How Much Does It Cost to Start a Dog Walking Business in the UK?

Hey, Ritchie here.

If you're thinking about starting a professional dog walking and pet sitting business, you're looking at approximately £6,000-£7,000 as an independent operator.

But here's the important bit: that assumes quite a lot goes right.

It assumes you make smart purchasing decisions first time, your marketing spend converts efficiently, you don't waste money on tools or services you don't end up using, and you execute your setup without too many expensive detours.

Below, I'll break down the key investment categories, explain what the time investment really looks like, and show you an alternative route if this all begins to sound a little overwhelming — because, whatever way you cut it, there's a lot to do.

The Detailed Cost Breakdown

It's also important to set aside money to cover your personal expenses as your business grows. How much you need will depend on your effort levels, time spent on setup and the performance of your marketing and sales.

What This Table Doesn't Tell You

Here's the thing: the table assumes you get everything right the first time, with zero wastage.

Yes, there's a contingency built in—but that's for extra costs, not wasted costs.

In reality, discovering what works in business can involve considerable trial and error - and that can get expensive. This may include:

• Marketing campaigns which don't convert
• Website tweaks which fail to improve your Google ranking
• Website which is ineffective in converting visitors into warm leads
• Equipment that isn't quite right and needs replacing
• Trial-and-error with Google Ads (expensive learning curve)
• Software subscriptions you don't end up using

The £6,913 figure assumes perfect execution from someone doing this for the first time. That's optimistic.

The Investment Nobody Talks About

Beyond the money, there's the time commitment—and this is substantial, especially if you want to set up a full-time, premium professional dog walking and pet sitting business as a solopreneur.

Below is a detailed breakdown of where you'll need to invest significant time.

Pre-Launch Essentials:

• Researching and developing your brand identity: 8-10 hours
• Sourcing and comparing equipment/suppliers: 4-8 hours
• Building or briefing your website: 13-20 hours (DIY) or 5-8 hours (with designer)
• Learning accounting software and setting up systems: 7-10 hours
• Creating or adapting customer agreement documentation: 4-7 hours
• Understanding insurance options and requirements: 2-4 hours
• Setting up your office and organisational systems: 5-8 hours

Teaching Yourself the Business Essentials:

• How Google Ads actually works (and how not to waste money): 10-13 hours
• Search engine optimisation basics: 7-10 hours
• Social media marketing strategy: 5-8 hours
• Bookkeeping and financial management: 7-10 hours
• Customer service systems and processes: 4-7 hours

Ongoing Weekly Time (First 6 Months):

• Managing marketing campaigns: 5-8 hours/week
• Creating content for social media: 4-6 hours/week
• Responding to enquiries and booking calls: 4-6 hours/week
• Admin, invoicing, and bookkeeping: 3-5 hours/week

Total Setup Time: 40-70 hours before you're truly operational!

And remember: this time investment assumes you're learning effectively and not going down too many dead ends. The reality for most people? It often takes longer as you figure out what actually works for your specific area and target market.

If This All Sounds a Little Too Overwhelming...

When I was looking at this in 2018, I found it genuinely daunting. So many moving parts. So much to learn. So many ways to waste money and time.

If you're feeling the same way, there is another route: joining the trusted Pets, Homes & Gardens franchise, which has been running for over 13 years.

This opportunity is perfect for people who prefer to follow a tried and tested blueprint, where every penny you spend goes toward the right things—not wasted on trial-and-error. And every hour you invest is properly utilised to enable a seamless launch.

