We love our pets in the UK: dogs, cats, tarantulas, hamsters, lizards - you name it, we take them in and care for them as a valuable member of the family.
And while the pet population of the UK is as varied as it's broad, the dog is officially the nation’s most beloved pet.
40% of the UK population have a pet - and 25% of all pet-owning households have at least one dog to love and protect the family.
With such high levels of dog ownership, the number of dog franchises has skyrocketed.
Nine out of ten pet owners verify that their pet makes them feel happier, while 88% of us think that sharing our homes with a pet improves our overall quality of life.
So, with stats to back up our utter devotion to our four-legged friends, there's no surprise that dog care franchises are a booming industry.
Dog care franchises cover a range of dog-related activities, including walking, sitting, and training; not to mention the huge market for food, grooming, tech, and accessories.
If you consider yourself a petpreneur, you're in the right place to maximise the starting power of your new pet-based business opportunity.
Franchising
Dog care franchises cover a wide range of niches, but there's one thing that is important to all dog owners. And that's trust.
Owners need to feel that the business taking care of their dog while they're away from home is trustworthy. Likewise, owners need to feel reassured that companies create safe, reliable products that aren't going to injure their beloved family member.
This is where the franchise model comes into its own. With a dog care franchise, you'll be inheriting instantly recognisable branding, which means that your future customers already know and trust you.
If you're supplying accessories, customers want to know that you have a reputation for customer service. If you're dog walking or sitting, you need to build trust promptly.
Adopting familiar branding is the perfect way to reassure your future customers that you are part of a larger organisation with established service standards.
Facts About Dog Care Franchises
According to Forbes, Pet- and Dog-Care Franchises are an important and significant growth sector.
There are 9 million dogs in the UK out of a total of 54 million pets. So it's no surprise that the UK spends over £4.5bn a year on their pets.
Dogs require a substantial commitment - and this is where dog care franchises come into their own. The majority of the population works, on average, 39 hours a week - that's a significant amount of time away from home. And somebody has to take the dog out for walks!
Dog care franchises include walking and sitting services for the time-poor, as well as grooming, pet waste removal, doggy clothing, and even animal photography.
Pet franchises are incredibly scaleable: most operations are simple to replicate, and training is relatively minimal in comparison with other franchise models.
Parent companies for dog care franchises offer all the training you'll need to become a recognised and certified specialist - and the training programme is generally a quick process.
Franchising Vs Independent
Franchising is an established model for new businesses and comes laden with a rich range of attractive benefits, including training, ongoing support, and assistance with the technology side of your new business.
But one of the most significant factors you inherit with a franchise is the parent company’s proven track record of financial viability. This makes franchise businesses particularly attractive to banks and moneylenders who consider franchises to be built on robust foundations.
Independent companies are on their own - without the support of an established expert to guide their growth. Banks consider independent companies a higher financial risk, with almost half of all small companies going bust within five years.
Moneylenders know that independent companies are likely to struggle and are prone to a range of financial risks. Franchises are built on more robust foundations and generally receive more favourable terms from lenders.
Dog Care Franchises
Explore our range of dog care franchises, and let your passion for your furry friends help you through your working day - every day!
Find your brand new start with Franchise Direct.