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 partners with other national franchisors to launch pet welfare organisation
Forming a new regulatory body, the Pet Care Franchise Association (PCFA), the main objective of the group is to improve animal welfare standards in the pet-care industry across the UK.
Along with other leading pet-care franchise brands, including Barking Mad, Pet Stay and We Love Pets, Petpals is spearheading an ongoing national campaign through the PCFA that truly prioritises the care and wellbeing of pets. In turn, the initiatives devised by the organisation will appeal to relevant government authorities in raising the ceiling for ethical pet care through both the training and licensing of pet-care activities.
David Gray (QFA), Brand Development Manager at Petpals, has seen a real increase in the need for such a regulatory body since first investing in his own Petpals franchise 16 years ago.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pet owners in the UK has increased significantly and, therefore, so has the demand for pet-care services,” explained David. “Unfortunately, this has seen a huge leap in the number of unlicensed pet-care providers offering boarding services without the necessary licenses or even boarding pets with no training or support.”
“The PCFA aims to reduce the inconsistencies in how local authorities interpret Defra’s boarding and animal care regulations, cut the red tape and put the focus back onto animal welfare – this is a mission we’re committed to and proud to support,” said David.
Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals, said, “Much more needs to be done as it’s too easy for unethical pet-care providers to slip through the net and deliver care that does not meet minimum standards. The sad truth is that some pets will suffer due to inappropriate care, and that is heart-breaking. At Petpals, we firmly believe that pet ownership is a privilege, not a right. That is why we wholeheartedly champion the commitments of the PCFA and will continue to represent the various initiatives as we work with other brands for the rights of pets around the country.”
Having joined forces, Petpals and members of the PCFA have set strong guidelines for other pet-care franchises looking to join the fight against unethical pet care. Already representing around 250 franchisees, 4,200 pet-care staff and 91,000 customers across the UK, it is of the utmost importance that all associated providers abide by the organisation’s laws and ethics.
“Firstly, any franchisors looking to join forces with us must be a member of the British Franchise Association,” explained David. “And it goes without saying that the franchisor should have clear guidelines and policies relating to all aspects of pet welfare. We’re committed to maintaining these standards because Petpals is, first and foremost, invested in offering only the best possible pet-care standards industry wide. This, in turn, increases trust in our services and demand for our business model.”
As the PCFA looks to 2023, plans are already in place to launch a public awareness campaign and national education scheme, so all pet owners and providers in the UK understand how the organisation works and how they can get involved.
1 Statista, 2021, Pet care market value.
