Franchisee story · We Love Pets Livingston

From retail to business owner

After six years in retail management, Bryan swapped store operations for dog walks.

Previous career

Six years as a Lidl store manager

Joined

February 2023

Branch

We Love Pets Livingston, Scotland

Why he joined

To work with animals and be his own boss

Bryan's story, in his own words

Hi, I’m Bryan, and I’m the proud owner of We Love Pets Livingston.

Before joining We Love Pets, I spent six years working as a manager at Lidl and built up a strong background in retail and sales. While I learned a lot in that career, I knew deep down that I wanted something different - something that felt more meaningful and gave me more freedom.

Like many people, I reached a point where I started questioning whether I wanted to keep building someone else’s business or finally build something of my own.

A love of animals made the decision easier

Animals have always been a huge part of my life.

At home, I have two Rottweilers, Max and Leela, along with two cats, Axel and Safka. Spending time with them has always been one of the best parts of my day, so the idea of building a career around animals felt like a natural fit.

I started researching how to set up my own dog walking business and quickly came across We Love Pets.

My two-year plan became a two-month plan

Originally, I thought starting my own business was something I’d do in a couple of years.

But after discovering We Love Pets, everything changed.

What I expected to be a long-term goal suddenly felt achievable much sooner. My two-year plan quickly became a two-month plan.

From the very beginning, I was impressed by the professionalism, support, and values of the business. I had no hesitation that this was the right route for me.

Why franchising made sense

I knew I wanted to work for myself, but I also recognised the value of having support around me.

Starting alone can feel overwhelming. With franchising, I could build my own business while benefiting from an established brand, proven systems, and ongoing support from head office and other franchisees.

That combination gave me confidence.

I wasn’t just starting a pet care business - I was joining a network of people who genuinely wanted me to succeed.

Building something of my own

The thing I was most excited about was simple: working with animals every day and being my own boss.

Owning a We Love Pets franchise has given me the opportunity to build something that’s truly mine.

I’ve loved getting to know local pet owners, meeting incredible animals, and growing a trusted service in my community.

I’m confident that with the continued support of We Love Pets, I can build a thriving business and a fantastic local team.

Life now

Outside of work, I still spend plenty of time with my own pets, and I enjoy heading to the occasional music festival too.

Making the leap into franchising was one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made - but it’s also been one of the best.

For anyone dreaming of running their own business but unsure where to start, my advice is simple: don’t underestimate what’s possible when you back yourself.