The PHG Route: Battle-Tested Systems from Day One

Initial Investment: Approximately £4,995

• Joining fee: £2,995
• Recommended for marketing: £1,500
• Office setup: £500

What's Included:

• Complete professional branding (logo, guidelines, all marketing graphics)
• Fully built, user friendly website, optimised for maximum conversions
• All customer agreement forms
• Essential starter equipment and branded polo shirts
• Pet First Aid qualification (online + practical)
• Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Diploma (CPD certified)
• 2-day comprehensive business training
• Google Ads campaign setup and ongoing management
• Comprehensive 60-day marketing plan
• Operations manual and business blueprint (refined over 13 years)
• Ongoing unlimited support from us (Ritchie & Amber)
• Access to the PHG franchisee community
• Frontline shadowing opportunities
• Software and IT support
• An incredibly comprehensive franchisee toolkit

And that's just scratching the surface!

Time to Operational: Immediate upon completion of training. Between sign-up and training, we work intensively with you to ensure everything is in place so you can start taking clients the moment you complete your training.

Business expansion: You also have complete freedom to grow your business as you see fit. Some franchisees choose to reinvest profits into assets like a professional dog walking van, while others prefer to keep overheads minimal—both approaches work brilliantly, and even with a van, margins remain very healthy.

The Real Difference

PHG is synonymous with premium pet care. The brand recognition, proven systems, and comprehensive support enables you to command premium prices from the start—and deliver the five-star service that justifies them.

When you're established, you can earn a very respectable income. Our franchisees all enjoy strong profit margins because the owner-operated model keeps overheads low while the premium brand positioning supports higher rates.

According to the British Franchise Association's 2023 survey, franchises have significantly higher success rates than independent startups, largely due to the established systems and ongoing support.

The Honest Comparison

Independent Route: £6,913 initial investment

The initial investment of £6,913 assumes perfect execution from day one—unlikely for first-timers. You're looking at 30-65 hours of setup time teaching yourself everything from Google Ads and Social Media to business strategy, sales, pricing and website optimisation. If you're looking to setup a full-time, premium solopreneur business (and I assume you are if you're reading this guide), it will likely take a good couple of months at least before you're truly operational.

The learning curve is steep, the risk of wasted spending is high, and you're solving problems alone. You're building brand recognition from scratch in a competitive market and will need to determine your unique selling proposition to stand out from the rest. It's all achievable but there is a lot to do.

PHG Franchise Route: £4,995 initial investment

The PHG route costs less upfront and gets you operational immediately after training. Every pound goes where it's proven to work—no trial and error, no wasted marketing spend. You get a ready-made 60-day marketing plan, a battle-tested blueprint, unlimited support, and immediate benefit from 13+ years of brand recognition.

The ongoing PHG commission is 11.4% of monthly revenue, which includes retention of all the benefits you enjoy at launch, plus an incredibly comprehensive support package, equating to thousands of pounds if sourced independently. This ranges from website hosting, permanent unlimited support, periodic business development reviews, customer message templates, training courses and access to our ever-growing toolkit as the PHG franchise expands. There are no hidden fees, and the rate never increases.

Here's what matters: we equip you with the ability and confidence to deliver a truly premium service and a business which is successful for the long-term. Many of our franchisees have been operating for well over 8-10 years with very healthy profit margins. The premium prices you can command in return more than offset the commission. And critically, you'll be part of something truly special. The PHG family are all wonderful people, and it's genuinely a privilege running a business under the PHG brand. Amber and I loved every second operating as franchisees prior to taking over in early 2025.

Making Your Decision

Both routes can lead to a successful, profitable dog walking and pet sitting business.

The independent route suits those who enjoy the challenge of building a business from the ground up. It's ideal if you have strong business and marketing skills, and the money and time to invest in optimising the business for long-term profitability and success.

The PHG franchise route is ideal for people who are methodical and looking to launch a profitable, full-time pet care business right now for the long-term. It's for those who want to invest their money and time wisely and be part of a community who genuinely support each other, share best practices, and take pride in delivering exceptional care under a trusted brand.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

If you're curious about the PHG franchise and want to explore whether it could be right for you, let's have a conversation.

Get in touch:

📞 023 8225 4562 or 07507 232353
📧 info@petshomesandgardens.co.uk

Best,

Ritchie

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