Who it suits

Could this be you?

There's no single type of person who builds a successful We Love Pets branch. Our franchisees have come from hospitals, classrooms, banks, shops, offices and TV studios. What they share is a love of animals and the wish to build something of their own.

Corporate professionals

Good at your job but tired of the commute, the restructures and making someone else's numbers look good. Your organisation and people skills transfer straight across.

Read Mark's story →

Teachers and education staff

Organised, patient, brilliant with people and used to responsibility. Plenty of former teachers have found a calmer, more rewarding working life with us.

Read Corrina's story →

NHS and healthcare staff

Caring, calm under pressure and exhausted by long shifts. Many want to keep helping others, just outdoors and on their own terms.

Read Tasha's story →

Retail and hospitality managers

You already know how to run a team, deal with customers and keep things moving. Now you can do it for a business that's yours.

Read Bryan's story →

Banking and financial services

Commercially minded, comfortable with numbers and ready for work with more meaning. Several of our strongest branches are run by former bankers.

Read Deb's story →

Media, TV and creative industries

Used to long hours, short contracts and very little control over your diary. Our London franchisees in Wimbledon and Hackney both came from TV.

Meet Lydia and Michelle →

Parents wanting family time

A local business you plan around school runs, plays and sports days, rather than fitting family life around a commute.

Read Julie's story →

Couples building something together

Two people, complementary skills and a shared goal. Several of our branches are run by couples who wanted more time for family and for each other.

Read Gabby and Dave's story →

Starting again later in life

Redundancy, early retirement or simply the feeling that it's now or never. Life experience is a real advantage, and many franchisees launch in their fifties.

Read Shirley's story →

Independent walkers and sitters

You already love the work but have hit a ceiling on clients, admin or confidence. A trusted brand, proper systems and support change what's possible.

Franchise vs going alone →

Ambitious and starting out

You don't need decades of experience. If you're driven and want to build something early in your career, you'll have the training and support to do it.

Read Sophie's story →

Business builders

Already run a business, or want to build a larger one with a team? Our high-potential programmes support franchisees growing beyond the VAT threshold and into more than one territory.

See the support →

What our successful franchisees share

Backgrounds vary enormously. These qualities don't.

  • A genuine love of animals and a commitment to their welfare
  • Reliability. Families are trusting you with their pets and their homes.
  • Good with people, because pet care is a relationship business
  • Willing to follow a proven system while making the business your own
  • Motivated to build something, whether that's a lifestyle branch or a business with a team
  • Happy to learn, as we'll teach you the animal care and the business side

Who it isn't for

We'd rather be honest now than have you find out later. A We Love Pets franchise probably isn't right for you if:

  • You want a hands-off investment. This is a business you build and run, not a passive income.
  • You need a full salary from week one. Building a client base takes time, so you'll need a realistic plan to cover the early months.
  • You'd rather not be outdoors in all weathers, at least in the early days before you take on a team.
  • Weekends and school holidays are off limits. They're often the busiest times, because that's when owners go away.
  • You'd rather invent everything yourself. If total independence matters most, starting on your own may suit you better.

Recognise yourself?

The best way to find out whether you'd be a good fit is to talk to us. We'll be honest with you either way, because a franchise only works when it's right for both of us.