Petpals – where passion for pets meets a great business opportunity
About Us
As the UK’s longest established multi-service pet care franchise, we know our way around the marketplace. We have been helping franchisees achieve their goals for over 20 years and we can help you capitalise on the nation’s love of animals to build a strong, profitable business.
Whether you choose to start your business as an owner-operator or decide to invest in a team from the outset, our management franchise gives you the system for success. As a Petpals franchisee, you benefit from the knowledge and experience that has kept our franchise model as the market leader for the last 20 years.
Across our network of 50-plus franchisees, we have both single and multi-territory owners who come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have one thing in common – a dedication to pet welfare. In a UK market where 59% of all households own a pet, including 12.5 million dogs, 12.2 million cats and another 8.1 million small pets*, our services are in high demand. You will grow a team delivering our best-in-class services which include:
- Cat and small pet sitting
- Dog walking
- Pet home boarding
- Puppy and elderly dog care
- Pet taxi and domestic pet transportation
Franchise Overview
Developed from the original pet care business model operated by our founder in the late 1990s, Petpals offers much more than a home boarding or dog walking service; it is a professional, tried and tested, successful business format which is fully supported by the Petpals team and nationwide network of franchisees.
We have a successful track record of both franchise renewals and resales and are proud to be full members of the bfa.
The Franchise Opportunity
Your initial fee of £9,995 + VAT includes:
- Your franchise licence fee
- Your exclusive territory
- Substantial head office and on-site training including business, operational and technical aspects
- Business coaching
- On-site business launch support
- Comprehensive pre- and post-launch PR and marketing programme
- First year’s business insurance
- Full set up and first year’s subscription to QuickBooks online accounting
- Your territory pages within Petpals’ website
- Pet care equipment, uniform, ID badge, accessories and stationery for your team.
You will also need short-term working capital and we will advise you on securing a vehicle that meets our Petpals standards.
Reasons to Invest
As well as delivering a great return on investment, being part of our established national brand brings you many additional benefits:
- A low-risk, supported way to set up your own business
- Full training for you and your management team in the Petpals systems, code of ethics and values
- Guidance through the comprehensive legislative requirements of the industry
- Pre-launch and ongoing support
- A regular income stream with great growth potential.
“Being involved in a franchise network provides reassurance and confidence and, as long as you follow the working model, you’ve got a blueprint for the business. The standing and the quality of the Petpals brand was one of the reasons we decided to invest in a franchise in the first place. We’ve followed the operating process rigidly and stayed on brand throughout. After 15 years, we manage a successful and profitable franchise. There’s no magic formula – if you follow the system, it works. If you want to be associated with quality and want to provide a meaningful service, then Petpals is the franchise for you!” - David Gray, Petpals Darlington franchisee
Franchise Benefits
Once you have launched your Petpals business, our support continues for the life of your franchise. We are committed to your success and our expert team will support you to maximise the value of your business:
- Regular business development reviews
- Recruitment and team development support
- Accounting support and advice from our qualified Quick Books’ accredited trainer
- Access to the Petpals franchisee forum and network support
- National franchisee conference
- Social media and marketing support
- Access to further business coaching and development.
“One of the most valuable resources we have access to is the franchisee forum – it provides a great arena for sounding out ideas with other franchisees or asking for advice about the daily operations of the business. Knowing I have the support of my peers and the franchise support team is so reassuring. We’re all so happy to see each other’s businesses succeed, which is probably my favourite thing about being a Petpals franchisee – the sense of camaraderie.” - Ray Hipwell, Petpals Chislehurst franchisee
Petpals – every pet’s best friend
We carefully select and train the right applicants who are committed to the delivery of our brand values and code of ethics. This is essential to ensure we maintain the highest standards in the delivery of our services in the interest of our customers, their pets and all our Petpals members. Pet ownership is a privilege, not a right and the welfare of pets in our care is our priority. As a franchisee, you will quickly discover the satisfaction of growing the value of your business whilst giving clients peace of mind that their much-loved best friend is in safe hands.
