Joshua Rodgers, a Camp Bow Wow franchisee from Parkville last week testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship during a hearing entitled, “Main Street’s Top Dog: Growing the Small Business Pet Economy.”
Testifying on behalf of the International Franchise Association (IFA), Rodgers emphasized the vital role of franchising in America’s pet industry, which is projected to reach $228 billion dollars by 2030. He also called on Congress to provide certainty to the changing joint employer standard by passing the American Franchise Act.
“Franchising is more than just numbers on a page – it is a powerful method for business growth in hundreds of industries, including pet care, hospitality, personal care, restaurants, security, home care, fitness, and real estate, and provides business ownership opportunities to individuals who may not have the opportunity otherwise but feel empowered to be a part of a team, to find a purpose, and to be a part of brand that is greater than themselves – all the while, helping to positively affect the lives of their employees, family, and communities as a small business owner,” Rodgers told lawmakers.
Rodgers highlighted how he and his wife, Ashley, are first generation college graduates who started with one unit 10 miles from their house, and now own and operate seven Camp Bow Wow dog daycare, boarding, and grooming locations across Missouri, Colorado, and Florida, with further plans to provide this vital service in more communities across the country.
According to IFA’s Franchising Economic Outlook for 2026, pet services, including grooming, boarding, daycare, and veterinary care, are expected to be among the fastest-growing segments in the pet industry at a year-over-year rate of around 7-8% in key areas.
In his testimony, Rodgers also emphasized the importance of:
·Passage of the American Franchise Act (AFA), bipartisan, bicameral legislation essential to ending a decade of regulatory whiplash around the federal joint employer standard that has threatened the independence of small business owners;
·The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the access to capital that its lending programs provide for entrepreneurs to become franchise owners;
·The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) and the critical tax relief it provided to small businesses, making permanent provisions like the 199A small business deduction, bonus depreciation, no tax on tips and ensuring pet groomers can utilize the expanded FICA payroll tax credit for beauty services.
Rodgers also highlighted recent findings from IFA’s Value of Franchising report released in January. The report details how franchising provides stronger career growth opportunities and higher wages, more generous community giving, and small business ownership opportunities.
“Franchising is as quintessentially American as owning a dog, and we are grateful to Josh for coming to Washington, D.C., and telling his story about going into business for himself, but not by himself, through Camp Bow Wow,” said Michael Layman, IFA chief advocacy officer. “The franchise model powers the U.S. economy, employing nearly 9 million Americans and contributing over $900 billion annually, including in the flourishing pet services sectors. Josh’s story, like so many others, only was possible through franchising, and the best way for lawmakers to protect these local businesses is by passing the bipartisan American Franchise Act.”
