Pet Care Services

The 23,700 pet care services firms in the US provide pet boarding, grooming, sitting, and training, but exclude veterinary services. Firms may specialize in a particular area, such as pet waste removal or dog walking, or offer a range of services. The industry consists primarily of franchises and independent operators. Some large veterinary services chains and pet supply retailers also offer pet care services.

Competition From Alternative Providers

Pet care service providers face competition from a variety of sources, including veterinarians, pet supply retailers, and providers closer to home.

Pet Industry Projected To Grow

Improved economic conditions and the ongoing “humanization” of pets are expected to drive growth in the pet industry, which includes pet care services.

Oct 6, 2026 - Pet Care Operators Face Capacity Gaps

• A 2026 benchmarking survey of 457 pet boarding, daycare and resort operators points to uneven utilization and missed revenue opportunities across the US pet care services industry, according to a new Pet Boarding and Daycare magazine report. Nearly one-quarter of boarding operators and 38% of daycare operators reported average capacity below 30%, highlighting a need for better yield management through memberships, seasonal pricing, and waitlists. Repeat business remains critical: 54% of facilities generate at least 75% of monthly revenue from returning customers, despite 59% using minimal paid marketing and only 31% operating formal referral programs. Add-on sales are another opportunity, as 57% of customers buy only one to three extras per booking. Booking depth also matters financially: 66% of owners who took no personal income were booked out less than two weeks or not consistently full, versus just 25% among owners who paid themselves.
• US consumer confidence weakened in September 2026, signaling greater spending pressure for pet care services as households become more cautious about discretionary expenses. The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 7.0% month over month to 48.1, while the Current Economic Conditions Index slipped 1.9% to 50.9 and the Expectations Index dropped 10.1% to 46.3, pointing to especially weak views of future finances and economic conditions. The Conference Board showed a similar decline: its Consumer Confidence Index fell 6.7 points to 81.9, the Present Situation Index dropped 7.9 points to 109.3, and the Expectations Index fell 5.9 points to 63.6. For pet care providers, softer confidence may restrain spending on grooming, boarding, daycare and other elective services, while routine and essential care should remain more resilient.
• A new AICPA/Harris Poll survey points to resilient demand for US pet care services, with 69% of dog and cat owners saying they would cut spending on themselves before their pets and 62% maintaining a dedicated pet budget. The findings suggest grooming, boarding, pet sitting, and other recurring services may be relatively insulated from broader discretionary spending pressure. Pet owners also reported budgeting for recurring expenses such as grooming and planning for emergency boarding or temporary care, underscoring the importance of service providers in ongoing pet care. Overall, strong emotional attachment to pets and the tendency to treat pet care as a core household expense should help support industry demand even as consumers remain cautious about other spending.
• US pet care services face a mixed outlook as dog ownership reached 71 million US households in 2025, up 4% year over year and representing 53% of households, while owners became more selective about how they spend on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association's 2026 Dog Report. Spending on boarding, salon grooming, and mobile grooming declined in 2025, and 51% of dog owners now groom at home; more travelers are also relying on family and friends instead of paid boarding. These shifts could pressure routine and discretionary service revenue. At the same time, owners continue prioritizing essential care, with veterinary services representing the largest share of dog-owner spending at 29%, ahead of food at 27%. The outlook favors providers that emphasize value, convenience, preventative wellness, and higher-need services that are harder to replace with DIY alternatives.

Industry size & Structure

The average pet care services provider operates out of a single location, employs just over 8 workers, and generates $508,000 annually.

• The pet care services industry consists of 23,700 firms that employ 191,000 workers and generate $12 billion annually.
• The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 10% of industry revenue.
• Some large veterinary services chains and pet supply retailers offer pet care services.
• The industry consists primarily of franchises and independent operators.
• Camp Bow Wow (owned by Mars), Fetch! Pet Care, and All American Pet Resorts are large pet care services franchises. Large pet retailer PetSmart also offers pet grooming, training, day care, and boarding.