How to Open a Pet Shop

Opening a pet shop is a fun and rewarding opportunity that involves above average customer service and responsibility. There are many decisions to consider prior to opening a pet shop, more so than other small retail outlets. As with any small business venture, learn everything you can about the business you are thinking of entering into prior to any investments. Once you’ve made the decision to open a pet shop, these tips will get you started on the right foot.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Reliable transportation
• Good location
• Web master
• Accountant
• Attorney
• Small animal distributor (optional)
• Pet food distributors
• Pet merchandise distributors
• Advertising

Things to Do Before Opening a Pet Shop

1. Hire an attorney specializing in small business; specify that you are opening a pet shop when making meeting appointments. Talk to friends and relatives, especially ‘long-lost’ relatives (often they are not around due to running a business), for a reference to a good business lawyer. Check the lawyer’s references and credentials prior to hiring; remember this will be an employee of yours. The attorney you choose needs to be highly knowledgeable about the state agricultural laws and licensing required.
2. Hire an accountant specializing in small business accounts; specify a pet shop when making meeting appointments. An accounting firm caters to smaller business owners; they are usually less expensive and flexible. Even if you are a CPA, you should consider having quarterly or yearly books done professionally.
3. Location is the biggest decision to be made. In today’s world of web stores, you can even try out a virtual store front before moving to a brick and mortar building. If you are already in the brick and mortar stage or are taking over an existing pet shop, you will still need a functioning web site to promote your business. If you are meeting with a landlord for a building lease, make sure he understands that this will be a pet shop location. Ask for a written list of animals that should not be allowed on the premises. Have your attorney approve all lease or purchase papers prior to signing or depositing any money.

Decide Whether to Sell Pets

4. Choosing to sell livestock as pets gives you the rewarding feeling of uniting pet and human for a lifelong experience. It also presents more decisions and licensing. Have your attorney handle all licensing and city ordinance issues. If this is a new location for a pet shop, check with the city council prior to leasing/buying. Specialize as much as possible, this will separate you from other pet stores and prove you as an expert in your field. It also makes cleaning and socializing easier, like species are housed similarly and play together.
5. Help will have to be hired for cleaning and animal handling. There is no way to offer the unique customer service required for this type of business, and do all of the cleaning and handling necessary.
6. Find a reputable animal distributor or breeder for the species you have chosen to specialize in. Check the references and personally tour any facility you plan to purchase animals from. If the facility has any issues with a full tour, leave. Get a guarantee; if none is offered (or it is inadequate or unreasonable) do not purchase any animals.
7. Hire a veterinarian to check every single animal prior to sale and give a health certificate. Find a veterinarian that specializes in the same pet as your shop so they gain a customer after the sale.
8. Have your attorney draw up a contract of sale and health guarantee. This should be in compliance and go above and beyond all state requirements on the sale of livestock.

Open the Pet Shop

9. Set up the merchandising layout. Whether you are opening a building pet store or a website, the layout is critical. Get opinions from as many people as possible prior to the final layout.
10. Order racks and merchandise from a reputable distributor. Comparison shop through all of the Internet options for pet supply distributors, the prices vary greatly. Specializing will help with making the most of all of the space offered in the pet shop. You can carry almost everything available for the species you are an expert on.
11. Train all of your employees on the paperwork and the importance of cleanliness. Remind them the most important thing is that they are caring for a very young animal to be adopted by a family. Handling and cleanliness will set the tone for the animal’s ability to be adopted, but do not become emotionally attached.

Tips & Warnings

• While it may seem disturbing to some that pets are treated as livestock and often purchased from a distributor, this is often the best way to ensure healthy bloodlines. Hamsters, for example, are often very inbred and mean if purchased from an individual home breeder, while a distributor must prove that the bloodlines are pure and offer a return guarantee.
• If you choose to sell pets, try to 'anti-sell' your customer. In other words, try to talk the customer out of the sale (especially if it is an impulse buy) of a pet. Tell the potential customer every issue that may arise from the purchase of that particular pet. Ensure the customer this is not an emotional attachment from you, but it will mean a long term commitment from them.
• Choosing to open a web store can be a huge advantage as little inventory is needed. This also allows you to build a customer base before opening a brick and mortar pet shop.
• Offering pets for sale has more downsides than up. Life and death are involved, literally. Young animals die sometimes and it can affect an entire family. This is not the area to focus all of your sales; you should actually have very few animals on premise. Disease outbreaks can occur and shut down your entire business for a substantial amount of time.