# Paul Allen

> Paul Allen co-founded Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming with his wife, Cara Allen, in South Florida in 2007. As its CEO, he helped build a neighborhood pet-store franchise combining gourmet treats, specialty retail and grooming. Starting with a $50,000 loan, the couple and their team grew the business without outside capital for 15 years; by the June 2022 Garnett Station investment, it had more than 200 locations open or under development across 18 states.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur; co-founder and former CEO of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
- **Organizations:** Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
- **Known for:** Co-founded a franchise that reached more than 200 locations open or under development across 18 U.S. states by June 2022., Helped grow Woof Gang for 15 years without outside capital after a $50,000 initial loan., Reported more than $125 million in run-rate system sales at the June 2022 investment announcement.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Co-founded Woof Gang Bakery with Cara Allen in South Florida using a $50,000 loan.
- **2009** — Company headquarters relocated to Orlando; the first central Florida store opened on Dr. Phillips Boulevard.
- **2009-2010** — Grooming entered the early store model; accounts distinguish the first Orlando offering in 2009 from a broader introduction in 2010.
- **2015** — Company began operating corporate-managed stores, providing Allen with direct operating experience alongside franchising.
- **2016** — Discussed three downtown Savannah stores and local expansion with WTOC.
- **2019** — Invited to open Pet Connections Expo with a presentation about services in independent pet retail.
- **2021** — Company announced its Woof Gang University franchise training center and reported more than one million pets groomed in the prior year.
- **2022** — Garnett Station Partners announced its investment on June 16; Allen welcomed new leadership after 15 years of growth without outside capital.

## Achievements

- Co-founded a franchise that reached more than 200 locations open or under development across 18 U.S. states by June 2022.
- Helped grow Woof Gang for 15 years without outside capital after a $50,000 initial loan.
- Reported more than $125 million in run-rate system sales at the June 2022 investment announcement.
- Developed a combined specialty retail and grooming model; grooming represented half of systemwide revenue in the 2019 anniversary announcement.

## Latest updates

- **2022-06** — Garnett Station Partners announced its investment in Woof Gang; Allen said the business was ready for new leadership.
- **2022-07** — Orlando Business Journal covered the Garnett Station partnership and published a photograph of Allen with Elle at Dr. Phillips.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwoofgang

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/paul-allen-woof-gang
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14