Market rankings · California
Pet grooming and boarding businesses in California
Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet grooming and boarding businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 4,099
- 391 chain locations (10%)
- Official establishments
- 2,591
- +21.4% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $15.6B
- On pets
- Listings per 10k households
- 3.0
- 17% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3.8M
- 49% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #9 of 51
- Market score 69 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pet grooming and boarding businesses on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
California has 4,099 pet grooming and boarding businesses on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 10% of them, against 9% across the U.S. That comes to 3.0 for every 10,000 households, 17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6.
Households in California spend about $15.6B a year on pets, or $1,149 per household, 26% above the U.S. average. Spread across 4,099 pet grooming and boarding businesses, that is $3.8M per business, 49% above the U.S. figure of $2.5M. The spending figure covers all pets, not only pet grooming and boarding businesses.
In 2023, official counts showed 2,591 businesses with payroll in California classed as pet care (except veterinary), up 21.4% from 2019. That is one for every 5,229 households, against one for every 5,057 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 25.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 170 SBA-backed loans worth $105.4M have gone to businesses classed as pet care (except veterinary) in California.
Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #9 for pet grooming and boarding businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 69 (upper middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest (91). Of the 7 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Ukiah area scores highest (71).
Every market in California for pet grooming and boarding businesses
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Stockton-Lodi, CA | 91 | 51 | 2.1 | $5.2M | +5.5% | #1 of 386 |
| 2Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 83 | 244 | 2.8 | $4M | +3.2% | #4 of 386 |
| 3Fresno, CA | 82 | 86 | 2.3 | $4.1M | +3.2% | #6 of 386 |
| 4Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 80 | 73 | 2.6 | $3.6M | +2.3% | #7 of 386 |
| 5Merced, CA | 80 | 24 | 2.8 | $3.1M | +5.1% | #9 of 386 |
| 6San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 79 | 162 | 2.4 | $6.2M | −0.6% | #10 of 386 |
| 7Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 79 | 436 | 3.0 | $3.5M | +3.5% | #12 of 386 |
| 8Visalia, CA | 79 | 38 | 2.7 | $3.4M | +2.4% | #13 of 386 |
| 9Vallejo, CA | 78 | 49 | 3.1 | $3.6M | +0.6% | #18 of 386 |
| 10Yuba City, CA | 77 | 22 | 3.6 | $2.7M | +3.3% | #23 of 386 |
| 11Salinas, CA | 76 | 32 | 2.4 | $4.6M | −1.5% | #24 of 386 |
| 12Modesto, CA | 76 | 43 | 2.4 | $4.1M | +0.7% | #25 of 386 |
| 13Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 71 | 11 | 2.5 | $3.6M | +1.0% | #46 of 386 |
| 14El Centro, CA | 70 | 11 | 2.2 | $3.7M | +1.1% | #49 of 386 |
| 15San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 67 | 487 | 2.8 | $4.9M | −2.4% | #61 of 386 |
| 16Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 64 | 1,326 | 2.9 | $3.8M | −2.6% | #84 of 386 |
| 17Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 61 | 39 | 2.6 | $4.4M | −1.4% | #109 of 386 |
| 18Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 60 | 36 | 3.7 | $3.3M | −4.7% | #116 of 386 |
| 19Napa, CA | 56 | 14 | 2.8 | $4.4M | −3.3% | #146 of 386 |
| 20San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 54 | 477 | 4.1 | $2.9M | −0.6% | #164 of 386 |
| 21Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 53 | 114 | 4.1 | $3M | −1.5% | #170 of 386 |
| 22San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 51 | 47 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 0.0% | #190 of 386 |
