petbar: 10 Years of Growth" url: https://burnaze.com/article/ef40372e-78ae-411b-9adf-2775acbbf27d source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth-2730938 category: "Pets" industry: "Pets" published: 2025-12-05T13:08:57.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T20:30:34.842Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1764946380_2730938.png --- # petbar: 10 Years of Growth **TL;DR:** Petbar, a boutique pet grooming franchise, celebrates its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of growth and evolution in the industry. The company has grown from a single location to a 32-unit system with plans to reach 200 locations. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2025-12-05. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth-2730938).* ## Key facts - petbar has 32 locations - plans to reach 200 locations - partnered with Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue to raise $8,000 ## Story When husband-and-wife team Dan and Ashley O’Loughlin opened the first petbar in Highland Park, Texas, in 2015, they had no idea they were building the foundation for one of the most exciting boutique pet grooming franchises in the country. What began as a passion project has become a thriving national brand — one that continues to grow, evolve, and bring joy to pets and their owners a decade later. “The 10 years really flew by — it’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” Ashley said. “We are very excited to celebrate it, and we are hosting a storefront reveal of our lobby refresh at our original location. We’ve done it in a few other stores, but this felt like the perfect time to showcase the new look and feel. It’s bright, joyful, and fun — just like our customers and their pets.” ## Brand evolution The refresh is more than cosmetic; it reflects petbar’s brand evolution. Over the past decade, the company has grown from a single neighborhood boutique to a 32-unit system with locations open or in development across Texas, Florida, Arizona and Georgia. But for the O’Loughlins, that growth didn’t come overnight. “We actually didn’t start franchising until about four years ago,” Dan said. “For the first six years, we were focused on developing the brand and getting the systems and operations in place. The self-wash concept, the grooming services, and the membership program — we spent years piecing it all together. We didn’t even know at the start that we’d eventually franchise.” Before launching petbar, Dan and Ashley had run a successful tanning business. When they signed a lease for what would become the first petbar, they were ready for a new challenge but unsure exactly where it would lead. “We were moving over from tanning into this space, and the store just took off,” Dan said. “The community loved it. Within the first six months, we even had an equity group looking at us — that’s when we realized there was something really special here.” From the start, petbar was designed to be different. Its open, boutique-style layout, cheerful décor and transparent grooming areas created an experience that both pets and owners loved. The O’Loughlins soon added self-wash stations, professional grooming, and a membership program to keep customers coming back month after month. “People loved having options,” Ashley said. “They could wash their own dog or leave it to a professional. And because people are busier than ever, our membership model made it convenient and affordable. It just fit the way people live now.” ## Franchise model When the O’Loughlins decided to franchise in 2019, their goal was simple: share their model with like-minded entrepreneurs who loved dogs and community as much as they did. “The franchise side of it came about because we were trying to determine if we would grow corporate or move into the market more swiftly with more development,” Dan said. “We love helping other entrepreneurs pursue their own business.” Today, petbar’s franchise model stands out in the fast-growing $2 billion U.S. pet grooming industry. With low overhead, recurring membership revenue, and simplified operations, the brand has become an ideal opportunity for franchisees looking for a lifestyle business that’s both emotionally rewarding and financially strong. “The pet care space is an exciting space to be in right now as a franchisor and franchisee,” said Gregg Koffler, Chief Development Officer. “Our differentiation — the ability to wash your own pet, our subscription model, and our focus on strictly bathing and grooming — really sets us apart. We’re not retail heavy, which keeps operations simple. The potential for growth is tremendous.” ## Community partnerships Even as it scales nationally, petbar has stayed grounded in its community-first culture. In 2025, the brand partnered with Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue to raise more than $8,000 for animal welfare — one of many local partnerships that reinforce petbar’s “for the love of dogs” mission. “One of our big initiatives is to partner with our local communities,” Ashley said. “As we’ve grown the franchise, we’ve really focused on giving back to local shelters and rescue organizations that share our same kind of culture and values.” That commitment to connection extends to franchisees as well. “We’re looking for people with great energy,” Dan said. “They don’t have to have experience with dogs — we can teach them that. What matters most is that they love the community and want to build something meaningful. The profitability comes when you love what you’re doing and people can feel that.” As petbar looks to the future, the brand plans to continue expanding responsibly — both through new territories and smaller footprint models designed for urban markets. “We’d like to get into a lot of communities and a lot of different areas,” said Dan. “We’re looking for the right franchisees who want to grow with us. Right now, we have 32 locations, but we hope to reach 200. We’re going to keep marching to our own drum.” For the O’Loughlins, that drumbeat is powered by the same passion that started it all: a love of entrepreneurship, community, and, of course, dogs. “A lot of our customers have stayed with us for years, which is really special,” Ashley said. “We still have people who remember walking into that first Highland Park location. To see how much it’s grown — and how many other people are now part of the petbar family — it’s incredible. We’re proud and just getting started.” ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - franchise growth (topic) - texas (location) - Pets (sector) - Florida (location) - Georgia (location) - Arizona (location) - brand evolution (topic) - community partnerships (topic) - petbar (company) - Dan O'Loughlin (person) - Ashley O'Loughlin (person) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth-2730938). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/ef40372e-78ae-411b-9adf-2775acbbf27d).