How to Finance a Sit Means Sit Franchise: Mobile or Facility
By Marc Cornella
A Sit Means Sit franchise loan is usually a small, focused request: a $30,000 franchise fee, a vehicle, training costs and a few months of operating cash, and sometimes a training facility. Because owners can start mobile or home-based, the real financing question is how much runway a new trainer needs to build a client base.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Sit Means Sit; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document and website can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and license agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant before you commit.
Sit Means Sit Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchisor: Sit Means Sit Franchise, Inc., based in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Initial franchise fee: $30,000 for a new franchisee, nonrefundable, according to the franchisor’s information based on its 2026 FDD
- Estimated initial investment: $40,175 to $137,250 for a new franchisee
- Royalty: the company’s franchise FAQ describes the royalty as the greater of 6% of gross sales or $800 per month; confirm the current terms in Item 6
- Net worth: the franchisor asks for at least $100,000
- Territory: a Trade Area with a minimum estimated dog population of 50,000
- System size: 148 franchised outlets at the end of 2025, with no company-owned outlets
- Financial performance representations: the franchisor states that it does not make them
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Sit Means Sit Dog Training (code S3301), with no additional directory note
What Is Sit Means Sit?
Sit Means Sit is a dog training franchise founded in 1998 by Fred Hassen, a competitive dog trainer, with a focus on attention-based training methods. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, and its training system has been used for family pets as well as police, service, therapy and personal protection dogs.
Services and formats. Owners offer obedience and puppy training, help for reactive dogs, group classes, day training and, where zoning allows, board and train programs. The franchisor says many owners launch as a mobile or home-based operation, training at clients’ homes or in parks, while others open an optional commercial training facility. That flexibility is why the Item 7 range runs from no real estate at the low end to leasehold improvements at the high end.
System size. Based on the franchisor’s 2026 FDD figures, the all-franchised system grew from 146 outlets at the start of 2022 to 163 at the start of 2025, then ended 2025 at 148. Ask the franchisor about the 2025 decline, because lenders will.
How lenders view the brand. Lenders see a low-capital service business with a long history and an established training program, but also one whose revenue depends on the owner’s skill as a trainer and salesperson, with few hard assets. That puts the focus on the borrower’s credit, liquidity and client-building plan.
Sit Means Sit Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. According to the franchisor’s information based on its 2026 FDD, a new franchisee pays a nonrefundable $30,000 initial franchise fee, which the franchisor’s FAQ says covers certification training and ongoing support. Existing franchisees adding a territory pay $25,000 or $10,000 to $15,500, depending on when they opened their first franchise.
Real property and leasehold improvements. Item 7 shows $0 to $39,000. A mobile or home-based owner may spend nothing here, while an owner who leases and improves a training facility sits toward the top of the range.
Vehicles, equipment and technology. Item 7 lists vehicles at $400 to $23,500, which covers anything from branding an existing vehicle to buying one. Equipment and signs run $300 to $1,000, and computer hardware and software $0 to $3,000.
Training costs. The initial training fee ranges from $0 to $2,500, and wages, travel, lodging and living expenses during training run $2,620 to $6,680. The initial training program lasts about 21 days, so owners should plan for living costs while they are away from any other income.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory of training collars runs $630 to $1,570, a CRM setup fee is $1,000, and Item 7 includes $4,800 to $13,800 in additional funds for the first 3 months.
Total investment. The estimated initial investment for a new franchisee is $40,175 to $137,250. Here are the line items as the franchisor presents them:
- Initial franchise fee: $30,000
- Real property and leasehold improvements: $0 to $39,000
- Equipment and signs: $300 to $1,000
- Vehicles: $400 to $23,500
- Computer hardware and software: $0 to $3,000
- Initial training fee: $0 to $2,500
- Wages, travel, lodging and living expenses during training: $2,620 to $6,680
- Opening inventory (training collars): $630 to $1,570
- Pre-opening advertising: $200 to $700
- Insurance deposits and premiums: $150 to $3,300
- Licenses and permits: $25 to $700
- Professional fees: $0 to $3,000
- Demonstration dog: $50 to $7,500
- CRM setup fee: $1,000
- Additional funds for 3 months: $4,800 to $13,800
Existing franchisees adding territories see lower totals: $35,175 to $132,250 in one category and $20,175 to $122,750 in another.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty. The company’s franchise FAQ describes the royalty as the greater of 6% of gross sales or $800 per month. The minimum matters for financing: in the early months, when sales are still building, the royalty is a fixed cost rather than a percentage, and it sits alongside your loan payment.
Other recurring costs. Check Item 6 for marketing, technology, renewal and transfer fees. Re-certification is required every three years at no additional tuition, but travel is the owner’s expense.
