If you're searching for a cheap pet franchise, you'll find plenty of offers. Some are genuine low-cost franchises. Others use the word "franchise" for something much thinner: a licence to use a name, a monthly membership, or a training course with a logo attached.
There's no specific franchise law in the UK, so anyone can call what they sell a franchise. The label alone tells you nothing. What matters is what you actually get for your money, and whether it's still there in year two.
This guide explains what a real franchise includes, the common lookalikes at the cheaper end of the pet market, and how to tell them apart before you pay anything.
We run a pet care franchise, so we have a view. But the checks below work whoever you end up buying from.
A genuine franchise is more than permission to use a name. It's a working business system you're licensed to run, with the franchisor staying involved for as long as the agreement lasts. In practice that means:
Take away most of these and you may still have a perfectly legitimate product. It just isn't a franchise, and it shouldn't be priced or sold like one.
These models are common at the low-cost end of the pet market. None is a scam by definition, and some suit certain people well. The problem comes when they're marketed as franchises and buyers expect franchise-level support.
You pay to trade under a brand name and receive a starter manual or a logo pack, often with no training at all. After that, you're largely on your own: no ongoing coaching, no updated systems, no one to call. Low cost upfront, but you're effectively an independent business paying for a name.
A monthly fee buys a listing on a website, a profile on an app, or entry to a "network". There's usually no territory, so several members can operate on the same streets. Leads aren't guaranteed, and if you stop paying, you're simply removed.
You pay for a course, receive a certificate, and are allowed to describe yourself as part of the brand. Training has real value, but once the course ends, so does the relationship. That's education, not a franchise.
A one-off fee, then nothing more to pay. It sounds like the best deal on the list, but a franchisor with no ongoing income earns from recruiting new franchisees, not from you succeeding. Training, support and brand marketing all have to be funded from the next sale. We look at this in more detail below.
If a franchise costs very little to join, ask the obvious question: how does the franchisor pay for everything a franchise is supposed to provide?
Proper training, a maintained operating system, brand marketing and a support team all cost money, every year. The franchisor also needs to make a decent return of its own, or it won't be around for long. So when the joining fee is very low, those costs are usually covered in one of three ways:
None of these is necessarily dishonest, but you should know which one you're buying. Ask for a written estimate of everything you'll pay the franchisor in your first year, not just the joining fee, and what each payment covers. A low fee with high compulsory extras can cost more than a higher fee that includes them.
Of all the low-cost offers, the no-royalty franchise is the one that sounds best, so it's worth a closer look. Some pet care franchises advertise a one-off fee with no ongoing royalties or management fees. On paper it's appealing: pay once, keep everything you earn.
But look at how the franchisor makes its money. If its only income is initial fees, it earns from selling new franchises, not from its franchisees doing well. That has knock-on effects:
Not every no-royalty model struggles, and some are run carefully. But before you sign, ask:
An ongoing fee isn't a cost to resent if it's paying for something real. Ours is a 10% management service fee, and it funds the Success Manager, ongoing training, the operating systems, the franchisee community and 24/7 employment, safety and veterinary help.
To give you something to compare against, here's what the We Love Pets fee covers. It's £12,995 plus VAT, or £15,594 including VAT, which you can reclaim if you're VAT-registered.
Whatever you're offered, lay it alongside a list like this one. A cheaper fee that covers half of it may not be the cheaper option once you've bought the rest yourself.
A low entry cost doesn't mean you should pay it all from savings. Emptying the account to avoid borrowing leaves you with a business and no buffer, which is the riskier position.
We Love Pets franchisees can apply for a pre-approved loan from a government-backed provider. Loans range from £500 to £25,000 per person at a fixed 7.5%, unsecured, repaid over one to five years, with the option of 12 months' free mentoring. Your own application is still assessed on individual eligibility and affordability. For a pet care franchise fee of around £13,000, one loan can cover the fee and leave working capital behind it.
What that means in monthly terms. Borrowing the full We Love Pets fee including VAT (£15,594) over five years at the fixed 7.5% works out at around £312 a month. Over the full term you'd repay about £18,750 in total, of which roughly £3,150 is interest.
This is an illustrative example, not a quote. Loans are subject to individual eligibility and approval, and the figures above cover the fee only, not working capital. Use the provider's online calculator for your own numbers.
The principle that matters most: fund the working capital, not just the fee. New businesses rarely struggle because the entry cost was too high. They struggle because nothing was left once it was paid.
Our franchise funding guide covers eligibility, the business plan and the cash flow forecast.
A low fee is a good thing when it reflects a lean, home-based model. It's a warning sign when it reflects missing substance. Be wary if:
Our 12 questions to ask any franchisor turns these into a checklist you can take to every discovery call.
Pet franchising is genuinely one of the most affordable routes into business in the UK. You can start a real, recurring business without premises, stock or a shop fit-out.
But the cheapest offer isn't always a franchise, and it isn't always the cheapest start. Judge any opportunity on what's inside the fee and what's still there after launch. A slightly higher fee that includes an exclusive territory, a recognised qualification, launch marketing and real ongoing support can work out far cheaper than a low one that leaves you buying those yourself.
If you're still weighing up different kinds of pet business, our guide to the best pet franchise in the UK for 2027 compares the main models. And our complete guide to buying a pet care franchise walks through every step.
→ Download the Franchise Information Pack for our full investment breakdown, what the £12,995 + VAT fee includes, and current territory availability.
Are cheap pet franchises worth it?
Some are. A low fee is fine when it reflects a lean, home-based model with proper training and support. Be cautious when it reflects missing substance, such as no territory, no qualification or no support after launch.
What's the difference between a franchise and a licence?
A licence usually lets you use a name or method, with little ongoing involvement. A franchise gives you a full operating system, training, a defined territory and continuing support under a written agreement, usually funded by an ongoing fee.
Is there a legal definition of a franchise in the UK?
No. There's no specific franchise law in the UK, so anyone can use the word. The British Franchise Association sets a voluntary code of ethics for its members, which is one useful check.
Do cheap pet franchises include training?
Often very little. Many low-cost offers provide a manual or a short induction rather than structured training, and few lead to a recognised qualification. We Love Pets franchisees complete pre-launch business and pet care training, including the Level 2 Canine Care Award and pet first aid certification.
How much does a proper pet care franchise cost?
The We Love Pets franchise fee is £12,995 plus VAT. Add roughly £1,000 to £3,000 for insurance, licensing and kit, plus a personal reserve while the business builds.
Can I get a loan for a pet franchise?
Often, yes. We Love Pets franchisees can apply for a pre-approved loan from a government-backed provider, offering up to £25,000 per person at a fixed 7.5%, subject to individual eligibility and approval, which can cover the fee and working capital. Borrowing the full We Love Pets fee including VAT over five years works out at around £312 a month.
→ Download the Franchise Information Pack to see exactly what our fee includes.
Setup cost ranges are typical estimates, not quotes. Figures correct at the time of writing. We're not financial or legal advisers; take independent advice before borrowing or signing an agreement.