The corporate ladder promised security, but Amy Addington found herself staring out her office window each day, yearning for something more. After 12 years in marketing and sales roles at tech and telecom startups, the stability felt increasingly empty. Down the street, her neighbor Leslie Barron wrestled with the same restlessness. Both women had built respectable careers, yet neither could shake the feeling that their true purpose lay elsewhere.

Despite their corporate success, both women felt something was missing. Friends and family repeatedly asked Amy to pet sit, and she recognized an unmet need in their community. Pet owners struggled to find reliable, professional care for their beloved companions. The existing options fell short of what devoted pet parents actually wanted. Meanwhile, Amy’s passion for animals remained buried beneath spreadsheets and client presentations.

What began as neighborhood pet sitting requests would become Woofie’s, now spanning 58 franchises across 92 territories. Amy’s path from corporate employee to franchise empire founder reveals how recognizing an unmet market need, combined with unwavering determination, can transform both a community and a life. Her story offers a roadmap for anyone ready to leave behind the safety of a steady paycheck and build something meaningful from the ground up.

Taking the Leap

The stability was nice, but something was missing. ‘I had always loved animals and appreciated the joy they bring to their human companions,’ Amy recalls. “While it was certainly risky leaving behind my corporate job, I saw an opportunity to do something I loved and was fueled by finding a sense of purpose.”

The seeds of Woofie’s were planted in an everyday neighborhood occurrence: both Amy and Leslie found themselves regularly asked by friends and family to pet sit. Each request reinforced what market research would later confirm—there was a gap in professional, reliable pet care services.

What made their partnership work wasn’t just their shared passion for animals. Their complementary skills and similar desire to leave the corporate world formed the basis of their business relationship. “My neighbor, and eventual business partner, Leslie Barron, and I launched Woofie’s in our hometown of Ashburn, VA, in 2004. We both had the passion and desire to start something of our own, and I knew we’d be great business partners.”

Their instincts about each other proved correct. But many others didn’t share their vision. “Everyone thought Leslie and I were crazy to quit our corporate jobs and go into business together. Some people even thought we would fail,” Amy shares. Rather than being discouraged, they used the skepticism as fuel.

Finding Market Fit

Before diving in, Amy and Leslie did their homework. They analyzed population demographics, pet ownership rates, economic factors, and the competitive landscape in their area. But their most valuable market research came from direct experience.

“We saw there was a hole in the pet service market in our community that our families and our neighbors could rely on year-round in 2004. This void is what motivated us to launch Woofie’s,” Amy explains.

Their timing aligned perfectly with shifting consumer attitudes toward pets. Today, approximately 66% of U.S. households own a pet, representing about 87 million homes. The pet industry now exceeds $150 billion in the U.S. alone, with projections showing growth to over $350 billion globally in the coming years.

But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The real shift has been in how people view their pets. “We noticed an increasing number of pet owners treat their pets like family,” Amy notes. This trend, often called pet humanization, created demand for higher-quality services.

When it came to pricing their services, Amy and Leslie took a strategic approach that would define their brand positioning. “We did a lot of research in our local market. Although we were at the higher end of the spectrum, it was because we were offering a premium service,” Amy explains. This decision to position themselves as a premium provider rather than compete on price became fundamental to their success. “When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to offer low prices in order to attract new clients. However, stand by the value of your services from the beginning. When you consistently deliver a premium experience, clients will see that the cost is justified. Personally, I don’t believe in attracting clients based on low prices. They should be drawn to the value and long-term benefits your business provides.”

Woofie’s differentiated itself from competitors by combining multiple services under one brand. Starting with pet sitting and dog walking, they later added mobile pet grooming, and more recently, vet telehealth.

“Many clients were constantly asking for referrals for other services such as vets, trainers, and mobile groomers, so it only made sense to expand our offerings,” Amy explains. This responsiveness to customer needs helped them grow organically while creating multiple revenue streams that benefited franchise owners through increased revenue opportunities.

The mobile services offered additional value beyond convenience. “We’re eliminating the time needed for traveling to and from grooming salons, saving time and effort,” Amy notes. “Bringing services directly to the pet owner’s doorstep helps save them time and can help reduce stress for both pets and their owners.”

Building Customer Relationships

While many businesses chase quick growth, Woofie’s took a more deliberate approach. “We built Woofie’s before the era of social media and digital advertising, client by client, by making sure every customer experience was exceptional,” Amy shares.

Their first-year results validated their approach. In 2004, Woofie’s offered only pet sitting and dog walking services and served approximately 200 clients while maintaining an impressive 100% client retention rate. “We were proud to maintain a 100% client retention rate, which we achieved by consistently going above and beyond to deliver exceptional service,” Amy reflects.

This focus on retention rather than just acquisition became a cornerstone of their business philosophy. “For new business owners, my advice would be to implement a client retention plan from day one. Everyone focuses on client acquisition, but in pet care, client retention is essential for growth. Always consider the lifetime value of each client and think creatively about how to earn their repeat business. Prioritizing the client experience should be part of your work mentality and culture. Make sure to hire people who share that same outlook.”

Their first expansion beyond pet sitting and dog walking came when they bootstrapped their first mobile grooming van. They didn’t seek outside investors or take on debt, instead they reinvested their earnings back into the business.

“We self-funded Woofie’s in the early days with sweat equity! We bootstrapped our first mobile grooming van, and over time, the business eventually funded itself.”

The mobile grooming vans provided an unexpected marketing advantage. “Our mobile grooming vans helped as they acted as moving billboards and caught the attention of even more potential clients as they drove through town,” Amy says.

