When Patrick Lanigan, from Des Moines, Iowa, first heard about Pet Butler, he wasn’t completely sold. “I called my broker and asked, ‘What is it?’ He said it was a pet care and dog waste removal franchise, and I said, ‘I’m not interested,’” Lanigan recalled with a laugh. “But he told me to wait and look at the numbers, and once I did, I saw the potential.” Lanigan had been waiting for the perfect venture. In 2017, after a long career in corporate insurance, and with company ownership changing, he decided it was time to try his hand at something new. “I always wanted to own my own business,” he said. With the help of a franchise broker, Lanigan found an existing Pet Butler operation that was up for sale. The numbers made sense, but even more compelling was the opportunity to scale something on his own terms.
“It started as a side gig,” Lanigan explained. “I had someone running the day-to-day while I kept my full-time job, but I ended up buying him out, and it became a full-time thing. We’ve quadrupled sales since I bought it!”
While Lanigan appreciates his financial success, what he enjoys most about owning his Pet Butler franchise is the challenge and fulfillment that come with building something.
“I like to grow things – that’s what excites me about owning a business. Now that I’ve scaled it, I’ve brought on a manager, which gives me the freedom and flexibility I didn’t have in the corporate world,” he said.
Today, Lanigan employs a team of 12, including his manager and a roster of part-time and full-time technicians. “Some are students, others are retirees just wanting to get out of the house. We’re pretty flexible with their schedules so they can pursue their goals,” he explained. “I like to think we’re creating real opportunities for people.” Operating locally in his own Iowa community has been a major plus for Lanigan. “Pet Butler is great because they help with national marketing, but they really encourage local involvement,” he said. “We do parades, vendor events and work with rescues. Getting to meet people in the pet industry here has been one of the best parts.”
Lanigan reflected on his own success as he contemplated the advice he’d offer entrepreneurs considering Pet Butler. “It’s an opportunity. People laugh and say, I wouldn’t want to do the dog waste portion, but this is like running any business. You’re making financial decisions, managing people, marketing; there’s a ton of potential in the pet industry,” he said. The numbers speak for themselves. According to the American Pet Products Association, the national pet industry revenue reached $147 billion in 2023. Pet services – including boarding, grooming, health insurance, training and pet sitting – comprised $12.3 billion of that total. For Lanigan, what started as a side hustle has turned into a thriving, meaningful career. “It’s been more than I expected,” he said. “It’s been a good thing for me – no doubt about it.”
This article was published by Franchise Dictionary Magazine and written by Lizzy Yeserski.
