Petpals

What Petpals does

Petpals (UK) Limited is the UK's longest-established multi-service pet care franchise, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Andover, Hampshire. The company sells and supports franchise territories — currently over 150 across England, Scotland and Wales — through which independent franchisees deliver a portfolio of 14+ pet care services to end consumers. These services include Dog Home Boarding (host family stays), Cat Sitting, Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, House Sitting, Small Animal Home Boarding, Puppy Care Visits, Elderly Dog Care, Exotics care, Pet Taxi, Pet ID Microchipping (integrated with PetLog/Kennel Club), Pet Medication administration, Wedding Dog Chaperone and Equine & Small Holdings care. All franchisees are DBS-checked, insured, pet-first-aid trained and uniformed.

The underlying operational platform comprises the proprietary "Pawprint for Business Success" franchise methodology, the OFQUAL-certified Novabright training platform, a recommended Citroen pet-friendly vehicle fleet with climate control and bespoke cages, and centralised digital marketing (Google Ads, PR campaigns across Channel 4, BBC, The Guardian and others) provided to franchisees on launch. Head office support is delivered by a 7-person team led by Managing Director Kevin Thackrah, with regional business development managers covering the North and South of the UK.

The business model is franchise-driven. New franchisees pay a one-time fee of £12,500 (+VAT) covering first-year insurance, QuickBooks licensing, branded uniforms and training; resale territories list at £29,995–£45,000. Franchisees retain service revenue after paying franchise fees, with average new-territory turnover projections of £40,000 in Year 1, £57,000 in Year 2 and £76,000 in Year 3, and top-performing franchises turning over approximately £250,000 per annum. Pricing to end consumers varies by service type, number of pets and visit frequency. Petpals addresses the £9.5 billion UK pet care market, where 60% of households own at least one pet (13.5m dogs and 12.5m cats nationally), positioning itself as a professional, insured alternative to traditional kennels and catteries.

Name

Petpals

Legal name

Petpals (UK) Limited

Website

https://petpals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Petpals (UK) Limited is the UK's longest-established multi-service pet care franchise, operating 150+ territories across England, Scotland and Wales delivering 14+ pet care services to UK pet owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Care Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Local Messengers and Local Delivery (49221)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Care & Pet Services Platforms (Sitting, Walking, Grooming) (BPAMAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare) (CRALAIAJ), Crate Rental & Secure Transport Setup (HSANAIAI)

Keywords

• Pet care services
• Dog walking services
• Pet boarding kennel alternative
• Pet sitting services
• Pet care franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Andover

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pet Care Services Revenue: Franchisees provide pet care services (dog boarding, cat sitting, dog walking, pet sitting, etc.) to pet owners and retain revenue after paying franchise fees. Services are priced based on type, number of pets, and frequency.
2. Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fee of £12,500 (+VAT) for new franchise territories. Existing franchise resales range from £29,995 to £45,000.
3. Franchise Turnover Projections: Average franchise turnover projections: up to £40,000 in Year 1, £57,000 in Year 2, £76,000 in Year 3. Highest performing franchises turn over approximately £250,000 per annum.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Petpals delivers professional multi-service pet care through a UK franchise network of over 150 territories, offering dog home boarding, cat sitting, pet sitting, dog walking, house sitting, small animal boarding, puppy care, elderly dog care, exotic pet care, pet taxi, pet microchipping, pet medication administration, wedding dog chaperone, and equine care services. The company also sells franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs seeking to operate pet care businesses under the established Petpals brand.