How lenders factor these costs in. Lenders build a monthly budget with the royalty minimum, vehicle, insurance, marketing and any rent, then compare it with a realistic ramp-up in clients. Because the brand makes no financial performance representations, your projections must rest on your own research and conversations with current owners.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
- Net worth: the franchisor asks for at least $100,000 in net worth.
- Proof of assets: applicants provide proof of assets before an accounting review.
- Residency: proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
- Background checks: criminal background, driving record and credit checks.
- Training: completion of the initial training program of about 21 days, held twice a year.
- Trade Area: a mutually agreed territory with a minimum estimated dog population of 50,000.
The approval process. Candidates apply, receive the FDD, talk with existing franchisees, build a sample Trade Area and pay a nonrefundable deposit once it is approved. Proof of assets and an accounting review follow. After approval, the candidate secures financing, signs the license agreement, pays the balance of the fee and completes training, so start financing conversations during due diligence.
Ways to Own a Sit Means Sit
A new territory, mobile or home-based. This is the lowest-cost route. A Sit Means Sit franchise loan here typically covers the franchise fee, training costs, a vehicle and working capital. Learn how we approach pet care business start-up financing.
A new territory with a training facility. Board and train programs, day training and group classes in your own space require a lease, leasehold improvements and zoning approval, and lenders will want the lease terms and a plan for filling the facility.
Buying an existing territory. A resale brings an established client list and referral sources, needs franchisor approval and lets lenders underwrite actual results. Read about buying a franchise resale and our pet care business acquisition financing.
Financing Options for a Sit Means Sit Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Sit Means Sit is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan is often a good fit for the franchise fee, training costs, vehicle, facility improvements and working capital in one package. Longer terms can keep payments manageable during the ramp-up.
SBA 504 loans. The SBA 504 program is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets. It rarely fits a mobile Sit Means Sit start-up, but an established owner buying a building for a training and boarding facility may find it worth considering.
Conventional term loans. A conventional business loan can work for borrowers with strong credit and liquidity, especially existing owners adding a territory or buying an established one with a track record.
Equipment and vehicle financing. Owners may finance the vehicle and branded wrap separately, along with kennels, computers and, for facilities, fencing, flooring and outdoor training areas. See our options for pet care equipment financing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Item 7 budgets 3 months of additional funds, but many new owners take longer to build a full schedule. A line of credit can cover marketing pushes, insurance renewals, vehicle repairs or the slower weeks between training packages. Learn about pet care working capital and lines of credit.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may agree to carry part of the price of an existing territory. Any seller note would need to be acceptable to the senior lender and is typically subordinate to it, and loan programs may limit how a seller note is structured.
SBA Loans for Sit Means Sit Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory before they can make an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. A listing means the brand’s franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility; it does not approve any individual borrower.
The directory listing. Sit Means Sit appears on the SBA Franchise Directory as Sit Means Sit Dog Training, code S3301, with no additional note. In plain English, the franchise relationship has been cleared for SBA review and there is no brand-specific condition beyond the normal SBA process. Give your lender the code at the start.
Program size and tips. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change, so a start-up like this is limited by your own credit and cash flow rather than the program. Bring the FDD, license agreement, Trade Area documentation, a personal financial statement, tax returns and month-by-month projections that include the royalty minimum, and line up your training date with the closing.
You can estimate payments with our SBA loan calculator; results are for planning only and are not an offer or approval.
How Lenders Evaluate a Sit Means Sit Deal
Personal credit and financial history. With few hard assets to secure the loan, lenders rely heavily on the borrower’s credit history, tax returns and personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Beyond the franchisor’s $100,000 net worth requirement, lenders look at the cash you keep after your equity injection as a cushion while you build clients.
Industry and management experience. Experience handling dogs, competing in dog sports or working in pet care strengthens a request, as does sales or small business experience. Lenders also want evidence you can sell training packages.
Business plan and projections. Explain how you will find clients in your Trade Area through veterinarians, groomers, rescue groups, reviews and referrals. Show a realistic monthly client ramp, your mix of private lessons and board and train programs, and your royalty, vehicle, insurance and marketing costs.
The FDD and license agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal and transfer provisions in Item 17, the territory protections, the royalty minimum and any default provisions. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains which items matter most, and Item 10 shows whether the franchisor offers any financing.
Historical financials for resales. When buying an existing territory, expect to provide several years of profit and loss statements, sales reports from the franchise software and the seller’s tax returns.
Vehicle, Facility and Equipment Decisions
The vehicle. For a mobile trainer, the vehicle is the storefront: it carries the brand wrap, equipment and sometimes the demonstration dog, which Item 7 budgets at $50 to $7,500 as a sales tool. Whether you buy, finance or brand a vehicle you already own moves your total significantly.
