How to Start a Profitable Petting Zoo Business

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Business plan
Class C Exhibitor’s License
Petting zoo business permit
Liability Insurance
Land lot
Animals
Animal housing facility
Animal mobile units
Staff members

Step 1

Find a micro-niche for your petting zoo business

Find a Micro-Niche for Your Petting Zoo Business - To begin, you will need to find a micro-niche for your petting zoo business. A micro-niche is a specific theme for your business that includes unique features that are currently not being offered by your competitors. For example, while your competitors may have a stationary petting zoo, you might want to make yours mobile. As stated earlier, you might desire an exotic petting zoo, or one that contains animals of rare species. You might also want to have your petting zoo cater to children with serious illnesses, or to senior citizens. Whichever way you choose to go, you will first need to do a great deal of market research to find your very own micro-niche that is marketable, and where the competition is at least minimal if not entirely distinctive.
Step 2

Choose a great name for your petting zoo business

Choose a Great Name - Choose a name for your petting zoo business that will convey to your visitors what your business is all about. Like your micro-niche, your name must be unique and currently not used by any of your competitors. It must also make an exceptionally strong emotional impact on adults with children. Some really good names might include, “Fun for Kids Petting Zoo,” “Animals Are Fun,” “Pet My Animals,” “Michelle’s Animal House,” or “Gee Whiz Exotic Petting Zoo.” Make sure that the name you choose is inviting, and that it says to your visitors that it is a fun place that they must come to see.
Step 3

Register your petting zoo business

Register Your Business - After you have selected a good name for your petting zoo business, you must register it at the federal and state levels. This is an absolute requirement for petting zoo business owners. To register the company on the federal level, you must do so with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To register it on the state level, you must either contact the Department of Revenue, or you may be able to contact your local Secretary of State. Depending on the laws of your state, you may even be required to register some of your animals as well. This especially true if you are starting an exotic petting zoo business.
Step 4

Obtain the required permits for your petting zoo business

Obtain the Required Permits to Display Animals for Your Municipality - In most cases, you will be required to hold a permit for your petting zoo business. First, you will need to contact the authorities in your local area for information on what steps you must take to be issued a permit. All petting zoo businesses that operate in United States are normally required to have a Class C Exhibitor’s License issued by the Department of Agriculture. This requirement is specifically the case for either managing a zoo operation or for transporting animals to various locations throughout the state for educational purposes. For an exotic petting zoo, get permits for all exotic animal as is required by law.
Step 5

Purchase liability insurance for your petting zoo business

Purchase Liability Insurance - As a petting zoo operator, you will want to protect your assets in the event that someone should become injured while visiting your zoo. Therefore, be sure to purchase good liability insurance. To do this, you can contact insurance companies that offer commercial liability coverage, and ask for a quote. If you are starting an exotic petting zoo business, make sure to mention this to the property insurance agent so that he or she can give you a quote that will serve as adequate coverage.
Step 6

Invest in a large land lot for your petting zoo business

Invest in a Large Land Lot - Adequate space for both the animals and visitors is an absolute must. Therefore, you should purchase a range of about 10-15 acres of raw land at the very minimum for your petting zoo business. Make sure that the land is easily accessible to the public, and that there are no land restrictions anywhere near your zoo. This is especially the case for exotic petting zoo operations. Also, it is a good idea to check land and building codes with your state’s zoning department so that your are fully aware of certain zoning bylaws. Lastly, make certain that all predatory animals are kept away from their prey to avoid any type of attack and conquer situation. Always do an extensive amount research, and seek the advice and assistance of zoo experts and animal care specialists.
Step 7

Find a location for your petting zoo business

Find a Location to House and Display Your Animals - After purchasing the land, you will obviously need a housing facility for your animals. While the land will be used for your animals to roam freely, your housing facility will serve as their indoor living space. Make sure you have properly designated specific quarters where each of your animals will be housed, and that they can be frequented by visitors. Decorate your facility with bright and beautiful colored drawings that convey a fun theme for young children. Create guideposts to instruct visitors on where they can see all of the animals during their sightseeing tour of your facility. Have a tablet or plaque close by with details describing each animal by species type and breeding facts; especially if you are running an exotic petting zoo with rare animal species. Also, make absolutely sure that your facility is secure enough so that it is completely safe for your visitors.
Step 8

Select the animals for your petting zoo business

Select Your Animals - Of course, the no-brainer is to select and purchase animals for your petting zoo business. Always purchase your animals from a licensed vendor, and be satisfied that that vendor is fully qualified. Be sure to check all of his or her legal credentials, and examine these credentials carefully to make certain that they are updated by a government-sponsored organization or state commission. The basic criteria that you should go by when selecting your animals is that they are people-friendly, are well-behaved around other animals, have been properly cared for by the previous owner, and are disease-free. If you decide to purchase animals for an exotic petting zoo business, contact your local authorities to secure permits for handling such animals if necessary.
Step 9

