How to Open a Pet Wash
A pet wash or pet grooming business, which focuses on bathing pets, provides grooming services for busy pet owners. The owners drop off their pet and the pet wash cleans, dries and grooms the pet. In a pet wash, grooming requires basic brushing and care, rather than pet massage or the cutting of a pet's fur. Opening a pet wash is potentially a profitable business, especially in areas where pet owners are busy and might not have time to wash their dog or cat.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Permits or licenses
- Business tax paperwork
- Pet shampoo
- Pet conditioner
- Various-sized washing tubs
- Water
- Towels
- Pet brushes and combs
- Blow dryers (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the state laws regarding pet grooming and care. Each state has different laws regarding appropriate licensing. Groomers are not required to have a license to take care of pets, but states might require a business license for the business or special licensing, such as pesticide application licencing. In the case of special licensing, information is usually found on your state's department of agriculture website. Business.gov features a tool that can help you search for licenses by state, which makes finding state licensing requirements for the business a simpler procedure.
-
2
Select the type of pet or pets you will accommodate at your washing service. Common pets for grooming are dogs and cats, though some rabbit owners also might want to have their rabbits groomed. It is possible to set up a business for any animal, but setting up a business for a single animal can allow you to create an area of expertise.
-
-
3
Obtain a business name, as necessary by the state. Each state has different requirements for business name registration. Business.gov has a page which gives all of 50 states requirements for registration
-
4
Obtain an employer identification number. Applications are available on the IRS website, and it is possible to obtain this number on-line. The number is used for tax purposes and business identification purposes.
-
5
Register for state taxes. State tax registration varies by each state, the business and the local area. Business.gov has information for all 50 states regarding taxes and tax forms necessary for that state
-
6
Set up the business. The business can start out of a home then expand to a commercial building. The most important requirement is enough space for various-sized tubs and the materials needed for pet washing.
-
7
Advertise the business. Get clients interested. Since it is a pet wash, which does not provide services like massages or cutting fur, make advertising geared toward cleaning a filthy pet. For example, show a pet that is covered in dirt and then show a clean pet, after he has received your services. Make it clear that the service does not provide specialized skills, while focusing on the benefits, such as cleaning a pet while the owner is at work or shopping. If you are planning to offer services to a variety of pets, like cats, dogs and rabbits, show these pets in your commercials.
-
8
Start the business. Once everything is set up, start washing dogs, cats or any preferred pet for the business. Wash the pets with an appropriate pet shampoo and conditioner. Rinse out all shampoo and conditioner, then towel or blow dry the pet. Comb out the pet's fur. You also may want to add a ribbon in the pet's fur to show further that the pet has received a pet grooming service. This also makes the owner of the pet feel that their pet has been pampered in some way.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pet dog image by NorthShoreSurfPhotos from Fotolia.com
