Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Instinct Dog Behavior & Training is a pet services franchise offering dog training, behavior modification, and board-and-train programs. Franchisees run the centers, managing trainers, clients, and sessions.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise requires a total initial investment of $143K – $889K, including a $40K franchise fee and an ongoing 8.0% royalty[2]. The 2022 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: B (Above average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2022 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $143K – $889K
- 39th pct Pet Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Company-owned only
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- 63rd pct Pet Services
- Units
- 7
- 33rd 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 $143K – $889K including a $40K franchise fee, 8.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 19 discloses no average — it reports one affiliate-owned outlet and two individually named franchised outlets in non-overlapping years (printed p.40-41). The figure previously shown was the 2021 gross sales of the single affiliate-owned New York location.
- RISKVerdict B (Above average), verdict score 49/100 (higher is better).
- DATAItem 19 reports Gross Sales by outlet (affiliate-owned and selected franchisee locations) rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable. Ask franchisees directly for full unit-level revenue.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Instinct Dog Training Inc.
- CEO title
- Co-Chief Executive Officer & Cofounder
- Brian Burton / Sarah Fraser
- Incorporated in
- NY
- HQ
- 181 East 111th Street, New York, New York, 10029
- Auditor
- Barry Knepper
- Unaudited
- Franchisor revenue
- $274K
- vs $117K prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Brian Burton / Sarah Fraser
- Headquarters
- NY
- Founded
- 2017
- FDD year
- 2022
- States available
- 6
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 26% below the typical pet services franchise.
Source: FDD 2022 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown40 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $40K | $40K | |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Trainingnot refundable | $0 | $20K | |
| Rent - Three Monthsnot refundable | $9K | $45K | |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipmentnot refundable | $10K | $125K | |
| Office Equipmentnot refundable | $1K | $20K | |
| Architect/Design Feesnot refundable | $2K | $25K | |
| Leasehold Improvementsnot refundable | $10K | $250K | |
| Computer Systemnot refundable | $10K | $51K | |
| Permits and Licensesnot refundable | $250 | $500 | |
| Lease Security Deposits | $9K | $45K | |
| Utilities Deposits | $500 | $2K | |
| Professional Feesnot refundable | $2K | $3K | |
| Signagenot refundable | $500 | $10K | |
| Service Vehicle and Signagenot refundable | $500 | $2K | |
| Initial Inventorynot refundable | $500 | $3K | |
| Insurance - Annual Premiumnot refundable | $2K | $15K | |
| Grand Opening Marketingnot refundable | $18K | $25K | |
| Brand Development Fee - Three Monthsnot refundable | $8K | $8K | |
| Technology Fee - Three Monthsnot refundable | $390 | $390 | |
| Additional Funds - 12 monthsnot refundable | $20K | $200K | |
| Total initial investment | $232K | $1.3M |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $143K – $889K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $20K – $200K
- Middle of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $40K – $40K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- formula · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- $2,500 per month flat fee (Brand Development Fee), not a …
- Total fee load
- 8.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 8.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $130 |
| Transfer fee | $2K |
| Renewal fee | $3K |
| Inventory (initial) | $500 – $3K |
| Total fee load | 8.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2022 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Instinct Dog Behavior & Training 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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
14%
Below 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: 2022 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 19 discloses no average — it reports one affiliate-owned outlet and two individually named franchised outlets in non-overlapping years (printed p.40-41). The figure previously shown was the 2021 gross sales of the single affiliate-owned New York location.
Company-owned outlets only - not franchisee performance
- Item 19 type
- Gross Sales by outlet (affiliate-owned and selected franchisee locations)
- Sample size
- 3 outlets
- vs category median 12 · small
- Range (low → high)
- $440K→$2.0M
- Cohort dispersion (min → max)
- Reporting year
- 2022
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2022
- The FDD edition these figures were read from
- Transparency
- 3 / 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 8.0% (near the Pet Services average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports Gross Sales by outlet (affiliate-owned and selected franchisee locations) rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
Net unit growth of +500.0% over 3 years (4 opened, 0 closed).
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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2022 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 7
- Opened
- 4
- 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
- 1
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 86%
- vs corporate-owned
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 4
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Continuity rate
- 100.0%
- Units that stayed open
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 6 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.
6
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
Fast growth in a small system. Newer franchisors expanding quickly may not yet have the support infrastructure of larger systems.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
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
Very early-stage franchise system with explosive growth claims, opaque profitability data, and wide investment variance presents moderate-to-high risk despite protected territory and lack of litigation.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation required to be disclosed.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
No audited financials on file
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 49 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORExtreme unit growth (200% YoY) suggests either aggressive expansion or inflated early-stage metrics; only 7 units total indicates very new/unproven system
- 02MINORWide investment range ($142K–$889K) suggests inconsistent unit economics or unclear cost structure; hard to model ROI
- 03MINOR8% royalty on gross sales (not net) is aggressive and reduces franchisee cushion during slow periods
- 04MINORService-based business model dependent on owner/operator time; scalability and absentee-owner viability unclear
- 05MINORNo 'going concern' statement suggests franchisor may have questioned operational sustainability
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 8.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2022 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 7 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 7 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory population | 500,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 50 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | New York County, New York |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | NY |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 41 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 55 hrs
- Training location
- Corporate Office/Training Center in New York, NY, or remote (Phase 1); Corporate Office/Training Center (Phase 2)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Field support
- 56 hrs/yr
- On-site visits per year
- Time to open
- 36 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee proposes; franchisor approves
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
1 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Instinct Dog Behavior & Training · FDD (2022) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise?
The total investment to open a Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise ranges from $143K – $889K, with an initial franchise fee of $40K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise owners earn?
Instinct Dog Behavior & Training 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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training 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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Instinct Dog Behavior & Training's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Instinct Dog Behavior & Training (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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Instinct Dog Behavior & Training has 7 total units in the United States, including 6 franchised units and 1 company-owned units. 4 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Instinct Dog Behavior & Training a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Instinct Dog Behavior & Training as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 49 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 Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, 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.