By: Ivan Ferguson
Finding an Idea
Nothing is more important to pet owners than their sweet, furry little ones.
While the pet business can experience unexpected fluctuations like any other industry, there is one thing you can count on: people will never stop pampering their pets. To take advantage of this, the natural next question is how to start a pet business.
This type of opportunity is hard to miss if you love animals, but building a business from the ground up requires more than just the opportunity. If you are currently facing a flood of mental questions (What will I sell? Where will I find customers?), know that every successful business owner started in the same place you are now.
Pet business owners are not without fear, but what distinguishes them is their willingness to face it. Building a pet store from scratch is not easy, but with the right tools and understanding of how to use them – it is likely easier than you think.
Is the Pet Business Profitable?
Before you even start a small business, you should think about whether your idea is profitable. This is no different from running a pet business.
We have some good news for you. In recent years, “pet store” interests in the United States according to Google Trends indicate an increase over time:
According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners in the United States alone spent $103.6 billion on their companions in 2020 (with less than half of that amount spent on food, treats, and other services). It is clear that there is a market and interest in pet stores, but is it profitable?
In general, pet store sales in the U.S. generated revenue of about $21 billion in 2020 and are expected to reach $23 billion by 2023. However, in terms of costs, they can vary significantly depending on the type of business you operate.
For example, pet sitting and care may only need to worry about marketing and insurance costs, while pet grooming and daycare may incur higher costs due to the need for a physical (or mobile) space.
As a business owner, you can set your prices and profit margins according to the type of business. When it comes to business types, let’s take a look at some of the top pet business ideas:
Top 11 Pet Business Ideas
Pet businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Some offer services like walking and grooming, while others sell products like bowls and chew toys. Some pet stores target dog and cat owners, while others may specialize in more exotic pets, like reptiles and spiders.
In the pet world, it is important to find a business opportunity that is large enough to provide a sustainable cash flow but small enough to allow for a chance to market yourself uniquely.
Pet stores usually offer a wide variety of pet products and services, but be cautious of becoming a “jack-of-all-trades” pet store. An assortment of products that don’t fit the space makes it very difficult to market the brand online. Additionally, it puts you in competition with large pet stores and companies like PetSmart, which can offer convenience through hundreds of locations – not to mention the pet food aisle in every grocery store.
One-stop shopping is good for customers who need to grab some cat litter on their way home from work, but online shoppers place a greater value on specialization over abundance.
With
With that in mind, let’s review some business ideas for pet products and services you can offer:
Pet Care Service
If you love being around pets, making friends with them, and serving the needs of your local community, starting a pet care business is a great way to enter this industry. With 70% of American households including a pet, you are unlikely to be short on potential clients.
You can also start by equipping yourself at relatively low costs. Most of the work is in marketing and finding and retaining your first customers. Insurance may be your largest expense. But soon you can build a client list and even expand by hiring staff.
Check out Pawkee for example. The company offers a variety of care services, from dog walking to cat sitting.
Pawkee also provides care services for snakes, birds, and other pets. They offer online booking and payment, daily reports, and 24/7 customer service. All staff and pet caregivers are trained in animal care and behavior.
Pet Food Trade
If you find that you prefer creating a product rather than offering a service, and you are passionate about what goes into pets’ bodies, starting a pet food business may be right for you.
To gain a competitive edge in the massive pet food market, you will need to specialize. You can offer food for specific animals (like dog food or even lizard food) or based on dietary requirements or even the size of the animal.
Naturally, there are higher costs associated with manufacturing pet food significantly. You will also need to research licenses and permits if you are working with live animals or animal products. But if you are skilled in the kitchen, you can start with much lower costs and grow from there.
Open Farm entered the industry with a unique value proposition: creating pet food that is good for pets, farm animals, and the environment.
The brand uses high-quality ingredients and supports farmers who treat animals properly. In an industry plagued by murky practices, Open Farm offers complete transparency in its products. This way, customers know exactly what they are feeding their pets and where it came from.
Homemade Pet Treats
For those who love baking and preparing foods and treats for pets, the pet food and treat business can be an exciting opportunity to practice their craft. With increased public awareness of health, there are also plenty of opportunities to provide foods targeted at dog and cat owners looking for healthy options.
You may decide to sell treats for pets with specific dietary restrictions. You could sell functional treats for dogs, like bones used for cleaning dogs’ teeth. You can sell soft treats, kibble, dehydrated meats, and much more.
Drool Central in Anchorage is a great example of a pet treat business. The brand produces organic, handmade dog treats made from wild-caught Alaska fish, Alaska-grown vegetables, barley, and other ingredients safe for human consumption.
Daisy Nicholas, the brand’s owner, trained in culinary arts in San Francisco at the California Culinary Academy and Tante Marie’s Cooking School. Her 25 years of experience working in high-end hotels and restaurants from California to New York, along with her love for puppies, continues to drive the success of Drool Central.
If you have a passion for cooking, a homemade pet treat business is a great option for you.
Pet Clothing
Clothing for pets has become increasingly popular over the past few years, with fast fashion retailers even offering many shirts, garments, and accessories designed for dogs and cats.
Like
Animal products, express delivery offers business professionals the freedom and time to acquire new skills or focus on marketing their products. The nature of express delivery makes it a low-risk business venture.
Specialization is also particularly important when it comes to selling dog clothing. People can be very particular in their fashion choices, and this stubbornness extends to their dogs. Many dog-related fashion avenues are yet to be explored, so there is ample room for creativity and unique branding.
