Former MBA Accountant’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Births New Dog Franchise
We’re thrilled to welcome our newest Franchise Owner, Bob Schwartz, into the DTE family!
As a former accountant with an MBA and previous experience with franchise ownership, not to mention a love of dogs, Bob ticks all the boxes for being a highly successful entrepreneur with Dog Training Elite and is all set to launch his 5 Houston, TX-area territories this year. Here’s a little about Bob and how he discovered our dog franchise opportunity.
Bob’s Backstory
After earning his MBA, Bob climbed the corporate ladder in the world of finance for 15 years. Eventually, Bob decided to flex his entrepreneurial muscles, opening a Great Clips franchise that he built up for over a decade before moving on to owning and operating a pizzeria, where he’s been for the past five years.
Soon enough, Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to Dog Training Elite, after first hearing about us years ago from an acquaintance. This individual is a dog trainer, and his enthusiasm left an impression on Bob. At the time, Bob was still an accountant, and LIFO/FIFO cost flow assumptions didn’t provide the same level of enthusiasm. “Dog slobber definitely holds my attention!” Bob remarked. Dogs are fun to work with and provide high emotional reward for our Franchise Owners- something Bob was definitely interested in having as part of his career. On a whim, he searched online about what it would take to become a dog trainer. During that search, he spotted the name of the dog training franchise his friend had mentioned all those years ago- Dog Training Elite.
Joining the Team
Bob’s previous experience in a franchise system with Great Clips gave him a deeper appreciation of the Dog Training Elite model. While this franchising experience helped Bob, many of our Franchise Owners did not go into Dog Training Elite with prior experience.
Our training gives Franchise Owners a head start in the dog training industry. We help every step of the way. “I am confident that the DTE training and guidance will prepare me to run a successful training business,” Bob states.
While looking for a way to enter the dog training industry, Bob also looked for ways to achieve a better work-life balance. Dog Training Elite provides Franchise Owners with significant schedule flexibility. He enjoyed this aspect, as well as the opportunity to act either as an Owner-Operator or on a semi-absentee basis. The flexibility of the Dog Training Elite model allows for customization for dog franchise investors of all types, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. In Bob’s case, the opportunity to oversee an empire of DTE territories appealed to him very much. He’ll hire Lead Trainers for each location while working to grow his business throughout Houston- and he’ll still get all the benefits of being around dogs every day!
A Smart Investment
You can take Bob out of accounting, but you can’t take the accountant out of Bob: in addition to loving the flexibility of the DTE model and the allure of working with dogs, he was also impressed by the strong potential for profitability. Seeing the comparatively low investment and minimal overhead required to own a Dog Training Elite franchise, along with the profit margins our team shared with him during the Franchise Discovery Process, he realized he would be able to hire enough Lead Trainers for front-line work while still growing his dog training business.
Bob’s “lightbulb” moment came from watching some of the Peer Review video calls that our franchise candidates are able to view in order to get a better understanding of our dog franchise. These video calls gave Bob a chance to hear directly from real Franchise Owners about what it’s like to operate a DTE, from both an Owner-Operator and a Semi-Absentee Owner perspective. This gave Bob the information he needed to decide how he wanted to run his business. “I envision starting out as hands-on but over time transitioning to a management role,” he says, adding that he likes the concept of a semi-absentee franchise in the long term.
At the Dog Training Elite Approval Day, Bob got the chance to meet with Founder John Mestas and the rest of our corporate team in Utah, and he liked what he saw. “I liked the professionalism and vision they have put together,” Bob says about his Approval Day visit. He gained proper insights into the day-to-day operations needed to succeed with his dog franchise. He is confident that the reality of owning a DTE franchise will not be a big deviation from his expectations.
Bob’s venture into Dog Training Elite marks the newest chapter of his entrepreneurial journey. His favorite aspect of entrepreneurship is having control over his destiny. He believes his business experience, drive, and the Dog Training Elite model will help him grow a successful franchise.
The Dog Training Elite Experience
Bob cast a wide net for franchises, considering many potential industries and opportunities. Dog Training Elite was the only one he seriously looked at in the pet industry. Our Discovery Process helped him feel confident about becoming a Franchise Owner, and the training and support he is already receiving from our executive team are helping him gain the building blocks he needs to be a major success in his market.
Although Bob currently does not have a dog, those plans will change. Bob explains that he “married a cat lady, so you know who’s going to win that one out.” As if there weren’t already enough perks that came with owning a Dog Training Elite franchise, he now has the leverage he needs to finally welcome a dog into their home.
Bob is happy to own a business that helps people and their dogs become a better team. He also likes getting out of the office and going into new environments each day.
Bob’s advice to aspiring Franchise Owners is to seek a clear picture of what you want out of life. Knowing what you want helps you create a plan to achieve your life goals. Bob believes becoming a Franchise Owner enables you to gain control over your future. You can operate on your schedule and put as little or as much into the business as you desire.
Own a Dog Franchise- Make a Difference
Dog Training Elite helps people achieve their dreams of entrepreneurship. Our Franchise Owners have been looking for the perfect opportunity to combine their love of dogs with their desire to be their own boss and set their own schedules. Starting at just $159,050, you can leave the corporate grind behind for good and do something that matters, every single day!
Please visit our franchise website for more information.
*Numbers obtained from our 2023 FDD