From the filings

+5.276% franchised outlets YoYHQ-led decisions

Dog Training Elite

Personal services

Dog Training Elite's headquarters requires every franchisee to run the Chase merchant mobile point-of-sale system, Google Ads, and a current version of QuickBooks, plus required CRM and document-management software. The system spans 419 franchised personal-services territories with no company-owned locations, and franchised territories are up 5.28% year over year.

For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.

Live signals

Total units
419
419 franchised
Franchised outlet growth
+5.276%
Item 20, last two year-ends
AUV
$374K
Item 19, 2024
Royalty
8% component; full terms unconfirmed
percentage component
Ad fund
1%
percentage component
Initial fee
$110K
per unit
Investment range
$188K–$297K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
3 years
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing

Ordinary royalty terms

8% component; full terms unconfirmed

Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.

Recorded percentage components

These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.

1recorded components (FY2026)

Recorded percentage components (FY2026)Ad fund 1%. Components use their own filing bases and conditions. Drawn against a 15% reference scale.

15% reference

Ad fund 1%

Mandated & recommended tech

The systems vendors compete with

3 technology requirements are recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.

Chase Payment SolutionsChase Payment Solutions
Mandatory
PaymentsItem 11

We require that the use of a point of sale (POS) system designated by us to be purchased or leased from our designated supplier. At this time, we use and we require that you use the Chase merchant mobile Point of Sale System or POS software and hardware, but this may change at any time and the cost to change the system is incurred by you alone [franchise agreement paragraph 6.1.12]. The POS system currently provides:

Google AdsGoogle
Mandatory
MarketingItem 6

TYPE OF FEE AMOUNT DUE DATE REMARKS Successor $2,500 Prior to entering A successor franchise agreement is Franchise Fee1 into a successor available to you only if you meet each franchise agreement of the requirements described in the franchise agreement at the time of your timely election to enter into a successor agreement. Royalty1 8% of gross sales Payable weekly to Gross sales include all revenue from be received by the franchise business, including Tuesday of the trades, but do not include sales tax. following week (a We reserve the right to require sales week runs royalties to be paid in accordance with Sunday – Saturday) our electronic funds transfer or automatic withdrawal program as developed. Brand Fund 1% of gross sales Same as royalties See Note 4 below. Fee1,4,5 SEO Fee 1 3 Currently, Payable monthly This fee will be for our designated $500/per month third-party provider to manage SEO campaign in your market. This fee may be charged by a third-party supplier or us and may be updated periodically in our manuals. Google Currently, one- Payable monthly You must set a budget for monthly AdWords3,4 time $1,500 setup Google AdWords with our approved fee; $2,050 to third-party provider. This amount can $4,025/per month be applied toward your local marketing obligation. See Note 4. Late Charges1,2,3 $50/per month Payable with Charges will begin to accrue after the (up to a royalty or on due date of any required payment or maximum of 2x demand report. Subject to increase by up to the total amount 10% per year (cumulative). owing per instance per late payment and up to $500 per late report) Interest on Late 18% interest or Payable with Interest begins to accrue on the total Fees and maximum rate royalty or on amount (fee plus any later charge) after Reports1,2 permitted by state demand the due date of any required payment law or report.

QuickBooksIntuit
Mandatory
AccountingItem 11

You are required to participate in the loyalty, gift card, discount, memberships, subscription, and coupon programs we develop. You are not allowed to implement any sort of loyalty, coupon, membership gift card or subscription model without our prior written permission [franchise agreement paragraph 6.2.2(ii)]. Accounting We require you to use a current version (not more than 1-year old) of the QuickBooks accounting system. We reserve the right to have independent access to your account. Generally, QuickBooks is updated annually for a cost of up to $500 per year if purchased, and there is currently a monthly fee of approximately $40 to $100 per month if you purchase a monthly subscription [franchise agreement paragraph 6.1.12 (iv)]. We can change the required accounting software at our discretion.

