For a market-leading company that's fast becoming a household name, Barking Mad's home-from-home pet care service began simply, with a spotty dog named Bronte.
Paws to consider the franchise opportunities
MD Lee Southern was planning a family trip and tried to find an alternative to kennels or conventional pet-sitting for her beloved girl. There wasn't one.
The best businesses are born from a market need and a great idea and Barking Mad was no exception. Having established the basic concept of dog holidays offering home-from-home comforts, a commercially viable business was launched in Kirkby Lonsdale in 2000.
Such was the interest from potential customers, host families and partners that we quickly decided to expand nationally on the franchising principle. Two pilot scheme franchisees were appointed in parts of Cumbria and West Yorkshire. These rapidly provided further proof of the strength of the concept.
Today we have 56 branches around the UK and overseas, all operated by local dog lovers, many of whom have come to see the great potential of the business just as Lee did - by seeking out home-from-home pet care for their own dogs.
What a Barking Mad franchise offers is unique. A home-based business opportunity in a fast-growing sector, backed by a market-leading brand and a proven support network. A chance to set up, develop and manage a profitable business - by getting out and about meeting fellow pet-lovers and their dogs!
As hosts we were given the advantage of a great insight into how professionally Barking Mad operates, so our decision to become Barking Mad franchisees was an easy one. 