How much does a DoodyCalls franchise cost?
The 2026 DoodyCalls Franchise Disclosure Document estimates a total initial investment of $76,450 to $93,850 for one Franchised Business in one Territory. The range includes a $39,900 Initial Franchise Fee, two other fixed pre-opening payments to DoodyCalls Franchising SPE LLC, third-party setup costs, and $22,500 to $27,500 of Additional Funds for the first six months after opening. It does not include real estate costs.
- Legal franchisor
- DoodyCalls Franchising SPE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and part of the Authority Brands family.
- FDD basis
- Issued April 28, 2026; Items 5, 6 and 7, with cost-relevant provisions from Items 8, 10, 11 and 17.
- Unit format
- One Pet Waste Removal Services business in one Territory. The FDD permits a home or commercial Approved Location but provides one Item 7 range.
- Information checked
- July 20, 2026. Official franchise information was checked against the official U.S. franchise website.
Capital snapshot
What is included in the $76,450 to $93,850 range?
The 2026 Item 7 total consists of $48,900 in fixed payments to the franchisor, $5,050 to $17,450 in third-party setup costs, and $22,500 to $27,500 in Additional Funds. The $5,050 to $17,450 subtotal is a derived calculation that sums the compatible third-party line items shown in Item 7; it is not a separately labeled franchisor estimate.
Payments due to DoodyCalls when the Franchise Agreement is signed
| Item 7 expenditure | Amount | When paid | FDD reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $39,900 | On signing; lump sum or approved financing | Item 5, pp. 9–10; Item 7, p. 24 |
| Business Outfitting Fee | $3,000 | On signing; lump sum | Item 5, p. 11; Item 7, p. 24 |
| Grand Opening Marketing Fee | $6,000 | On signing; lump sum | Item 5, p. 11; Item 7, p. 24 |
The Business Outfitting Fee covers an initial package of branded items, branded apparel, equipment and tools. The Grand Opening Marketing Fee covers initial local marketing beginning up to one week before opening and continuing up to 60 days after opening, or another period designated by the franchisor. These two fees are charged once when multiple Territories are licensed in the same initial transaction.
Training, equipment and opening requirements
| Third-party cost | Low | High | What changes the amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training | $750 | $1,500 | Two trainees; driving at the low end and air travel at the high end. |
| Equipment | $100 | $250 | Additional pans, shovels, rakes and similar tools. |
| Business Licenses | $100 | $500 | Local and state permits, including general business and dumping permits. |
| Insurance | $500 | $4,000 | Required coverage and local underwriting conditions. |
| Signage | $1,500 | $2,600 | Vehicle wrap may be included in a preferred-supplier lease or purchased separately. |
| Vehicle | $0 | $2,600 | Existing approved vehicle versus down payment and initial vehicle-related cost. |
| Start-up Supplies | $500 | $1,000 | Disinfectant, bags, protective items and general scooping supplies. |
Technology, professional support and working capital
| Item 7 expenditure | Low | High | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer System | $800 | $2,000 | Computer and related devices; high end assumes new equipment. |
| Telephone and Internet Services | $300 | $1,500 | Minimal new services versus a full year of more extensive service paid in a lump sum. |
| Professional Fees | $500 | $1,500 | Legal, accounting and business-adviser costs. |
| Additional Funds (6 months) | $22,500 | $27,500 | Initial operating expenses not covered by revenue during the first six months. |
The fixed franchisor payments do not change; the disclosed spread comes from third-party setup costs and the six-month Additional Funds range.
Source: 2026 DoodyCalls FDD, Item 7, pages 24–27. Third-party setup subtotals and chart proportions are derived arithmetic from the official line items; the official totals remain $76,450 and $93,850.
When is the startup money paid?
The largest fixed payment occurs when the Franchise Agreement is signed, while most third-party setup costs are paid as arranged or incurred before opening. DoodyCalls estimates opening approximately two to four months after signing; its official franchise FAQ also describes that opening window.
Sign the Franchise Agreement
Pay the $39,900 Franchise Fee, $3,000 Business Outfitting Fee and $6,000 Grand Opening Marketing Fee. Any Existing Customer Fee is also due at signing. Only the Franchise Fee may be eligible for the Item 10 financing described below.
Complete training and secure opening assets
Pay training travel and living expenses as incurred, then arrange the approved vehicle, insurance, licenses, signage, equipment, Start-up Supplies, Computer System, telephone and internet services, and professional support. Initial training is normally completed two to six weeks before opening.