Product overview

Petpals is a multi-service pet care franchise offering 14 distinct services delivered through a network of over 150 franchise territories across England, Scotland, and Wales. The core service portfolio includes Dog Home Boarding (host family stays), Cat Sitting, Pet Sitting, Dog Walking (group and solo), House Sitting, Small Animal Home Boarding, Puppy Care Visits, Elderly Dog Care, Exotics care, Pet Taxi Service, Pet ID Microchipping, Pet Medication administration, Wedding Dog Chaperone Service, and Equine & Small Holdings care. The company operates on a franchise business model where independent franchisees deliver these services under the Petpals brand, supported by centralized training, marketing, and operational frameworks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dog Home Boarding A home doggy boarding service where dogs stay with carefully selected host families, providing a 'home from home' experience with regular photo updates. For pet owners seeking alternatives to traditional kennels.
• Cat Sitting Professional cat sitting service where cats stay in their own home environment, receiving multiple daily visits, feeding, playtime, and companionship. For cat owners needing pet care while away from home.
• Pet Sitting Visits to care for cats and small pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, birds, exotics) in their own home while owners are away. For owners of small pets needing home-based care.
• Dog Walking Regular or ad hoc dog walking services, typically conducted in groups of up to four dogs for socialization and exercise. For busy professionals or dog owners needing exercise assistance.
• House Sitting Professional pet and house-sitting service where sitters stay in the home to care for pets and maintain security while owners are away. For homeowners wanting combined pet care and home security.
• Small Animal Home Boarding Boarding service for small pets including hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets, rats, mice, and chinchillas at pet carer homes. For owners of small pets needing boarding during absences.
• Puppy Care Visits Personalized puppy visits including short walks, toilet breaks, playtime, and care during formative months while owners are away. For puppy owners needing socialisation and care assistance.
• Elderly Dog Care Specialized care for senior dogs including regular visits, mental stimulation activities, health monitoring, and medication administration. For owners of senior dogs needing specialist care.
• Exotics Specialized care for exotic pets including reptiles, birds, and small mammals with customized care plans, habitat maintenance, and tailored feeding. For owners of exotic pets needing specialist care.
• Pet Taxi Service Pet transportation service to vet appointments and other locations using pet-friendly vehicles equipped with dog crates, climate control, and comfortable bedding. For pet owners needing transport for their pets.
• Pet ID Microchips Microchipping service for dogs and cats with registration on the PetLog and Kennel Club database, including lifetime registration and unique collar tag. For pet owners needing identification compliance.
• Pet Medication Medication administration service for pets including tablet and insulin injections, performed by pet carers trained in veterinary first aid. For owners of pets with medical needs.
• Wedding Dog Chaperone Service Bespoke wedding day dog care service where pet professionals chaperone dogs as guests, with grooming, attire preparation, and optional overnight boarding. For couples wanting their dog involved in their wedding day.
• Equine & Small Holdings Professional care service for stabled animals and small holdings including horses, ponies, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, goats, sheep, cows, and chickens. For owners of equines and small holding animals needing care assistance.
• Petpals Franchise Award-winning pet care franchise opportunity offering exclusive territories, comprehensive training, and support for entrepreneurs to operate local pet care businesses under the Petpals brand. New franchise fee £12,500 (+VAT); resale opportunities £29,995–£45,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest performing franchises turn over approximately £250,000 per annum (2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pet Care Franchise Association (PCFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetpals is a founding member of the Pet Care Franchise Association, which was formed with a shared vision of raising the standard of animal welfare across the pet care industry. This partnership demonstrates commitment to industry standards and ethical pet care practices.
• Citroen (Vehicle Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended vehicle partner for franchisees. Recommended vehicles include Citroen Dispatch or Berlingo, fitted with safe secure pet-friendly cages manufactured by a nationally approved company.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Wag!: Wag! is a leading US-based pet care marketplace for dog walking, pet sitting, and boarding. Comparable in service mix to Petpals but US-only with no UK presence.

Direct peers

• Barking Mad: Barking Mad is a UK-based franchise specializing in dog home boarding, with host families caring for dogs in their homes. Directly comparable to Petpals in terms of country, franchise model, and in-home pet care delivery model.
• Rover: Rover is a global online marketplace connecting pet owners with sitters and dog walkers. It competes with Petpals for the same UK pet care services end market but operates a digital platform model rather than a franchise model.
• Pawshake: Pawshake is a European/UK-based pet care marketplace for pet sitting, dog walking, and boarding. It directly competes with Petpals on the same core services (sitting, walking, boarding) in the UK through a digital marketplace model.
• DogBuddy: DogBuddy (acquired by Rover) is a European dog-sitting marketplace operating in the UK, providing dog walking, day care, and home boarding services through independent pet carers. Comparable in service mix and customer base to Petpals.
• Borrow My Doggy: Borrow My Doggy is a UK dog-walking and pet-sitting platform connecting owners with local dog borrowers. It competes with Petpals in the UK for dog walking and in-home pet care, though with a sharing-economy rather than franchise model.
• TrustedHousesitters: TrustedHousesitters is a UK-founded global house- and pet-sitting membership platform. It overlaps with Petpals' house-sitting and pet-sitting offerings via a digital subscription marketplace model.
• Cat in a Flat: Cat in a Flat is a UK-based cat-sitting platform connecting owners with local cat sitters. Directly comparable to Petpals' cat-sitting service, though operating as a marketplace rather than a franchise network.

Broad incumbents

• Pets at Home: Pets at Home is the UK's largest pet-specialty retailer offering pet products, grooming, and in-store veterinary services (Vets4Pets). Broader pet care exposure than Petpals but overlapping in grooming and pet care categories.

Emerging players

• Tailster: Tailster is a UK dog-walking and pet-care service platform that connects pet owners with insured local walkers and sitters. Comparable in service scope and geography to Petpals, though smaller in scale and operating as a marketplace rather than a franchise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/petpalsuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petpals-uk-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/petpals_uk
• Xx.com/petpalsuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Petpals