How to Choose the Right Pet Care Franchise in 2026
Choosing a pet care franchise in the UK? Eight questions to ask any franchisor, what it really costs, and the signs of a franchise worth joining.
5 min read
Estimated read: 8 minutes
People arrive at a career with animals from all sorts of places. A hospital ward. A secondary school. A thirty-year corporate career. A supermarket shop floor. There's no single type of person who makes the change, which is rather the point.
What they tend to have in common isn't a background in pet care. Most had never worked with animals professionally in their lives. What they shared was a feeling that their working life had stopped fitting them, and enough courage to do something about it.
Here are five of them, in their own words.
From the ward: Tasha, former NHS nurse
Tasha spent decades in the NHS, nursing in surgical theatres, oncology and palliative care. It's some of the most demanding work there is, and after years of long hours and emotional weight, a spell of ill health made her stop and ask a simple question: what would actually make her happy?
The answer was to be outdoors, to work with animals, and to still help people. She joined We Love Pets in 2022, and hasn't looked back.
"Owning my own business has given me a level of satisfaction and freedom that I never imagined. If you're passionate about animals and willing to put in the work, don't let fear hold you back."
Tasha, We Love Pets Bury St Edmunds
From the classroom: Gemma, former teacher
Gemma had worked in education for years, as a teacher, a learning support assistant and finally a pastoral lead in a secondary school. By the end, the anxiety had become too much, and she wanted both a better quality of life and to contribute more to her family's finances.
She wasn't even looking to run a business at first. She was looking for a dog walking job. One email changed everything. A year on, she runs a thriving branch in Colchester with a full client base and a growing team.
"One email, asking about a dog walking job, completely changed the direction of my life. I wouldn't even call it work, I love every minute of it. I've never felt like I'm doing it alone."
Gemma, We Love Pets Colchester
From the office: Mark, former corporate professional
Mark spent thirty years in pharmaceutical logistics. It was a solid career, but it had stopped exciting him, and he wanted a complete change. He'll happily admit he isn't a natural entrepreneur, which makes his story all the more reassuring for anyone worried they aren't "the business type".
He launched his We Love Pets branch in South Cambridgeshire in late 2024, at 55, and now looks after everything from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs. What got him through the steep early learning curve wasn't natural flair. It was determination and the support around him.
"I'm not naturally entrepreneurial, but I've learned that resilience, determination and a willingness to keep improving matter just as much. Life is short. We only get one go, so why not spend it doing something you love?"
Mark, We Love Pets South Cambridgeshire
From the shop floor: Bryan, former retail manager
Bryan managed a Lidl store for six years. He's a lifelong animal lover, with two Rottweilers and two cats of his own, and he wanted work that felt more meaningful and gave him more freedom than retail management allowed.
What he'd first imagined as a two-year plan became a two-month reality. He joined We Love Pets in Livingston in 2023, and the support of the network gave him the confidence to back himself.
"I wanted something different, something that felt more meaningful and gave me more freedom. Making the leap into franchising was one of the biggest decisions I've ever made, but it's also been one of the best."
Bryan, We Love Pets Livingston
Starting again later in life: Shirley, former financial services
Shirley had spent seventeen years in financial services when she was offered voluntary redundancy at 54. Plenty of people would have taken that as a cue to wind down. She took it as a chance to finally chase something she'd wanted her whole life.
Her dad had been self-employed, and she'd always envied the life it gave him. Now she has one of her own. Eight years on, she is still running We Love Pets Brentwood and doing the work she'd only ever dreamed about.
"I never imagined I could start a dog walking business. Now I get to live the life my dad had, content, happy, self-employed, but without the fear."
Shirley, We Love Pets Brentwood
What all five have in common
Look across these stories and a few threads run through every one of them.
None of them had pet care experience when they started. A nurse, a teacher, a logistics manager, a retail manager and someone from financial services. What they brought instead were the skills their old careers had given them, and those turned out to matter more than they expected.
Every one of them was frightened at some point. The move from a steady wage to running your own business is a genuinely big step, and none of them pretends otherwise. What they say, again and again, is that they didn't have to do it alone. The training, the systems and the wider community of franchisees carried them through the parts they couldn't have worked out by themselves. You're in business for yourself, but never by yourself.
And not one of them regrets it. Different ages, different backgrounds, different corners of the country, but the same conclusion: the leap was worth it.
Could your story be next?
You don't need to have it all worked out today. You don't need pet care experience, and you don't need to be a natural entrepreneur, as Mark would happily tell you. You just need to be curious enough to find out more.
Our free Franchise Information Pack lays it all out honestly: how the model works, what the investment looks like, the support you'd receive, and more stories from people who changed direction and haven't looked back. No pressure and no hard sell, just the information you need to decide whether this could be for you.
Every one of these stories started with a single, quiet moment of "maybe I could". This could be yours. You can meet more of our franchisees on our franchisee stories page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to change careers into pet care?
No. None of the franchisees in these stories had professional pet care experience when they started. A genuine love of animals, a reliable nature and a willingness to learn matter far more, and full training covers the rest.
What kinds of careers do people leave to do this?
All sorts. These five alone came from nursing, teaching, corporate logistics, retail management and financial services. The common thread isn't a shared background, it's wanting more meaning, freedom or balance from working life.
Is it risky to leave a secure job?
It's a big step, and everyone here felt that. Choosing a proven model with training and a support network behind you, rather than starting something entirely alone, is how people manage that risk sensibly. Our Investment & Funding page sets out the numbers honestly.
Am I too old to start?
Very unlikely. Mark launched his branch at 55 and Shirley started hers at 54, and eight years later she's still running it. Life experience tends to help rather than hinder when you're running your own business.
How do I find out more?
Download the free Info Pack, or book an informal chat by phone or video when you're ready, with no obligation and no sales pressure.
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