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From the Publisher: Kids & Pets

Written by: Mary Tomzack

Article Overview: At FranchiseHelp we have information, services and products for the entire franchise marketplace. One of the largest groups we attract is the Potential Franchise Buyer and the one question I hear the most is, "What do you think are the hottest categories of franchise businesses today?" In this month's issue we address two of the current favorites: Kids and Pets. By "kids" we refer to all the franchises which are geared to providing children's services and products, pretty much from birth to college age. In that same vein, the popularity of "pets" franchises have come to encompass not only the standard dog and cat services and products, but also tropical fish, iguanas, and various exotic creatures.

From the Publisher: Kids & Pets

From the Publisher
Kids and Pets: Still Popular

At FranchiseHelp we have information, services and products for the entire franchise marketplace. One of the largest groups we attract is the Potential Franchise Buyer and the one question I hear the most is, "What do you think are the hottest categories of franchise businesses today?"

In this month's issue we address two of the current favorites: Kids and Pets. By "kids" we refer to all the franchises which are geared to providing children's services and products, pretty much from birth to college age. In that same vein, the popularity of "pets" franchises have come to encompass not only the standard dog and cat services and products, but also tropical fish, iguanas, and various exotic creatures.

We completed a Franchised Child Services Business Survey near the end of 2005. At that time we surveyed 44 different concepts which we placed in one of four categories: Learning Center & Childcare Services; Fitness & Gym Concepts; Art, Drama & Culinary Classes; and Other Child Services. Just to give you an idea of the diversity of businesses available, let's look at that big grab-bag category "Other". Here we have franchises for kids photography, like Images4Kids; entertainment franchises like Pump it Up; child identification opportunities like Ident-A-Kid and kid's retail clothing like Children's Orchard.

Some of these names may not be known to you but others, especially in the educational area, are highly branded concepts. Plenty of franchise opportunities are still available at Sylvan Learning Center, Kumon, Gymboree, and The Little Gym.

Bottom line is that child services is a big and growing market with more and more specialized services for children appearing regularly with the consumer, the parents, willing to pay for these services.

Click here to see information on FranchiseHelp's Franchised Children's Businesses.

The second hot and growing category we will examine this month is that of pet services and products. The category does not have the number and diversity in opportunities that the child oriented franchises has, but, nevertheless, it is certainly on the fast-track for growth.

One of the more amazing facts, for me, is that there are more pets than people in the U.S., according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). And as outlandish as some of the U.S. pet trends seem-like buying mink coats for dogs to weather the winter and electric toothbrushes for dental hygiene-we are not alone. The most amazing sight of all for me was seeing a dog propped up on a formal chair in several restaurants in France, enjoying the company and cuisine of the dinner party.

Perhaps, doggie and other pet restaurants will be the next thing on the horizon. The point is that the demand for goods and services for pets is not only a U.S. phenomenon but is picking up steam throughout the world.

The APPMA reports that 62% of U.S. households own a pet and 46% of all households own more than one pet. So, I would say that the numbers are definitely looking good for pet franchises. Franchisehelp also surveyed the pet category in 2004 . Take a look here at the 2004 Franchised Pet Products & Services Survey to get an idea of the kinds of businesses available.

Kids and Pets-yep, they're still hot franchise categories so give them a look if you're in the market for a franchise.


Mary E. Tomzack is the President and Founder of FranchiseHelp, Inc. She is a noted franchise expert and the author of Tips & Traps When Buying a Franchise (1999, Source Book Publications). Reach her at (914) 347-6735 or at mtomzack@franchisehelp.com or company@franchisehelp.com.

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