Satisfy the opening conditions
Before opening, all amounts due to the franchisor must be paid, required insurance evidence and permits must be supplied, training must be completed, and required equipment, supplies, inventory and the Computer System must be installed. The official ownership-process page summarizes the franchisor’s discovery sequence, while the Franchise Agreement controls contractual deadlines.
Fund the first six months of operation
Use the $22,500 to $27,500 Additional Funds allowance for eligible operating expenses as they arise. Royalty Fee, Brand Fund Contribution, Sales Support Center Fee, Technology Fee and Local Marketing obligations begin under their disclosed schedules after opening.
Does a home-based DoodyCalls business cost the same as a commercial location?
The 2026 FDD provides one Item 7 investment range even though the Franchised Business may operate from a home or a commercial Approved Location. Because the official $76,450 to $93,850 total expressly excludes real estate costs, a buyer choosing commercial premises must budget separately for premises-related obligations that are not quantified in Item 7.
One disclosed range, two location choices
Home Approved Location
No separate home-based Item 7 range is disclosed. The buyer must still confirm zoning, vehicle storage, insurance, licensing, communications and other local requirements.
Commercial Approved Location
The FDD does not quantify rent, security deposits, leasehold improvements or other real estate costs. Those amounts sit outside the official Item 7 total and depend on the site and lease.
The range also assumes at least one approved vehicle. A compliant existing vehicle can produce a $0 Item 7 vehicle entry, while the preferred supplier’s disclosed lease was approximately $400 to $450 per month and could require up to a $1,000 down payment. A separately sourced new pickup was estimated at approximately $470 per month when financed at 100% over five years. Those monthly vehicle payments are operating obligations and are not presented as a separate addition to the Item 7 total.
Which DoodyCalls fees continue after opening?
The main continuing charges are the Royalty Fee, Brand Fund Contribution, Annual Local Marketing Spend, Sales Support Center Fee and Technology Fee. They use different bases, so they should not be collapsed into a single percentage or annual dollar estimate.
| Continuing obligation | Amount or basis | Timing | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | Greater of 7.5% of Gross Revenue or the Minimum Royalty Fee | Monthly, unless another period is designated | Calculated year to date, less royalties already collected. |
| Brand Fund Contribution | Currently 1.5% of Gross Revenue | Same as Royalty Fee | May increase to no more than 2% of Gross Revenue on notice. |
| Annual Local Marketing Spend | $36,000 per calendar year | Monthly from Original Opening Date | Prorated for the first partial year; some payments go to designated vendors or the franchisor. |
| Website Fee | Currently $350 per month | Monthly | Counted toward the Annual Local Marketing Spend; may increase 10% on reasonable notice. |
| Sales Support Center Fee | Currently 5% of Gross Revenue | Same as Royalty Fee | May increase to 10%, with increases capped at 2 percentage points per calendar year. |
| Technology Fee | Currently $100 per month | Monthly, unless another period is designated | Scheduled increases can reach $500 monthly; an Allocated Cost for new systems may push the fee above $500. |
Each month, the Royalty Fee is based on the greater of the scheduled minimum or 7.5% of year-to-date Gross Revenue, less year-to-date royalties already collected.
Source: 2026 DoodyCalls FDD, Item 6, pages 12–13. Bar length compares the disclosed monthly minimums against the maximum scheduled minimum of $7,875; it does not estimate sales or the actual Royalty Fee.
- Gross Revenue
- Broadly includes revenue and other income related to the Franchised Business, less bona fide refunds, but excludes sales or similar taxes collected and paid to taxing authorities. Referral commissions do not reduce Gross Revenue.
- Original Opening Date
- The date the Franchised Business first opened under the current franchisee or any prior owner or predecessor operator.
- Annual Local Marketing Spend
- Currently includes designated local programs, the Website Fee, eligible commercial business-development staffing or approved local acquisition cost, and documented discretionary local marketing.
Can the Franchise Fee be financed or discounted?
DoodyCalls Franchising SPE LLC may, in its discretion, finance up to 75% of the Franchise Fee. The balance may be repaid over as many as 36 monthly installments at 12% annual interest, beginning on the first day of the month following the first full month after signing. Prepayment is allowed without penalty. This financing applies only to the Franchise Fee, not the entire $76,450 to $93,850 initial investment.