FacebookMeta
MarketingItem 6

5 Marketing Events. You must also attend a minimum of 6 large marketing events and 6 smaller marketing events each year. Home shows, RV shows, and similar types of events are considered large marketing events, and farmers’ markets, city, county or state fairs, and other similar venues are considered small marketing events, as otherwise described in our manuals. The amount you spend attending these marketing events can be counted toward your local marketing expenditure requirement. Upon our request, you must provide us with a report of your attendance at such events along with a report of the leads generated from each event. 6 Indemnification. You must indemnify us from damages and costs related to your acts, errors or omissions in the operation of your franchise business or your franchise business generally, and including any allegation that you are our employee, or that we are a joint employer or otherwise responsible for the acts or omissions relating to your employees, and other laws regarding public accommodations for persons with disabilities. You are not required to indemnify us for liability caused by our willful misconduct, gross negligence, strict liability, or fraud. 7 Tech Fee. The tech fee currently includes the following (fees, terms, and conditions subject to change by the applicable provider): CRM software set up for 2 users and our brand features (additional users can be purchased), G-Suite account setup for up to 2 accounts (additional accounts can be purchased), learning management platform and system, domain name and website hosting and maintenance for the brand website, and social media setup for Facebook & Instagram and access to social media posting guide. 8 System Non-Compliance. We may issue you a fine for certain violations of the franchise agreement and/or manuals. The amount of the fine will be set forth in the manuals and are paid to us to reimburse us for our administrative and management costs for us to address the violation. If you do not correct the violation within the time required by us, we have the right to put you in default. All fines are to be paid in accordance with our electronic funds transfer or automatic withdraw program.

InstagramMeta
MarketingItem 6

5 Marketing Events. You must also attend a minimum of 6 large marketing events and 6 smaller marketing events each year. Home shows, RV shows, and similar types of events are considered large marketing events, and farmers’ markets, city, county or state fairs, and other similar venues are considered small marketing events, as otherwise described in our manuals. The amount you spend attending these marketing events can be counted toward your local marketing expenditure requirement. Upon our request, you must provide us with a report of your attendance at such events along with a report of the leads generated from each event. 6 Indemnification. You must indemnify us from damages and costs related to your acts, errors or omissions in the operation of your franchise business or your franchise business generally, and including any allegation that you are our employee, or that we are a joint employer or otherwise responsible for the acts or omissions relating to your employees, and other laws regarding public accommodations for persons with disabilities. You are not required to indemnify us for liability caused by our willful misconduct, gross negligence, strict liability, or fraud. 7 Tech Fee. The tech fee currently includes the following (fees, terms, and conditions subject to change by the applicable provider): CRM software set up for 2 users and our brand features (additional users can be purchased), G-Suite account setup for up to 2 accounts (additional accounts can be purchased), learning management platform and system, domain name and website hosting and maintenance for the brand website, and social media setup for Facebook & Instagram and access to social media posting guide. 8 System Non-Compliance. We may issue you a fine for certain violations of the franchise agreement and/or manuals. The amount of the fine will be set forth in the manuals and are paid to us to reimburse us for our administrative and management costs for us to address the violation. If you do not correct the violation within the time required by us, we have the right to put you in default. All fines are to be paid in accordance with our electronic funds transfer or automatic withdraw program.

YelpYelp
MarketingItem 11

You may not create a website for your franchise business. You cannot engage in marketing on the Internet, including posting for re-sell, items on third party resell or auction-style websites such as eBay, Craigslist or Amazon without our prior written permission. You may not claim any web listing on sites such as Yelp. We have the right (but not the obligation) to manage and control all online reviews for your franchise We may allow you to place pre-approved information concerning your franchise business on our website or a subdomain, as developed by us. We 31

Franchisor behaviours

What the franchisor requires

31 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 explicit no's; 1 question the text does not settle, which is not a no.

Accounting

Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

Accounting We require you to use a current version (not more than 1-year old) of the QuickBooks accounting system.

Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?

Yes

Item 11

We reserve the right to have independent access to your account.

Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You shall submit to Us the following reports by the following due dates.

How the franchisor buys

Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?

Yes

Item 8

Our principal officers Neal Mestas and John Mestas have an ownership interest in us, and we are an approved supplier for certain products, services, and software.

Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?

Yes

Item 20

The following independent franchisee organizations have asked to be included in this disclosure document: National Dog Training Association A Chapter of the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers 276 Hazard Ave, Suite 11 Enfield, CT 06082 Phone: 619.209.3775 Email: NDTA@aafdchapters.org

Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?

Yes

Item 8

We may issue new specifications and standards for any aspect of our brand system, or modify existing specifications and standards, at any time by revising our manuals and/or issuing new written directives (which may be communicated to you by any method we choose).

How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?

26931

Item 8

In the year ending December 31, 2024, we derived $26,931 in revenue from the sale or lease of products and services to franchisees or earned from suppliers with franchisee purchases which was 0.8% of our total revenue of $3,494,397.

Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Item 8

We or our affiliates may derive income from required purchases or leases of goods or services made by our franchisees from approved sources.

Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?

75

Item 8

We estimate that the proportion of required purchases or leases will represent approximately 75% to 85% of your overall purchases in opening your franchise business and 75% to 85% of your overall purchases in operating your franchise business.

Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?

Yes

Item 8

Before beginning our evaluation, you must pay a supplier evaluation fee of $250.

Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?

Yes

Item 8

If you desire to purchase any of the items listed in this Item 8 from an unapproved supplier or to purchase an alternative good, you must submit to us a written request for this approval or request the supplier itself to do so.

Communications

Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?

Yes

Franchise agreement

All such property and listings, excluding Your operating assets and inventory that are associated with and considered part of Our brand, Intellectual Property, and System revert back to Us upon Termination of this Agreement.

Data and IT

Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?

Yes

Franchise agreement

At Your cost and expense, You must investigate and ensure that You comply with all payment card industry (“PCI”) and data security standard (“DSS”) standards, regulations, and requirements; however, We reserve the right to approve of the supplier You use for compliance.

Franchise management

Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?

Yes

Franchise agreement

We may conduct periodic evaluations, inspections, and audits of any or all aspects of Your Franchise Business at reasonable intervals by Our duly authorized representative for compliance with the System, reporting, customer service and the standards and procedures set forth in the Manuals.

Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?

Yes

Franchise agreement

We have the right to revise the Manuals at Our sole discretion.

Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You are required to select an office site approved by Us for Your Franchise Business within 30 days of signing the Franchise Agreement.

Marketing

Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?

Yes

Item 11

You may not create a website for your franchise business.

Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?

Yes

Item 6

In addition, you must spend a minimum of 2% of your gross sales or $1,667/per month, whichever is greater, to advertise your franchise business locally.

Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?

Yes

Item 11

You are required to participate in the loyalty, gift card, discount, memberships, subscription, and coupon programs we develop.

Operations

Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?

Yes

Item 8

You must purchase or lease the following products from us, other sources designated or approved by us, or according to our specifications as set forth in the manuals:

Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You must purchase all designated products, equipment, logoed, branded, and other items and supplies as designated by Us from sources designated or approved by Us.

Payments

Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

At this time, we use and we require that you use the Chase merchant mobile Point of Sale System or POS software and hardware, but this may change at any time and the cost to change the system is incurred by you alone [franchise agreement paragraph 6.1.12].

Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You must provide a new ACH agreement to Us so that there is no time in which We do not have the ability to automatically withdraw or debit all payments and Fees due and owing to Us.

Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?

Yes

Item 11

You are required to participate in the loyalty, gift card, discount, memberships, subscription, and coupon programs we develop.

People

Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?

Yes

Item 15

You must also have two full-time employees: one full-time trainer and one fulltime operations manager, one of which may be the operating principal.

Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 7

You must also purchase the proper uniforms with shirts, pants, shoes, hats, etc., as directed by us.

