Why We Chose a Franchise When Launching Our Dog Walking Business, Instead of Going Independent
Hey, Ritchie here.
I remember it well. 4th June 2018—the day I handed in my notice to leave my highly paid Business Analyst role at Carnival Cruises... to run my own dog walking business.
My family and friends thought I was mad.
And you know what? Their concerns would have been completely valid if I'd opted to go out on my own (which I almost did).
The Moment Everything Felt Overwhelming
The more I looked into the business launch process while working my notice, the more overwhelmed I was getting. I had no idea:
- How much money it would cost me to launch
- How I would find new clients
- What rates to charge
- The type of dog walking I should offer
- What insurance I needed
- What licenses or certifications were required
- How to set up proper customer agreements
- What marketing actually worked in this industry
Here's the thing—I have a first-class management degree. I'd worked in senior roles analysing complex business processes. Yet I still had no idea where to even start with launching my own pet care business.
Alarm bells were starting to ring.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
When I started googling the typical costs to launch a dog walking business, I came across the Pets, Homes & Gardens franchise.
It was such an amazing moment—something I'll never forget.
A franchise! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?
Well, I think the obvious reason is the belief that all franchises charge a fortune to join. The big-name franchises you see advertised often require £20,000, £50,000, or even £100,000+ to get started.
But as I happily discovered with Pets, Homes & Gardens—that absolutely was not the case. In fact, it was extremely affordable (and still is to this very day).
Everything About The PHG Website Just Felt Right:
- It felt welcoming, friendly, warm
- Not corporate in any way (which was a huge tick for me)
- It became clear I would have lots of flexibility to run the business around my needs
- I would have all the support I needed to get my business off the ground
- Comprehensive training
- Professional branding
- A website already set up
- An operations manual
- Customer agreement templates
- Insurance guidance
- Marketing support
And the list went on.
As a methodical person, I knew in my gut that PHG would enable me to run my dream business properly—without spending months (or years) trying to figure everything out myself and making expensive mistakes along the way.
The Pivotal Moment
The discovery of PHG represented a pivotal point for me.
I went from being overwhelmed at the thought of going out independently, not having a clue where to even start... to feeling extreme relief and excitement!
It was the first real time when I thought to myself: "I can actually do this!"
And that's all thanks to the PHG franchise model.
Did I Look at Other Pet Care Franchises?
Of course! But PHG was the perfect price point for me, and I loved the welcoming family feel of the brand. The owners, Peter and Julie, weren't running some massive corporate operation—they were running their own PHG business in Horsham while supporting a small network of franchisees.
That personal touch mattered to me. I wanted to work with people who understood what it was actually like to be out there walking dogs and caring for animals every day.
So the PHG franchise was the obvious choice.
So Was Joining a Franchise The Right Decision?
Seven years later, at the time of writing, I am genuinely the happiest I've been in years.
My wife, Amber has also come onboard with me, and our PHG Southampton business is thriving. We're both earning a full-time income from the business.
And here's the part that might surprise you: I'm now earning more than I was in my role as a Business Analyst at Carnival.
Let that sink in for a moment.
I left a well-paid corporate career to walk dogs... and I'm earning more money, with complete flexibility over my schedule, doing work I genuinely love.
This is all thanks to PHG.
What I Got From Joining PHG (That I Couldn't Have Built Alone)
From the moment I joined, I was welcomed into the PHG family and received such fantastic training covering everything:
- Pricing
- Business strategy
- Operations and service delivery
- Marketing (online and offline)
- Financial management and accounts
- Delivering customer service excellence
- Risk management and insurance
- Deep dive overviews of all the PHG pet care services
We were given an incredibly comprehensive operations manual that went through all aspects of running the business with a fine-tooth comb.
I had my own professional website, established branding, a PHG graphics kit, access to the PHG forum, customer agreement forms—literally everything I could possibly need to hit the ground running and run a sustainable business for the long term.
The Commission Question: Is It Worth It?
I know what you're thinking: "But you have to pay commission to PHG. Wouldn't you earn more going independent?"
Here's my honest answer: I have zero doubt that I would be much worse off had I gone out independently.
And here's why.
In the unlikely event that I had managed to successfully set up a dog walking business off my own back (after spending months figuring everything out through trial and error), the likelihood of me earning anywhere near what I am now is pretty low—even after accounting for the commission.
By being part of a trusted pet care franchise, and by knowing how to pitch an irresistible service proposition (which PHG taught me), I can command premium prices that more than offset the commission.
Here's what PHG enables me to offer: When I meet a potential customer, I arrive in branded uniform with an incredibly professional portfolio showcasing PHG business cards, comprehensive customer agreement forms, full public liability insurance documentation, my vetting certificate, and all my certifications—Pet First Aid—Online and Practical Courses, and the relevant pet care diplomas—which PHG fully funds. After documenting all the information I need, I then explain to the customer exactly what they'll be getting for their money... and it never fails to blow them away! Ultimately, this all demonstrates that I'm a legitimate, trustworthy business they can have complete confidence in. Therefore, customers are genuinely happy to pay a premium and that premium pricing more than covers the commission, leaving me with a higher net income than I would overwise have achieved going out independently.
What Would Have Happened If I'd Gone Independent?
I think about this sometimes.
If I'd tried to launch independently back in 2018, here's what would likely have happened:
- I would have spent months researching a launch strategy, branding and marketing strategies—time I couldn't afford as I'd already quit my job
- I would have made expensive mistakes in pricing, service delivery, and customer acquisition
- I would have struggled to stand out from the competition with no brand recognition
- I would have charged lower prices due to lack of confidence and proven systems
- I might have given up when things got tough, with no support network to turn to
Instead, because I joined PHG, I was able to hit the ground running with:
- Proven systems that worked
- Professional branding that commanded trust
- Clear pricing guidance
- Ongoing marketing support
- A community of fellow franchisees to learn from
- Direct access to experienced owners who'd been exactly where I was
The Bottom Line
If you're sitting where I was in 2018—excited about starting a pet care business but overwhelmed by where to begin—I completely understand.
The question isn't whether you're capable of running a pet care business. I'm sure you are.
The question is: Do you want to spend the next year or two figuring everything out through expensive trial and error, or would you rather have a proven blueprint from day one?
For me, joining a franchise was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It transformed my career, my lifestyle, and my earning potential.
And seven years on, Amber and I are both living our happiest lives; all thanks to PHG!
Best,
Ritchie
