Pet Evolution Franchise

The Pet Evolution concept took shape in 2010, when its co-founders began developing a pet-food business focused on quality products. Their first store opened in February 2012 in Woodbury, Minnesota, initially as a retail pet-food store. Grooming and self-service dog-washing stations were added in 2015, and a second store opened in Arden Hills, Minnesota, in November 2018. Co-founder Rian Thiele remains a board member and oversees initial franchise training, according to the June 12, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.

The original operating company, Pet Evolution, LLC, was incorporated as Tails & Pales, LLC in August 2011 and adopted the Pet Evolution name that October. Pet Evolution Franchising LLC was formed in Delaware on January 4, 2021 and began offering franchises that month. The original company transferred its intellectual property, including the trademark, to the franchisor in February 2021. An affiliated company added a St. Cloud, Minnesota store through a franchisee acquisition in September 2024.

Today’s unit franchise combines a pet-supply store with grooming, in-store nail trimming, self-service washing and required product delivery. Mobile nail trimming is an optional additional service. The 2026 offering also introduces a compact Express Footprint of approximately 1,400–1,800 square feet alongside the traditional store model. No Express Footprint store had opened as of the FDD’s issuance, so this is a newly offered format. Regional development franchises are a separate offering under a separate disclosure document.

Item 7 estimates $606,300–$908,000 for a 1,400-square-foot Express store and $816,300–$1,239,500 for a 3,200-square-foot traditional store. Both formats include a $59,000 initial franchise fee. The high estimates include a vehicle for optional mobile nail trimming; the low estimates do not include that vehicle purchase.

Phase 1: preparing the owner and manager. The owner and store manager must successfully complete Phase 1 training 90–120 days before opening. Usually held at a designated Minnesota location, the approximately four-day program includes 28 classroom hours and four hours of on-the-job training. Subjects include the brand’s history and philosophy, manuals and pre-opening procedures, recruiting, grand-opening marketing, daily operations, reporting, accounting, product knowledge, merchandising, manager duties, inventory, grooming procedures and the point-of-sale system. There is no training charge for the owner and manager, but attendees pay travel and living expenses. Additional attendees currently cost $750 per person per day.

Phase 2: preparing the store team. Two to four days of training take place at the store during the four days immediately before opening. The owner, managers, groomers, bathers and wellness associates on staff must complete it successfully before the store may open. Training covers operating methods, customer service, consultation techniques, memberships, merchandising, nutrition education standards and operational systems. Pet Evolution or a regional developer’s training team may conduct this phase, depending on location. There is no separate charge for Phase 2.

Site and launch support. Pre-opening assistance includes a search area, site-selection criteria and location approval, a sample interior layout and decor specifications, a Path to Opening guide and lease review for consistency with the required lease rider. Franchisees receive a local webpage, access to the brand standards manual, operating forms, supplier lists, equipment specifications and a store-opening marketing plan. The owner carries out local marketing and manages the store and its employees.

Support after opening. Telephone assistance is available during normal business hours for operating issues. Technology services include an intranet, learning modules, two email addresses, operational reports and the store webpage. Managers participate in ongoing Opus online training at no charge. Unless waived, a newly hired manager must complete New Manager Training within 90 days; the current charge is $750 per trainer per day, plus applicable trainer and attendee travel and living expenses. Additional operational training may be required or arranged by agreement, currently at $750 per trainer per day plus applicable expenses. The owner or manager must attend franchise conferences or conventions when held; the current registration fee is $750 per person.

Pet Evolution’s appeal is the combination of retail and practical pet-care services in one local destination. Customers can shop for food and supplies, use a self-service wash, arrange grooming or receive product delivery through the same business. Optional mobile nail trimming adds another way to serve pet owners beyond the store.

This is an opportunity for an owner who wants to work closely with customers and lead a retail and service team. The franchise requires prior business experience and personal, full-time involvement in day-to-day operations; a manager supports that role rather than replacing the owner’s participation. For that buyer, the combination of a defined product concept, service offerings and structured opening preparation creates a specific framework for building a neighborhood pet business.

Explore the retail and service model in our Pet Evolution store services and ownership guide.