However, expanding into mobile grooming also brought new challenges and unexpected expenses. “When starting out, our expenses were relatively low since we only offered pet sitting and dog walking services. However, once we expanded into mobile grooming, an unexpected expense could be if something happened to the van. For instance, if any of the equipment failed or the van needed service, that was lost revenue,” Amy explains. This experience taught them valuable lessons about operational planning. “That’s why we work with our franchise owners to make sure they have a comprehensive maintenance program in place so they can minimize any downtime with their vans.”

However, their client acquisition strategy wasn’t just about visibility. They became deeply rooted in their community, giving back whenever they could by supporting local schools and businesses. This community-centered approach built trust and generated word-of-mouth referrals, which remain the most powerful form of marketing even in the digital age.

Perhaps most telling about their approach to growth is what they learned from an early mistake. “We had one groomer we really loved, but unfortunately, we put all our eggs in one basket,” Amy admits. “We quickly realized you can’t rely on a single person to make or break your business.” That experience taught them to always be recruiting and to build systems that weren’t dependent on any single individual.

Scaling Operations

As Woofie’s expanded, Amy and Leslie faced new challenges. The business was no longer two neighbors providing pet services. It had grown into a multi-service operation with employees and increasing complexity.

As the business grew more complex, new personal routines were needed to stay focused. Amy developed a daily practice that contributed significantly to her success as an entrepreneur. “I’m naturally an early riser, so I’ve found it beneficial to start my day with a run or walk. It gives me time to clear my mind and plan out my priorities. That early morning time helps me enter the day with intention and focus, especially when addressing any challenges. I find exercise is extremely helpful to keep up with the demands of a busy work schedule.”

To manage this growth, they embraced technology early. “We utilize integrated technology for emails, calls, texts, scheduling, and GPS tracking of mobile technician vehicles, all in an effort to achieve operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience,” Amy explains.

Their GPS system, for example, allows customers to track the arrival of mobile grooming vans, reducing the need for updates about traffic or delays. For franchise owners, these systems streamline processes and enable smoother business scaling. They’ve also implemented customer relationship management systems for appointments, inventory, and payments.

Most recently, they’ve begun integrating AI tools to help groomers capture client information more efficiently and answer questions more quickly. As part of the Authority Brands network, they also provide franchise owners with a comprehensive two-week training program called “Woofie’s Academy,” emphasizing continued education to maintain their competitive edge in the industry.

The biggest transformation came in 2022 when Woofie’s was acquired by Authority Brands. For many founders, acquisition means stepping back. Amy took a different approach.

“In April 2024, I officially opened my own franchise in my new hometown of Delray Beach, FL,” Amy shares. “As a founder turned franchisor, and now franchise owner, I believe this experience is helping me strengthen my relationships with our franchise network and better understand how our day-to-day operations have evolved since being acquired.”

This unusual full-circle journey gives Amy unique insight. By experiencing the business from all angles as founder, franchisor, and franchisee, she can better identify opportunities for improvement.

Entrepreneurial Wisdom

Looking back on her journey from corporate employee to successful entrepreneur, Amy offers several key insights for those considering a similar path.

Perhaps her most emphatic advice is about mindset. “Trust your instincts. To this day, I still think it’s so important to go with your gut and shut out any negative noise,” she urges. “I find having a negative mindset will get you nowhere. Although there were some challenging times, we never lost faith in our dream and proved everyone wrong!”

On the practical side, Amy emphasizes the importance of building strong teams. The lesson learned from their early mistake with the groomer taught them to “always be recruiting and never rely too heavily on one person with a specialized skill set.”

She also advocates for an “inside-out” business approach. “By focusing on our team members as individuals, showing compassion, and emphasizing industry education, we’ve achieved high team investment returns through customer retention and positive word-of-mouth.”

For Amy, entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a successful business—it’s about creating purpose. “The saying ‘if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life’ has always deeply resonated with me,” she shares.

Your Entrepreneurial Foundation

Today, Woofie’s continues to expand, with 2025 target markets including Austin, Charleston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.

As Amy reflects on her path from corporate employee to entrepreneur to franchise owner, she emphasizes that success comes from staying true to your vision while adapting to market needs.

The pet industry continues to evolve, with the pet care market projected to grow substantially in the coming years. Mobile services, personalized care, and technology integration are all trends that Woofie’s identified early and continues to embrace.

Amy’s journey from corporate window-gazing to franchise empire offers tangible lessons for anyone ready to take the entrepreneurial leap. Her experience demonstrates that sustainable business growth starts with premium pricing from day one rather than competing on low costs. Client retention planning becomes your foundation, not an afterthought, with every interaction designed to create lifetime value. When expanding services, expect unexpected expenses and build comprehensive maintenance systems to minimize operational disruptions. Personal routines, particularly morning exercise and planning time, create the mental clarity needed to navigate daily challenges and maintain long-term focus.

The path from employee to entrepreneur requires both strategic thinking and unwavering belief in your vision. Amy’s success stemmed from thorough market research, community engagement, and the courage to ignore skeptics who predicted failure. She built systems that didn’t depend on any single person, recruited continuously, and positioned her business as a premium service rather than the cheapest option. Most importantly, she trusted her instincts when everyone else thought she was making a mistake.

For those contemplating their own entrepreneurial path, Amy’s story offers both inspiration and practical guidance. It demonstrates that with passion, persistence, and purposeful planning, it’s possible to build a thriving business that aligns with your values. As Amy puts it, “Although there were some challenging times, we never lost faith in our dream.” Sometimes, that unshakable belief is exactly what’s needed to turn a neighborhood pet sitting service into a national success story.

Learn more about Woofie’s services at woofies.com and franchise opportunities at ownawoofies.com.