| 23Chico, CA | 49 | 31 | 3.7 | $2.5M | −0.5% | #207 of 386 |
| 24Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 48 | 84 | 4.4 | $2.7M | −0.4% | #213 of 386 |
| 25Redding, CA | 32 | 43 | 6.0 | $1.6M | −0.3% | #319 of 386 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ukiah, CA | 71 | 12 | 3.4 | $2.6M | −3.5% | #43 of 387 |
| 2Sonora, CA | 71 | 9 | 4.0 | $2.4M | −4.0% | #44 of 387 |
| 3Red Bluff, CA | 68 | 8 | 3.2 | $2.7M | −1.7% | #56 of 387 |
| 4Clearlake, CA | 68 | 10 | 3.7 | $2.3M | −0.6% | #59 of 387 |
| 5Eureka-Arcata, CA | 67 | 15 | 2.7 | $3.2M | −3.4% | #63 of 387 |
| 6Truckee-Grass Valley, CA | 61 | 23 | 5.4 | $2M | −0.4% | #111 of 387 |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA | 38 | 23 | 10.6 | $1M | +0.9% | #289 of 387 |
| Susanville, CA | Not scored | 4 | 4.3 | $2M | −13.1% | |
| Crescent City, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.4% | |
| Bishop, CA | Not scored | 4 | 5.0 | $1.9M | −4.4% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1San Joaquin County, CA | 91 | 51 | 2.1 | $5.2M | +5.5% | #2 of 1,461 |
| 2San Benito County, CA | 89 | 8 | 3.9 | $3.2M | +8.6% | #10 of 1,461 |
| 3Placer County, CA | 85 | 57 | 3.6 | $3.5M | +8.9% | #21 of 1,461 |
| 4Madera County, CA | 85 | 16 | 3.5 | $2.7M | +7.4% | #23 of 1,461 |
| 5Sacramento County, CA | 84 | 130 | 2.3 | $4.7M | +2.0% | #25 of 1,461 |
| 6Yolo County, CA | 84 | 23 | 3.0 | $3.6M | +3.1% | #28 of 1,461 |
| 7Fresno County, CA | 83 | 70 | 2.2 | $4.4M | +2.6% | #33 of 1,461 |
| 8Merced County, CA | 83 | 24 | 2.8 | $3.1M | +5.1% | #37 of 1,461 |
| 9Kern County, CA | 81 | 73 | 2.6 | $3.6M | +2.3% | #48 of 1,461 |
| 10Tulare County, CA | 81 | 38 | 2.7 | $3.4M | +2.4% | #49 of 1,461 |
| 11Yuba County, CA | 81 | 10 | 3.5 | $2.7M | +8.2% | #55 of 1,461 |
| 12Santa Clara County, CA | 80 | 154 | 2.3 | $6.4M | −0.9% | #57 of 1,461 |
| 13Solano County, CA | 80 | 49 | 3.1 | $3.6M | +0.6% | #62 of 1,461 |
| 14San Bernardino County, CA | 80 | 190 | 2.8 | $3.6M | +1.9% | #63 of 1,461 |
| 15Riverside County, CA | 80 | 246 | 3.2 | $3.4M | +5.0% | #65 of 1,461 |
| 16Alameda County, CA | 78 | 131 | 2.2 | $6.1M | −2.6% | #80 of 1,461 |
| 17Monterey County, CA | 78 | 32 | 2.4 | $4.6M | −1.5% | #82 of 1,461 |
| 18Stanislaus County, CA | 78 | 43 | 2.4 | $4.1M | +0.7% | #83 of 1,461 |
| 19Amador County, CA | 76 | 6 | 3.7 | $2.7M | +3.2% | #108 of 1,461 |
| 20Imperial County, CA | 73 | 11 | 2.2 | $3.7M | +1.1% | #149 of 1,461 |
| 21Kings County, CA | 73 | 11 | 2.5 | $3.6M | +1.0% | #151 of 1,461 |
| 22Sutter County, CA | 73 | 12 | 3.6 | $2.7M | −0.7% | #162 of 1,461 |
| 23Contra Costa County, CA | 71 | 118 | 2.8 | $4.6M | +0.3% | #192 of 1,461 |
| 24Calaveras County, CA | 69 | 8 | 4.3 | $2.3M | +2.8% | #264 of 1,461 |
| 25Orange County, CA | 67 | 352 | 3.3 | $3.9M | −1.1% | #291 of 1,461 |
Show all 58 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Los Angeles County, CA | 67 | 974 | 2.9 | $3.8M | −3.0% | #293 of 1,461 |
| 27El Dorado County, CA | 67 | 34 | 4.5 | $2.7M | +0.6% | #300 of 1,461 |
| 28San Francisco County, CA | 66 | 108 | 3.0 | $4.6M | −5.6% | #313 of 1,461 |
| 29Santa Barbara County, CA | 65 | 39 | 2.6 | $4.4M | −1.4% | #342 of 1,461 |
| 30San Mateo County, CA | 64 | 88 | 3.3 | $4.4M | −2.5% | #368 of 1,461 |
| 31Santa Cruz County, CA | 64 | 36 | 3.7 | $3.3M | −4.7% | #373 of 1,461 |
| 32Tuolumne County, CA | 64 | 9 | 4.0 | $2.4M | −4.0% | #381 of 1,461 |
| 33Mendocino County, CA | 63 | 12 | 3.4 | $2.6M | −3.5% | #401 of 1,461 |
| 34Humboldt County, CA | 61 | 15 | 2.7 | $3.2M | −3.4% | #440 of 1,461 |
| 35San Diego County, CA | 61 | 477 | 4.1 | $2.9M | −0.6% | #442 of 1,461 |
| 36Napa County, CA | 59 | 14 | 2.8 | $4.4M | −3.3% | #500 of 1,461 |
| 37Ventura County, CA | 59 | 114 | 4.1 | $3M | −1.5% | #502 of 1,461 |
| 38San Luis Obispo County, CA | 59 | 47 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 0.0% | #508 of 1,461 |
| 39Butte County, CA | 58 | 31 | 3.7 | $2.5M | −0.5% | #527 of 1,461 |
