Petsmart Veterinary Services Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
PetSmart Veterinary Services is a veterinary franchise operating full-service pet clinics inside PetSmart stores. Franchisees run the clinics, managing veterinarians and staff, appointments, and medical services.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES franchise requires a total initial investment of $206K – $316K, including a $10K franchise fee and an ongoing 2.0% royalty[2]. The 2025 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 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $206K – $316K
- 52nd pct Pet Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 2.0%
- 0th pct Pet Services
- Units
- 37
- 64th 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 $206K – $316K including a $10K franchise fee, 2.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSAudited statements of PetSmart Veterinary Services, LLC (the franchisor itself), FY ended February 2, 2025 (53 weeks), reported in thousands and scaled x1000. Total revenue $4,495K = franchise royalties and other fees $2,290K + rental revenue $2,205K. Net loss $(7,099)K. Balance sheet reconciles: total assets $11,345K = total liabilities $16,788K + member's deficit equity $(5,443)K. Franchisor has a member's deficit (negative net worth) driven by accumulated deficit of $(20,130)K and large 'Due to Parent and affiliates' of $9,139K.
- RISKVerdict B (Above average), verdict score 50/100 (higher is better).
- FLAG16 units terminated last reporting year (43.2% of the system). Ask existing franchisees why.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- PetSmart Veterinary Services, LLC
- Parent company
- PetSmart LLC
- CEO title
- President
- Rob Pace
- Incorporated in
- DE
- HQ
- 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027
- Auditor
- CBIZ CPAs (4722 N. 24th St., Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85016)
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $4.5M
- vs $1.9M prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Rob Pace
- Headquarters
- AZ
- Founded
- 2022
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 18
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 63% 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 | $10K | $10K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $85K | $125K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $111K | $181K |
| Total initial investment | $206K | $316K |
Source: PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES 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
- $206K – $316K
- Middle of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $85K – $125K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Franchise fee
- $10K – $10K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 2.0%
- tiered · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 1.5%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 3.5%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 1.5% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $750 |
| Transfer fee | $5K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Inventory (initial) | $14K – $16K |
| Total fee load | 3.5% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES 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 PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
40%
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
Audited statements of PetSmart Veterinary Services, LLC (the franchisor itself), FY ended February 2, 2025 (53 weeks), reported in thousands and scaled x1000. Total revenue $4,495K = franchise royalties and other fees $2,290K + rental revenue $2,205K. Net loss $(7,099)K. Balance sheet reconciles: total assets $11,345K = total liabilities $16,788K + member's deficit equity $(5,443)K. Franchisor has a member's deficit (negative net worth) driven by accumulated deficit of $(20,130)K and large 'Due to Parent and affiliates' of $9,139K.
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 3.5% — below the Pet Services average of 9.3%.
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Operator retention
System expanding at 236.4% CAGR over 3 years across 37 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 Petsmart Veterinary Services Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 37
- Opened
- 15
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 16
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 59.5%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- Outlier (see FDD)
- Likely small-sample artifact
- 3-yr CAGR
- Outlier (see FDD)
- Likely small-sample artifact
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 59
- Closed (3yr)
- 5
- Terminated (3yr)
- 17
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 1
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 18 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.
18
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
A declining veterinary franchise system with unprotected territories, missing financial disclosure, active litigation, and no evidence of franchisee profitability — suitable only for operators with veterinary expertise and capital reserves.
Litigation (Item 3)
Three matters: (1) PetSmart LLC v. Banfield — breach of contract arbitration, non-monetary resolution July 2024; (2) Vanzant consumer class action naming PetSmart as defendant, class certification denied 9/2023; (3) SEC cease-and-desist order against CFO Schnaid from 2014 re: late Section 16 filings.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · CBIZ CPAs (4722 N. 24th St., Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85016)
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
ⓘ These are the parent company's consolidated financials (the parent guarantees the franchisor), not this brand's standalone results — the figure reflects the whole corporate group, not this brand alone.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- 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 50 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORDeclining unit count (-2.6% YoY with 37 total units indicates a shrinking system)
- 02MEDNo disclosed average revenue or net income data (Item 19 missing — prevents ROI validation)
- 03MINORUnprotected territory creates direct competition risk within same geographic area
- 04HIGHActive class action litigation (Vanzant) regarding product naming — brand reputation risk
- 05MINORRoyalty structure (2-3.5%) combined with veterinary overhead may compress margins significantly
- 06MINORLow franchise fee ($10,000) suggests weak franchisor support or undercapitalization
- 07MINORParent company (PetSmart LLC) has unresolved commercial disputes and SEC compliance history
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 3.5% 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 | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | none |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rights | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 1 year |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 5 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Maricopa County, Arizona (litigation venue; non-binding mediation required before filing suit) |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | AZ |
| Litigation count | 3 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Three matters: (1) PetSmart LLC v. Banfield — breach of contract arbitration, non-monetary resolution July 2024; (2) Vanzant consumer class action naming PetSmart as defendant, class certification denied 9/2023; (3) SEC cease-and-desist order against CFO Schnaid from 2014 re: late Section 16 filings.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 30 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 35 hrs
- Training location
- Phoenix, AZ home office and Hospital site
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 3 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisor and franchisee jointly; Hospital must be in an approved PetSmart store
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Rhapsody
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Rhapsody
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES franchise?
The total investment to open a PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES franchise ranges from $206K – $316K, with an initial franchise fee of $10K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES franchise owners earn?
PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES 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 PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES 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 PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES (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 PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES has 37 total units in the United States, including 37 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 15 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates PETSMART VETERINARY SERVICES as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 50 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
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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.