Starting an Animal Business

Whether you're planning boarding, day care, grooming, dog walking, breeding, animal encounters or education, the same foundations apply: get licensed, get insured, put welfare and safety first, and keep good records.

1. Do you need a licence?

In England, many animal activities are covered by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018, issued by your local council. Licensable activities commonly include:

• Boarding for dogs or cats (including home boarding and day care)
• Dog breeding (over a threshold, or as a business)
• Selling animals as pets
• Hiring out horses
• Keeping or training animals for exhibition (e.g. animal encounters)

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules. Some animals also need a Dangerous Wild Animals licence or fall under zoo licensing.

2. Insurance

The right cover protects the animals, your customers and you:

• Public liability — injury or damage to people or property
• Care, custody & control — for animals in your care (vital for boarding, walking, grooming)
• Employers' liability — legally required if you have staff
• Professional indemnity — if you give advice or training
• Equipment, premises and vehicle cover as needed

3. Risk assessments

A risk assessment is simply thinking ahead in writing. For each activity, note the hazard, who could be harmed, and what you'll do about it.

1. Identify hazards (bites/scratches, escapes, slips, allergies, zoonotic illness, heat)
2. Decide who's at risk (staff, customers, children, the animals)
3. Put controls in place (handling rules, hand-washing, barriers, rest breaks)
4. Record it, share it with staff, and review regularly

4. Pricing, records and marketing

Pricing

Cover your real costs — food, vet care, insurance, licensing, equipment, travel, your time — then add a margin. Underpricing risks cutting corners on welfare, which helps no one.

Records

Keep clear records: bookings, consent forms, vaccination/health details, incidents, and your finances for tax (register as self-employed or a company with HMRC). If you hold customer data, handle it lawfully under UK GDPR — collect only what you need and keep it secure.

Honest marketing

Describe your service truthfully. Don't imply qualifications or accreditations you don't hold. Real trust signals — licence number, insurance, testimonials, clear welfare policies — sell far better than hype.