Earnings and costs, honestly

How much can you earn with a pet care franchise?

What our network turns over, what makes the difference between branches, and what it costs to get started. No vague promises.

Caroline, owner of We Love Pets Chorley, with a dog

Network average

£6,500

average monthly turnover across the We Love Pets network

Highest performers

£21,500+

monthly turnover for our highest-performing franchisees

Ask them yourself

115

franchisees you can speak to about their own experience before you decide

Want to see what individual branches turn over?

We're happy to talk openly about real numbers. Rather than publishing individual franchisees' figures online, we share them one-to-one, where we can explain the context behind them: how long the branch has been running, the size of the team, the mix of services and the area it covers.

When you book a chat, we'll talk through realistic figures for branches like the one you're considering. And if you decide to go further, you can speak to existing franchisees directly and ask them about their own numbers, without us in the room.

Turnover is business revenue, not salary or profit. Network figures are averages and are not a projection or guarantee of what any individual franchisee will achieve.

Turnover isn't take-home pay

Turnover is the total your business brings in before any costs. It's the most honest figure to compare businesses with, but it isn't what ends up in your pocket. From your turnover, you'll pay:

The management fee: 10% of turnover, which covers ongoing coaching, training, marketing support, the 24/7 vet advice line and the national brand.

Your team: once you take on walkers and sitters, their pay is usually the biggest cost, and also how you grow beyond your own hours.

Running costs: insurance, fuel and vehicle costs, equipment, local marketing, software and your phone.

Tax, and VAT once your turnover passes the VAT threshold.

What's left depends on how you run your business: how much of the work you do yourself, how you price, and how efficiently your rounds are planned. When you have a chat with Jasmin, we'll talk through realistic numbers for your situation and your area.

Building a team

One person can only walk so many dogs in a day. The branches that grow furthest take on walkers, sitters and boarders, so the business isn't limited by the owner's own hours.

Your mix of services

Higher-value services like home boarding, house sitting and, from 2026/27, tailored training walks add more to turnover than walking alone, and smooth out the seasons.

Time and effort

Building a client base takes time. Established branches that have been running for several years typically turn over more, and the effort you put into local marketing early on makes a real difference.

Your territory

Every territory is mapped around local demand, but areas differ in household density, dog ownership and local prices.

Growing into more territories

Some franchisees, like Charlotte and Tim, and Claire and Matt, have grown by taking on a second territory next door.

The hours you choose

Some franchisees build around school runs or family life; others go all out. Both are valid, and both shape what you turn over.

What it costs to get started

Franchise fee: £12,995 + VAT. This covers your exclusive territory, full training (including the Level 2 Canine Care Award and pet first aid), business set-up support, your launch marketing, and all the systems and handbooks you need to run your branch.

Management fee: 10% of turnover. This covers ongoing coaching, continued training, marketing and business development support, the 24/7 vet advice line and national brand recognition.

Funding: many franchisees use a government-backed Start Up Loan, which can spread the cost of the franchise fee into manageable monthly repayments.

Also budget for: insurance, equipment and uniform, and enough to cover your living costs while you build your client base.

See the full investment breakdown → How Start Up Loans work →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dog walking or pet care franchisee earn?

It varies with your territory, your services, your hours and whether you build a team. Across the We Love Pets network, average monthly turnover is around £6,500, and our highest-performing franchisees turn over more than £21,500 a month. Turnover is business revenue before costs, not personal income.

Can I see figures for individual branches?

Yes, we're happy to talk about real branch figures one-to-one, with the context that makes them meaningful. Book a chat, and if you go further, you can also ask existing franchisees about their own numbers directly.

How long does it take to build up turnover?

Building a client base takes time and steady local marketing, and established branches typically turn over more than new ones. Some franchisees grow quickly in their first year; we'll talk through realistic timescales for your area when we speak.

How much does a We Love Pets franchise cost?

The franchise fee is £12,995 + VAT, plus a 10% management fee on turnover. You'll also need to budget for insurance, equipment and living costs while you build up. See our investment and funding page for the full breakdown.

Can I get funding?

Yes. Many franchisees use a government-backed Start Up Loan to fund the franchise fee and spread it into monthly repayments. Find out more on our Start Up Loans page.

What's the difference between turnover and profit?

Turnover is everything your business brings in. Profit is what's left after the management fee, staff pay, running costs and tax. How much of the work you do yourself and how you price your services both affect your profit.

Can I earn more by taking on more territories?

Some franchisees do grow by adding a neighbouring territory once their first branch is established, as Charlotte and Tim, and Claire and Matt, have done.

Are these figures guaranteed?

No. Network figures are averages across many different branches. They're shared to give you an honest picture, but they aren't a projection or guarantee of what any individual franchisee will achieve.