Originally looking for a dog walking job

I was originally looking for a dog walking job

Hi, I’m Gemma, and I’m the proud owner of We Love Pets Colchester. I recently celebrated my first milestone – one year of running my business.

To be honest, I stumbled across the opportunity to become a franchise owner. I had emailed another We Love Pets branch asking if they had any dog walking vacancies. Although they didn't have any roles available, they mentioned that the opportunity to buy and run the franchise in my area was coming up.

I was drawn to the prospect of being my own boss and working with animals every day.

At first, I dismissed the idea. But the more I thought about it, the more I was drawn to the prospect of being my own boss and working with animals every day.

At that point in my life, I was at an all-time low. I was working as a Pastoral Lead in a secondary school, and the role was causing me a huge amount of anxiety. Having previously been a teacher and then a Learning Support Assistant, I felt as though this was yet another role I'd failed at.

We Love Pets was the opportunity that completely turned things around for me.

It showed me what it feels like to genuinely enjoy going to work. In fact, I wouldn't even call it work - I love every minute of it. It's a world away from how I used to feel about my Monday to Friday job. I often think fate stepped in because, had I not sent that email asking about dog walking, I might never have discovered this opportunity.

My next step was speaking to Thea and then Ryan. Ryan gave me the confidence to believe I could make the business work, but more importantly, he reassured me that I could earn a good living - possibly even more than I was earning in my school role. Working in education, particularly in a support role, doesn't provide a huge salary, and with a husband and two teenage sons, I wanted to contribute more financially and improve our quality of life.

Feeling encouraged, my husband and I travelled to meet Ryan. He immediately put us at ease and seemed convinced I was right for the role long before I believed it myself!

The training was fantastic and introduced me to two amazing people who have since become great friends.

We all launched our businesses around the same time and have continued to support each other ever since.

I didn't leave training knowing absolutely everything, but that didn't matter. I knew exactly where to find the answers and who to ask whenever I needed help.

I'll be honest, the thought of returning home and launching my own business was terrifying. Anyone who has left the security of employment to become self-employed will understand that feeling. Suddenly, you're accountable only to yourself.

To channel those nerves, I threw myself into marketing. I had a clear plan and made full use of the resources available to me. I delivered leaflets, visited local vets, cafés, pet shops and other businesses, and introduced myself wherever I could. It certainly wasn't easy, but knowing every bit of effort was building my own business kept me motivated.

Fast forward a year, which has absolutely flown by, and I now have a fantastic client base, a full diary, and a wonderful team consisting of dog walkers, a home boarder and a house sitter.

I'm delighted with how the business has grown

I also know there's still plenty of opportunity ahead. The monthly success calls, franchise portal, webinars and events continue to give me fresh ideas and support as I work towards the next stage of growth.

Of course, I love working with animals—that's why I started this journey—but what has surprised me most is how much I've enjoyed running the business itself. No two days are ever the same, and there's so much variety.

One of my favourite parts is meeting both pets and their owners. I genuinely enjoy understanding each pet's individual needs and reassuring owners that they'll receive the very best care. Building those relationships has been incredibly rewarding.

My family has benefited too. We've welcomed so many wonderful boarding dogs into our home, each bringing plenty of laughter, cuddles and happy memories. Financially, the business has allowed us to enjoy treats we might not otherwise have had and, for the first time in a while, we're looking forward to booking a family holiday.

Would I recommend becoming part of We Love Pets?

Without hesitation - yes.

Owning a business is hard work, but it's also one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I genuinely feel happier than I have in years and know I made the right decision.

Most importantly, I've never felt like I'm doing it alone. Whether it's advice, encouragement or simply someone to bounce ideas off, there's always support available whenever I need it.

It's incredible to think that one email, asking about a dog walking job, completely changed the direction of my life.

Thank goodness I pressed 'send'.