Starting your own business can be a daunting task. Over half of all businesses fail during their first year, and over half of those that succeed in their first year don’t survive their second. This makes the market incredibly competitive. It also puts a lot of pressure on first time business owners to try and make a living doing what they love.
The reasons people look at starting their own business can vary a huge amount. All great businesses share two things in common. Firstly, they start with a fantastic idea. Secondly, they identify a market need.
We at Barking Mad specialise in giving people the opportunity to run their own businesses within the dog care sector. We are experts in helping those people who love dogs, in particular, become the owners of their own dog boarding enterprise. It is theirs to love and grow as big as they like, all with expert aid and guidance to help them make the most out of their entrepreneurial spirit.
Starting your own business is never completely risk averse; however, we put preventative measures in place that give first time business owners through Barking Mad a much higher chance of success.
Barking Mad are the UK’s leading dog care franchise, specialising in providing dog owners with the best possible dog boarding experience whilst they are away. We are a multi-award winning franchisor, offering dog lovers the opportunity to run their own business with the brand and support of the Barking Mad team. This allows franchisees to have the full experience of running a business that they own, whilst benefiting from our brand and assistance.
Founded by Lee Dancy, a dog lover who wanted to see better support for her own Dalmatian (Bronte) whilst she was away from home, Barking Mad has grown exponentially since 2000. Now we have franchisees spanning the whole country, from Glasgow to Torquay, looking after thousands of dogs between them each year. It is through our reputation for impeccable care that we have managed to grow into a well-recognised brand in the dog care industry. It is a reputation that we are keen to uphold, and one that is a fantastic ingredient in the recipe for retained business.
“I used to run my own business however being part of the Barking Mad organisation is like night and day from being out on your own.
Having the network of franchisees to what with and bounce ideas off is hugely rewarding too and whilst we face different challenges, we support and feed off each other. I now have an incredible team of people who are there for me at any time and I never
– Brad (Barking Mad Dundee)
Being a franchisee is becoming a more and more popular option for starting entrepreneurs and being with Barking Mad is no different.
With Barking Mad you own your own enterprise. You are in charge of your business in your own area. You can work from home, with work hours that you want to work, which puts you in control of your own profitability. You will have your own business plan and grow your business the way you want. Likewise, if you ever decide you want to sell your business, you are able to.
Starting out on your own is tough and new entrants to the market need to stay ahead of the competition. What being a franchisee means is that you get help, guidance, and support with running your business. We help you with marketing, providing marketing to your chosen area for 8 weeks after you initially become a franchisee. This helps you hit the ground running with your dog boarding business. We also give you space in the digital ecosystem to promote yourself online, and offer support for both online/offline marketing.
Being a franchisee of Barking Mad grants you access to the best training on the market. From your very first meeting with Lee, our regular seminars and support meetings, to our yearly conference, you will have award winning support. The franchisee network also offers support between franchisees in the form of peer-to-peer advice.
Becoming a franchisee offers a set amount of security. You have security in your own business, with higher average success rates than starting a SME from scratch, as well as security in the brand.
The ultimate benefit though is that you get to work with dogs on a daily basis. Working with dogs is an incredibly rewarding experience and it has a proven effect on job satisfaction. What is more, working with dogs is also not subject to seasonal trends.
“If you like doing your own thing and want a get rich quick scheme from a budget service then Barking Mad is not for you.
It is a real partnership and most importantly, it’s a lot of fun working with local dogs and fantastic people.”
– Faye (Barking Mad Paisley)
If you love dogs then becoming a Barking Mad franchisee is a fantastic business opportunity. Owning your own Barking Mad business allows you to work the way you want, helping our furry friends have the best holiday they can away from home. It is a business in which you are in control.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Barking Mad franchisee and the opportunity we present for people wanting to start their own business, then we have a very simple three step process.
We have an initial phone conversation. In this conversation we will discuss the area you want to work in. It is also an opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions about Barking Mad that you may have.
We will invite you come along to our Barking Mad HQ to meet Lee and the team. Here it will be an opportunity for you to meet the full support team, as well as for them to meet you. You will be able to have a confidential meeting with Lee in which you can review your business plan, discuss potential overheads, and understand precisely what being a Barking Mad franchisee means for you moving forward.
Finally, if we agree that Barking Mad is right for you then we will invite you to become a Barking Mad business owner. If you accept, then we will invite you to your first training session at our South Lakes HQ. There we will help you develop your business knowledge of the dog boarding sector.
“As a recent and 1st time business owner, the support I received has helped me through the initial phases of my business.
It can be lonely running a business by yourself but the other franchisees have been friendly and offer useful advice.
I am thrilled with my decision and have confidence that Barking Mad is going from strength to strength.”
– Joe (Barking Mad Hereford)
It offers the freedom of starting a business that is truly yours, and mixes it with fantastic support and a brand that is well known throughout the UK.
You can begin your journey today by clicking on the button below.
Apply for our prospectus