What the Item 10 financing requires
Documents and security
The franchisee signs a Promissory Note and Guaranty, and entity owners must also sign as guarantors. The franchisor takes a security interest in the assets of the Franchised Business and may file a UCC financing statement.
Transactions excluded
Financing is not offered for an existing franchisee’s additional Territories after the Initial Transaction or for transactions involving brokers, the Referral Program or other third-party referral sources.
Which Initial Franchise Fee reductions are disclosed?
| Program or circumstance | Disclosed Franchise Fee treatment | Scope | FDD reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Territory in Initial Transaction | $29,900 | Separate Franchise Agreement; Existing Customer Fee may still apply. | Item 5, pp. 9–10 |
| Third and later Territories in Initial Transaction | $27,930 each | Separate Franchise Agreement for each Territory. | Item 5, p. 10 |
| Existing DoodyCalls franchisee expansion | 30% reduction | Applies after the Initial Transaction to the Franchise Fee and applicable Existing Customer Fee; no broker or third-party referral. | Item 5, p. 10 |
| Existing affiliate-brand franchisee | $15,000 / $29,000 | First two Territories at $15,000 each; third and later Territories at $29,000 each in the Initial Transaction. | Item 5, p. 10 |
| Honorably discharged veteran or active-duty personnel | 30% reduction | First franchise only; American or Canadian armed forces. | Item 5, p. 10 |
| Qualifying women-, minority- or LGBTQ+-owned business | $5,000 reduction | First DoodyCalls franchise only; the FDD requires at least 51% ownership and Key Person status for the Qualifying Individual. | Item 5, pp. 10–11 |
The franchisor states that discounts generally cannot be combined and may be changed or discontinued. The official investment page summarizes current discount categories, while Item 5 controls the detailed qualifications. DoodyCalls also identifies participation in the IFA VetFran program; the official VetFran information explains the program generally.
Which additional fees can arise after signing?
Item 6 includes support, ownership-change, compliance and default fees that are not part of the ordinary recurring-fee schedule. Many are conditional and cannot be converted into a predictable annual budget, but they can become material when the triggering event occurs.
Support, training and program triggers
Customization or reproduction of Brand Fund materials is billed at cost. Key Account program fees vary by contract, participant count and other factors.
Applies only when extra opening support beyond customary assistance is requested and approved.
Extra-trainee fees are due before the session. On-site remedial or optional training can also require trainer travel, meal and lodging reimbursement.
Charged as invoiced if a conference is scheduled. Required attendees also bear their travel and related expenses.
The franchisor may require a designated live-answering service and can modify the fee on 30 days’ notice.
May apply when the franchisor re-performs services or reimburses a customer after a qualifying complaint, contract dispute or legal violation.
Payable when a franchisee asks the franchisor to evaluate a proposed vendor, whether or not approval is granted.
Applies only if required insurance is not obtained and the franchisor elects to arrange it.
Territory, ownership, renewal and compliance triggers
The percentage escalates with cumulative violations. A first violation involving at least $20,000 of Gross Revenue escalates to a second violation.
Renewal conditions may also require training, vehicle or premises refurbishment, and Computer System and vehicle updates. These update costs are not quantified.
Broker referral amounts may be added. If the franchisor identifies the buyer, an additional amount is the greatest of $15,000, 3% of purchase price or actual sourcing cost.
Applies to ownership changes that do not produce a change of control; due with the approval request.
Management can apply after a Key Person event; Step In can apply during an uncured default. Timing is within 30 days after invoice or as invoiced.
Interest accrues from the due date. Late fees escalate by occurrence, and bank-return charges use the greater of $50 or the bank’s charge.
Triggers include missing records, underreporting above the disclosed threshold, uncured non-compliance and unresolved operational deficiencies.
These reimbursement obligations arise only under the legal, tax or enforcement circumstances defined in Item 6.
Applies if the franchisor terminates the Franchise Agreement because of franchisee default.
Applies when the franchisee fails to remove brand identification after expiration or termination and the franchisor does the work.
Source for this section: 2026 DoodyCalls FDD, Item 6, pages 13–23, and Item 17, pages 56–61.
What should a buyer verify before setting a capital budget?
The official range is a starting point, not a location-specific quote. The largest unresolved issues are commercial-premises costs, the actual vehicle arrangement, insurance pricing, any Existing Customer Fee and whether the franchisor approves Franchise Fee financing or a discount.