Our pets may not be human, but they are full-fledged members of the family – and they do love to get pampered! As pet ownership increases in the U.S., the demand for quality grooming services is also on the rise. By Rochelle Miller

Our pets may not be human, but they are full-fledged members of the family – and they do love to get pampered! As pet ownership increases in the U.S., the demand for quality grooming services is also on the rise. Such market conditions are favorable for anyone seeking a business opportunity in the booming pet-grooming sector.

This trend has been apparent to Aussie Pet Mobile. Founded in Australia in 1996, the mobile grooming franchise brought its unique business model to the U.S. three years later.

Today, there are 300 Aussie Pet Mobile units across the U.S., but more are needed to keep up with a growing demand that is evident based on recent research. The brand is continuing its rapid expansion throughout the U.S. through franchising.

“Aussie Pet Mobile’s overriding focus is all about the growth and success of our franchisees,” says Ian W. Moses, founder and CEO of Aussie Pet Mobile, Inc.

Pet ownership extends to more than two-thirds of American households, and that translates to 85 million homes, according to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), a leading not-for-profit trade organization comprised of pet-product manufacturers and importers. Compare that with 56 percent in 1988, when the APPA conducted its first survey, and it’s clear that this generation of animal owners is even bigger pet lovers than its predecessors. Today’s pet owners are also spending more on pet care. The pet-care services industry generates more than $5 billion per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

While data certainly shows the grooming industry is thriving, no statistics can accurately portray the love people have for their pets. That’s where Aussie Pet Mobile seems to distinguish itself from competitors, providing every possible comfort to our four-legged friends while offering convenience to their human owners.

The brand’s success is based on state-of-the-art mobile grooming units that are luxury salons on wheels, serving dogs and cats. Each vehicle is customized with air conditioning, heat, electricity, and water, and features a spacious interior. In addition, the vehicles are environmentally friendly, running on lithium-battery systems without the need for fuel or fuel-driven power generators. The brand sets out to make its franchisee units the greenest and most planet-friendly possible.

“Providing our franchisees with our all-new, absolutely environmentally friendly, mobile grooming salons has been a game-changer for our franchisees, their groomers and the hundreds of thousands of pets we care for every year,” Moses says.

While mobile grooming provides convenience for pet owners, it’s also a benefit for franchise owners because the business is home-based, without the overhead required for a brick-and-mortar location. The company also touts the brand to franchise owners as a management-based business, with nine out of 10 franchise owners never grooming pets themselves. Instead, the franchise owner can hire groomers and focus on growing the business with the support of Aussie Pet Mobile.

“Everything we do is designed to increase the business of our franchisees and improve the strength of their business,” Moses says.

For more information about franchising opportunities with Aussie Pet Mobile, call 800-738-6624, or visit aussiepetmobile.com/franchise-opportunities.

– Rochelle Miller