The Frenchie Shop is a great example. The brand offers various types of clothing for French bulldogs: t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, shoes, pajamas, and hats, among others. If you have a French bulldog and need clothes, you are likely to shop from a brand specializing in French bulldogs.
Dog Daycare
Typically, pet care involves taking care of one animal in their homes, while dog daycare involves having a single location where multiple dogs can be cared for. Many families have working parents who are away from home for long hours. Providing a place for their dogs to play during work hours can be valuable for the dogs’ well-being.
Like related businesses, you will need insurance to cover any potential accidents or emergencies, but you can start from your own home (if it’s large enough). If you have the budget, you can rent larger facilities to accommodate more clients.
Dog daycare is also a great ancillary service for your products. For example, The Hipster Hound offers a variety of pet products online. They also provide a full dog care service from their store in Savannah, Georgia.
Dog Walking
If you are considering a pet business, there’s a good chance you love pets. If you’re a dog lover, dog walking can be a great way to meet new pups, get some exercise, and of course, earn some extra money.
Services such as dog walking and pet sitting also require precise guidance for clients. The success of this type of business relies heavily on the trust you can earn by maintaining valuable relationships with clients.
Dog walking doesn’t have to be limited to the streets. Salty Paws located in New Hampshire offers a different kind of dog walking business. Instead of taking pups on a neighborhood stroll, Salty Paws takes them on hiking adventures along the New Hampshire coastline.
Puppy supervisors, known as “pack leaders,” spend three hours with the dogs on each adventure. They can play, socialize with other dogs, and learn trail etiquette such as practicing recall, staying on trail, and following commands.
Pet Supplies
Every pet owner needs basic supplies like food bowls, toys, litter boxes, and leashes. These products may be widely available, but don’t let that fool you into missing out on the big opportunity here.
You might think that selling “essentials” would make it difficult to compete with large established brands, but that isn’t necessarily true. An abundance of choices can lead to “choice paralysis,” which can be a significant advantage for smaller sellers.
If you can discover a target market or specialize in a certain type of product, you can build a brand around it and become the go-to place for your customers.
Teddybob is an authorized distributor of Pidan products, a brand specializing in the design of pet supplies. In its store, Teddybob sells pet supplies that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and well-designed, attracting a specific type of buyer.
Products
Pet Animals
Aside from the basic necessities that pets need to survive and lead a comfortable life, some pet owners enjoy treating their animal friends to gadgets or gifts from time to time.
New products can be a way for entrepreneurs to enter the market without having to deal with fresh products or directly handling animals (for those who love animals but have allergies). The possibilities are endless – from automatic feeders and waterers to painted boards and custom t-shirts. You are limited only by your imagination.
Petlibro was founded in 2019 and produces products aimed at improving the lives of pets and their owners. The brand offers fountains and feeders with a simple design. Its products keep pets hydrated and well-fed, regardless of where their owner is.
Pet Grooming Business
Grooming cats and dogs can be a great addition to the list of services you can offer pet owners. Like dog walking and sitting, the success of a pet grooming business relies on customer relationships and trust. Since pet owners in American households spend over $8 billion annually on services (including grooming), there are significant business opportunities.
It’s best to offer a specialty: can you provide mobile grooming services? Can you be a groomer for anxious or reserved dogs? Can you cater to the needs of large pets? Each of these services can offer specialized care.
Similarly to dog daycare, you can add pet grooming services to an existing product-based store as well. The pet specialty retailer Petsense offers a variety of grooming services in addition to its food and supplies offerings.
Dog Training
Technically, there are no specific or formal qualifications needed to become a dog trainer. Therefore, starting a dog training business doesn’t have as many entry barriers as you might think. In fact, you don’t even need to offer personal services.
Brands like Wiglo offer comprehensive, science-based training applications. Customers can choose from over 100 different programs, from separation anxiety to potty training, to train their dogs at home.
However, most pet owners will want to see some credentials and experience before hiring a trainer. They will want to trust that you can do the job and help them correct behavioral issues. So it’s worthwhile to invest in your own education before venturing into dog training business.
Pet Care
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 44 million American citizens traveled abroad. Adding in the number of families spending their vacations within the United States and travelers from other parts of the world, many of them would have pets that need care.
The costs associated with taking pets with you on vacation can rise significantly when considering the need for pet passports, vaccinations, transport, USDA certification, tests, etc. Additionally, many pet owners prefer to avoid using cages.
Providing pet care services helps them reduce pet care costs and can be your opportunity to build a thriving business. How to Start a Pet Business
Have you decided on an idea? Great. Let’s take a look at how to start your business today:
Conduct Market Research
Market research involves learning more about your customers. Your target market is the people you want to reach through your marketing – those who are most likely to become customers. Target market segments can vary greatly in the pet business, but you can start with three main categories: luxury, mid-market, and mass market.
Luxury.
With the rise of dog competitions (and let’s not forget the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua) and designers trying their luck in the pet space, luxury is no longer exclusive to humans. However, luxury isn’t solely limited to pet fashion either. High-quality food cooked by chefs, luxury hotels, and pet spas are opportunities you can explore.
The mid-market. The mid-market is where you will find the greatest appeal if you are targeting a specific niche – after all, specialization demands higher prices that pet owners are willing to pay to treat their companions well. Gourmet food, grooming, training, and homemade treats for pets are more products that may fall under this category.
The budget market. If you want to prioritize affordability and are happy to offer products at the cheaper end (or provide less personalized services), you can take the budget market approach. This approach is more suited for standard products and supplies, such as rubber chew toys and food bowls.
While some
Source: https://www.shopify.com/blog/pet-business
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