Franchising offers those seeking a business opportunity comprehensive training, assistance, and direction at every stage—something an independent business owner often lacks. However, no two franchise training programs are created equal. While it is safe to assume that almost any franchise you invest in will offer some form of training and guidelines to follow, it’s important to keep in mind that it may not be sufficient long-term or align with what you need to be successful.

Receiving in-depth initial training and ongoing support offers a deep understanding of the franchise business and equips you with the confidence to perform business operations under the franchise’s established model. At Dogtopia, we prioritize support and training at every stage of the journey so that all franchisees across our growing network can achieve their business goals and grow.

Keep reading to find out what makes Dogtopia’s franchisee training and support different from other pet franchises. You can also read more what sets Dogtopia apart from competitors, from our efficient store design to our recurring membership model, which helps franchisees optimize their Dogtopia location(s) for ongoing success.

DOGTOPIA’S FRANCHISEE TRAINING

Dogtopia is the nation’s leading pet franchise, and our franchisees inherit this title when they step into their role. To maintain our brand standards and meet pet parents’ expectations, we start our franchisees with an in-depth, 30-day initial training program.

Dogtopia franchisees become students at Dogtopia University at our Phoenix, Arizona Support Office. This includes a total of two weeks in our classroom and two weeks in a Dogtopia store for training, including more focused support with an MBA session closer to opening. This mix of training allows franchisees to receive traditional learning combined with hands-on experience.

Franchise systems typically provide one to four weeks of training; our franchising team at Dogtopia chose the lengthier end of this average so we could offer both classroom and in-store training, something some franchises may not provide.

We understand the importance of continuous learning. In addition to the initial training, we offer franchisees monthly webinars and seminars, quarterly regional workshops, as well as ongoing marketing and sales training. Franchisees also have access to our Village of Knowledge, which includes a network of franchisees sharing best practices.

Our team is always seeking ways to enhance the franchisee experience, so our ongoing training and support opportunities allow our franchisees to become further involved in the Dogtopia brand to better run their location(s).

SPECIFIC TEAM MEMBER TRAINING

Franchisors often provide franchisees with an operations manual and/or guidance on training employees. However, training can be limited to franchisees alone. At Dogtopia, we recognize that running a doggie daycare is a team effort, which is why we provide multiple online training modules for a variety of positions, including Canine Coaches, General Managers, and more. Rather than a catch-all training document, we provide tailored support and knowledge sharing that can help our franchisees’ teams feel supported to perform their jobs well.

Our Canine Coach training, for example, is imperative to meeting the Dogtopia standard. Because we have the industry’s highest health and safety standards, we require our Coaches to follow a standardized training process with curriculum approved for continuing education credits by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. That means franchisees can feel confident that their team is not just supervising dogs at daycare but is an active part of their growth—something our pet parent customers value. Dogtopia has more than 750 hours of online training content to support team members in their various positions. Plus, training is available via a desktop device or mobile app ensuring team members can access the training in a way that’s convenient for them.

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GRAND OPENING SUPPORT

Opening day can bring excitement for many franchisees and their teams. However, because it holds so much weight, it’s important not to feel left in the dark by your franchisor, as checking off items on the opening-day to-do list could feel overwhelming at times. To help prepare our franchisees, we provide ten days of grand opening support—six days beforehand and four days after the store opens to ensure each daycare team is confident and ready.

We understand that the first few days after opening require franchisees to face some common hurdles before developing an effective pace, which is why we extend this support, something you may not always find in other franchise opportunities.

ONE-ON-ONE COACHING & FIELD OPERATIONS VISITS

While initial training and support are key to gearing up for what’s ahead, ongoing support is just as imperative. Unfortunately, some franchise systems limit the amount of support provided after the initial training.

At Dogtopia, we provide weekly one-on-one coaching calls to help franchisees. This includes discussing ongoing operations and providing touchpoints, so franchisees feel supported long-term. We also provide quarterly field operations visits to check in and offer support where needed. Dogtopia’s Support Office prides itself on being available for its franchises, which is why they aren’t called a corporate office, but instead, a Support Office.

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT

Location, location, location! Like any other business venture, location can play a significant role in its success, especially when factoring in the foot traffic and visibility it receives. Additionally, building out an effective and efficient location within a certain timeline is also key. When you invest in a Dogtopia franchise, you receive turnkey real estate and construction services that can set your franchise business up for success.

Our team is always looking for high-quality suburban and downtown areas for our daycare centers and will assist franchisees in finding a location within their territory. Plus, with our efficient store design standards, franchisees can benefit from reduced capital expenditures, the ability to leverage more real estate options, maximize revenue, and more.

A DEDICATED PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

If you’ve ever heard the franchising adage that you’re in business for yourself but never by yourself, it especially holds true with a Dogtopia franchise investment. Not only do we have a seasoned franchise leadership team that supports all aspects of our brand, but we also provide a dedicated point of contact who will help guide you through your franchising journey with us. Not knowing exactly who to reach out to can cause uneasiness or lack of confidence in a franchise system, which is why we counter that by providing this support, so you never feel stranded.

AN ESTABLISHED MARKETING STRATEGY & SUPPORT

Effectively marketing a franchise plays a key role in building brand recognition. Fortunately, for many franchisees, a marketing plan and strategy have already been established, allowing franchisees to benefit from the get-go. How effective a franchise’s marketing plan is, though, is what can impact all franchisees within its network.

At Dogtopia, our marketing team thoroughly understands our pet parents’ needs, personalities, and lifestyles, illustrated through the campaigns we run and strategies we implement. We provide franchisees with assets that they can use for their own local marketing initiatives. Additionally, we run national campaigns that strengthen our brand storytelling and expand our reach to new pet parents, benefiting each franchise location in our network.

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Dogtopia has invested more than $7 million in its technology infrastructure over the past few years. We collaborated with Salesforce to create a tailored system specifically designed for our franchise network. Unlike generic third-party applications competitors are using, our daycare management system was built for scalability, enabling us to quickly adapt to the evolving needs of our business.

We believe continuous innovation is essential to providing exceptional service to our customers and staying ahead of the competition. Our team is dedicated to integrating new technologies, enhancing business processes, and strengthening our brand presence.

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES WITH DOGTOPIA

Are you looking to enter the booming pet industry with a supportive franchise system?  You can find out more about our franchising opportunity on our detailed FAQ page and reach out via our convenient online form.