The pet care industry is growing alongside the number of pets in the UK, meaning that demand for services like dog grooming is very much on the rise. If you love dogs and you’d love to become your own boss and start running your own business, read on. You’ll discover all you need to know and figure out how to choose a franchise in the pet care industry that’s 100% matched to your professional wants and needs.
There are 12 million dogs in the UK, and their owners spend a yearly average of £10 billion on these pampered pooches [PDSA]. That’s a lot of trips to the groomer and days at the doggy daycare! If you adore dogs and think you’d really love to start a dog grooming business, your best options are...
1. A classic dog grooming franchise
A day in the life of a grooming franchise owner is filled with variety, dynamism and, most importantly, dogs. Working in a pet grooming franchise, you’ll wash, cut and shape the coats of pets - most often dogs. You’ll also trim nails, check for common parasites and generally look after all the creatures in your care. In the words of findcourses.co.uk, “There is always an element of pet care and comforting involved in dog grooming; many dogs may be unused to being groomed, so patience and an affinity for animals is key.
In terms of location, you’ll either be running a dog grooming franchise out of a central premises, or you’ll be mobile and on-the-go, meeting customers where they are. There are pros and cons to both kinds of dog grooming business, so make sure you do your research before choosing a side of the fence.
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How to choose a dog grooming franchise that suits you
The dog grooming sector is full of amazing businesses and franchises awaiting your investment. One of the most successful and well-loved options to consider if your heart’s set on becoming a dog groomer is Dial A Dog Wash, a UK provider of mobile grooming services that offer “optimal convenience, less pet stress, one to one attention, no cage drying and all-natural products”. You can become a franchisee with Dial A Dog Wash for a minimum initial investment of £14,999.
2. A dog boarding/sitting franchise
If you love dog grooming but you’re also interested in the wider world of dog care, you should consider a franchise investment with a dog boarding franchise. Dog boarding and sitting franchises care for man’s best friends overnight and for longer periods, e.g., when an owner goes on holiday and can’t bring Fido along. Care services during this period might in fact include things like grooming.
Usually, as the owner of a dog boarding or dog sitting business, you’ll coordinate a team of sitters/boarders. The key difference between the two franchise types is that most dog boarders operate and maintain a central premises/kennels where the dogs are all kept together, while most dog sitters care for dogs in their own homes/in the home of the owner while they’re away.
Choosing a franchise in the dog boarding sector of the pet care industry
There are many great investment options in the world of dog boarding, including Wagging Tails and Barking Mad. You can become a franchisee with Wagging Tails, giving dogs their own little holidays while their owners are away, for a minimum initial investment of £4,995, with a total investment cost of £12,995. Meanwhile, you can become a franchisee with quality home boarding service Barking Mad for a minimum initial investment of £10,000, with a total investment cost of £14,995.
3. A multi-service dog care franchise
While some dog and pet focused franchises choose to narrow down on one niche (like daycare, or walking, or, indeed, grooming), others choose to offer a comprehensive range of services. This means that from the customer perspective, pet care services can all be requested and booked from the same contact point.
It doesn’t get more convenient than that - and that’s a key reason why so many multi-service care franchises are able to thrive. Multi-service franchise investments will generally be more managerial in nature than a dog grooming franchise might, largely due to the depth of pet care expertise required.
Choosing the right multi-service dog care franchise
A great example of a multi-service franchise doing an amazing job in the pet care market is Friends For Pets, a company that always puts animal welfare first. You can become a Friends For Pets franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £8,995, with a monthly operating fee charged at 10%.
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4. A dog walking franchise
If you’re all about spending time with dogs and improving their day-to-day lives, you might find that rather than making an investment with a dog grooming franchise, you decide to start your own dog walking franchise. As a dog walker, you’ll be exercising dogs in an outdoor, active setting and providing an important service to busy dog owners. Some walkers take multiple dogs out at once, so anyone looking to invest in this area should be proficient in dog handling - or willing to work on a more managerial basis.
You are accountable for the safety of your client’s pet, and looking after another person’s pet carries a high level of responsibility. You must maintain focus and be alert for any potential problems, avoiding any harm or injury to the pet. [...] Being physically fit is a must as the job involves long walks outside in all weather conditions.
- The College of Animal Welfare
Choosing a dog walking franchise in the dog daycare industry
Dogknows is one of many great dog walking franchises currently operating in the UK, and it’s actually one of the first professional walking businesses ever founded in London. You can become a Dogknows franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £7,500, with a total investment cost of £15,000.
Howling to start your own dog grooming franchise? Go for it!
If you’re now more certain than ever that you’d love to make a career change with a dog grooming franchise, stay on Point Franchise. Dive deeper into your pre-investment research and find out exactly how to run a dog grooming business. Discover the biggest advantages of running a dog grooming franchise and browse the range of available dog and pet grooming franchise investment opportunities.
Lily Sweeney, Point Franchise ©
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