How to Start a Pet Supply Store

A viable pet supply store sells anything and everything pet-related. From fish tanks to dog toys, a pet supply store offers the products needed to keep a pet healthy and happy. Some pet supply stores have walk-in clinics. Others have adoption centers. While large pet supply stores like Petco exist, there are plenty of successful local pet supply stores.

Learn how to start your own Pet Supply Store and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services.

Start a pet supply store by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Pet Supply Store
  2. Form your Pet Supply Store into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Pet Supply Store for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Pet Supply Store
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Pet Supply Store
  7. Get Pet Supply Store Insurance
  8. Define your Pet Supply Store Brand
  9. Create your Pet Supply Store Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your pet supply store. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Pet Supply Store Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your pet supply store?

Business Name Generator

What are the costs involved in opening a pet supply store?

Unfortunately, starting a pet supply store can be expensive. Because you’ll be competing with your area’s biggest pet supply chain, you’ll need to make sure you’re fully stocked. This means you’ll need to be well-equipped with food, toys, and care products for all pets. Fortunately, you can buy wholesale goods—rather than raw materials. For example, 50 lbs of dog food will cost between $29 and $49. Wholesale cat food, meanwhile, costs between $9 and $13 for a five-ounce case of 32 servings. As for toys and other supplies, average pet supply store products—purchased wholesale—cost between $5 for small-animal items and about $50 for larger items, like fish tanks. If you want to provide supplies for specialty animal care, you can. These items—like large aquariums, for example—can cost upwards of $500 per unit.

For your rent and utility costs, you can expect to pay about $1.20 per square foot of retail space in a wealthy area. So, a 2,000 square-foot shop will cost about $2,400 in monthly rent. You’ll need to pay an average of $300 for startup utility costs. Per month, your utilities can cost between $300 and $500. Expect to pay around $3,500 for shelves, a cash counter, and display cases.

What are the ongoing expenses for a pet supply store?

Most ongoing expenses will be inventory- food, toys, beds, etc. Rent and employee salaries present additional ongoing expenses.

Who is the target market?

Customers who are calm, understanding, and excited about pets are incredibly valuable. An ideal customer will handle their pet with care, have a well-trained pet, understand what they’re looking for, and be open to any care tips. If a pet supply store doesn’t offer adoptions or care opportunities, preferred customers are often repeat customers looking to restock on food and treats for their pet. As a local business, a pet supply store thrives on regulars.

How does a pet supply store make money?

Much of a pet supply store’s revenue is generated from the sale of goods—primarily food. As one of a pet owner’s only locations for food, a pet store receives continuous purchases. Pet supply store owners can expect return visits every couple of weeks. Many supplies pet owners purchase will need to be replenished over time. Such items include toys, beds, and other supplies that wear out over time. Pet supply store owners can expect consistent purchasing trends. Adoption centers, meanwhile, make money from adoption fees. Care centers receive money based upon provided services.

How much can you charge customers?

For dog food, you can normally charge between $20 and $60 for a large bag of dog food. Cat food, on average, is priced between $15 and $40. You can charge customers between $10 and $70 for pet care and entertainment products, depending on their size.

How much profit can a pet supply store make?

According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent about $55.72 billion on pets in 2013. On average, a pet store operated by four people makes about $400,000 in sales per year. The average net income of an average-sized pet supply shop is $30,000.

How can you make your business more profitable?

To be profitable as a pet supply store, you’ll need to focus on much-needed supplies. Find out the industry’s leading pet food brands, and stock them. Change your pricing strategy to price these goods competitively. Don’t focus on toys and self-care items right away. Once you’ve achieved a market advantage on food, move into other essential items, like grooming products and vitamins. You can also eventually add services like adoption, grooming, and a veterinary clinic.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your pet supply store is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a pet supply store. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A pet store is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a pet store.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your pet store will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Pet Supply Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Pet Supply Store.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a pet supply store

You should gear your marketing towards local printed ads. Larger chains dominate the online world. If you can partner with local businesses, you’ll have a leg up. Offering deals on social media is a great way to reach pet owners and entice them to come to your store. Promote deals on pet food, if possible, as it’ll be your highest-selling item. Small pet supply shops with well-priced pet food tend to succeed.

How to keep customers coming back

Attract customers with well-priced, high-quality pet food and emergency care supplies. Like a grocery store, a pet supply shop thrives on inelastic demand. Your customers need food for their pets, and they’ll flock to whichever store offers the best prices—assuming the food is of high quality.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

A pet supply store isn’t necessarily hard to upkeep, but it’s best operated by those who love animals. Because all products and services are catered to animal owners, pet enthusiasts, and animal-lovers, having similar interests helps. A pet shop owner needs to not only be happy around animals, but also understanding of them. Frequently, pet shops allow animals on the premises. For this reason, a store owner must be willing to pick up after, calm down, and handle dogs, cats, and other animals. Day-to-day care for pet shop adoption centers is also needed.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

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What happens during a typical day at a pet supply store?

A pet supply store owner must purchase and distribute pet products. These products are purchased wholesale, but they require aggressive purchasing plans to profit. As with any small retail shop, operators must handle customers, promote products, conduct transactions, handle maintenance, and ensure a clean environment. Pet supply stores which offer adoptions and care centers have an additional set of responsibilities. They must uphold industry health guidelines, ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of any on-premises animals, feed the animals, and perform daily care routines.  

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful pet supply store?

If you’re a creative, entrepreneurial, pet-loving person, a pet supply shop is right for you. The pet store industry is booming, and it’s an incredibly viable profession. Before getting started, however, future owners are urged to volunteer or work at a pet store themselves. Pet enthusiasts, animal-lovers, and animal activists are solid candidates. From a technical skills standpoint, having retail experience, management experience, and financial experience helps in completing administrative activities. Pet nutrition, veterinary, and pet daycare experience are also incredibly important.

What is the growth potential for a pet supply store?

Pet supply stores have a high growth potential. Because their product demands are inelastic—customers need pet food—they can expect the consistent revenue stream needed for growth. As a local provider, a pet store can even become a preferred location. That said, small pet supply stores may have difficulty competing against large chains, such as Petco and Petsmart.

Not sure if a pet supply store is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

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Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a pet supply store?

If you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to hold off on pet adoption and care centers. While you can still sell kittens, puppies, rodents, fish, and birds, adoption and care centers present additional legal and financial barriers. Start off by offering basic supplies. If you want to offer animals, start with low-maintenance animals, such as fish. As for customer service, make sure you’re capable of maintaining a cheery disposition. Customer service in pet supply shops is incredibly important in creating an environment to which customers will return.

How and when to build a team

It’s advisable to begin a pet supply shop with at least three people. As the business owner, you’ll be in charge of finances, management, marketing, and promotion. You’ll need a cashier, and you’ll need a worker to clean, take care of animals, and load new stock. Pet supply shops require constant upkeep, so having more workers is advisable.

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