When Peggy Kennedy says she’s working near capacity, she’s no longer talking in terms of late nights at the office, polishing PowerPoint presentations. For Kennedy, who formerly worked in financial services on the East Coast and found refuge as a West Coast pet-care industry franchise owner, nowadays it’s about the time she and her staff spend caring for clients of the four-legged variety.
“I’m working all the time–weekends, vacations, I’m always checking in. And I’m adding administrative staff just to keep up,” says Kennedy, referring to the Fetch! Pet Care franchise she’s been running in the Los Angeles area since 2006. Buoyed by a largely word-of-mouth clientele sprinkled with Hollywood celebs and their pets, her pet-sitting and dog-walking operation hit all-time highs this summer for monthly revenue, grossing more than $30,000, up from $1,500 in its early days.