Starting your own pet store business is a rewarding and profitable venture, especially if you are someone who has a passion for animals. The pet industry is booming and with pet owners spending billions on food, accessories, healthcare, and more, it has never been a better time to open a business.
If you’re someone that is considering opening a pet business, then you are at the right place because in this article, we’ll dive deeper into learning more regarding the steps you can follow to start your own pet store.
1. Research the pet industry and start your own business
Before launching your pet store, it’s essential to conduct thorough market research. Understanding the industry’s current trends, customer preferences, and potential competitors allows you to make more informed decisions.
The type of research you can do is to make sure you know the following:
- Demand for pet products in your area
- Popular pet breeds and their needs
- Market competition and pricing strategies
- Trends regarding pet food, eco-friendly products, and even specialized pet care services
Determining the demand for pet products and popular pet breeds in your area is extremely important as it’ll help you distinguish what are the next steps you need to take.
2. Choose a suitable location
No matter which kind of store you open, location matters a lot and let’s face it, opening a pet store is even more important. Areas with high-traffic have better visibility and accessibility which will help attract more customers.
When choosing your location, you need to first identify where your target audience is most active. Are you targeting pet owners in urban, suburban, or rural communities? Also, it’s best to choose areas where pet populations are more common as it’ll attract more customers.
As general information, some good areas to establish your pet store include:
- Shopping centers and malls
- Near veterinary clinics & grooming salons
- Residential neighborhoods
It’s always a good idea to also consider parking. When your pet store has parking, it’s attractive for customers, especially when you are opening a business in crowded areas.
Last but not least, you want to choose areas that have fewer stores around. Avoid choosing locations that have too many competitors. If you go to an area where there are too many pet stores, customers might get confused and just randomly shop, but in areas where you are the only pet store or have few around, you’ll have a significant advantage.
3. Obtain the necessary licenses
To operate legally, you’ll need to have the necessary licenses and permits. Acquiring the necessary business licenses will all depend on the location you’re living in, so you’ll need to check with your local authorities. However, to give you a general idea of what you need, here’s a quick overview:
- General business licenses & permits: You’ll need a general business license, and need to check if you need to acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- Special permits for selling live animals: If you decide to sell live animals at your pet store, you need to acquire a pet dealer license, which is included when you sell dogs, cats, birds, fish, or other exotic pets. These permits are usually pet dealer licenses and animal welfare certifications (ensures ethical treatment and care of animals).
- Health & safety permits: As we mentioned, if you are selling live pets, you’ll need an animal health certificate which condemns that the animals are disease-free and well-treated.
Licenses & permits differ from region to region, so the best advice we can give you is to find out what your local government and state regulatory agencies are asking for. At the end of the day, it’s all up to them.
4. Include different product categories at your pet store
When you visit many pet stores, you’ll come to find that many of them are only selling pet food, but a good approach is also to set yourself apart and offer more products than the rest. Offering high-quality and more product categories is strongly associated with building a strong brand reputation.
Here’s an overview of essential product categories you can include at your new pet store:
- Pet food & treats: Stock high-quality, vet-approved brands for dogs, cats, birds, and other small animals.
- Toys & enrichment: Durable chew toys, interactive puzzles, and scratching posts.
- Pet accessories: Leashes, bowls, carriers, beds, and collars.
- Grooming supplies: Brushes, shampoos, nail clippers, and pet-safe wipes.
- Training & behavior: Training pads, clickers, and calming sprays.
- Pet habitat & housing: Aquariums, cages, terrariums, and litter boxes.
The truth is that when you’re starting a pet store, you can easily stand out from competitors when you have many product categories to offer that are high-quality.
5. Find reliable suppliers and wholesalers
When running a pet store, it’s always important to work with reputable brands. Choose suppliers for high-quality, and tested products. Negotiate bulk discounts and competitive wholesale prices. Ensure suppliers comply with pet safety and health regulations when purchasing from them.
When choosing reliable supplier and wholesaler, you need to identify the types of products you want to stock:
- Pet foods & treats
- Toys & accessories
- Health & grooming
- Pet habitats
You can always decide between branded products or private-label options for exclusive store items. Furthermore, you can reach out to potential wholesalers. You have plenty of wholesale directories you can go through to find the perfect fit. Here are some directories we recommend:
- PetEdge
- WholesalePet.com
- GlobalSources & Alibaba
- Faire
Alternatively, you can also contact major pet product brands directly for wholesale programs. Many brands will offer bulk discounts for authorized retailers.
Before you choose which supplier to go with, you need to always pay attention to supplier reliability to make sure you are getting what you pay for. This includes:
- Checking business credentials: Verifying licenses, certifications, and the number of years they’ve been in this business.
- Reading customer reviews: Looking for feedback from other pet store owners.
- Asking for samples: Testing product packaging, quality, and durability before bulk orders.
- Assessing customer support: A good supplier will always offer fast responses and flexible ordering options.
When choosing a supplier, it’s always important to negotiate better pricing on bulk purchases or long-term contracts.
6. Consider selling live animals
Other than selling pet food, and other associated products, you can also become successful if you sell live animals. Popular types of pets many people like to buy include: fish and aquarium suppliers, birds and cages, small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and even reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles).
If you do decide to sell live animals, it’s important to make sure that they receive proper care and are housed in a good environment. People will always avoid pet stores that don’t take care of their animals so always keep that in mind.
7. Create a website and get active on social media
It’s now more important than ever to create a website and when you’re running a pet store, you need to let people see what products you are offering before they come to pay you a visit. As technology has advanced over time, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to hire a web developer and wait for your website to get up and running. All of this can be done by using AI web builders, where you pay a monthly subscription and get your website up and running in only a few minutes.
As for social media channels, since you are focused on creating your own pet store, this industry offers you the flexibility to create a channel anywhere you like. For example, if you create a TikTok channel, you can showcase your pet products and pets. The same goes for Instagram reels and Facebook videos. Regardless of which social channel you post on, it’s important that you remain active.
Alternatively, you can also include your social media handles on your website so people can redirect to them and vice-versa, include your website on your social media channels. Social media channels offer you the opportunity to interact directly with your customers and when you do so, you can even use their feedback to see what kind of improvements you can make to your services.
Turn your pet store into a reality and make it possible
Starting your own pet store is an exciting venture that requires careful planning, dedication, and a passion for pets. By following these seven tips, you are creating a successful business that meets the needs of pet owners while they stand out from competitors.
From choosing the right location, acquiring quality stock products to building strong supplier relationships and prioritizing the customer experience, every step plays an important role in the success of your store. With the right approach, your pet store can become a trusted destination for pet owners, providing high-quality products, expert advice, and a welcoming shopping experience.