Big Survey 2025: Basics

Our typical 2025 Big Survey respondent operates one retail location, not a franchise, and has been open more than 11 years. Their business primarily serves dogs and cats, and likely offers grooming and/or self-wash services.

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

PETS+ Staff PETS+ November 2025 Issue

Where is your business located/headquartered?

More than 500 owners and top managers of independent pet stores and service providers in the U.S. and Canada took the 2025 Big Survey. The biggest respondent group came from California again this year — with 34 responses! The survey launched in early September and ran for six weeks.

Are you a franchisee?

Yes

95%

How long has your business been in operation?

Less than 1 year
4%
1-5 years
17%
6-10 years
16%
11-20 years
32%
21-30 years
14%
31-40 years
9%
41-50 years
5%
More than 50 years
3%

Where is your business located by market size?

Small town (up to 25,000 people)
28%
Small city (25,001-250,000 people)
35%
Medium-sized city (250,001-1 million people)
22%
Large city (more than 1 million people)
11%
Suburban outskirts of a big urban market
4%

How many locations (including any mobile units) do you have?

1
76%
2
15%
3
5%
4
1%
5
1%
6 or more
2%

Which best describes your core business by top revenue category?

Brick-and-mortar pet supply store with services
38%
Brick-and-mortar pet supply store without services
37%
Brick-and-mortar grooming salon, with or without mobile units, that sells pet supplies
8%
Boarding/daycare facility that sells pet supplies
5%
Training facility that sells pet supplies
2%
Veterinary clinic or hospital that sells pet supplies
3%
Animal welfare facility that sells pet supplies
1%
Other
6%

If you own a brick-and mortar pet supply store with services, please check which you offer:

Grooming
59%
Self-wash
37%
Boarding
22%
Daycare
22%
Training
21%
Dog walking and/or pet sitting
7%
Veterinary care
7%
Other (please specify)
26%

Nutrition counseling was a top “Other” answer, and we found it interesting that those who offer small animal, bird and reptile grooming and boarding did not want us to count those services under our provided answer options.

Check all animals that you sell products and/or offer services for:

“Invertebrates” was our favorite “Other” answer. We’ll add that to the list for 2026!

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