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Hi, this to help Mrs A. We've had spaniels for the last 25 years and both dog lovers. Mrs A has often wanted to work with dogs and has been gently looking at pet franchises e.g. PetStay with a thought of offering pet sitting, walking (possibly training via me) within the local area. She'd be ace at the recruiting people, and is clearly a dog lover.
But the franchise is a big cost, but does offer credibility and some support which she finds reassuring. She's not esp confident about setting up on her own (I would be, but it'll be her business).
I think she's pretty pragmatic about what the job would be like, is very well known in our local area, and I'm well known via our dogs.
Anyone have any experience about the benefits of the franchise route?
My pups!
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very well known in our local area, and I’m well known via our dogs.
More well known than the name of a franchise most people will never have heard of ?
Where are you? We're looking for home boarding for our dog. The issue we're facing is that we don't vaccinate her, we titre test instead. We also don't worm routinely, we have a count done. What we're finding is that franchised places don't want to know unless you have your dog pumped full of chemicals they don't need. Staying independent might well have its own advantages.
The other thing is, they all advertise walks and cuddles. Our girl isn't that cuddly, she'd much rather you did some training or engagement work with her.
We use a local lady recommended word of mouth. She is great and Maisie (the dog) loves her. Not cheap but not sure I would let someone cheap look after my dog.
Not sure what a franchise offers you above setting up on your own. As you say I guess it’s just support with the business side of things.
My Mrs thinks about it every now and then when she is having a downer on the NHS and her role.
Never heard of the franchise.
Sounds like someone else's get rich quick scheme.
Are you not able to help your wife if she lacks the confidence to do it without a franchise?
Never heard of the franchise, we use a local company for cat sitting, they seem quite busy and used to do doggy day care which apparently was used a lot. Not sure I’d trust a franchise over a recommended local. Maybe not bother with a franchise
thanks. We're in Westerham, Kent.
The franchise that she's looking at effectively sets you up as the 'territory manager', you then recruit dog sitters and walkers and you 'manage' them. The franchise help with legal stuff, website, credibility etc. (albeit that's doable on one's own).
This appeals to Mrs A as she gets to check on the sitters/walkers and the owners and the dog placement. I guess it's more scaleable than doing it just here at home, where we're a bit restricted with 3 of our own dogs!
And I'd love to be her no.2 in helping and set-up, but suspect it might be more harmonious if it can be more of 'her thing' as otherwise, things probably would be simply passed across to me!
That's a pointless franchise, especially if even the doggy folk have never heard of it.
Set up a dog walking business on your/her own, if she actually wants to walk dogs (not sure she does though?)
My wife is a dog walker. We had borders for many years but stopped as local authority registration shot up in cost.
She started taking dogs as borders from another local business. All the owners now deal with us directly. She had business cards printed, then hid them. Finding clients is easy.
In summary dog walking and sitting has provided my wife with a nice way of earning some money. A chunk of her day is spent driving as she collects dogs to walk.
Insurance is about £100 per year. I think the insurance company provides the paper work for each owner. Basically it lets her take the dog to a vet if needed etc.
Other than doing the accounts there isn't really much to it. Well other than walking dogs.
Now the rest of opinion.
The franchise thing sounds odd. You need to find people who want walk dogs but can't fill in the form for insurance. Instead they'll pay you some of their hard earned money. Some of which you'll then pass on to some one else.
My other worry would be finding people you really trust to be part of your wider team. That's people with a house and secure garden. You'll need to trust them to the point that you'll hand over some one elses house keys. That person will need to trust you to pass their keys on to some one else. Oh and on a practical note she never labels the keys in case she drops them
Never heard of that franchise... sounds more like a dodgy pyramid scheme than a business you would want to be a part of. Starting a small business isn't really that complicated and sounds like you have the contacts but if she doesn't want to do the actual hands on dirty work at the beginning it may be a no go. If she can then start solo and build up from there with a helper.
Ampthill...you neatly summarise my thoughts! Just don't want to shoot stuff down too promptly.
Thanks all, in short, steer clear!
Not really researched it, but aren't most dog walkers one-man-band type arrangements? Not sure whether a franchise would work for that kind of business. (ah yes, I see Amphill has covered this!)
I tried dog walking for a bit when I got made redundant - signed up to Tailster.com and it worked ok. I got a job staying in a massive house for a week looking after a couple of dogs while the woman owner was away. I hated it 😆 but that's by the by.