The facility question. A facility supports board and train, day training and group classes but adds rent, utilities, staffing and zoning work. Many owners start mobile and add a facility once demand supports it, financing the build-out later with operating history behind them.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development
Financing a second territory. The franchisor discloses lower fees and investment ranges for existing franchisees. With operating history, lenders can underwrite the existing business alongside the new territory; include payroll for an added trainer and the time that trainer needs to become productive. An owner with several territories may later centralize board and train in one facility financed with a 7(a) or 504 loan.
Real-World Scenarios
A career changer starting mobile. A new owner completes training, brands a vehicle she already owns and launches from home, using an SBA 7(a) loan for the franchise fee, training travel and a reserve larger than Item 7’s 3-month figure.
A trainer adding a facility. An owner with mobile operating history leases space for board and train programs, and the lender finances the improvements and kennels based on existing cash flow.
A buyer purchasing an established territory. A buyer acquires a retiring owner’s territory, the lender reviews the seller’s financial history and the seller agrees to a transition period to introduce referral partners.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting only the Item 7 low end when you plan to open a facility or buy a vehicle
- Assuming 3 months of working capital is enough to build a full schedule
- Forgetting that the royalty has a monthly minimum during the ramp-up
- Signing a facility lease before confirming zoning for board and train programs
- Skipping conversations with current and former owners about the decline in outlets during 2025
- Arranging financing too late and missing a scheduled training class
For more pitfalls in this industry, read about the pet care business loan mistakes owners make most often, and work through a franchise due diligence checklist before you sign.
Next Steps to Finance Your Sit Means Sit Franchise
Step 1: Confirm you meet the requirements. Check the net worth requirement, residency and background checks, and your availability for a training session.
Step 2: Review the FDD with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 17, 19 and 20 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Talk with current owners. Ask how long it took to build a full client schedule, whether they operate mobile or from a facility and what their real startup costs were.
Step 4: Decide on your format. Choose mobile, home-based or facility, and price the vehicle and any build-out.
Step 5: Build your plan and talk with a financing specialist. Prepare projections and a personal financial statement, and learn how a lender will size your request.
Step 6: Apply and coordinate approvals. Submit the loan request with the SBA directory code, FDD and Trade Area documentation, and align the closing with the license signing.
Step 7: Close, train and launch. Complete training, set up your vehicle and CRM, and start marketing before opening day.
Sit Means Sit Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Sit Means Sit franchise?
According to the franchisor’s information based on its 2026 FDD, the estimated initial investment for a new franchisee is $40,175 to $137,250. The low end assumes a mobile start with minimal spending; the high end includes a training facility and a vehicle purchase.
What is the Sit Means Sit franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a new franchisee and is nonrefundable. Existing franchisees adding a territory pay a lower fee.
What royalty does Sit Means Sit charge?
The company’s franchise FAQ describes the royalty as the greater of 6% of gross sales or $800 per month. Confirm the current figure and any other recurring fees in Item 6 of the FDD.
How much net worth do I need?
The franchisor asks for at least $100,000 in net worth, and applicants provide proof of assets during the approval process. Lenders will also look at your remaining liquidity after closing.
Is Sit Means Sit SBA eligible?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory as Sit Means Sit Dog Training, code S3301, with no additional note. Individual borrowers still need SBA lender approval.
Can I run a Sit Means Sit franchise from home?
The franchisor says many owners start as a mobile or home-based operation, training at clients’ homes or in public places. A commercial facility is optional and subject to local zoning.
Can a first-time business owner get a Sit Means Sit franchise loan?
Yes. Lenders weigh your credit, liquidity, experience with dogs or sales and the quality of your plan. A thoughtful marketing plan and enough reserves matter more than prior business ownership.
Can I buy an existing Sit Means Sit territory?
Yes, subject to franchisor approval of the transfer. Lenders will review the territory’s historical financials and how dependent the business is on the selling owner.
Does Sit Means Sit offer financing?
The franchisor lists securing financing as a step the candidate completes after approval. Review Item 10 of the current FDD to see whether any franchisor financing is offered.
Does the FDD include earnings figures?
The franchisor states that it does not make financial performance representations or revenue projections. Build your projections from your own research and conversations with current owners.
Final Thoughts
Sit Means Sit offers a flexible entry point in pet services: start lean from a vehicle or invest in a facility from day one. A Sit Means Sit franchise loan is usually modest, but approval depends on credit, reserves and a credible client-building plan, so budget beyond the Item 7 minimum and line up financing alongside the franchisor’s approval steps.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing programs and our pet care business financing solutions.
