From Pet Sitter to Franchisor: How Jeanna Womack Built Latchkey Pets with Purpose
In this episode of Emerging Franchise Brands, we meet Jeanna Womack, the heart behind Latchkey Pets—a pet care business that started with a simple favor and has grown into a supportive franchise system for pet lovers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Jeanna never set out to become a business owner. But in 2010, as a stay-at-home mom with two young boys, she stepped in to help one of her dad’s pet sitting clients. She packed up her double stroller, loaded the kids, and started walking dogs—and fell in love with the work. What followed was a steady, grassroots build. By 2014, she hired her first team member and officially started thinking about how to grow more intentionally.
Franchising came as a natural next step, especially when Jeanna realized she could grow the brand while supporting other women to do the same. With four franchisees—most of whom started as team members—Jeanna is focused on slow, meaningful expansion in the Kansas City area and beyond. Latchkey’s model is intentionally low-overhead and designed for balance, making it especially attractive to women looking for flexibility without sacrificing purpose.
Jeanna leads with authenticity and a strong sense of “enough,” choosing fulfillment over endless growth. Her story is one of quiet leadership, resilience, and staying close to what matters most: people, pets, and purpose.
For anyone dreaming of owning a business with heart, Latchkey Pets offers more than a franchise—it’s a community grounded in trust, care, and doing work you love.
July 17, 2025
