How to Open a Pet Shop Business
Opening a pet shop business is one way to share your love for animals and earn money at the same time. People who enjoy having pets are located in most towns and cities on earth, and opening a pet shop business will give you the outlet to bring joy into the life of families who would welcome adding a pet as part of their households.
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Instructions
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Decide what kind of pet business you intend to open. Keep in mind that you can choose to sell just pet items in your shop, only the pets themselves, or a combination of both pets and pet items. If you plan to sell animals in your pet store, you may have to meet certain rules and regulations, which vary from state to state. Do not run the risk of being shut down for not complying with your state statutes.
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Obtain financing. Determine the type of pet shop business you will open such as an already established pet shop, popular franchise, or a start-up pet shop business. Look into various types of loans such as one from the Small Business Administration (SBA), small local bank loan, or contact a mortgage broker in your area. Make certain that you have the necessary funds to cover all of your expenses and start-up costs including animal acquisition, pet food, insurance and vaccination fees.
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Choose your location. Consider opening your pet shop in an area where many people frequently gather, such as a strip mall or main thoroughfare. Drive to the potential locations to get a feel for the area.
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Obtain the items you will sell. Purchase items such as cages for your pets, food, water, pet collars, pet books, and vitamins. Organize your pet items and pets by rows. For example, you can have the dogs in one row, cats in a different row, and pet books in yet another row.
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Buy the animals. Be sure to purchase your pets from a reliable company. Ensure that they have been properly vaccinated by obtaining all records of any shots that they have received. Keep a record of each pet seller so that you can reach them in the future.
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Market your business. Place fliers that state your name, location, and hours of operation in the area of your new pet shop business. Put them in nearby stores and restaurants in the area. Advertise in the local newspaper and possibly create a website so you can be found online.
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Open your pet shop. Offer a 25 percent discount to the first 25 customers. Ask each customer if you can have their e-mail address to let them know about any upcoming sales and events.
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References
- Photo Credit wooden pets image by Katrina from Fotolia.com