With an unrivalled return on investment, we are now looking for people to join us as we enter our third decade in the thriving pet-care market. Multi-territory opportunities are available for the right candidates.
Training & Support
Our training is both classroom and field based, including time in the field with an experienced franchisee. Training includes 4 days at our head office in Hampshire along with pet first aid and practical dog handling skills. Topics covered include operating procedures, administration, accounting and marketing.
Ongoing support includes: head office support throughout the franchise term, regular business development reviews, annual conferences, invaluable knowledge and encouragement from fellow franchisees.
Daily Life of a Franchisee
Day-to-day activities will be largely based around caring for clients’ pets, walking dogs or visiting cats/small pets.
You will also need to find time to visit clients in their homes to discuss their pet’s requirements and carry out assessments for new business, plus all the usual administrative and marketing functions required to run your own business. With a head office team and a network of experienced franchisees to call on, support and advice is always available.
* Pet Food Manufacturers Association’s Pet Population report 2021
The Next Steps
Learn more about this exciting franchise opportunity by requesting further information:
- Your franchise licence fee
- Your exclusive territory
- Substantial head office and on-site training including business, operational and technical aspects
- Business coaching
- On-site business launch support
- Comprehensive pre- and post-launch PR and marketing programme
- First year’s business insurance
- Full set up and first year’s subscription to QuickBooks online accounting
- Your territory pages within Petpals’ website
- Pet care equipment, uniform, ID badge, accessories and stationery for your team.
You will also need short-term working capital and we will advise you on securing a vehicle that meets our Petpals standards.
Petpals franchisee puts the steps in for 55km walk for terminally ill children
The challenge saw Sue, alongside her four team members dubbed ‘The Unforgettables’, walk 55km non-stop along the south coast to raise money for the Sussex Snowdrop Trust. This charitable initiative was the latest in a series of fundraising events that Petpals franchisees up and down the country have been undertaking – and one which the brand is keen to celebrate.
“I am so proud to support the charitable activities that our Petpals network is doing to raise money and awareness for causes important to their communities”, said Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals. “Our franchisees join us because they are passionate about helping others, demonstrated by inspiring individuals like Sue.”
Sue, who launched her Petpals franchise in Chichester alongside her husband Jon this year, has always been passionate about helping her local community and providing Petpals’ award-winning pet-care services to Chichester. This sentiment echoes in her devotion to raising money for a charity that directly affects and supports the people she serves in her local area. A dedication that saw her walk for more than 15 hours over rocky terrain and in some tricky weather conditions. Starting in Eastbourne, over the Seven Sisters, the South Downs, along the Brighton seafront and ending in Hove, the walk started at 8:30am and didn’t finish until midnight.
“Thanks to a lot of dog walking with Petpals, I have quite an active lifestyle, but nothing could have prepared me for such an intense walk! Our newest Petpals recruit, Sarah, even did some leaflet dropping as part of her training for the big day! There were many ups and downs, mainly due to the steep and hilly ground we were trekking on, but the stunning coastal scenery and the important cause we were doing it for made it all worthwhile,” said Sue.
Together with her ‘Unforgettables’, Sue has raised over £50k since taking part in various charity walks and events since 2016. This time round, Sue and her team raised funds for The Sussex Snowdrop Trust, a unique charity providing ‘Nursing Care at Home’ for local children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses. Located in the Chichester area of West Sussex, the cause is very close to her heart. “Two of our ‘Unforgettables’ team members sadly lost children, and the charity was phenomenal in helping support them and their families,” said Sue. “It felt right to raise money for a local cause that me, my team and my community hold dear.”
Petpals and its network of franchisees prides itself on supporting the areas they serve, and this doesn’t stop at providing quality pet services to their community of furry friends. A growing number of franchisees are placing importance on supporting their communities through fun and charitable events that raise money and awareness for the causes they and their communities care most about.
A testament to this is David Gray, co-owner of Petpals Darlington, who will be following in Sue’s many, many footsteps. This October, he and his team will be participating in a charity walk of their own to aid suicide prevention, a cause important to him and his local community.
