Michael Seitz went from dental school dropout to building a $150M+ national franchise in the pet services industry with no private equity and no shortcuts.

What started with a family grooming shop in 1977 has grown into EarthWise Pet, a multi-brand platform with over 200 brick-and-mortar and mobile locations, 1,400+ employees, and a one-of-a-kind AI-powered pet dietitian. But Michael didn’t just expand a family business; he reinvented what pet retail and service could look like at scale.

By blending deep industry expertise with bold operational moves (including acquiring 42 stores in a single day), he built a business that serves pets and empowers franchisees while keeping ownership in the hands of real operators.

In this no-fluff, tactical episode, Michael shares:

• Why franchising surges during economic downturns
• How he scaled without VC or PE funding
• What went wrong with two major acquisitions (and how he recovered)
• His “buy then flip” strategy that lowers franchisee barriers
• How EarthWise uses AI to build authority, not cut costs
• The make-or-break moment in founder partnerships
• Why building the right team is more important than EBITDA

Key Lessons:

Grow With Purpose – Scale isn’t just about size—it’s about systems, talent, and strategic timing

Franchise the Right Way – Say no often, protect the culture, and hand-pick operators who expand

Let Go to Grow – Founders must release control and ego to evolve as leaders

Talent Is a Growth Strategy – Use M&A to bring in people, not just profits

Tech With Trust – AI should empower your customers, not replace your values

Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast

Want to build a service business that actually scales? Let’s talk:

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