Freddie Harris not too long ago opened a franchise location of Scenthound, a sequence of canine groomers, in Innsbrook. He plans to open two extra places within the area. (Jack Jacobs picture)
After a pair years engaged on the company facet of canine grooming franchise firm Scenthound, Richmond-area resident Freddie Harris has jumped into the function of franchisee.
Harris not too long ago opened his personal Scenthound location at 10921 W. Broad St. within the Colonnades West buying heart close to Innsbrook.
The new 1,200-square-foot canine washing and grooming business in Henrico is deliberate to be the primary of three places to open round city within the coming months.
Scenthound’s area at Colonnades West was previously occupied by a tutoring business. The canine groomer is within the B suite of the identical retail strip as Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Akoya Japanese Kitchen.
Harris mentioned his personal canine, an 8-year-old German shepherd named Karma, impressed him to tackle a distant company function with Florida-based Scenthound a pair years in the past.
“At first, I was like, ‘That’s nice to have,’ Harris said of the Scenthound concept. “But then I started thinking about my dog and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love my dog so much, if providing routine care can help her possibly live longer then I’m all in.’”
Harris already wished to be a business proprietor and realized {that a} franchise along with his then-employer would enable him to try this.
“I wanted to be more involved locally and be able to really engage in that piece of things,” he mentioned. “I thought there was a huge need in Richmond and no one is providing a service like this yet.”
So earlier this yr, Harris left his job with the corporate to purchase the franchise. Originally he deliberate to maintain his job at Scenthound and rent somebody to deal with the majority of the every day operations on the franchise. But whereas in search of a day-to-day supervisor for his budding operation, he realized he wished the gig as a substitute.
“I’m listing out all these things for a job description that I’m interested in applying to,” he recalled. Harris left the company job in March and opened the Henrico location this month.
He’s now the managing associate of the franchise, which he co-owns with family and friends. The group shall be rising its footprint with two extra places within the coming months.
Harris mentioned early discussions are underway to lease a property close to the Museum District in Richmond. That location may doubtlessly open in late 2024 or early 2025.
A Midlothian outpost can also be deliberate, with a tentative opening date of later in 2025.
Harris mentioned it has cost $500,000 to $600,000 to get the Richmond franchise going, a determine that features prices related to opening the primary location and franchise charges to tee up the opposite places.
Scenthound requires its franchisees to have $150,000 in liquid capital and a minimal internet value of $500,000, in keeping with its web site. The firm takes a 6% royalty of gross income.
The firm’s places supply baths, nail clipping, enamel brushing, wellness checks and different companies for dogs. The firm steers clients towards turning into members who make month-to-month visits but in addition accepts one-off appointments.
“The reason we encourage people to bring in dogs every month and have the membership is that it is better for the dog to have that routine hygiene care and schedule. The dog gets used to us and the process,” Harris mentioned.
Scenthound affords a three-tier membership program, which on the native location ranges from $35 for the basic package deal that enables one bathtub and different cleansing companies monthly, as much as a $65 package deal that features limitless baths amongst different companies, equivalent to access to a web based veterinary session service.
Scenthound was based in 2015 and has greater than 100 places listed as open or coming quickly on its web site. The firm has two places in Northern Virginia.
