Wizard of Paws, which also provides daycare services, was launched by friends Paige and Aleise in Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire in July 2023.

Paige and Aleise have three dogs between them – labradors Mylo, Miley and Meadow – and after long discussions about what their ideal dog walker and doggy day care service would look like, they decided to take the leap and start their own business.

Wizard of Paws offers personalised and attentive care for dogs of all breeds and sizes. It also has a secure field for the dogs to run around in, with safety and fun being key to their services. They are in the process of extending the land to allow further room for the dogs to explore.

On the lookout for help with a business plan and advice on maintaining cash flow, Paige and Aleise approached Business Gateway for some pre-start advice before they started the business. They were introduced to their Business Gateway adviser, Mark Wright, who has provided continuous one-to-one support throughout their business journey so far.

Through Business Gateway, the business received five days of consultancy support from an IT and website expert, who helped Paige and Aleise create their website and build a contact form for new clients. This saw the number of enquiries increasing almost immediately, with the business’ client base growing by 28% directly through the form.

Through Business Gateway’s Routes to Work and Employability services, Mark is now supporting the duo to employ additional members of staff to keep up with customer demand.

Since launching, Paige and Aleise have doubled the size of the land they rent for the services, and are now looking to find premises for a bigger indoor daycare centre.

Paige Easton, co-founder of Wizard of Paws, said: “The advice and support Aleise and I received from Business Gateway even before we started Wizard of Paws was invaluable.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the help from the team. Having the support to build our website and the contact form resulted in a direct increase to our client base, and we’re now looking to expand the team because of this growth.”

Mark Wright, Business Gateway adviser, said: “It’s magic to see how Wizard of Paws has grown, from us helping them with their business plan, to expanding premises and now to hiring staff. Paige and Aleise are so passionate about their business and about dogs. We can’t wait to see where they go next.”