Sparkle Grooming Co. Makes Its Biggest Texas Move Yet with 28-Unit Houston Deal
HOSPITALITY
Sparkle Grooming Co., the rapidly growing dog grooming franchise, has announced a 28-unit Regional Development Agreement to expand into the Houston market.
Texas has become ground zero for one of the fastest-growing pet care franchises in the country. Sparkle Grooming Co., the wellness-focused dog grooming brand pioneering the Quick-Service Pet Care (QSPC) category, has announced a 28-unit Regional Development Agreement in the Houston market, one of its largest single agreements to date.
Leading the expansion are David Futrell and Jeff Etter, existing multi-unit Sparkle franchise partners who are already building the brand's presence in Dallas. The Houston deal represents a significant doubling down by two operators who have already bought into Sparkle's vision and are betting big on its continued momentum.
Proven Operators, Proven Market
David Futrell is no newcomer to franchising. He began his career as a franchise operator at just 23 years old and has spent more than three decades building and scaling consumer brands. That track record, combined with his existing Sparkle experience in Dallas, made him and Etter a natural choice to lead one of the brand's most ambitious market expansions to date.
Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, represents a significant opportunity for a brand built around recurring membership revenue, accessible pricing, and neighborhood-level pet care. With a large and growing population of pet owners and a strong culture of service-oriented business, the market is well-suited for Sparkle's compact salon model and subscription-based approach.
"Seeing David and Jeff double down on Sparkle speaks volumes," said Joe Aeppli, Co-Founder and COO of Sparkle Grooming Co. "Houston is a powerhouse market, and we're confident their experience, discipline, and passion for franchising will attract exceptional operators who share our commitment to raising the standard in pet care."
A Brand Built for Scale
Sparkle was founded in 2022 with a mission to modernize the $12 billion U.S. pet services industry. Its Quick-Service Pet Care model blends salon-style grooming with membership-based care, flat-rate pricing, and hospitality-driven operations, creating a consistent, efficient experience for pet parents while giving franchisees a scalable business built on recurring revenue.
The model has resonated strongly with experienced franchise operators from QSR, healthcare, and service-driven sectors. Since 2024, Sparkle has awarded 466 licenses across 25 states, including recent milestones like surpassing 400 licenses nationwide and completing major development deals in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. The Houston agreement is one of the most significant to date and signals continued confidence from the franchise community in Sparkle's trajectory.
Why Houston, Why Now
The timing reflects Sparkle's broader strategy of targeting large metro markets with experienced, multi-unit operators who can move quickly and scale responsibly. By deploying operators who already know the brand's systems, culture, and expectations, Sparkle can accelerate growth in major markets while maintaining the quality and consistency that drives member retention.
For Futrell and Etter, expanding from Dallas into Houston isn't just a business decision, it's a signal that what they've built with Sparkle in North Texas is working, and that they believe the same model can thrive in one of America's most dynamic cities.
With 466 licenses awarded and a growing presence across 25 states, Sparkle Grooming Co. is firmly establishing itself as a defining force in the next generation of pet care. The Houston expansion is the latest, and largest, chapter in that story.