Decision to sell Oxford pet business ‘not easy’, says owner

Oxford Small Pet Boarding was funded by Megan Timms in 2020, after spotting a gap in the market for specialist boarding facilities dedicated to small pets.

Over the past six years, she’s built a successful business caring for beloved pets like rabbits and guinea pigs, mice, rats, birds, ferrets and tortoises.

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Oxford Small Pet Boarding, a business based on the outskirts of the city, is up for sale (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)

Now, however, Ms Timms is offering the established business up for sale to a new owner, and has put up a listing seeking another ‘passionate animal lover’ to take on the owner-operated, home boarding business.

“The decision to sell has not been an easy one and is not due to a lack of demand,” the founder explained.

“The business is currently based at a premises that can no longer accommodate the boarding facility because of changes to the landowner’s own business requirements.

“Rather than close the business altogether, I would love to see someone else take over and continue what has been built over the past six years.”

She was inspired to create the pet boarding business after working as a pet sitter, travelling between client’s homes to spend limited time caring for and interacting with their pets.

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The owner said she would love to see another animal lover take on the business (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)

However, she felt small animals deserved ‘far more than basic care’, and created the full-time pet boarding set up so she could provide round the clock attention to the animals.

Included in the sale is the established branding, business name, website and social media accounts, the existing customer database, operating procedures and systems, and all the equipment needed to host small pets at a new site including purpose-built cages, outdoor runs and boarding equipment.

Ms Timms added: “The sale presents an exciting opportunity for someone who loves animals and is looking to run their own business.

“The business would suit anyone with a genuine love of animals, whether they’re looking for a career change, a family-run business or an opportunity to expand an existing pet-related enterprise.

“With pet ownership continuing to grow and more people travelling, demand for trusted boarding services remains strong.

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The boarding business cares for all kinds of small pets, from guinea pigs and rabbits to mice, rats, birds and tortoises (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)

“I’d be delighted to see Oxford Small Pet Boarding continue under new ownership and provide the same high standard of care that customers and their pets have come to expect.”

She added that the business is not tied to any particular location, currently based in an Oxford suburb and operated from a nine-by-five metre indoor building with direct access to secure outdoor exercise runs.

The guide price for the business is £29,950 and interest can be registered through agent Goodwins Business Brokers.