Hire a great staff for your petting zoo business

Hire a Great Staff - Hire a great staff to care for both your animals and facilities. Initially, your staff members should be qualified in such areas as customer relations, accounting, bookkeeping, office clerical, and maintenance. Next, you will need to hire staff members with an academic background in zoological studies, and to hire those with sufficient experience in animal care. If the operating costs for your petting zoo or exotic petting zoo business prohibits you from hiring a large staff in the beginning, then hire the staff size that your business can manage. When you have secured enough growth in both profits and assets, then you may want to think about expanding your personnel. If possible, you should really consider having a trained and experienced veterinarian on staff. Of course, more would better, but as a starting point, hire one. Needless to say, you will want your staff members to love and appreciate animals and wildlife; since they will constantly be exposed to both.
Step 10

Set visiting hours for your petting zoo business

Set Visiting Hours and Fees - Set dates and times for visits to your petting zoo. You want to especially make your petting zoo or exotic petting business available on weekends and nationally-recognized holidays. Also, decide how much you will charge per person. Have a different fee structure for children, adults, senior citizens, and for those with physical disabilities. It might even be a good idea to provide discounts on family package deals, children and senior citizen rates, and monthly ticket purchases. Use your own discretion on what you will charge, but also do a bit of market research to find out what rates your competitors are charging.
Step 11

Market your petting zoo business

Market Your Petting Zoo Business - Make as much noise as possible to get your business noticed. For budgeting sake, start out by using free marketing strategies, such as word-of-mouth, flyer postings, and face-to-face advertising. Also, utilize free online advertising to post your business name, contact information, and a brief description on your company. Once your budget permits, you should start spending a little money. Buy small ads in local newspapers, and in business circulars. Offline electronic media sources such as radio and television are great advertising venues, but are quite expensive. Therefore, only use these if you can afford them. And by all means, please create an online presence for your business. Build a website with colorful animal photos and lots of well-written and updated content. Use every piece of online marketing strategy available. Join a few Internet marketing companies, and learn how to get lots of traffic to your website. And lastly, market your business on a regular basis.
Step 12

Take special care of your animals

Take Special Care of Your Animals - Always provide your animals with a healthy nutrition, proper physical fitness, and regular vaccinations. Give them lots of love and nurturing. Pay very close attention to behavior patterns, and watch for signs of odd conduct and toxic emotional issues. Address all health concerns immediately as they occur. Completely groom them daily, and keep them as comfortable and as happy as possible. Allow them to rest and play when needed. Keep your petting zoo or exotic petting zoo sanitary, and make sure that you adjust the temperature settings for your animal facility according to weather conditions. Maintain adequate heating for the cold winter seasons, and central cooling during the hot summers.
Step 13

Purchase an animal mobile unit for your petting zoo business

Purchase an Animal Mobile Unit - If you are starting a mobile petting zoo business, you will have to purchase temporary mobile units to transport your animals from one location to the next. You can start out by leasing trailers and trucks for tours to schools, private parties, and country fairs. After raising a bit more capital, you should then invest in your own trailers and trucks. Just make sure that they are cleaned regularly, are in good mechanical condition, and are properly registered and insured. Also, you must see to it that each of your drivers hold a commercial driver license (CDL) with Class A status, and that they all have good driving records.
Step 14

Provide facilities for your visitors

Provide Facilities for Visitors - First, you want to start with the restrooms. The reason is that visitors will at some point need to use them. You don’t want complete strangers walking in and out of your private home, and you don’t want them walking down to the end of a long hallway to reach your bathroom. To avoid this, you must have clean restrooms for your indoor zoo facility or have exterior toilet units. In either case, you must have several toilets and sinks. Plus, you will need refills of basic toiletries such as soap and paper towels. You might also want to consider having a small picnic area or public seating with a snack bar so that visitors can enjoy an outdoor feast. In addition, a small souvenir shop might be a nice touch so that parents can purchase small mementos for their kids.
Step 15

Have a love affair with your petting zoo business

Have a Love Affair With Your Petting Zoo Business - Treat your petting zoo business like a fun hobby, but also remember that it is a serious business. Follow all of the state and federal regulations. Give love and care to your animals, and be very gracious with your wonderful staff. As far as visitors go, be polite and accommodating. Always have personnel available to answer questions and provide directions throughout your facility. Make absolutely certain that children visitors are safe, and that they always have adult supervision. Be enthusiastic and friendly. At the same time, be organized and structured. In sum, have a love affair with your petting zoo business.

Comments

ramblin62 said

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on 11/19/2009 Excellent and thorough article. A mobile petting zoo sounds like such a fun and a great way to engage in a different, exhilerating business. TX!

on 10/18/2009 This is a very smart article with a huge potential for profit. This is something that a person could invision well and yet I would have never thought of it. Thanks for sharing. jswana 5*

cygnetbrown said

on 10/8/2009 I'll have to remember this article if ever I want to set up a petting zoo. I'd just need to copy it and use it for a check off list of what to do.Well written information.