Unfortunately, nowadays it seems that we are never far away from a story of the latest high street retailer making redundancies or closing their doors. Many people with a career in retail are fed up with a lack of job satisfaction or job security especially when promotion prospects are poor and the reward for hard work is simply to keep your job.
Considering a career outside of retail by running your own business can be a daunting task. The majority of new businesses fail in 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.
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.
Melissa Sincock, Barking Mad franchisee since 2014
Find out moreBarking 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.
Melissa has a young family ‘crazy about dogs‘. She worked in retail for over 15 years management and was ready for a new challenge. Melissa first came across Barking Mad when her mother used the service.
"She loved it and knew that I’d jump at the chance to work with dogs and run my own business. I was amazed at the response I got after relaunching the business I was rewarded with a turnover increase of 50% in my first year! I can definitely say that I made the right decision."
If you are facing the prospect of redundancy, hate your commute or are simply unhappy with your career, why not become your own boss as a dog holiday coordinator with Barking Mad?
If you’ve always dismissed dog care as being a lower paid occupation, it’s time to discover our self-employed dog business franchise opportunity. Our 80 plus franchisees run successful, flexible, home-based businesses, organising holidays for dogs and growing communities of local dog lovers. They are just like you and come from a wide variety of backgrounds, taking advantage of our award-winning support, systems and training to follow their dreams.
Melissa made the switch from a career in retail management and she is loving every minute.
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.
“I was a retail manager for a large chain high street store. I loved all the interaction with customers and the hustle of the job but after 9 years I decided I wanted something I could call my own. I also wanted something that would fit in with my lifestyle and I’ve never looked back”.
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.
“What I really like about Barking Mad is that you are in control of your business and the growth is down to you. It’s great because you reap the benefits and you get a great feeling of satisfaction. What makes it work for well for me is the franchise support. All the elements of the business that I was less experienced in I could be taught and get support whereas at the same time I could make use of the skills that I did have to grow my business”.
“I now feel in control of my job which is wonderful. A highlight for me is seeing the hosts’ faces when the dogs arrive and them running around wanting to play. It’s also lovely to see the customers happy and know the system works so well”.
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.
– Joe (Barking Mad Hereford)
Barking Mad is a truly extraordinary opportunity for people wanting to start your own business. 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.
