Pet Business Ideas for Starting Up in the UK
47 ideas
Pets are part of the family for many households, so there is steady demand for people who can look after them well. This page lists 48 pet business ideas, from low-cost, hands-on work such as a solo dog walker or an overnight pet and house sitter, to bigger projects such as a dog day care centre with premises.
Small-scale home dog breeder
Breed one or two healthy, well-socialised litters a year of a breed you know, and place puppies with carefully chosen families.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Part-time
- From home
Home-based pedigree cat breeder
Breed a pedigree cat you love at home and rehome healthy, well-socialised kittens to carefully chosen families.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based dog day care
Look after a small group of dogs in your own home and garden while their owners are at work.
- £500-3k
- Part-time
- From home
Dog day care centre with premises
Run a dedicated day care site with secure play areas, taking larger numbers of dogs with a small team.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Pet taxi and UK pet transport
Drive dogs and cats safely to new homes, vets, groomers and kennels for owners who can't.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
International pet relocation coordinator
Organise paperwork, flights and transport so pets can move abroad with their owners.
- £1k-5k
- Part-time
- From home
Pet collection and cremation arranging service
Collect pets from homes and vets, arrange cremation through a partner crematorium and return ashes with care.
- £2k-10k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Pet aftercare and memorial keepsakes
Offer a caring pet aftercare service from home, working with vets and a crematorium, with memorial keepsakes for families.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Aquarium fish and supplies shop
Run a small specialist shop selling tropical and coldwater fish, tanks, food and kit to local hobbyists.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Online aquarium supplies shop
Sell fish food, plants, tank equipment and accessories to hobbyists online, from a spare room or small store.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online tack shop with show stalls
Sell grooming kit, rugs and riding gear online and from a stall at local shows, run from home.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local tack shop with fitting service
Open a small shop near riding yards selling saddlery, riding wear and grooming kit, with advice on fit.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Home-based cat boarding
Look after cats in a quiet, safe space in your own home while their owners are on holiday.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small licensed cattery
Run a purpose-built cattery with individual units, taking bookings all year for local cat owners.
- £12k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
One-to-one dog trainer (home visits)
Visit owners at home to teach their dog good manners and fix everyday behaviour problems.
- £300-1.8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Puppy and dog training classes
Run weekly group classes for puppies and adult dogs in a hired hall or field.
- £500-3k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Online dog training coach
Coach owners by video call and shared clips to train their dogs from their own living room.
- £150-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
Home dog boarding
Look after a small number of dogs in your own home while their owners are away.
- £500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Boarding kennels with purpose-built runs
Run a licensed kennel site with proper runs, caring for many dogs at once.
- £25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Home-based pond fish seller
Keep healthy goldfish, shubunkin and koi at home and sell to local garden pond owners by appointment.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Pond fish trade delivery round
Supply landscapers, garden centres and small aquatic shops with healthy pond fish, delivered fresh in your own van.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile dog groomer
Groom dogs on the owner's driveway from a fitted van, so pets stay relaxed and owners save a trip.
- £8k-35k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Home grooming studio
Convert a garage or spare room into a small grooming studio and see a few dogs a day.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Solo dog walker
Walk dogs one-to-one or in a small group for owners who are at work or can't manage long walks.
- £150-800
- Side hustle
- Out and about
About these ideas
If you like a mobile approach, a mobile dog groomer takes the service to the customer's door. Start by asking how much space, time and money you have, and whether you want to work alone or manage staff. Think about your experience with animals, how you would handle an emergency, and what insurance and licences might apply in your area. Compare the ideas, then shortlist two or three to research further.
More ideas
- Pet sitter doing home visits
- Overnight pet and house sitter
- Online bird food and supplies shop
- Specialist bird shop
- Dog-friendly café with its own premises
- Pop-up dog café at markets and events
- Tropical fish and aquarium shop
- Home-based tropical fish and aquarium supplies
- Goldfish and aquarium shop
- Home-based goldfish and fish supplies
- Pet grooming salon
- Dog walking business with hired walkers
- Home-from-home dog boarding
- Overnight pet sitter in owners' homes
- Small kennels or cattery
- Online pond supplies shop
- Local pond and aquatic supplies shop
- Mobile pony rides for parties and fetes
- Pony party sessions at your own yard
- Cat behaviour and training visits
- Online cat behaviour coaching
- Small garden cattery at home
- Full-time purpose-built cattery
Questions
Do I need a licence to start a pet business in the UK?
It depends on the activity and your local council. Boarding, day care and some other animal services may need a licence, while walking or sitting may not. Check with your local authority before you take any bookings.
Which pet business is cheapest to start?
Service-based ideas such as solo dog walking or pet sitting usually need less equipment and no premises. Still check the costs of insurance, transport, any training and advertising, because these can vary a lot between businesses.
What should I check before working with other people's animals?
Look at insurance that covers animals in your care, written booking terms, and what you would do if a pet became ill or escaped. Also consider whether you need animal first aid training, and check any rules for your premises or tenancy.