Dog Training Elite Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Dog Training Elite is a pet-services franchise providing in-home and facility-based dog obedience and behavioral training. Franchisees run a training operation with certified trainers offering classes, private sessions, and board-and-train programs.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Dog Training Elite franchise requires a total initial investment of $188K – $297K, including a $110K franchise fee and an ongoing 8.0% royalty[2]. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $188K – $297K
- 49th pct Pet Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- 63rd pct Pet Services
- Units
- 419
- 96th pct Pet Services
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Pet Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Pet Services avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $188K – $297K including a $110K franchise fee, 8.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSTotal revenue of $3,494,397 stated in Item 8 (supplier rebate of 0.8% of total revenue). Item 21 audited financial statements (Exhibit B, dated Dec 31 2024/2023/2022 plus unaudited Dec 31 2025 interim) are present as image-only pages in this text extract; no balance-sheet/income-statement line items (net worth, assets, liabilities, net income, auditor) were OCR-captured.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 71/100 (higher is better).
- DATAItem 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands. Ask franchisees directly for full unit-level revenue.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Dog Training Elite Franchising, LLC
- Parent company
- DTE Demo Dog, LLC
- CEO title
- CEO
- John Mestas
- CEO experience
- 30 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- UT
- HQ
- 2909 S. Dobson RD., #15, Mesa, AZ 85202
- Auditor
- Kezos & Dunlavy
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $3.5M
- vs $3.0M prior year
- Management churn noted
- Frequent turnover
- Item 2 disclosed frequent executive changes
Overview
About
- CEO
- John Mestas
- Headquarters
- AZ
- Founded
- 2014
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 36
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 66% below the typical pet services franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $110K | $110K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $22K | $50K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $55K | $137K |
| Total initial investment | $188K | $297K |
Source: Dog Training Elite 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $188K – $297K
- Middle of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $22K – $50K
- Middle of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $110K – $110K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 1.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 9.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 8.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 1.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $325 |
| Transfer fee | $10K |
| Renewal fee | $3K |
| Inventory (initial) | $3K – $6K |
| Total fee load | 9.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Dog Training Elite did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Dog Training Elite unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
38%
Within the 30–60% "attractive franchise" band
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
Total revenue of $3,494,397 stated in Item 8 (supplier rebate of 0.8% of total revenue). Item 21 audited financial statements (Exhibit B, dated Dec 31 2024/2023/2022 plus unaudited Dec 31 2025 interim) are present as image-only pages in this text extract; no balance-sheet/income-statement line items (net worth, assets, liabilities, net income, auditor) were OCR-captured.
- Median gross sales
- $278K
Gross sales are revenue before expenses — not profit. Actual owner earnings depend on rent, labor, royalties, marketing fees, and debt service.
No system-wide average is published for this brand. The median and range below are what Item 19 supports; we show an average only where it reconciles against them.
- Item 19 type
- gross sales
- Sample size
- 69 franchisees
- vs category median 12 · large
- Range (low → high)
- $40K→$953K
- Cohort dispersion (min → max)
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2025
- Disclosed in the 2025 filing, covering 2024
- Transparency
- 0 / 10
- vs category median 4 / 10 · below
Compared against 68 Pet Services brands
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 9.0% (near the Pet Services average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
Operator retention
System expanding at 14.8% CAGR over 3 years across 419 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Pet Services averages
How Dog Training Elite Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 419
- Opened
- 21
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +14.8%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +14.8%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 219
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 7
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Transfer rate
- 1.4%
- Owners selling to other franchisees
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 36 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
36
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
- Total loans
- 19
- Loan volume
- $2.6M
- Median loan
- $150K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
- no resolved loans yet — rate needs a terminal outcome
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 7
- Defaults
- 1
- Typical loan rate
- 9.3%
- avg rate to borrowers
- Franchised industry avg
- 10.4%
- n=1,203 loans
- Jobs supported
- 93
- 3.8 per loan
- Lender concentration
- 47%
- top lender's share
Borrower mix: 88% went to startups / new businesses, 12% to established operators
Franchise vs independent — in pet care (except veterinary) services, franchised businesses charge off at 10.4% vs 11.3% for independents — franchising is associated with 8% lower SBA default risk in this category.
Top lenders financing Dog Training Elite franchisees
Showing 3 of 7 lenders. The full breakdown — every lender, state distribution, interest rates & risk ratings — is in the SBA Lending Report below.
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Premium insight
SBA Lending Report
Deep-dive into Dog Training Elite's SBA lending history: lender network, geographic footprint, interest rates, and more.
SBA Lending Report
- Principal loss rate and NAICS industry benchmark
- 6 lenders with concentration factor
- Per-state charge-off rates across 10 states
- Startup risk premium and job creation velocity
- 5-year lending trend
Instant access. No subscription.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Undisclosed financials, internal governance litigation, multiple franchisor enforcement actions, and minimal growth create meaningful uncertainty around unit economics and franchisor stability.
Litigation (Item 3)
1 arbitration among members/officers settled and dismissed with prejudice Oct 2025. 3 franchisor-initiated suits: 2 against Condorman/Neal Mestas (dismissed 2025), 1 against Ballard/Sbibos (pending) for breach of contract and failure to pay royalties.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Kezos & Dunlavy
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 71 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNo Item 19 financial disclosure (avg revenue/net income) prevents ROI validation against $187k-$297k investment
- 02HIGHInternal litigation involving breach of fiduciary duty and fund misappropriation suggests governance instability at franchisor level
- 03MINORThree franchisor-initiated lawsuits indicate enforcement challenges and potential franchisee compliance/profitability issues
- 04MINORSlow unit growth (5.3% YoY) with 419 total units suggests market saturation or franchisee satisfaction concerns
- 05MED8% royalty on undisclosed revenue creates opacity—actual net margins unknown relative to $110k franchise fee
- 06HIGHGoing concern status is FALSE, which in FDD context may indicate past financial distress warnings
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 9.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | exclusive |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | Yes |
| Territory population | 175,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 3 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 50 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 90 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Mesa, Arizona |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | UT |
| Litigation count | 4 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
1 arbitration among members/officers settled and dismissed with prejudice Oct 2025. 3 franchisor-initiated suits: 2 against Condorman/Neal Mestas (dismissed 2025), 1 against Ballard/Sbibos (pending) for breach of contract and failure to pay royalties.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 87 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 129 hrs
- Training location
- Mesa, Arizona or other location designated by franchisor
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 3 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Chase merchant mobile Point of Sale System
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Chase merchant mobile Point of Sale System
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
1 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Dog Training Elite · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Dog Training Elite franchise?
The total investment to open a Dog Training Elite franchise ranges from $188K – $297K, with an initial franchise fee of $110K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Dog Training Elite franchise owners earn?
Dog Training Elite does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Dog Training Elite FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Dog Training Elite FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Dog Training Elite's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Dog Training Elite (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Dog Training Elite franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Dog Training Elite has 419 total units in the United States, including 419 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 21 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Dog Training Elite a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Dog Training Elite as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 71 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
If you represent Dog Training Elite, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.