Profit from the pet care crisis (Daily Mail franchise story)

Profit from the pet care crisis

Daily Mail

By: Linda Whitney

ANIMAL franchises are reporting an increase in business. If you are an animal lover, it's a business you could join.

'We've seen a 15 per cent increase in spending on our services compared to this time last year,' says Dennis Chirgwin, from Animals at Home.

'People are working longer hours or returning to work, so someone else has to come in to feed the animals or walk the dog.' Animals at Home franchisees provide services, including an animal ambulance and transport, pet feeding, dog walking and even pet cremations.

It is looking for more franchisees since its service is being promoted in Thomson Holiday brochures.

Most franchisees start as owneroperators, but are encouraged to recruit staff and move into management. Set-up costs are £14,000.

It takes more than a love of animals to succeed.

'You should be a pet lover, but also be business-minded,' says Monica Loosley, from Pals4Pets, whose franchisees provide home boarding and pet care, and a new emergency pet care service.

'The key is building up relationships with cash-rich, time-poor clients,' says Mrs Loosley. Investment packages start at £3,450.

You will have to promote and grow your own business, though if you are enthusiastic about pets this is not a chore.

'Pet owners find it easy to talk to other pet lovers about their favourite subject,' says Sue Reid, of Trophy Pet Foods, whose franchisees deliver pet foods and animal supplies.

'You can even market your business while walking your own dogs, because dog-walkers naturally talk about their pets.' Trophy franchisees provide a mobile pet food and supplies delivery service. The set-up cost is £13,995.

It's not enough to be good with animals, you must also be able to communicate well with people.

'You visit host families to check suitability, so you need a degree of tact on occasions,' says Ailsa Price, of Creature Comforts, whose franchisees link pet owners to people who look after pets while owners are away. Start-up costs are £5,950.

Franchisees with Bark Busters need especially good communication skills because they are training owners to retrain problem dogs.

'We train you to diagnose dog behaviour problems and to teach owners the skills required to stop them,' says Marcus Woodward.

Training takes four to six weeks and is included in the start-up cost of £18,000 to £25,000.

If you become a pet care franchisee, expect the unexpected.

'Our franchisee Tom Cartmale regularly gets texts from a Weimaraner called Chester asking for "More scrummy grub",' says Janet Walmesley, of Oscar pet foods.

Oscar franchisees deliver pet foods and accessories, as well as giving nutritional advice. Investment costs are £14,995.

ANIMALS at Home: 08701 126613.

Pals4Pets: 020 8201 1606.

Trophy: 01367 24343.

Creature Comforts: 01352 719415.

Bark Busters: 0808 100 4071.

Oscar: 0800 068 1106.






FRANCHISE


JANE PURCELL had been feeding cats and walking dogs as a favour until she saw an advert for the Animals At Home franchise in the Daily Mail. 'Three years later, I have five people working with me and three vans on the road, providing dog walking, transporting people and pets, pet feeding, pet sitting and lots more services,' says Jane, 45, pictured with springer spaniel Skipper.

'Every day is different,' says

Jane, who has been chased by cows while dog walking and had to feed rats, chameleons and bullfrogs, despite disliking creepy crawlies.

'You have to develop your care skills because they can be difficult, and each is someone's precious pet,' says Jane from Woking, Surrey.

'You also have to be skilled at dealing with owners, and able to cope with the administration and marketing it takes to grow your business.'