Pet Care Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 22,000 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.
Industry size & Structure
The average pet care services provider operates out of a single location, employs fewer than 10 workers, and generates $455,000 annually.
- The pet care services industry consists of 22,000 firms that employ 183,000 workers and generate $10 billion annually.
- The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 companies account for less than 9% 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.
Industry Forecast
Pet Care Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Jan 14, 2025 - Bird, Small Animal, Horse Owners Boosting Health Spending: Report
- A new report from the American Pet Products Association titled “2024 Bird, Small Animal & Horse Report: Strategic Insights from the National Pet Owners Survey” shows that pet owners are demonstrating increased emotional attachment and proactive pet care with their specialized pets, according to Pet Age. One key finding from the report involved a marked increase in proactive health management across all pet types. Grooming, for example, has become more important to owners, with 42% of bird owners seeking professional grooming services. Small animal owners have also increased their vitamin and supplement purchases by 44%. Other trends found among these diversified pet owners are significant increases in gift giving and owners making more provisions in their wills for the long-term care of their pets.
- Employment by pet care services decreased by 1% in October 2024 compared to a year ago, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages at pet care services grew 8.2% in October 2024 year over year, with average wages for nonsupervisory employees reaching $20.67 per hour. In December 2024, economic activity in the services sector expanded for the sixth consecutive month, according to the Services ISM Report on Business. The Services PMI registered 54.1% in December, up 2 percentage points from November. Nine of the 18 services industries reported growth in December, including the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Retail Trade; and Wholesale Trade industries.
- A new survey shows that 73% of companies will require employees to work in the office three or more days a week by 2025, with nearly 30% mandating five days in the office, according to The Global Recruiter. Return to office mandates (RTO) and rising workplace occupancy are indicators of demand for pet care services. Resume.org released the findings of its November 2024 survey of 900 business leaders whose companies implemented RTO policies after the pandemic. Companies revealed that lease agreements and office utilization shape RTO policies. According to the survey, the top drivers for requiring employees back to work include fostering collaboration and teamwork (69%), improving communication (58%), strengthening company culture (51%), boosting productivity (47%), and maximizing office space use (40%).
- Consumer confidence levels declined in December 2024, falling by 8.1 points from the previous month, according to The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index was 104.7 in December 2024 from 112.8 in November 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that those remaining most confident on a six-month moving average basis confidence were those aged under 35 and those in the income category of over $100,000. Per Peterson, “The recent rebound in consumer confidence was not sustained in December as the Index dropped back to the middle of the range that has prevailed over the past two years.” Purchasing plans for homes decreased while plans to buy new cars and big-ticket items rose in December 2024 on a six-month average basis.
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