| 40Tehama County, CA | 56 | 8 | 3.2 | $2.7M | −1.7% | #574 of 1,461 |
| 41Nevada County, CA | 56 | 23 | 5.4 | $2M | −0.4% | #588 of 1,461 |
| 42Marin County, CA | 55 | 42 | 4.1 | $3.5M | −2.9% | #595 of 1,461 |
| 43Sonoma County, CA | 54 | 84 | 4.4 | $2.7M | −0.4% | #628 of 1,461 |
| 44Lake County, CA | 54 | 10 | 3.7 | $2.3M | −0.6% | #631 of 1,461 |
| 45Shasta County, CA | 43 | 43 | 6.0 | $1.6M | −0.3% | #893 of 1,461 |
| Siskiyou County, CA | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $3.9M | −4.5% | |
| Lassen County, CA | Not scored | 4 | 4.3 | $2M | −13.1% | |
| Glenn County, CA | Not scored | 4 | 4.1 | $2.1M | −2.6% | |
| Del Norte County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.4% | |
| Colusa County, CA | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.5M | −0.1% | |
| Plumas County, CA | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $2.4M | −5.9% | |
| Inyo County, CA | Not scored | 4 | 5.0 | $1.9M | −4.4% | |
| Mariposa County, CA | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.4M | −1.2% | |
| Trinity County, CA | Not scored | 2 | 3.6 | $2.2M | −2.3% | |
| Mono County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Modoc County, CA | Not scored | 3 | 9.2 | $870K | −2.9% | |
| Sierra County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.0% | |
| Alpine County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −11.6% |
Markets with fewer than 5 pet grooming and boarding businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pet grooming and boarding businesses are in California?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 4,099 pet grooming and boarding businesses in California. 391 of them (10%) are chain locations. The listings count groomers, boarding, dog daycare and pet sitters. Official counts show 2,591 businesses with payroll classed as pet care (except veterinary) in 2023, up 21.4% from 2019.
How much do households in California spend on pets?
About $15.6B a year, or $1,149 per household. That is 26% above the U.S. average (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 4,099 pet grooming and boarding businesses on map listings, it comes to $3.8M per business. That spending covers all pets, which pet grooming and boarding businesses share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.
How does California compare with the U.S. for pet grooming and boarding businesses?
California has 3.0 pet grooming and boarding businesses per 10,000 households, 17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6. Spending per business is $3.8M, 49% above the U.S. figure of $2.5M. At the U.S. ratio of pet grooming and boarding businesses to household spending, California would have about 6,118, against 4,099 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 5,229 households, against one for every 5,057 across the U.S. The official count rose 21.4% from 2019 to 2023, against +25.2% for the U.S.
Which market in California has the highest market score for pet grooming and boarding businesses?
Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Stockton-Lodi metro area scores highest, at 91 (very high). Among 7 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Ukiah area scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). Among 45 scored counties in California, San Joaquin County scores highest, at 91 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 69 for pet grooming and boarding businesses (upper middle), #9 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the pet grooming and boarding businesses on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Pet grooming and boarding in other states
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Top markets for pet grooming and boarding businesses across the U.S. · All business types in California
Related business types in California
- Pet businesses12,584 listings
- Veterinarians4,095 listings
- Pet stores3,043 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in California?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.