London franchise opportunities
London has more dog owners than anywhere else in the UK
Nearly half of London households now own a dog, and many of their owners are back in the office for most of the week. We Love Pets franchisees across the capital are building real businesses meeting that need, and we're looking for more people to join them.
Why London is the strongest pet care market in the country
More dogs, closer together, with owners who are out of the house all day and want trusted care for them.
49%
of London households own a dog, the highest proportion of any UK region, compared with 41% nationally.
Source: UK Pet Food Pet Population Report, January 2026 survey of nearly 9,000 households.
15.5 million
dogs now live in UK homes. Many arrived during the pandemic and are now settled, active dogs who'll need care for another decade.
Back to the office
A dog that was never alone in 2021 can now be on its own from eight until six. For a lot of London owners, a midday walk is the only way the arrangement works.
Clients on the next street
In much of the country a pet care round means driving between clients. In London your next client is often round the corner, so more of your day is spent with pets and less in traffic.
Southwest London
Lydia, Wimbledon
£11,000
monthly turnover
Lydia was a production coordinator, with long hours and very little say over her own diary. She wanted to be her own boss, work outdoors and be around animals, and to build something where the effort she put in came back to her.
She now runs We Love Pets Wimbledon, turning over £11,000 a month.
East London
Michelle, Hackney
£4,000
monthly turnover by her third month
After a career in television, Michelle wanted to work with animals and build something of her own, rather than another contract that could end without warning. She chose a proven model rather than starting from scratch.
She launched We Love Pets Hackney in June 2026 and was turning over £4,000 a month by her third month.
Lydia shows what's possible once a London branch is established. Michelle shows how quickly one can get going. Both came from TV and production, with no pet care background.
Figures shown are turnover, not profit, and reflect these franchisees' individual businesses. Individual results vary, and these figures are not a projection or guarantee of what any other franchisee will achieve. Correct as of October 2026.
London areas we're looking to fill
Every territory is exclusive. London territories are smaller in geography than rural ones because they contain far more households, so you get a well-populated patch rather than a large, thin one. Availability changes, so ask us about a specific area.
Last updated: October 2026
Southwest London
Battersea, Barnes (SW13), East Sheen (SW14), Putney (SW15), Wandsworth (SW18), Wimbledon Village (SW19), Raynes Park, Kingston upon Thames (KT2), Surbiton, Teddington, Twickenham, Fulham, Parsons Green
North London
Hampstead, Highgate, East Finchley (N2), Finchley (N3), Whetstone & Totteridge (N20), High Barnet (EN5), Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Mill Hill, Winchmore Hill, Southgate
West London
Chiswick, Ealing, Pinner, Northwood, Ruislip
Southeast London
Chislehurst (BR7), Orpington (BR6), Dulwich, Blackheath, Greenwich, Beckenham
Sound familiar?
There's no single type of person who does well with a London branch, but there are some patterns.
You've been made redundant, or can see it coming. Media, tech, retail and finance have all been tough in London lately. A redundancy payment plus a proven model is a very different proposition to starting from nothing.
The commute has stopped making sense. You're back in the office most of the week, and the maths on your life doesn't add up any more.
You already walk dogs on your own. An independent walker or sitter who's hit a ceiling on clients, admin or confidence. A brand, systems and support change what's possible.
The investment
- Franchise fee: £12,995 + VAT
- Management fee: 10% of turnover
- WLP Connect: £30 a month
- Funding: We Love Pets is pre-approved for a government-backed Start Up Loan, from around £313 a month for eligible applicants*
Your training, launch marketing, exclusive territory and ongoing support are all included. Your We Love Pets team will talk you through a realistic London budget, including the things London costs more of.
See the full investment breakdown →
*Subject to eligibility, credit and affordability checks. Based on a 7.5% loan over 5 years on £15,594 (£12,995 + VAT).
Your questions about running a branch in London
It's competitive, but it's nowhere near saturated. Nearly half of London households own a dog, and much of that market is served by individual walkers. An established brand with proper systems, trained and qualified carers and 24/7 support is a genuinely different offer to most London owners.
Not necessarily. London territories are compact enough that many services can be delivered on foot, by bike or by public transport. Some services, such as pet taxi, do need a vehicle, and we'll talk through what your territory realistically needs.
Smaller in geography than a rural territory, because it contains far more households. Every territory is exclusive and planned around household density, demographics and demand.
No. Lydia came from TV production and Michelle from television. Your training includes the Level 2 Canine Care Award, the We Love Pets Certification™ in Dog Care, Cat Care and Small Animal Care, and pet first aid, alongside full business training.
Many franchisees start earning within their first few weeks of trading. Michelle launched her Hackney branch in June 2026 and was turning over £4,000 a month by her third month. How quickly it happens depends on your territory, your hours and how you market locally.
Plenty of franchisees do. We Love Pets is also pre-approved for government-backed Start Up Loans, which can cover the franchise fee plus working capital for eligible applicants, so you may not need to spend your whole payout on the launch.
Tell us anyway. Territories open up, resales come along and boundaries can sometimes be adjusted, so we'd always rather have an honest conversation.
London's dogs aren't going anywhere
Your Monday morning could look very different. Tell us which part of London you're interested in, and we'll give you an honest picture of what's available.
