When Chris and Emily Elias launched DapperTails Franchising, they knew scaling a hands-on service business would require precision, especially when it came to franchise territory mapping. Since launching in 2017 with a single van on Long Island, the Eliases have expanded their business into company-owned operations across nine states, with franchise territories now being awarded nationwide.
The founders built the model from the ground up—combining Emily’s 15+ years as a professional groomer with Chris’s business and operational expertise—to create a franchise system that balances craftsmanship, efficiency, and scalability. In order to deliver that scalability to franchisees, DapperTails needs to ensure that every new franchise territory offers both high demand and long-term growth potential.
Unlike many emerging franchise brands, DapperTails continues to operate multiple company-owned territories. These serve as both high-performing business units and ongoing R&D centers. Lessons learned in corporate markets directly inform franchise training, technology updates, and van specifications.
This foundation ensures new franchisees benefit from systems that have been tested, refined, and proven in real markets before expansion.
DapperTails is designed to help owners get on the road fast. The total initial investment ranges from $103,500 to $242,000*, including van purchase, business setup, and initial training. Most franchisees are fully operational within six weeks of signing, supported through each step, from financing to van customization and pre-opening marketing.
This streamlined onboarding process reflects years of operational refinement and vendor partnerships built to make ownership accessible without cutting corners on quality or support.
Learn more about investing in a DapperTails mobile pet grooming franchise.
DapperTails’ differentiators extend well beyond grooming. Every franchisee gains access to a fully integrated business platform and a support structure built by industry insiders:
These elements combine to create a franchise system that prioritizes both the groomer’s craft and the owner’s business growth.
When awarding new territories, DapperTails relies on Zors.ai to make data-informed decisions that strengthen long-term franchise success.
Zors' detailed demographic mapping and analytics tools allow the DapperTails team to evaluate markets using key factors such as household income, age ranges, marital status, home values, and renter-to-owner ratios. The platform also includes local business size data and a points-of-interest search feature, helping identify competitors and related pet care providers within a target geography.
Each franchise territory includes a protected population of 100,000 residents, with the option to expand by 50,000. Using Zors, DapperTails can visualize market opportunity, balance density and drive-time logistics, and assess whether each awarded territory offers both immediate potential and room to grow.
Beyond territory mapping, Zors also supports DapperTails in tracking franchisee milestones, providing visibility into territory development and performance as the network expands.
This integration of real-world operational insight with Zors' data engine allows DapperTails to grow strategically, maintaining consistency across states while protecting each franchisee’s opportunity.
DapperTails is now awarding territories across the U.S.
Entrepreneurs are joining a franchise that pairs proven grooming expertise with smart systems, strong economics, and the data-driven intelligence of Zors.ai.
Visit DapperTailsFranchising.com to learn more, request a discovery call, and see if your territory is still available.
See Item 7 of DapperTails' Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) issued March 3, 2025 for more information, which is available upon request by telephone at 1-888-808-5475 or by email to info@dappertailsfranchising.com. For the avoidance of doubt, this blog post is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation nor an offer to purchase a franchise. DapperTails' franchises can only be offered and sold by them and only through disclosure of their FDD.
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