Camp Bow Wow - Franchise

How We Started:

In the spring of 1994, my husband Bion and I put the finishing touches on a dog business plan that represented our dream of owning a dog franchise together and our wish to create a happier place for dogs to stay for the day or night. The thought of leaving our furry "kids" in a kennel just wouldn't suffice, so we created a plan for a fun and safe Camp version of the traditional dog kennel.

Soon after we began our search for the first Camp Bow Wow® location, Bion died tragically in a plane crash. I never gave up on our dream and I eventually opened the first Camp Bow Wow® in 2000. Since then, Camp Bow Wow® has grown into the country's premier dog day care and boarding establishment with over 116 current locations and another 50 Camps under development in the U.S. and Canada.

While maintaining a mom-and-pop feel, we have advanced and standardized our concept into the most sophisticated doggy day care and overnight operation in the country. Utilizing technology, state-of-the-art facility design, and intensive employee training, Camp Bow Wows® are operationally the best run and safest environments for dogs to play, romp, and receive lots of love and attention.

In 2009, we launched our newest pet care concept, Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow! This in-home pet sitting service leverages our years of experience leading the dog services industry and channels these efforts into a new opportunity targeting a rapidly growing market. In addition to operating your Camp, you will manage a team of devoted pet lovers who cater to a unique segment of the population who demand the highest levels of quality and service. Home Buddies will offer dog walking, pet sitting for dogs, cats, birds, fish, small mammals and reptiles, shuttle service to and from vet offices and Camp, grooming and Behavior Buddies™ training services,, care for special needs pets, pet food delivery and pet waste clean-up services.

Camp Bow Wow® , Home Buddies, and Behavior Buddies is the largest pet care franchise in the US offering many significant competitive advantages over traditional kennels and large corporations. As you explore our system of franchising, our 3-1 brand will allow you to provide several options to your customers to meet their pet care needs. We hope you will agree that Camp Bow Wow® is simply THE best place for pets and you! -- -- Heidi Ganahl, Top Dog & Founder

What Can You Expect As A Camp Bow Wow® Franchisee?

• A Proven Business Model ~ We have spent the past nine years building and refining our system of franchising to ensure our pack has access to the world-class business resources required to operate a successful franchise. From start-up to operations, marketing to on-going training, Camp Bow Wow® has a professional and experienced team dedicated to supporting your business from day one. As the first and largest franchise in the pet care industry, Camp Bow Wow® remains simply the best in the business!


• Commitment to Building the Brand ~ Having operated nationally for over nine years, Camp Bow Wow® enjoys the widest brand recognition of any dog daycare and boarding franchise in North America. Even so, we continue to devote significant resources to making our brand the foremost in the industry, while earning our rightful position as a house-hold name. As a member of the Camp Bow Wow® brand family, you will share in this name recognition and benefit from our pack of loyal customers patiently waiting for a location to open near them that will offer Day Camp, Boarding, In-Home Pet Care, and Dog Training.


• Education and Training ~ Unlike other business opportunities, becoming a Camp Bow Wow® franchisee provides you with the most comprehensive and applicable training program available in the pet care industry. You will gain immediate knowledge on how to operate your Camp and Home Buddies efficiently, as well as learn the emerging science of dog behavior, group play dynamics, sanitation, pet first aid and safety. Joining Camp Bow Wow® will dramatically reduce your investment risk and put you on the right path to success!


• Operational Support ~ Our turn-key franchising program does not end when you open your doors for business. When you join our pack, you become our most important asset and we are committed to providing you with the marketing, training, operations and systems support necessary to help you succeed. Whether you are our most profitable location or are a location in need of some help, our goal is to work with you to proactively identify areas to improve, innovate and become better than ever.


• Dedication to Safety and Quality of Service ~ Camp Bow Wow® was founded to improve the lives of dogs everywhere by promoting good health and socialization. So naturally, everything we strive to accomplish is centered around this goal. Our most fundamental principles and procedures are based upon the highest levels of pet safety and customer service, thereby raising the standards of an entire industry. You only have to look to our competition to see our impact. Our customers recognize our commitment to excellence and take comfort in knowing that this commitment is present in every Camp Bow Wow® from coast to coast. For this reason, we are heads and tails above the rest and THE leader of the pack!


• Leveraged Buying Power ~ One of the most dramatic benefits of becoming a Camp Bow Wow® franchisee is the impact to your bottom line. Because we are the largest and most successful pet franchise, we can purchase in bulk the products and supplies you need to open and operate your franchise. This translates into significant discounts on everything from cabins to cleaners to retail products. The list is endless and so are the savings!
• Giving Back ~ In 2007, our CEO Heidi Ganahl founded The Bow Wow Buddies® Foundation. Our 501(c)(3) mission is to promote the health and welfare of animals worldwide by focusing on finding foster and lifetime homes for unwanted animals, promoting humane education and treatment, and investing in research and treatment for those devastated by illness and disease. Our franchisees to date have helped find homes for over 8,000 dogs and the foundation has become a part of their day to day operations as they give back to their local animal community.

Initial Investment

Opening a new business is a significant investment. Protect yourself and reduce your risk by leveraging our years of experience developing the very best business practices. Camp Bow Wow® has designed and refined an innovative operational model to provide you with a competitive long-term business plan and a demonstrable return-on-investment.

Camp Bow Wow®

The estimated start-up costs for a Camp Bow Wow® will vary based upon the size and location of your facility. We require our franchise applicants to possess a minimum $150,000 in liquid capital (cash, stock, mutual funds, etc.) and typically the majority of
this cash injection will be applied to the franchise fee. Most of our
franchisees secure loans through the SBA for the balance of their
financial commitments.

The current franchise fee is $50,000 which helps cover the cost of providing you with business opening assistance, initial training, and other support and franchise development services. In addition to the franchise fee, your total investment would include the cost of equipment, computer hardware and software, leasehold improvements, site service fees, deposits, site plans, permits, legal fees, signage, supplies, dog training, grand opening and marketing activities, and other general expenses.