Point of sale

Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

We require that the use of a point of sale (POS) system designated by us to be purchased or leased from our designated supplier.

Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?

Yes

Item 11

We will have independent access to the information and data collected or generated by the computer and the POS system.

Sales and CRM

Must the franchisee use a CRM system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

You are required to use and pay for our designated customer relation management software or CRM in the operation of your franchise as well as software for document management and storage.

Training

Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?

Yes

Item 11

We can require your operating principal and/or other key personnel to attend additional trainings if you are in default, if you have not met the minimum sales requirement, or if we reasonably believe such training would be in the best interest of your franchise

Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?

Yes

Item 11

If held, attendance is mandatory for your operating principal, or alternatively, you may send another owner to the conference that is involved in the business at the executive level, if approved by us.

The filing answers no to 2 questions
  • Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?Franchise agreement
  • Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11

The vendor opportunity at Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite operates 419 franchised personal-services territories with no company-owned locations, and franchised territories are up 5.28% year over year. Item 19 of the FDD makes a financial performance representation.

Who controls software purchasing

Dog Training Elite's headquarters, led by Co-Founder and CEO John Mestas, sets the technology mandate centrally: franchisees must use a current version of QuickBooks (no more than a year old), a designated CRM, and document-management and storage software, all required and paid for by the franchisee. The company's principal officers, Neal Mestas and John Mestas, hold an ownership interest in the business, and it is itself an approved supplier for certain products, services, and software.

Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required

The filing obliges franchisees to run the Chase merchant mobile point-of-sale system and software, and to use Google Ads. Franchisees must also purchase a tablet and smartphone compatible with Google Calendar and Google Drive, plus a company-approved wireless carrier plan, and must buy G-Suite from the franchisor or an affiliate. Yelp is named elsewhere in the filing.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list: franchisees must buy the Start-Up Packet, Learning Management System, accounting software, CRM, document-management software, and G-Suite from the franchisor or an affiliate. All currently approved suppliers and specifications are made available before operations begin, and franchisees may propose an alternative supplier for approval. The initial term runs 10 years, with a successor 10-year term available if the franchisee is not in default, pays a successor franchise fee, and modernizes to then-current standards.

How to read the Dog Training Elite FDD

The embedded viewer below carries Dog Training Elite's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 and Item 11 language summarized above.

Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like Dog Training Elite where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.

Ordinary royalty terms

Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.

Questions vendors ask

Dog Training Elite, answered from the filing

Dog Training Elite's headquarters, led by Co-Founder and CEO John Mestas and Manager Neal Mestas, designates the required point-of-sale system, CRM, document-management, and accounting software every franchisee must run, and the company itself is an approved supplier for some of those products. Vendors should approach corporate development.
Dog Training Elite requires every franchisee to run the Chase merchant mobile point-of-sale system, Google Ads, and a current version of QuickBooks, plus required CRM, document-management software, and G-Suite bought from the franchisor or an affiliate. Yelp is named elsewhere in the filing.
419 franchised personal-services territories, with no company-owned locations, and franchised territories up 5.28% year over year.
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list: franchisees must buy the Start-Up Packet, Learning Management System, accounting software, CRM, document-management software, and G-Suite from the franchisor or an affiliate, which is also an approved supplier for other products. Franchisees may propose a supplier for approval.
The initial term runs 10 years, with a successor agreement for another 10 years available if the franchisee is not in default, pays a successor fee, and modernizes to then-current standards. Franchised territories are up 5.28% year over year.
The embedded PDF viewer below carries Dog Training Elite's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.
Source

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The brands you can actually sell into, from the filings.

Operator footprint

Who runs the locations

12 operators run 12 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.

Operators by units owned

Single-unit12

Top states by locations

MI1
HI1
IA1
MN1
VA1

Ownership

The portfolio behind Dog Training Elite

Parent company: DTE Demo Dog, LLC.

Related Personal services brands

Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.