Ask 100 business owners why they set up their own business and you will get lots of different answers. Perhaps they wanted to take control over their work/life balance. Perhaps they have a passion project. Maybe they noticed a gap in the market that no-one else was filling.
Whatever the reason, it takes guts, determination, and a lot of hard work to start your own company and make it a success of it.
Which is why here at Dog First Aid Training we are in awe of our Franchisees who run not just one business, but in some cases two or three!
Director Dani Hickman says, “We are getting enquiries from more and more people who have an existing dog related business and want to add another to their portfolio. Our network is largely made up of people who are also groomers, pet shop owners, pet food business owners, hydrotherapists, dog walkers and even an animal portrait artist.”
So, what is it about running multiple businesses that appeals to them? We caught up with 3 Dog First Aid Franchisees to ask them just that.
Lorraine Forshaw – Cheshire
Having bought a Trophy Pet Food franchise delivering dog food to our customer's doors, we did lots of events and realised we could expand the business by opening our own pet shop, The Pet Patch at Hopley House.
The two complimented each other perfectly!
In early 2022 I attended a Dog First Aid course so that I would feel safe when holding dog events at our shop. Wow! I was sold and knowing how a franchise model worked, I invested in the Dog First Aid Training franchise area for Cheshire.
I promote Dog First Aid courses to our Trophy customers and Pet Patch customers. We already have a reputation as people who care what products we sell. It helped get me to a flying start with Dog First Aid, But I have also seen, over the last 6 months, a steady and consistent increase in Dog First Aid customers at our pet shop! Win, Win, Win!
Claire Pooles – West Berkshire & Hampshire
Alongside running my Dog First Aid Franchise, I am a pet portrait artist (Church Cottage Art).
After 20 years as a finance professional, I wanted to escape corporate life. My biggest passion in life has always been animals, so it was kind of inevitable I would end up doing something connected to that. My Dog First Aid Training business allowed me to have a regular income, whilst I built up my portfolio and client base for my art business. I think that’s the brilliant thing about being part of a well-established franchise, because you know it’s a business model that works. You have all the structure and support that the head office team provides, so it’s not such a leap of faith – a lot of the hard work has already been done for you!
I find that the two businesses work alongside each other very well and I can dedicate time to my art work whilst also setting aside time each week to run my Dog First Aid business. Clearly, they call upon very different skill sets, which is great, because I never get bored.
Art work is very solitary, it’s just me (and my dogs) which I love, but it’s also great to get out and about delivering Dog First Aid training and meeting lots of lovely people on my courses – it’s a really nice balance. Working in this way also means I get to spend plenty of time with my own animals (dogs and horses), I am completely in control of my own schedule and easily fit my Dog First Aid courses around other commitments.
Jane Chapman – South Yorkshire
I was working in retail when I decided to take the leap and start my first business. As an ex-veterinary nurse, I was keen to get back into the animal sector.
Unlike my colleagues, I did things the other way around. My first business was my Dog First Aid Training business. A year into my contract I had the opportunity to start a second business – a raw food and natural treat shop called J&A Raw 4 The Paws in Doncaster.
Through my franchise business I received training and skills that I could take into my second business; social media marketing, branding, sales experience and managing the business finances. Having run my own DFA business for 12 months I was confident that I could start my own independent business too. I don’t know if I would have had the confidence to start a business entirely on my own, without the support and experiences with Dog first Aid.
Clients of each of my businesses often become clients of the other so they provide a pipeline of new business all the time.
I base myself out of the raw food shop premises in the week and use the quiet gaps between customers to do my Dog First Aid admin and social media.
I am happy to say that both businesses are going from strength to strength, and I am very proud of what I have achieved in just 2 years!
